Research Theme Head, Brain and Behaviour
BSc (Hons) PhD
Professor Ben Jackson has a shared appointment between Telethon Kids Institute and The University of Western Australia (UWA), and co-directs the cross-institutional Psychology of Active, Healthy Living (PAHL) Group. The PAHL Group’s mission is to use the power of social connections (through groups, teams, and supportive relationships) to promote all aspects of mental and physical health. Through PAHL’s community health initiatives and partner programs, the group helps people manage their weight, improve their mental health, make better dietary choices, be more physically active, and feel more resilient at school, work, and home. Above all else, the Group listens to community priorities and designs programs that tackle the health challenges that really matter.
Ben has produced over 150 publications, and his work has been supported with funding from agencies including the NHMRC, ARC, Healthway, Lotterywest, and Sport Australia. Ben’s research achievements have resulted in several awards, including from the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA), the International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA), and UWA. He was named as the Western Australian Young Tall Poppy of the Year for 2019 in recognition of his community engagement, and was also named an inaugural UWA Innovation Fellow in 2019.
Ben is a Deputy Editor for the international journal, Stress & Health, an Associate Editor for the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, and also serves (or has served) on the editorial boards for five well-known journals in the field of health psychology and health promotion. Ben is also an Adjunct Professor at James Cook University, and serves on advisory committees for Football West, Healthway, Exercise and Sports Science Australia, the NHMRC, ARC, and International Olympic Committee.
Away from work, Ben’s world revolves around Ash, Poppy, Maisie, and Cooper… his wife, two little girls, and family dog.
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Projects
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Publications
April 2024
Understanding and optimising gratitude interventions: the right methods for the right people at the right time
Gratitude has consistently been associated with various beneficial health-related outcomes, including subjective wellbeing, positive mental health, and positive physical health. In light of such effects, positive psychology researchers and practitioners have often implemented gratitude interventions in an attempt to build individuals' orientations toward appreciation and thankfulness. Recent meta-analyses and reviews have revealed, however, that these interventions often have mixed effects on gratitude or other health outcomes.
Published research Psychology of Active, Healthy Living Mental health Physical activityMarch 2024A scoping review of trans and gender diverse children and adolescents’ experiences of physical activity, sport, and exercise participation
This study investigated the potential of using SARS-CoV-2 viral Increasing young people's physical activity, along with their motivation and confidence to be active, is widely advocated for supporting desirable health outcomes. Trans and gender diverse (henceforth; trans) young people experience significant physical activity-related barriers compared to cisgender (i.e., an individual for whom gender identity and sex presumed at birth are in alignment) peers.
Published research Gender Diversity Psychology of Active, Healthy LivingDecember 2023Physical activity behaviors in trans and gender diverse adults: a scoping review
There is currently limited data regarding the physical activity behaviors of trans and gender diverse people (including binary and non-binary identities; henceforth trans). The aim of this review was to synthesize the existing literature in this area, with a focus on physical activity behaviors as they relate to health (e.g. health benefits, risks of adverse health outcomes).
Published research Gender Diversity Youth Mental Health Psychology of Active, Healthy Living Physical activityOctober 2023Thriving families: The feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a multi-component physical literacy program for children with neurodevelopmental, emotional, or behavioural problems
Children with neurodevelopmental, emotional, or behavioural challenges participate in lower levels of physical activity (PA) and subsequently have poorer physical and mental health outcomes. We sought to determine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a multi-component physical literacy program for children with neurodevelopmental, emotional, or behavioural challenges.
Published research Early Childhood Development Child Disability Youth Health Psychology of Active, Healthy Living Physical activityOctober 2023The Right Advice, from the Right Person, in the Right Way: Non-Engaged Consumer Families’ Preferences for Lifestyle Intervention Design Relating to Severe Obesity in Childhood
Family-based lifestyle interventions for children/adolescents with severe levels of obesity are numerous, but evidence indicates programs fail to elicit short- or longer-term weight loss outcomes. Families with lived experience can provide valuable insight as we strive to improve outcomes from programs. Our aim was to explore elements that families desired in a program designed to treat severe levels of obesity in young people.
