Funding
Funded
Adversity and Parenting: Exploring personality as a component of resilient functioning in families
School of Psychology | PHD
Reference Number
TT1-Oct2025
Application Deadline
7 February 2025
Start Date
15 September 2025
Overview
This PhD project will focus on a quantitative, multi-method exploration of personality traits in parents and adolescents, and the role these traits play in the association between adversity and parenting. Experience of adversity in childhood is most typically associated with future use of negative parenting styles and behaviours, but not always – this project will explore whether personality traits (both the Big Five and Dark Triad) are adaptive or maladaptive for families exposed to adversity. Surveys and behavioural coding of lab based parent-adolescent interactions will be conducted. Project findings will be informative for community and government services that support parents and young people. Applicants should be well-versed in statistical analyses. Some experience of behavioural coding is preferred but not necessary.
This PhD project will explore personality, including Big Five and Dark Triad models, as a potential component of resilient functioning in relation to parenting behaviour for parents who were exposed to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in their first 18 years of life. Childhood adversity has been consistently linked to later negative parenting practices (Lotto et al., 2023). However, parents with higher functional resilience may respond adaptively in the long term (Ioannidis et al., 2020) and utilize more positive parenting behaviours with their own children. Personality traits have been linked to both perception of stressful situations (Luo et al., 2023) and parenting behaviour (McCabe, 2014), and as such may play an important mediary role in the association between early life adversity and future parenting. However, this relationship has been relatively understudied and may provide important findings for the promotion of more positive parenting strategies and parent-offspring interactions.
Further, offspring contribute significantly to the type of parenting strategies utilized – indicated in research on child temperament (Achtergarde et al., 2015) and adolescent personality (de Haan et al., 2012). Adolescence is a developmental period typically characterized by increased desire for autonomy and conflict with parents, which may place additional strain on the parent-offspring relationship. Personality similarity between parents and adolescents is associated with more autonomy support, particularly from mothers (Vrolijk et al., 2022). Therefore this project will assess personality in both parents and adolescents.
This PhD will employ a multi-methodological approach, including a systematic review/meta-analysis, surveys from parents and adolescents, and lab-based behavioural coding of parent-adolescent interactions.
Further reading:
Lotto, C. R., Altafim, E. R. P., & Linhares, M. B. M. (2023). Maternal History of Childhood Adversities and Later Negative Parenting: A Systematic Review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 24(2), 662-683. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380211036076
McCabe, J. E. (2014). Maternal personality and psychopathology as determinants of parenting behavior: A quantitative integration of two parenting literatures. Psychological Bulletin, 140(3), 722–750. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0034835
Ioannidis, K., Askelund, A. D., Kievit, R. A., & Van Harmelen, A. L. (2020). The complex neurobiology of resilient functioning after childhood maltreatment. BMC medicine, 18, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-020-1490-7
Vrolijk, P., Van Lissa, C. J., Branje, S., Meeus, W. H. J., & Keizer, R. (2022). Parent–child personality similarity and differential autonomy support toward siblings. Journal of Family Psychology, 36(6), 839–850. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000955
Funding Information
Funded by the Department for the Economy (DfE). For UK domiciled students the value of an award includes the cost of approved tuition fees and maintenance support. Rates for 2024/25 are Fees £4,786, Stipend £19,237). To be considered eligible you must have been ordinarily resident in the UK for the full 3-year period prior to the start of the studentship and you must be ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland on the first day of the start of the studentship. For further information about eligibility criteria please refer to the DfE Postgraduate Studentship Terms and Conditions at Student finance: Postgraduate Studentships terms and conditions | Department for the Economy (economy-ni.gov.uk)
Project Summary
Supervisor
Dr Tayler Truhan
Mode of Study
Full-time: 3 years
Funding Body
Department for the Economy (DfE)
Psychology overview
The School of Psychology has a thriving, well-resourced and engaged PhD community that is central to its research environment. Students are strategically appointed to research projects with the express purpose of enhancing research capacity and development in prioritised areas for which the School aims to enhance world-leading research.
MODE OF STUDY / DURATION
Registration is on a full-time or part-time basis, under the direction of a supervisory team appointed by the University. You will be expected to submit your thesis at the end of three years of full-time registration for PhD, or two years for MPhil (or part-time equivalent).
Course content
Research Information
Associated Research
The School of Psychology has a postgraduate research community of around 50 PhD students who are very well resourced and supported in their research.
The School has made extensive material investments in infrastructure, including two computer labs and access to several suites of dedicated research labs, to support their research.
Students are a central part of the research environment of the School and participate in School-level seminars and research meetings.
Students are expected and encouraged to publish during their PhD research and are supported in doing so through their research training.
Subject-specific postgraduate modules in research design and methods are delivered as part of the PhD training portfolio to complement the generic University training and further topic-specific research training is also available.
