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Dr. Mark Ward

Associate Professor in Sociology (Sociology)
      
Profile Photo

Dr. Mark Ward

Associate Professor in Sociology (Sociology)

 wardm8@tcd.ie

 


  Applied Sociology   CHILDREN   health outcomes research   HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH   Immigration   MIGRATION   Migration and Employment   population health   QUALITATIVE RESEARCH   QUANTITATIVE METHOD   RESEARCH DESIGN   Research Ethics and Governance   research methodology   Research Methods   Rural sociology, sociology of the environment   Social attitudes   SOCIAL CLASS   Social Inequalities   SOCIAL POLICY   Social Theory   SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED GROUPS   sociology of health   Sociology of illness and health   sociology of the body   Sociology of the Family   Survey research
Project Title
 GLOMoL: Global study of the macro- and individual-level causes and consequences of loneliness
From
May 2026
To
April 2031
Summary
Loneliness is a universal social phenomenon experienced across the life-course that has implications for the health and well-being of both individuals and societies. Distinct from simply `being alone", loneliness refers to individuals" assessment of the quantity and quality of their social relationships and this assessment is shaped by social and cultural norms and expectations. Despite the negative assessments that ferment loneliness being shaped by the contexts in which they are made, most research focuses on individual-level characteristics while ignoring the potential role of macro(national)-level factors. GLOMoL will be the first truly global country-comparative study of the interaction between individual- and macro(national)- level causes and consequences of loneliness. Informed by an initial framework that will be refined throughout the study, GLOMoL will (1) create a unique longitudinal country-comparative data infrastructure spanning 34 countries that combines individual- and macro-level indicators, and (2) advance our understanding of the causes and consequences of loneliness in different societies (including lower - and upper-middle income), and the way in which individual- and macro-level factors interact in different contexts. Using data from The European Loneliness Survey, Health and Retirement Study ageing cohorts, and numerous sources of country-level indicators, multilevel modelling and quasi-experimental techniques will be used to explore the incidence and trajectories of loneliness over time in different societies and to make robust causal inferences on the role of both individual and macro-level factors, and their interaction, in explaining between-country differences. By widening the interrogation of loneliness and developing a novel theoretical framework that furthers our understanding of loneliness as a global health concern, GLOMoL will develop new scholarly and scientific perspectives applicable to many social aspects of health and ageing.
Funding Agency
European Research Council
Programme
ERC Consolidator
Project Type
Research
Person Months
60
Project Title
 Altered lives in a time of crisis: Preparing for recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of older adults
From
May 2020
To
December 2021
Summary
Funding Agency
Health Research Board
Programme
COVID-19 Pandemic - Rapid response
Project Type
Research
Person Months
18
Project Title
 Pathways from social disconnection to suicidal ideation in later life
From
January 2023
To
December 2024
Summary
Funding Agency
U.S. National Institute of Health
Programme
R21
Project Title
 Home, Health, and Ageing: Housing Tenure and Well-being in an Ageing Population
From
2026
To
2027
Summary
Ireland has a rapidly ageing population and a growing number of older adults who will live in rented accommodation in their later years. Yet, there is little evidence about the impact of non-home ownership on psychosocial outcomes, such as quality of life and well-being. Using rich longitudinal data from Ireland"s national longitudinal study on ageing (TILDA), this study will examine the profile and characteristics of older renters in Ireland over time and examine the associations between housing tenure, housing conditions and health and quality of life. The study will also provide projections for future housing mobility. The sample will be drawn from the six waves of TILDA data collection carried out since 2009 and include a replenishment sample of over 2,000 adults aged 45-65 collected in 2022- 2023. Advanced longitudinal statistical techniques, including multivariate regression, multilevel modelling, and latent growth curve analysis, will be applied to nationally weighted survey data. The study will generate critical evidence-based insights which will inform future housing policy and planning. Findings will be widely disseminated through a research report, academic publication, and a stakeholder launch event co-hosted by TILDA and the non-governmental charity organisaton, ALONE, ensuring meaningful engagement with policymakers, service providers, and older people themselves.
Funding Agency
The Housing Agency
Programme
Research Support Programme
Project Type
Research
Project Title
 Exploring the unmet needs of Irish cancer patients from underserved communities
From
2024
To
2025
Summary
Funding Agency
Irish Cancer Society
Programme
Improved Supports for Underserved Communities Award