Diabetes (Type 1) Published research Early Childhood Development ORIGINS Diabetes and Obesity Psychology of Active, Healthy Living Child and adolescent healthSeptember 2023Testing campaign slogans designed to motivate older people to be more physically active
Being physically active is critical for healthy ageing, yet many older people do not meet physical activity guidelines. The aim of this study was to test the relative effectiveness of five previously identified campaign slogans designed to encourage older people to be more physically active: 'Be active 30-60 minutes a day to stay fit and well'; 'Move more, live longer'; 'Stay fit to stay functional'; 'This is your time - enjoy being strong and active'; and 'Use it or lose it'.
Published research Psychology of Active, Healthy Living Physical activityAugust 2023Psychological Flow Scale (PFS): Development and Preliminary Validation of a New Flow Instrument that Measures the Core Experience of Flow to Reflect Recent Conceptual Advancements
In this study, we sought to develop—and provide preliminary validity evidence for scores derived from—a new Psychological Flow Scale (PFS). We propose a parsimonious model of three core dimensions of flow, reflecting the findings from a recent scoping review that synthesised flow research across scientific disciplines.
Published research Psychology of Active, Healthy LivingNovember 2023The Stride program: Feasibility and pre-to-post program change of an exercise service for university students experiencing mental distress
Rates of mental illness are disproportionately high for young adult and higher education (e.g., university student) populations. As such, universities and tertiary institutions often devote significant efforts to services and programs that support and treat mental illness and/or mental distress. However, within that portfolio of treatment approaches, structured exercise has been relatively underutilised and greater research attention is needed to develop this evidence base.
Published research Youth mental health Psychology of Active, Healthy Living Mental health Physical activityMay 2023Psychological Flow Training: Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of an Educational Intervention on Flow
Despite there being an increasing number of applied flow studies across scientific disciplines, there exists no consistent or broadly applicable intervention to promote flow experiences. This study provides a detailed account of a new educational flow training program developed following recent advancements in the flow literature that have provided a more parsimonious understanding of flow experiences and antecedents.
Published research Psychology of Active, Healthy Living Mental health Physical activity Psychology of Active, Healthy LivingJun 2023‘It’s been a lifelong thing for me’: parents’ experiences of facilitating a healthy lifestyle for their children with severe obesity
For parents and guardians, assisting children/adolescents with severe obesity to lose weight is often a key objective but a complex and difficult challenge. Our aim in this study was to explore parents' (and guardians') perspectives on the challenges they have faced in assisting their children/adolescents with severe obesity to lead a healthy lifestyle.
ORIGINS Diabetes and Obesity Subsite: ORIGINS Project Psychology of Active, Healthy LivingJun 2023Impact of vascular screening interventions on perceived threat, efficacy beliefs and behavioural intentions: a systematic narrative review
Health-related behaviours contribute to the global burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Cardiovascular imaging can be used to screen asymptomatic individuals for increased risk of CVD to enable earlier interventions to promote health-related behaviours to prevent or reduce CVD risk.
Published research Psychology of Active, Healthy LivingSeptember 2023Early childhood educator outcomes from online professional development for physical literacy: A randomised controlled trial
Early childhood is recognised as a critical window of opportunity for physical literacy development, however early childhood educators typically lack the training required to effectively provide appropriate physical literacy opportunities for children.
Published research Early Childhood Development Kids Rehab Research WA Psychology of Active, Healthy LivingApril 2023Structured exercise programs for higher education students experiencing mental health challenges: background, significance, and implementation
The incidence of mental illness is greatest among young adults, and those enrolled in higher education may be particularly vulnerable compared to the general young adult population. Many higher education institutions employ student support staff tasked with implementing strategies to improve student wellbeing and mental illness.
Published research Psychology of Active, Healthy Living Mental health Physical activityFebruary 2023Motives and Mental Contrasting With Implementation Intentions Predict Progress and Management of Goals in Parents
Parents must rapidly adapt goals from various aspects of their lives to accommodate the demands of the early stages of parenthood. According to the self-concordance model, having autonomous goal motives (based on enjoyment or personal goal value) should foster effective self-regulation (e.g., coping strategies), better goal management, and increase the likelihood of goal attainment, compared to controlled motives (goals driven by demands/pressures).
