We are delighted to introduce Michaela Pawley as one of our Data Impact Fellows. In this post Michaela shares about her background, her current work and research and what she hopes to get out of the Fellows scheme.
Background
Sleep and mental health are deeply connected, yet sleep issues are often overlooked in clinical settings. My journey into this field started with a deep-rooted passion for understanding and improving mental health, particularly in young people.
I began my academic path with a BSc in Psychology from the University of Groningen, in the Netherlands, where I graduated in the top 5% of my cohort in 2021. Wanting to delve deeper into clinical psychology, I pursued a Clinical Psychology MRes at the University of Birmingham, where my thesis, focused on adolescent emotion regulation, was awarded without corrections. This research ignited my interest in adolescent mental health, particularly how young people navigate their emotions.
At the same time, I worked as a Young Person Practitioner for Action for Children, delivering CBT- and ACT-informed early interventions to children, young people, and their families. Through this work, I saw firsthand how frequently sleep problems appeared alongside mental health challenges, yet how rarely they were addressed. This realisation sparked a new curiosity: how does sleep interact with mental health, and what can we do about it?
Determined to explore this further, I am now in my final year as a Psychology Departmental PhD Fellowship student at the Sleep and Pain Lab, University of Warwick. My research focus revolves around understanding the role of sleep, and other transdiagnostic factors, in self-harm and suicide related behaviours during adolescence.
My Research
Sleep and mental health go hand-in-hand, but how exactly does poor sleep shape long-term mental health outcomes? While previous research has shown that adolescent sleep problems have a negative influence on mood states and major mental health problems, we still don’t fully understand the long-term consequences of poor sleep, especially when it comes to self-harm and suicide risk.
My PhD research focuses on the prospective influence of adolescent sleep problems on subsequent self-harm and suicide-related behaviours, as well as the mediating and moderating factors that may shape this relationship. Specifically, my work aims to:
- Examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between sleep problems and self-harm/suicide risk in adolescence.
- Investigate the role of cognitive factors, such as decision-making and risk-taking, in this relationship.
- Assess the extent to which childhood trauma influences the association between poor sleep and self-harm, with an emphasis on trauma subtypes.
To address these research questions, I am conducting longitudinal secondary data analysis using large-scale cohort datasets. A primary data source is the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), a nationally representative longitudinal dataset that provides rich, high-quality measures of both sleep parameters and self-harm behaviours. By leveraging this dataset, I aim to map the developmental trajectory of self-harm and suicide risk in relation to early sleep problems, while controlling for key confounders such as socioeconomic disadvantage, psychiatric comorbidities, and environmental stressors.
A critical advantage of this approach is the ability to explore multiple sleep parameters (e.g., sleep duration, sleep variability, insomnia symptoms) in relation to different self-harm outcomes, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of how specific aspects of sleep contribute to risk.
By identifying early sleep-related risk factors for self-harm and suicide behaviour, this research aims to contribute to the development of targeted intervention strategies. Given the high prevalence of sleep disturbances among adolescents, sleep-focused interventions could provide an accessible and scalable avenue for mitigating self-harm and suicide risk. Furthermore, understanding the role of cognitive mechanisms and trauma exposure in this relationship could inform personalised prevention strategies tailored to at-risk individuals.
My Future Research Plans
The year ahead marks a significant period of transition in my academic journey. With my PhD thesis deadline fast approaching, I am focused on completing my final studies, submitting them for publication, and writing my dissertation. This phase is both challenging and exciting, as it represents the culmination of years of research and the foundation for the next stage of my career.
In parallel, I am actively searching and applying for postdoctoral positions where I can implement and enhance my expertise in sleep and mental health. While my background has primarily centred on these domains, I am particularly eager to expand my research across other interdisciplinary areas, potentially incorporating brain imaging techniques to deepen our understanding of the relationship between sleep and various mental health outcomes.
Given that my PhD research focuses on examining the longitudinal associations between sleep and self-harm through secondary data analysis of the Millennium Cohort Study, I am keen to complement this work with primary research. Engaging directly with individuals who have lived experiences of mental health challenges will not only enhance my methodological expertise, but also enrich my perspective as a mental health researcher. As I move forward, my goal is to continue developing a well-rounded skill set that enables me to conduct impactful, interdisciplinary research in sleep, mental health, and beyond.
The UK Data Impact Fellowship provides an invaluable opportunity to extend the reach and impact of my research beyond academia by engaging with researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to translate findings into actionable insights that can shape public health initiatives and clinical practice. Participation in conferences, training events, and seminars will further refine my methodological approach and enhance the rigor of my analyses through applying more advanced statistical techniques. Having already presented in various conferences, including the European Sleep Research Society Sleep Europe Congress with over 3,5000 attendees, and outreach events like Pint of Science, I have experienced first-hand the benefits of disseminating research to both academic and public audiences. To address the adolescent mental health crisis, evidence-based research must inform both academic and public communities, fostering collaboration to drive meaningful societal change.
By sharing evidence on the importance of sleep as a modifiable but often overlooked risk factor, I hope to contribute to a growing body of research that emphasises sleep as a key component of mental health interventions. Through greater awareness, policy influence, and targeted interventions, we can better protect adolescent well-being and reduce the long-term consequences of sleep-related mental health risks.