People

Director

Dr Kyra Hamilton is an Associate Professor in health psychology and behavioural medicine in the School of Applied Psychology at Griffith University, Australia. She has both psychology and nursing qualifications and over 30 years’ experience in the health field. She has particular research interests in health behaviour motivation, self-regulation, and change. Dr Hamilton has won national and international awards for her research and is Chief Investigator on national competitive, industry, and internal grant funded projects. She is Co-Editor-in-Chief Psychology & Health, Executive Editor Health Psychology Bulletin, and Editorial Board member Health Psychology Review, British Journal of Health Psychology, and Stress & Health. Dr Hamilton is the State Chair (Queensland) of the Australian Psychological Society College of Health Psychologists and the Australian National Delegate to the European Health Psychology Society. See more – Contact

Lab Manager

Kailas Jenkins has a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) and is currently a PhD Candidate in the School of Applied Psychology at Griffith University. Kailas has research interests in theories of social cognition, habit, and emotions. See below for more details about Kailas’ research.

Social Events and Communications Manager

Sabryna Sas has a bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) and Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, and is currently a PhD candidate in the School of Applied Psychology at Griffith University. Sabryna has research interests in the role of incarceration in impacting self-control, and predicting self-control changes in a situational context. See below for more details about Sabryna’s research.

Faculty

Dr Mandy Cassimatis is a Lecturer in the School of Applied Psychology at Griffith University. Dr Cassimatis is a Clinical Psychologist with a background in health psychology research. Her research is focused on chronic disease prevention, self-management and co-morbid psychological issues. She has worked on the development and evaluation of digital health programs in this area. Contact

Dr Heather Green is the Acting Deputy Head of School (Learning & Teaching) in the School of Applied Psychology at Griffith University. Dr Green is a Clinical Psychologist and Health Psychologist. Her research focuses on quality of life and self-management for people who are living with or at risk of chronic illnesses, such as cancer. Specific emphases include assessing, understanding and managing cognitive impairments associated with cancer; and lifestyle management, such as optimising physical activity and nutrition. Contact

Dr Roshan Rigby is a Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics at Griffith University. She is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and completed her PhD in 2021. Her doctoral research explored the application of behaviour change science within dietetics practice and education programs. Her research interests include dietary behaviours and chronic disease management, as well as university learning and teaching.

Contact: r.rigby@griffith.edu.au

Postgraduate Researchers

Postdoctoral and Research Fellows

Dr Thomas Hannan is a Research Fellow in the HaPI Lab. Dr Hannan’s research focuses broadly on the cognitive processes that underpin people’s decision-making to engage in health behaviours. He conducts research in the areas of sports psychology, human motivation and performance, driving behaviour, parents of children with chronic health conditions, and population health behaviour change. Contact

Dr Daniel Phipps is a Research Fellow in the HaPI Lab. Daniel has experience in social psychology using both quantitative and qualitative methods. For Daniel’s PhD he is researching implicit attitudes in child and adolescent samples. This research will focus upon how best to measure these automatic attitudes and their place within integrated models of behaviour in a health psychology context.

Website – Email

Dr Stephanie Smith is a Research Fellow in the HaPI Lab, and Team Leader of Living Well After Stroke at the Stroke Foundation. Her research is broadly focused on the application of psychological theories of behaviour to predict and promote health behaviour change. Stephanie’s PhD research focused on applying the Health Action Process Approach to improve parental supervised toothbrushing of preschoolers. She is currently developing a program based on the Health Action Process Approach aimed at preventing stroke recurrence among survivors of stroke.

PhD

Nicholas Browning (Research PhD)

Thesis title: The moderating role of action control on the relationship between automatic and reflective processes
Nicholas has a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) and is currently a PhD Candidate in the School of Applied Psychology at Griffith University. Nicholas has research interests in theories of behaviour change, dual-process, social cognition, and emotion. His research aims to investigate moderating factors of dual-process systems to provide a stronger foundation for social cognitive interventions.