Other opportunities exist to attract funding from non-governmental sources. Current and previous PhD sponsors include professional services firms, international Governments, charities, and technology companies. We also welcome self-funding students on a full-time or part-time basis.
The School of Psychology at Queen's ranked in the top 10 psychology departments in the UK for research intensity in REF 2014 and provides an excellent environment in which to carry out PhD research.
One distinctive aspect of the PhD experience in the School of Psychology is the high level of spontaneous peer-support, initiative, and engagement among this community of Doctoral researchers. This is valued and fostered by the School through its support of the postgraduate conference and postgraduate week activities as well as wide-ranging involvement of research students across many aspects of School life.
Our PhD community also organizes numerous social events each year that are very popular amongst both staff and students. There is a range of sources of funding available for PhD students. Every year the Department for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland (DEL) funds a number of PhD students to undertake research on pre-specified topics within the School of Psychology. These topics and the names of the associated supervisors are typically advertised online in December with a closing date in February. Last year's topics spanned research topics across Development, Social, Cognitive and Biological Psychology. Selected applicants are invited to interview and the successful candidate is offered a fully funded place with fees paid and an annual maintenance stipend for the three years of the PhD. Eligibility criteria can be found at: http://go.qub.ac.uk/delterms
Students who wish to self-fund or explore external funding sources are advised to peruse our staff webpages (http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/psy/Staff/) and to contact potential supervisors to discuss potential topics. Most students continue within academia to take up postdoctoral research positions, fellowships or lectureships in psychology. Some continue into clinical or educational psychology training while others take up research positions in the private and public sectors.
Career Prospects
Introduction
For further information on career opportunities at PhD level please contact the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences Student Recruitment Team on askEPS@qub.ac.uk.
Our advisors - in consultation with the School - will be happy to provide further information on your research area, possible career prospects and your research application.
People teaching you
Professor Teresa McCormack
Director of Postgraduate Research
School of Psychology
Email: t.mccormack@qub.ac.uk
Course structure
-Entrance requirements
Graduate
The minimum academic requirement for admission to a research degree programme is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree in Psychology from a UK or ROI HE provider, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Further information can be obtained by contacting the School.
International Students
For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.
English Language Requirements
Evidence of an IELTS* score of 7.0, with not less than 6.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University, is required (*taken within the last 2 years).
International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.
For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.
Tuition Fees
| Northern Ireland (NI) 1 | TBC |
| Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 | TBC |
| England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 | TBC |
| EU Other 3 | £25,600 |
| International | £25,600 |
1 EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled or pre-settled status, are expected to be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident, however this is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly Student Fees Regulations. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB are expected to be charged the GB fee, however this is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly student fees Regulations.
2 It is expected that EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI will be eligible for NI tuition fees. The tuition fee set out above is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly student fees Regulations.
3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.
All tuition fees quoted are for the academic year 2021-22, and relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.
More information on postgraduate tuition fees.
Psychology costs
Depending on the area of research chosen there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees.
Additional course costs
All Students
Depending on the programme of study, there may also be other extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies . Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £100 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges. Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen. There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, and library fines. In undertaking a research project students may incur costs associated with transport and/or materials, and there will also be additional costs for printing and binding the thesis. There may also be individually tailored research project expenses and students should consult directly with the School for further information.
Bench fees
Some research programmes incur an additional annual charge on top of the tuition fees, often referred to as a bench fee. Bench fees are charged when a programme (or a specific project) incurs extra costs such as those involved with specialist laboratory or field work. If you are required to pay bench fees they will be detailed on your offer letter. If you have any questions about Bench Fees these should be raised with your School at the application stage. Please note that, if you are being funded you will need to ensure your sponsor is aware of and has agreed to fund these additional costs before accepting your place.
How do I fund my study?
1.PhD OpportunitiesFind PhD opportunities and funded studentships by subject area.
2.Funded Doctoral Training ProgrammesWe offer numerous opportunities for funded doctoral study in a world-class research environment. Our centres and partnerships, aim to seek out and nurture outstanding postgraduate research students, and provide targeted training and skills development.
3.PhD loansThe Government offers doctoral loans of up to £26,445 for PhDs and equivalent postgraduate research programmes for English- or Welsh-resident UK and EU students.
4.International ScholarshipsInformation on Postgraduate Research scholarships for international students.
Funding and Scholarships
The Funding & Scholarship Finder helps prospective and current students find funding to help cover costs towards a whole range of study related expenses.
How to Apply
Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.
Find a supervisor
If you're interested in a particular project, we suggest you contact the relevant academic before you apply, to introduce yourself and ask questions.
To find a potential supervisor aligned with your area of interest, or if you are unsure of who to contact, look through the staff profiles linked here.
You might be asked to provide a short outline of your proposal to help us identify potential supervisors.