Biography

Rob joined the University of Surrey in 1999 to work at the Human Psychopharmacology Research Unit, Medical Research Centre (HPRU/MRC), having previously gained degrees in Law, Sociology and Social Anthropology (LLB: Keele) and Socio-Legal studies (MA: Sheffield). From 1999 to 2003 he held numerous research positions within the HPRU/MRC, (including Programmer/Analyst, Acting Head of Data Management) worked as part of a small Home Office funded team, and spent time visiting two Japanese Universities. 

In October 2003, Rob joined the sociology department as Research Fellow and co-investigator on an ESRC funded project, before becoming (2006-2008) a senior researcher and part of the core management team on a large-scale, cross-council, project. During this period Rob was also a part-time PhD student (2002-2008), Associate Lecturer/tutor (2002-2007) and a part-time (20%) lecturer (2007-2008) in the sociology department. He took up his present position in August 2008.

Research Interests

Rob's general interests focus on social relationships and the 'negotiation' of mental and physical health/illness. He has published widely on couples' sleep, older men's health and marital status, and the (embodied) methodological issues involved in researching these areas. 

1) Funding Received
2012 - 2013         Curriculum Innovation: Integrating Quantitative Methods and Substantive Teaching for HE Level                             One Sociology Students ESRC Karen Bullock (PI), Meadows, Prince Cooke, Brunton-Smith and                              Earthy

2003-2006             Negotiating Sleep: Gender, Age and Social Relationships ESRC (K215). Sara Arber (PI), Jenny                                Hislop (CI) and Rob Meadows (CI)

2) Collaborator on Grants

2011                         MRC Grant on Habits, activity and ageing (led by UCL)

3) Advisory Group Membership

Publications

Publications

Rob has published 20 scholarly articles, 9 book chapters and numerous 'other' commentaries.   A selection of abstracts can be found here: http://surrey.academia.edu/MeadowsRob/Papers  A more complete list of publications can be found on google scholar 

 Key Publications (since 2008) 

Venn, S., Meadows, R and Arber, S (forthcoming) Gender differences in approaches to self-management of poor sleep in later life, Social Science & Medicine

Meadows, R. and Arber, S. (2012) Understanding sleep among couples: gender and the social patterning of sleep maintenance among younger and older couples, Longitudinal and lifecourse Studies 3(1):66-79 (link to open access version: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/217904/)

Arber, S. And Meadows, R. (2011) Unen sosiologia: hoiva sukupuoli ha uniongelmat. 48 edition Finnish Journal of Social Medicine pp. 100-113

Meadows, R., Luff, R., Eyers, I., Venn, S., Cope, E. and Arber, S. (2010) An actigraphic study comparing community dwelling poor sleepers with non-demented care home residents Chronobiology international. 27(4): 1-1 (link to open access version: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/217905/)

Meadows, R., Arber, S., Venn, S., Hislop, J and Stanley, N (2009) Exploring the interdependence of couples' rest-wake cycles: an actigraphic study Chronobiology international 26(1): 80-92 (link to open access version: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/217906/)

Arber, S., Bote, M and Meadows, R (2009) Understanding how socio-economic status, gender and marital status influence self-reported sleep problems in Britain Social Science and Medicine 68: 281-289

Meadows, R., Arber, S., Venn, S. and Hislop, J. (2008) Unruly bodies and couples’ sleep. Body & Society 14(4):75-92 (link to open access version: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/217908/)

Meadows, R.,Arber, S., Venn, S. and Hislop, J. (2008) Engaging with sleep: Male definitions, understandings and attitudes Sociology of Health and Illness 30(5): 696-710

Venn, S., Arber, S., Meadows, R. and Hislop, J. (2008) The Fourth Shift: Exploring the gendered nature of sleep disruption in couples with children British Journal of Sociology 59(1): 79-97

Book chapters

Meadows, R. (2012) ‘Denying death's counterfeit’: the sociological aspects of sleep, in A. Green (ed) Sleep: Multi-professional Approaches, Jessica Kingsley

Arber, S, Meadows, R. and Venn, S. (2012) Sleep and society, in C. Espie and C. Morin (eds) Handbook of sleep and sleep disorders, Oxford: Oxford University Press

Arber, S. and Meadows, R.   (2011)  ‘Social and Health Patterning of Sleep Quality and Duration’. In S McFall and C Garrington (eds)   Understanding Society: Early Findings from the first wave of the UK’s Household Longitudinal Study, Colchester: ISER, University of Essex, pp 88-98.  http://research.understandingsociety.org.uk/findings/early-findings

Williams, S.,J, Meadows, R. and Arber, S. (2011) 'The sociology of sleep', in F. Cappuccio, F, M. Miller and S. Lockley (eds), Sleep Epidemiology and Public Health, Oxford: Oxford University Press

Davidson, K. and Meadows, R. (2010) Older men’s health: the role of marital status and masculinities in B. Gough and S. Robertson, (eds) Men, Masculinities and Health: Critical Perspectives. London, Palgrave.

Meadows, R. and Venn, S. (2009) Constructing Identities: Postmodernism, Pragmatism and a Third Way? In J., L. Powell and T. Gilbert (eds) Aging Identity: A dialogue with Postmodernism Nova: New York

Teaching

2012-2013

Level 1    Introduction to Classical Sociological Theory

Level 1    20th Century Sociological Theory

Level 1     Study Skills

Level 2     Researching Bodies

Level 3    Sociology of Mental health 

MSc         Principles of Survey Design. 

PhD Supervision

Theresa Ellmers - A qualitative study of sleep and the night-time in care homes for older people (awarded)

Jessica Underhill (PT) - Sleep, cerebral palsy

Alex Cuncev (PT) - homelessness

Lorraine Allibone (PT) - dreams

Richard Green - prostate cancer

Bryony Chater - consent

Departmental Duties

2012-2013

International Liaison Officer

Previous Positions

Member of the Faculty Ethics Committee 

Undergraduate Examinations Officer

Professional Activities

Invited and other presentations