Kailas Jenkins (Research PhD)

Thesis title: Developing habits for physical activity in the workplace
Kailas is currently undertaking her PhD in the School of Applied Psychology at Griffith University, looking at habits and self-monitoring behaviours that can be used to promote greater physical activity in the workplace. With a particular interest in the interplay between mental and physical health, Kailas aims to combine health and clinical psychology during her career. Throughout Kailas’ undergraduate degree, she was involved in a number of projects involving both qualitative and quantitative data on a range of health behaviours such as alcohol consumption, stress and recycling attitudes.

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Charlene Matthews (Research PhD)

Thesis title: Enhancing obesity management using mHealth: supporting behaviour change to improve long term outcomes
Charlene Matthews is a recent graduate of the Master of Nutrition and Dietetic Practice Program at bond University, Accredited Practising Dietitian and is undertaking a PhD in the School of Medicine at Griffith University, Gold Coast examining service provision for patients who have undergone bariatric surgery. She is particularly interested in incorporating health psychology and behaviour change in combination with mHealth (use of mobiles, technology etc). As part of the Master research internship and recent employment in the field of bariatric surgery, Ms Matthews has presented at Dietitian Association Australia’s National Conference, has one paper accepted for publication in Obesity Reviews and had two conference abstracts on bariatric surgery presented internationally.

Jay Naidu (Research PhD)

Thesis topic: Towards an Understanding of Health Behaviour Maintenance in Complex Behaviours

Jay Naidu has a Bachelor of Business (Honours) and is undertaking a PhD in the School of Business at Griffith University. He is interested in applying social marketing as a systems science to address complex problems such as chronic disease. His research aims to understand behavioural techniques and strategies to inform health intervention design and implementation for sustained impact.

Theo Noordover (Research PhD)

Thesis title: Towards a physically more active lifestyle based on one’s own values: the results of a randomized controlled trail among physically inactive students
Theo has a Bachelor of Psychology from Leiden University in The Netherlands and a Master of Sport and Exercise Promotion from Jyväskylä University in Finland. Theo is currently undertaking a PhD at University of Tartu, Estonia. For Theo’s PhD he is researching the effect of an online-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy intervention on physical activity levels among inactive students. His interests include health behavioural change and clinical psychology.

Sabryna Sas (Research PhD)

Thesis title: Investigating the effects of incarceration on prisoner self-control
Sabryna has a bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) and Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, and is currently a PhD candidate in the School of Applied Psychology at Griffith University. Sabryna has a keen interest in the combination of psychological and criminological constructs, particularly looking at improving the health of individuals incarcerated in Queensland prisons. Sabryna’s PhD research will involve looking at the negative effect of imprisonment on prisoner self-control and other health-related constructs.

Alicia Tennie (Research PhD)

Thesis title: Managing children’s chronic illness during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and beyond: Understanding parents’ social cognitions and illness management behaviours.
Alicia has recently graduated with a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours). She is currently undertaking a PhD in the School of Applied Psychology at Griffith University examining health-enhancing and illness preventive behaviours, of parents with chronically ill children, both during a pandemic and overtime. In Particular, how the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has influenced the parents’ social cognitions towards engaging in health-enhancing and illness-preventive behaviours. As well as to how COVID-19 has affected parents’ illness management behaviours of their children’s chronic disease.

Nicole Trewick (Clinical PhD)

Thesis title: Performance and the psychological experience of exercise within a virtual reality environment
Nicole has a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), and is currently undertaking a PhD in Clinical Psychology in the School of Applied Psychology at Griffith University. Her PhD research aims to determine whether virtual reality can be used to enhance exercise performance and the positive psychological states during exercise. It is proposed that outcomes can help address the broader physical and mental health problems of today. Nicole is interested in health and clinical psychology, and currently is a provisionally registered psychologist.

Mac Thi Nhung (Research PhD)

Thesis title: Promoting compliance behaviours in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic
Mac completes a Master of Marketing Management and is currently undertaking a PhD in the School of Business at Griffith University. Her research interests include social marketing and the psychology of behaviour change from an individual to systems thinking perspective. The outcomes of her studies will contribute new theoretical knowledge to the social marketing discipline along with practical contributions and policy implications for compliance behaviours.

