The Identities, Communities and Wellbeing Research Group’s research covers five broad themes.
Social justice and inequalities
We examine the experience of social (in)justice, inequalities, and diversity in a variety of community contexts, and how these are consequential for people’s identities and strategies for change. Where possible, this research is conducted in partnership with community stakeholders.
Loneliness, relationships, and social exclusion
We examine how people experience distinct but related phenomenology associated with our connections with others and what this means for a variety of outcomes (including health, wellbeing, identity and social participation).
Food systems, practices and preferences
We have a diverse range of interests in relation to food. These include food-based identities, food-related stigmas, food poverty and insecurity, and wider systems that are implicated in practices and preferences.
Bodies and body image
We explore influences on body perceptions, such as the influence of media (notably social media) and the impact of new forms of media consumption.
Interventions in health, education, and environment systems
We explore a range of health, education, and environmental topics and how change is affected within them. We often prefer to take a whole system approach, as well as interrogating assumptions.