Institution: University of Nottingham

Lead researcher: Leah Kinsella

Type of alopecia: Alopecia areata

Project title: Alopecia Areata Facebook Peer-to-Peer Support Group Engagement and Psychological Outcomes  

Master's student Leah is looking for people affected by alopecia areata to complete a survey on their experiences with online peer support groups for alopecia areata. The aim is to understand how being active in these spaces can impact mental wellbeing, stress, quality of life, and self-esteem. She hopes that by better understanding experiences with various online groups, this can help inform future support and improve access to mental health support for people affected by alopecia areata. 

Taking part: 

To take part you need to be 18 years or older, have a diagnosis of alopecia areata, and be a member of an online peer-to-peer support group for your alopecia (for example, one of Alopecia UK's Facebook groups or a group not affiliated with Alopecia UK). 

The survey is expected to take around 10-15 minutes to complete. Responses are anonymous and confidential. There is also the option to take part in an interview after completing the survey, you can leave your e-mail at the end of the survey if you are interested in discussing your experiences further.

If you have any questions, please contact the researcher Leah Kinsella on [email protected].

To read the Participant Information Sheet, and access the survey, please follow this link:

Alopecia Areata Facebook Peer-to-Peer Support Group Engagement and Psychological Outcomes

This research study was approved by a University of Nottingham ethics committee.