Dr Minalli Vasandani (Research PhD)

Thesis title: TBC
TBC

Karen Wildman (Research PhD)

Thesis title: Establishing the temporal sequence of the stress beliefs model: An intensive longitudinal mixed methods study

Karen has a BPsych(Hons.) degree and is a PhD candidate in the School of Applied Psychology at Griffith University and a Research Fellow in the Griffith Business School. Her research is on stress mindset and the impact on health, performance and wellbeing. Karen is particularly interested in establishing the interplay of specific mechanisms of a stress beliefs model over time. Having worked in various academic and industry research roles for over 10 years, including on Australian Research Council (ARC) funded projects, Karen is experienced in qualitative and quantitative research and project management. She is also co-author on a number of peer-reviewed and industry papers.

Masters

Danielle Dawson (Master of Clinical Psychology)

Thesis topic: Australian Bariatric Surgery Facebook Groups: a content analysis.
Danielle has a Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology, Honours) from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and is currently undertaking the Master of Clinical Psychology in the School of Applied Psychology at Griffith University. Danielle’s interests include clinical psychology, clinical practice and eating behaviour. This research will focus on describing the type of support information sought by Australian individuals who have undergone bariatric surgery, through their interaction with a Facebook support group.

Honours

Kate Knapasjo (Bachelor of Psychology Honours)
Thesis title: Predicting and understanding regular drinking

Tracey Leach (Bachelor of Psychology Honours)
Thesis title: TBC

Research Assistants and Interns

Nicola Leahy (Research Assistant, Volunteer)

Lindsy Lethbridge

Research Intern, Bachelor of Honours (Psychology) research placement, 2022.

Emma Maddock (Research Assistant, Volunteer)

Natasha Nott

Research Intern, 3207MED: Public Health Research Project research placement, 2022

Emily Wellauer

Research Intern, 3207MED: Public Health Research Project research placement, 2022

Erin Yen (Research Assistant, Volunteer)

Adjunct Members

Prof Martin Hagger is Professor of Health Psychology in the Psychological Sciences and Health Sciences Research Institute at the University of California, Merced, USA. He is also a Finland Distinguished Professor (FiDiPro) in the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at University of Jyväskylä, Finland and Adjunct Professor in the School of Applied Psychology at Griffith University, Australia. Dr. Hagger’s research applies social psychological theory to predict, understand, and change health behaviours.

Dr Jacob Keech is Lecturer in Psychology in the School of Health and Behavioural Sciences at The University of the Sunshine Coast and Adjunct Lecturer in the School of Applied Psychology at Griffith University, Australia. Prior to this he was a Honours and PhD student, and Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the HaPI lab. Dr. Keech’s primary research interests are in the development of theory and interventions for reducing the effect of stress on physical and psychological health, and performance. His research also applies psychological theory to understanding and changing health behaviours (e.g. alcohol, sleep hygiene, screen time) and risky behaviours (swimming behaviours, driving behaviour during flood events).

Prof Shirley Morrissey is Adjunct Professor in the School of Applied Psychology at Griffith University, Australia. Dr. Morrissey is a Clinical and Health Psychologist.

Dr Joy Parkinson is Associate Professor in Marketing in the Griffith Business School. She has worked on the design, implementation, and evaluation of several state and national social marketing and health behaviour change programs. She has a particular interest in complex social problems including chronic disease prevention, examining the social, environmental, and individual drivers and inhibitors of behaviour change. Dr Parkinson is the Vice President of Australian Association of Social Marketing and the Editor-in-Chief of Health Marketing Quarterly.

Dr. Ryan E. Rhodes is an affiliate member of the HaPI lab and Professor of Health Psychology in the School of Exercise Science Physical and Health Education, at the University of Victoria, Canada. Dr. Rhodes is Director of the UVic Behavioural Medicine Lab (https://www.uvic.ca/research/labs/bmed/). His primary area of research is on the psychology of physical activity with an applied focus of physical activity promotion during critical life transitions such as early family development and the transition to retirement.

