Daily life Stress in people with Obesity: stress monitoring using ambulant wearable technology and self reports
Type of assignment: Internship. MA-thesis or combination
Internal or external?: internal, location: BMS Lab.
Maximum number of students: 2
Individual collecting of data? Yes
Type of research: qualitative/ quantitative
Description of the assignment:
Problem
It is known that stress induces severe health risks, in particular for groups that are already at risk of adverse health outcomes, including people with obesity. In various age groups, obesity is a growing problem. Hence, a better understanding of the relationship between stress and obesity is key. In stress in action, a 10-year large research programme, stress in all its dimensions is being studied. In this particular project, we are interested in the comparison of a novel method of ambulant microdialysis of cortisol, vs. self-report and ambulant stress monitoring using wearable devices, in both healthy subjects and subjects with obesity. The aim is to better understand predictors of increased physiological stress levels and their effects on unhealthy behaviour.
MSc thesis projects
In this project, you will contribute to research on the differences and similarities of daily life stress monitoring using ambulant wearable technology and self reports, vs. micro dialysis of cortisol levels. To this end, you will compare stress measurements done in 2 groups (healthy subjects and persons with obesity) using ambulant monitoring + self reports using a digital diary.
We foresee 2 options for 2 students to work on the project:
1) Design, gather and analyse new data on subjects with lean and obese phenotype, and perform a comparison with data obtained/to be obtained at ErasmusMC, informed by literature.
2) Gather and analyse new data for new subjects with lean and obese phenotype, and include an existing stressful event at the end of the measurement period in the lab, and perform a comparison with data obtained/to be obtained at ErasmusMC.
As the protocols will be aligned, outcomes can be compared with microdialysis approach. You will design/gather data with the ambulant monitoring + self reports (sensors and TIIM app available at BMS Lab), and collaborate with experts to this end.
The exact nature of the assignment will be determined, depending on the type/size of the assignment (Masters thesis, Internship or Combination) and the student’s interest.
Who are we looking for?
motivated student/students who is/are:
- interested in the study of health and behaviour using innovative pervasive tools,
- willing to collect data in (elderly) subjects
- willing to work with digital research tools
- willing to travel to ErasmusMC
- willing to discuss process and progress with other researchers working on related studies
What are we offering?
A challenging novel research project in a multidisciplinary (health, medical, lifestyle and technology) environment, working in an important and large research programme (10 years, 70 people)
More information?: