Current projects
We are busy working on a number of different projects. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact the lead researcher on the project. Our current projects include:
Connectedness to nature, mental health, and wellbeing
Adolescents’ online social communication behaviours and anxiety and depression
Students’ online self-disclosure behaviours on educational platforms
Students’ perceptions of mental health and wellbeing apps
Students’ perceptions of emojis, memes and gifs in higher education
Impact of emotion regulation strategies and loneliness on mood and mental health of adolescents
Connectedness to nature, mental health, and wellbeing (Prof. Dawn Watling)
This research explores the link between spending time in different biodiverse habitats may relate to feelings of mental health and wellbeing, and what role connected to nature may play in the benefits of spending time in nature. We are interested in understanding the role of hands on engagement with biodiversity in a science learning programmes, as well as how spending time in nature, reflecting on what we notice around us may have a beneficial psychological impact. We are working towards understanding the importance of the biodiversity in the habitat we spend time in and understanding more about what it is about spending time in nature that may explain these psychological benefits.
For more information on projects we are working on check out the website (click here) or contact Prof. Dawn Watling.
Adolescents’ online social communication behaviours and anxiety and depression (Gemma Rides)
© danijelala
This research aims to explore the links between adolescents’ online social communicative behaviour and their levels of anxiety and depression. The project is focused on three areas:
- How are adolescents’ perceiving their own and their peers’ online behaviour and communicative tools (such as reactions) on social media?
- What physiological responses do adolescents’ show when interacting with social media. Does this differ for individuals with higher levels of anxiety and depression?
- Understanding adolescents’ visual interactions with immersive social media and other new social media developments.
For more information about this project, please contact Gemma Rides.
Online self-disclosure on educational platforms (Dr. Beatrice Hayes)
This project aims to explore students’ online self-disclosure behaviours in educational contexts such as Moodle, Blackboard, MS Teams, etc. Findings aim to support higher education teaching staff and policymakers in understanding students’ online self-disclosure behaviours and supporting them in appropriately navigating educational online contexts. This project is funded by the Careers Service at RHUL via the Student Summer Skills Development Programme. For more information about this project please contact either Dr. Beatrice Hayes or the project’s research assistant, Aiman Suleiman (aiman.suleiman.2021@live.rhul.ac.uk).
Students’ perceptions of mental health and wellbeing apps (Dr. Beatrice Hayes, Philip Moynihan)
© Dreamstime.com
This project aims to explore higher education students’ perceptions of mental health and wellbeing apps. Findings aim to support healthcare practitioners, policymakers and app developers in understanding how these apps can be designed and implemented to support students’ mental health and wellbeing. This project received the British Psychological Society’s Undergraduate Research Assistantship funding grant. For more information about this project please contacting either Dr. Beatrice Hayes or Philip Moynihan (philip.moynihan.2020@live.rhul.ac.uk).
The use of emojis, memes and gifs in higher education teaching (Dr. Beatrice Hayes)
This project aims to explore how students’ perceive the use of emojis, memes and gifs by higher education teaching staff. Findings aim to support higher education teaching staff and policymakers how to appropriately utilise visual communication to engage students as well as support their learning. This project comprises two studies:
- A quantitative study examining whether student engagement is associated with text only, emojis or gifs. For more information about this study, please contact Dr. Beatrice Hayes.
- A qualitative study exploring students’ perceptions of emojis, memes and gifs. This project is funded by the RHUL Undergraduate Research Assistantship Scheme. For more information about this study, please contact either Dr. Beatrice Hayes or the study’s research assistant, Sania Fatima (sania.fatima.2021@live.rhul.ac.uk).
Impact of emotion regulation strategies and loneliness on mood and mental health of adolescents (Zain Khan)
@ vecteezy.com
- Is poor emotion regulation a predictor or maintenance factor of loneliness in adolescence?
- Does emotion regulation explain the link between loneliness and psychopathology in adolescence?
For more information about this project please contacting either Zain Khan.
Past projects
Click on the individual links to see more about our past projects.