Affiliate Members

Dr Daniel Brown is an affiliate member of the HaPI lab and practising Clinical Psychologist with a research focus in Health Psychology. Dr. Brown completed his PhD as a member of the HaPI Lab. His research focuses on testing a multi-phase, multi-theory model of health behaviour across a number of populations and health behaviours. Dr. Brown is particularly interested in understanding what components of habit, as an automatic process, significantly predict and explain health behaviour.

Prof Sheina Orbell is an affiliate member of the HaPI lab and Professor in the Department of Psychology at University of Essex, UK. Dr. Orbell is interested in looking at intention-behaviour relations, self-regulation, social psychology of volition and volitional strategies in behavioural change, motivation models of health-related behaviour, social psychology of sexual health, and cervical and colorectal cancer screening behaviours.

Dr Amy Peden is an affiliate member of the HaPI lab and Lecturer in Injury Prevention in the School of Public Health and Community Medicine at the University of New South Wales, Australia. Dr. Peden is also a Senior Research Fellow at Royal Life Saving Society – Australia, and an Honorary Fellow, Injury Division at The George Institute for Global Health.

Prof Ralf Schwarzer is an affiliate member of the HaPI lab and Emeritus Professor in the Department of Psychology at Freie Universität Berlin, Germany and a Professor at SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Poland. Dr. Schwarzer is founder of the Health Action Process Approach. His research focus lies on stress, coping, social support, self-efficacy, well-being, positive psychology, and health behaviours.