Page 1 of 2
Details Date From Date To
The Children's Research Network for Ireland and Northern Ireland 2012 Present
Association for the Study of Obesity on the island of Ireland (ASOI) 2012 Present
Applied Quantitative Methods Network 2012 Present
Social Research Association Ireland 2014 Present
Sociological Association of Ireland 2014 Present
Briggs, Robert, Ward, Mark, Scarlett, Siobhan, van der Velde, Nathalie, Hernandez, Belinda, Romero-Ortuno, Roman, Tysinger, Bryan, May, Peter, Ahern, Emer, Kenny, Rose Anne, Determining the burden of falls amongst community-dwelling older people in Ireland to inform falls care delivery: secondary data analysis from the Irish longitudinal study on ageing " the defined study, BMJ Open, 16, (1), 2026, pe107647 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Winning Lewis, Scarlett Siobhan, Ward Mark, Crowe Michael, Kenny Rose Anne, O'Connell Brian, Tooth Loss and 12-Year Mortality Risk in 8494 Older Adults From Ireland , Journal of the American Geriatrics Society , n/a , (n/a ), 2025, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI  URL
O'Maoileidigh, Brendan, McDowell, Cillian, McCrory, Cathal, Kenny, Rose Anne, DeLooze, Celine, Ward, Mark, Changes in depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic differ by personality type: Findings from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, HRB Open Research, 8, 2025, p42 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Seligman B, Ward M, Ferranna M, Bloom DE, Kenny RA, Orkaby AR., A Harmonized Frailty Index Using Global Aging Data., The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, 2025, pglaf217 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Hernández B, Dyer A H, McCrory C, Newman L, Ward M, Finucane C, & Kenny R A, Responses to active stand test predict 12-year incident cardiovascular disease and mortality, Communications Medicine, 2025, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Troya M I, Arensman E, Briggs R, Griffin E, Lonergan C, Lovejoy S A, Mughal F, O'Mahony J, Ward M, Wish to die and healthcare use in older people: cross-sectional findings from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), Journal of Public Health, 2025, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
McKelvie MJ, Cruise S, Ward M, Romero-Ortuno R, Kee F, Kenny RA, O"Reilly D, O"Halloran A, Frailty on the Island of Ireland: Evidence from the NICOLA and TILDA studies, European Journal of Public Health, 2024, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Troya M I, Griffin E, Arensman E, Cassidy E, Mughal F, Ni Lonergan C, O"Mahony J, Lovejoy S, Ward M, Corcoran P, Hospital-presenting self-harm amongst older adults living in Ireland: a 13-year trend analysis from the National Self-Harm Registry Ireland, International Psychogeriatrics, 2024, p1 - 9, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  Other
Ward M, Clarke N, McLoughlin S, Golden D, Kenny RA, Data Management Plan for a rapid response sub-study of an existing cohort. The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) COVID-19 sub-study, HRB Open Rsearch, 2024, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI  URL
Ward M, Briggs R, Kenny RA, Social disconnection correlates of a `Wish to Die" among a large community-dwelling cohort of older adults., Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 2024, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
  

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Scarlett S, Monaghan A, McLoughlin S, Hever A, McCrory C, Ward M, McGarrigle CA, Kenny RA, Cohort Profile Update: The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA)-Waves 5 and 6, Int J Epidemiol, 54, (5), 2025, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Brendan O'Maoileidigh, Mark Ward , Rose Anne Kenny, Siobhan Scarlett, Examining the relationships between in-person and remote religious attendance and loneliness, quality of life, stress, and anxiety among older adults during COVID-19 in Ireland, HRB Open Research, 2024, p1-8 , Notes: [doi: https://hrbopenresearch.org/articles/7-76/v1], Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Hennelly N, Ward M, Scarlett S, Hever A, O"Connor D, McGarrigle C, Kenny RA, Creative activity in the ageing population: Findings from Wave 6 of the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, TILDA, 2023, Report, PUBLISHED
Ward, M., O'Mahoney, P. Kenny, R.A., Altered lives in a time of crisis: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of older adults in Ireland. Findings from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, Dublin, TILDA, January, 2021, Report, PUBLISHED
Costello, N., Ward, M., O'Mahoney, P., Kenny, R.A. , In their own words: The voices of Older Irish people in the COVID-19 pandemic, Dublin, The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, Trinity College Dublin, August, 2021, Report, PUBLISHED
Scarlett S, Hever A, Ward M, Kenny RA, Creative activity in the ageing population, 2021, Report, PUBLISHED
Siobhan Scarlett, Ann Hever, Mark Ward, Rose Anne Kenny, Creative activity in the ageing population: Key findings and conclusions, November, 2021, 1-8, Notes: [doi:https://tilda.tcd.ie/publications/research-briefs/CreativeActivity/index.php], Report, PUBLISHED
Roe, L., McGarrigle, C., Hernández, B., O'Halloran, A., Scarlett, S., Ward, M., Normand, C., Kenny, R.A., Patterns in healthcare utilisation: Results from Wave 5 of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing., Dublin, The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, Trinity College Dublin, March, 2020, Report, PUBLISHED
McGarrigle Christine, Ward Mark, Scarlett Siobhan, Kenny Rose Anne, The Contributions of the Over 70s to Irish Society: Results from Wave 5 of the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, Dublin, The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, Trinity College Dublin, 2020, Report, PUBLISHED
Ward, Mark; McGarrigle, Christine; Hever, Ann; O'Mahoney, Paul; Moynihan, Seán; Loughran, Gráinne; Kenny, Rose Anne, Loneliness and social isolation in the COVID-19 pandemic among the over 70s. Data from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, Dublin, TILDA, 2020, Report, PUBLISHED

  


Page 1 of 4
Award Date
Department of Children and Youth Affairs Research Scholarship Programme 2011-2013
School of Social Work and Social Policy studentship 2010-2011
Poster presentation prize at the British Psychological Society Northern Ireland branch conference 2007
Ageing, older adults, social gerontology, loneliness, quality of life, mental health, health inequalities, childhood obesity, social class theory, social stratification, public health, survey design, and the application of quantitative methodologies in the social sciences.