Investigating the Interactions of Physical Health Multimorbidity and Heat on Common Mental Health Outcomes in Malawi
Supervisors:
Prof Mia Crampin, School of Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow
Prof Julie Langan-Martin, School of Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow
Dr Owen Nkoka, School of Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow
Dr Isaac Tchuwa, Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST)
Summary:
Malawi faces a growing burden of Long-Term Conditions (LTCs), including hypertension and diabetes, leading to increasing physical multimorbidity (two or more LTCs). Depression and anxiety are also common, particularly among individuals living with LTCs. Evidence suggests a bidirectional relationship whereby multimorbidity worsens mental health, while mental disorders increase the risk of LTCs. However, little is known about how these relationships evolve over time in low-income settings. Climate-related stressors, particularly extreme heat, may further worsen mental health outcomes in vulnerable populations.
This PhD will involve:
• A literature review on multimorbidity, mental health, and heat exposure
• Analysis of longitudinal data to investigate relationships between physical multimorbidity and mental health
• Identification of high-risk disease clusters and inequalities by socioeconomic status, sex, and location
• Examination of how seasonal heat variations interact with multimorbidity to influence mental health
The student will use existing datasets from the Malawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit (MEIRU) linked with meteorological data. The project offers training in longitudinal analysis, multimorbidity research, mental health epidemiology, climate and health research, and community-engaged methods in low-resource settings.