Alumni and Past Students

PhD Students
Daniel Phipps, The role of explicit and implicit processes on health behaviour (Principle Supervisor with Drs Kathryn Modecki and Martin Hagger Associate Supervisors; PhD, conferred 17/02/2022). Stephanie Smith, A theory- and evidence-based approach to promoting parental supervised toothbrushing of preschoolers (Principle Supervisor with Drs Jeroen Kroon and Ralf Schwarzer Associate Supervisors; PhD, conferred 11/01/2022). Roshan Rigby, Understanding the Application of Behaviour Change Science to Dietetics Practice (Associate Supervisor with Dr Lauren Williams Principal Supervisor and Drs Lana Mitchell and Lauren Ball Associate Supervisors; PhD, conferred 02/12/2020). Daniel Brown, Investigating the role of past behaviour and habits in health behaviour (Principle Supervisor with Drs Shirley Morrissey and Martin Hagger Associate Supervisors; PhD, conferred 26/06/2020). Jacob Keech, The influence of stress mindset on health and performance: Advancing theory, measurement, and intervention (Principle Supervisor with Drs Fran O’Callaghan and Martin Hagger Associate Supervisors; PhD, conferred 15/10/2019). Eloise Cowie, Examining physical activity, psychological wellness, and family relationships among parents of young children (Associate Supervisor with Dr Katherine White (Queensland University of Technology) Principal Supervisor; DPsych, Queensland University of Technology, conferred 18/07/2017). Urska Arnautovska, Physical activity and ageing: An investigation of a dual-process approach (Principle Supervisor with Dr Fran O’Callaghan Associate Supervisor; PhD, conferred 15/03/2017). Tatjana Dordic, Interprofesisonal practice: exploring perceptions of effectiveness across stakeholders and contexts (Associate Supervisor with Dr Liz Jones Principal Supervisor; Clinical PhD, conferred 19/06/2015).
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Masters Students
Michelle Hansen, The experience of being a parent during COVID-19 (Associate Supervisor with Dr Mandy Cassimatis Principal Supervisor; Masters in Clinical, completed 2021). Hei Tung Heather Ng, Testing the mediation effect of psychological well-being on the relationship between sleep hygiene and academic engagement in Australian and Hong Kong University students (Principle Supervisor; Masters in Organisational Psychology, completed 2019). Kaitlyn Cole, Protective factors against police burnout (Principle Supervisor; Masters in Organisational Psychology, completed 2018). Aaron Kirkpatrick, TBA (Principle Supervisor; Masters in Clinical Psychology, completed 2017). Emily Fraser, A work-place intervention to increase step counts among sedentary office workers (Principle Supervisor; Masters in Organisational Psychology, completed 2017). Emma Burton, Discussing lifestyle behaviours and mental health issues in general practice: exploring the perspectives of General Practitioners (Associate Supervisor with Dr Martin Hagger [Curtin University] Principal Supervisor; Masters in Clinical Psychology, completed 2016). Hanna Schmidt, Engaging parents of young children in library programs in a low a SES area (Principle Supervisor; Masters in Organisational Psychology, completed 2016). Vanina Marietti, Complementary and Alternative Medicine: perceptions of individual personal use and psychologist clinical practice use (Principle Supervisor; Masters in Clinical Psychology, completed 2015). Nadine Trost, Implicit attitudes towards high-sugar foods and its effects on sugar consumption behaviours (Associate Supervisor with Drs Hein de Vries [Maastricht University] and Martin Hagger [Curtin University] Co-principal Supervisors; Master of Health Education and Promotion, Maastricht University, completed 2015).
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Honours Students
Nicholas Browning, The role of implicit and explicit affect in predicting physical activity (completed 2021). Nicola Sutherland, Predicting parents’ intentions to get the novel Covid-19 vaccine: the role of socio-political beliefs (completed 2021). Kalen Peterson, Predicting intentions of young university students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine within the next 12 months (completed 2021). Derek McLellan, The impact of a self-control intervention to reduce smartphone social media use on sleep quality (completed 2020). Kim Dunn, Exploring parents’ beliefs about portable-pool safety behaviours and compliance (completed 2019). Karan Lal, Investigating the role of habit and intention in the relationship between past and future behaviour (completed 2019). Shantell Jensen, A qualitative investigation of vaccination adherence in rural and remote Queensland (completed 2019). Michelle Henson, A contemporary state-based measure of cognitive and behavioural coping strategies (completed 2019). Toni Baker, The mediating and moderation roles of habit and self-control on physical activity in adolescence (completed 2018). Jessica-Paige Charlesworth, Do habits supersede intentions? The role of counter-intentional habits in children’s nutrition behaviours (completed 2018). Kailas Jenkins, Self-efficacy and social support as predictors for health behaviours (completed 2018). Sabryna Sass, “The best laid plans”: Do individual differences in planfulness influence the effectiveness of planning interventions? (completed 2018). Amelia-jane Savage, Predicting bootcamp attendance: investigating the interactive effects of planning and habit (completed 2017). James Rowe, Grit-effort and self–discipline as predictors of effort and attendance rates in bootcamps: a