My PhD research is focused on causes of loneliness across the lifespan and the potential of intergenerational contact as a method of reducing loneliness. Using a mixed-methods approach, I am aiming to create a structure of the causes of loneliness identified by people in different age groups from childhood to older adulthood, and to assess whether loneliness can be reduced through an intervention which brings together younger and older adults. Ultimately, this research will aim to provide a lifespan perspective on the causes of loneliness and shed light on how the UK might ameliorate loneliness in the most affected age groups.
I previously graduated from the National University of Ireland Galway with a first-class honours degree in Psychology and have worked as a research assistant on various projects at NUI Galway and the University of Padua. In the first year of my NINE DTP studentship, I am completing the MRes in Social Science Research at Queen’s University Belfast. A list of my publications can be found here.
