ADHD, digital financial behaviour and mental health
Supervisor :
July 24th 2026
The studentship is funded by the SBBS. It will cover home tuition fees, and provide an annual tax-free maintenance allowance for 3 years (£22,618 in 2026/27).
To qualify for Home Fees, this typically means the candidate will be unrestricted in how long they can remain in the UK.
International students will need to cover the difference in fees between the home and overseas basic rate from external sources. Further details can be found on our PhD Tuition Fees page.
Funding and eligibility queries can be sent to the sbbs-pgadmissions@qmul.ac.uk
Project Overview
Applications are open for a 3-Year funded PhD Studentship in the School of Biological and Behavioural Science (SBBS) at Queen Mary University of London.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition associated with impulsivity and difficulties in regulating attention and emotions. The dual pathway model of ADHD proposes two psychological processes underpinning these challenges. One concerns the executive functioning, and the second, delay aversion and differences in reward processing (Sonuga-Barke, 2003). While substantial research has examined the educational and occupational impacts of ADHD, less is known about how ADHD-related characteristics impact financial behaviour and economic vulnerability, especially in early adulthood.
Contemporary digital financial systems are increasingly characterised by immediacy and reduced behavioural friction, including online shopping, buy-now-pay-later services, app-based banking, and almost instant access to credit. Both theoretically informed pathways may confer vulnerability within these digital financial environments. Executive function difficulties may impact financial planning and spending control in digital financial environments, while delay aversion and altered reward processing may increase sensitivity to digital systems that reward immediate rather than deferred action. ADHD-related characteristics may therefore shape how young adults engage with digital financial products and environments and increase vulnerability to financial stress and debt.
Importantly, financial stress and debt are consistently associated with poorer mental health outcomes, including anxiety, depression, and reduced psychological well-being. However, little longitudinal research has examined how ADHD traits, digital financial environments, and mental health interact over time.
This PhD project will address this gap using a mixed-methods longitudinal design. It will combine quantitative measures of ADHD traits and mental health, objective financial behaviour data obtained through Open Banking, with in-depth qualitative interviews exploring lived experiences of financial decision-making and financial stress in digital environments. Data will be collected in a young adult sample (~18-25 years).
Research Environment
This PhD will be based in the Centre for Brain and Behaviour at Queen Mary University of London, within the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences (SBBS). The SBBS is one of the largest Schools within Queen Mary and is committed to excellence in research and teaching. The Department of Psychology provided a lively and stimulating research environment, with regular seminars, research events, and workshops to foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and to receive feedback. There are excellent training and career development opportunities tailored to PhD students to support the development of a strong research toolkit.
Find out more about the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences on our website.
The successful candidate will join an existing group that includes other PhD students and pre- and postdoctoral researchers. The supervisors bring complementary expertise in research on online environments, financial decision making, mental health and ADHD. They will provide mentorship and access to collaborative networks, and diverse research training and career development opportunities. The candidate will also have opportunities to present findings at national and international conferences and contribute to high-quality peer-reviewed publications.
PhD students follow a 3-year programme with clear milestones, including talks, posters, and symposia, which help develop strong research communication skills. The department has an excellent completion rate, reflecting the supportive training environment.
Entry Requirements & Criteria
We are looking for candidates who have or are expecting to receive a first or upper-second class honours Master’s degree in an area relevant to the project, such as psychiatric research, developmental psychology or psychopathology, behavioural science or a closely related subject. Candidates without an MSc will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.
Candidates should have a strong interest in mental health and ADHD research, with a specific focus on understanding the financial challenges young people face in the digital world.
The successful candidate will be well organised, self-motivated, and will show intellectual curiosity. They will be flexible, show initiative, and have a strong commitment to rigorous research. They will also demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills. Prior experience in data collection (either quantitative or qualitative) would be an advantage.
Find out more about our entry requirements here.
Applicants from outside of the UK are required to provide evidence of their English language ability.
Details can be found on our English Language requirements page.
How to Apply
Formal applications must be submitted through our online form by the stated deadline for consideration.
Applicants are required to submit the following documents:
· Your CV
· A Personal Statement, including:
o Previous experience relevant to the project
o Your motivations for pursuing this position
o Your career aspirations
o Any further information you think is relevant to the application
· References
· Copies of academic transcripts and degree certificates
Find out more about our application process on our SBBS website.
Informal enquiries about the project can be sent to Dr Katarzyna Kostyrka-Allchorne at k.kostyrka-allchorne@qmul.ac.uk. Enquiries about eligibility should be directed to the postgraduate research officer at d.seymour@qmul.ac.uk. Applications must be submitted through the online form by the stated deadline.
Admissions-related queries can be sent to sbbs-pgadmissions@qmul.ac.uk.
The School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences is committed to promoting diversity in science; we have been awarded an Athena Swan Silver Award. We positively welcome applications from underrepresented groups.
See Also