mediation analysis (completed 2017). Caitlin Wendt, Using a reflective impulsive model to investigate binge drinking in university students (completed 2017). Candice Fernner, Drinking and swimming: investigating message framing in a temporal and self-regulation context (completed 2017, Masters of Clinical Psychology at Griffith University). Stephen Cornish, Prediction of parental decisions for childhood oral health from beliefs, roles, and moral norms: application of an extended Theory of Planned Behaviour (completed 2016). Shelby Price, Drivers’ experiences during floods: Exploring beliefs underpinning decisions to avoid driving through floodwater (completed 2016, Masters of Clinical Psychology at Australian Catholic University). Kaamna Deo, Forming habits: An investigation of simple cues on health behaviour change (completed 2016, Masters of Clinical Psychology at University Southern Queensland). Isabelle Gibbs, Heavy episodic drinking: A dual systems approach (completed 2016). Mikaela Bonham, Investigating interdental cleaning among undergraduate students: Integrating the theory of planned behaviour and habit strength (completed 2015, Clinical PhD at Griffith University). Jason Bishara, Investigating the role of intention, action planning and action control on interdental cleaning (completed 2015). Aaron Kirkpatrick, Using a Theory of Planned Behaviour-Based Approach to Investigate Parental Decision’s about their Young Child’s Sun-Protective Behaviour (completed 2015, Griffith University Award, Masters of Clinical Psychology at Griffith University). Joanne Henderson, Development of theory-based physical activity health messages for pregnant women (completed 2015, Masters of Clinical Psychology at Griffith University). Caitlin Vayro, Investigating the eating decisions of long-haul truck drivers (completed 2014, PhD at University of Southern Queensland). Jacob Keech, Implicit and explicit motives toward reducing pre-drinking in young Australian university students (completed 2014, PhD at Griffith University,). Madeline Ray, An application of the theory of planned behaviour applied to university students’ pre-loading behaviours (completed 2014, Masters of Clinical Psychology at University of Southern Queensland). Eloise Cowie, Investigating the decisions for physical activity engagement among first-in-family students transitioning to university: the role of planning, self-identity, and social support (completed 2013, DPsych at Queensland University of Technology). Teagan Spinks, Investigating Mothers’ decisions to give their 2-3 year old child a nutritionally balanced diet: a Theory of Planned Behaviour approach (completed 2013, Masters of Clinical Psychology at Bond University). Marti Pearson, Understanding the decision making processes of individuals who drive through flooded waterways (completed 2013). Hanna Schmidt, Drinking and swimming: investigating the factors that influence Australian males’ intentions to engage in recreational swimming while under the influence of alcohol (completed 2012, Masters of Organisational Psychology at Griffith University). Courtney Thomson, Investigating parents’ decisions regarding their child’s health behaviours using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (completed 2010).
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Research Assistants and Interns
Angie Alderson (Research Intern, 3207MED: Public Health Research Project research placement, 2021)
Nick Armbrister (Research Assistant, volunteer)
Aaron Anderson (Research Intern, Bachelor of Honours (Psychology) research placement, 2019)
Andrew Campbell (Research Intern, supported by the Health Dean (Research) Summer Scholarship Program, 2018-19)
Jessica-Paige Charlesworth (Research Assistant, volunteer)
Georgia Chewter (Research Assistant, volunteer)
Catherine Clarke (Research Intern, supported by the Health Dean (Research) Summer Scholarship Program, 2019-20)
Daniel Demant (Research Assistant, supported by the Royal Life Saving Society – Australia)
Bridie Gray (Research Intern, 3030PSY: Applying Psychology research placement 2019-20)
Jacqueline Hall (Research Assistant, volunteer)
Michael Jauch (Research Assistant, volunteer)
Kailas Jenkins (Research Assistant, volunteer)
Derek McLellan (Research Intern, supported by the Health Dean (Research) Summer Scholarship Program, 2019-20)
Ryan Pearson (Research Intern, supported by the Kungullanji Summer Research Program 2016-17)
Karan Lal (Research Assistant, volunteer)
Nicola Leahy (Research Intern, 3207MED: Public Health Research Project research placement 2021)
Alexander Mason (Research Assistant, volunteer)
Oscar Naar (Research Intern, 3030PSY: Applying Psychology research placement, 2019-20)
Julia Robertson (Research Intern, supported by the Griffith Staff Giving Buddy Program)
Nathan Santinella (Research Assistant, volunteer)
Sabryna Sas (Research Intern, supported by the Health Dean (Research) Summer Scholarship Program 2017-18)
Suzanne Sinn (Research Intern, supported by the Kungullanji Summer Research Program 2019-20)
Andrew Smith (Research Intern, supported by the Kungullanji Summer Research Program 2017-18, 2018-19)
Bridie Stewart (Research Assistant, volunteer)
Meera Swaminathan (Research Assistant, volunteer)
Mikayla Watt (Research Intern, 3207MED: Public Health Research Project research placement 2021)
Isabella Willmett (Research Intern, Bachelor of Honours (Psychology) research placement, 2021)
Alex Winters (Research Assistant, volunteer)
Peiyun Wu (Research Intern, supported by the Health Dean (Research) Summer Scholarship Program 2016-17)