Published research Psychology of Active, Healthy LivingSeptember 2022Loneliness Versus Distress: A Comparison of Emotion Regulation Profiles
Loneliness, a negative emotion stemming from the perception of unmet social needs, is a major public health concern. Current interventions often target social domains but produce small effects and are not as effective as established emotion regulation (ER)-based interventions for general psychological distress (i.e., depression/anxiety).
Published research Depression and Anxiety Human Development and Community Wellbeing Psychology of Active, Healthy LivingFebruary 2023Support needs and experiences of young people living in families with mental illness
Children and adolescents living in families affected by mental illness are at elevated risk of developing mental health problems. A range of interventions have been designed to help these young people; however, the effectiveness of these programs is, in some cases, mixed. Our aim was to understand in detail the support needs and experiences of a group of Australian children and adolescents living in families with mental illness.
Published research Youth mental health Psychology of Active, Healthy LivingJanuary 2023Psychological distress and quality of life in asymptomatic adults following provision of imaging results for prevention of cardiovascular disease events: a scoping review
Psychological distress and changes in health-related quality of life may occur after screening for disease. Reporting outcomes related to potential benefits and harms of screening is a key recommendation in the guidelines for reporting high-quality trials or interventions.
Published research Psychology of Active, Healthy LivingNovember 2022Goal motives and mental contrasting with implementation intentions facilitate strategic goal persistence and disengagement
In three experiments, we examine the role of motives underlying goal pursuit and the metacognitive strategy of mental contrasting with implementation intentions (MCII) to predict the strategic use of self-regulation responses (persistence, disengagement, and reengagement) when faced with attainable, unattainable, or multiple goals.
Published research Psychology of Active, Healthy LivingOctober 2022Provision of non-invasive coronary and carotid vascular imaging results on changes in diet and physical activity in asymptomatic adults: A scoping review
Although a healthy diet and physical activity have been shown to prevent or delay cardiovascular disease (CVD) hospitalizations and deaths, most adults do not meet current guidelines.
Published research Psychology of Active, Healthy LivingOctober 2022Strengthening Peer Mentoring Relationships for New Mothers: A Qualitative Analysis
The transition to motherhood can be challenging, especially for first-time mothers, and can accompany maternal distress. Social support—such as that offered by peers—can be important in assisting mothers to manage such distress.
Published research ORIGINS Psychology of Active, Healthy LivingAugust 2022MAN v FAT Soccer: Feasibility Study and Preliminary Efficacy of a Sport-Based Weight-Loss Intervention for Overweight and Obese Men in Australia
MAN v FAT Soccer is a sport-based weight-loss program for overweight and obese men that originated in the United Kingdom (i.e., as MAN v FAT Football) and appears to successfully engage men with weight loss.
Published research Psychology of Active, Healthy LivingAugust 2022Perceptions of a family-based lifestyle intervention for children with overweight and obesity: a qualitative study on sustainability, self-regulation, and program optimization
Family-based lifestyle interventions (FBLIs) are an important method for treating childhood weight problems. Despite being recognized as an effective intervention method, the optimal structure of these interventions for children’s overweight and obesity has yet to be determined.
Published research Early Childhood Development Nutrition Youth Health Psychology of Active, Healthy LivingJune 2022Understanding parent perspectives on engagement with online youth-focused mental health programs
Online youth-focused health programs often include parent modules—that equip parents with skills to assist their child in improving their health—alongside youth-specific content. BRAVE Self-Help, an evidence-based program designed for children and teenagers with early signs of anxiety, is a popular Australian program that includes six parent modules.
Published research Depression and Anxiety Psychology of Active, Healthy Living Child and adolescent healthJuly 2022Primary school teacher outcomes from online professional development for physical literacy: A randomised controlled trial
Primary (or elementary) school teachers are often relied upon to provide children with opportunities for physical literacy development; however, many of these teachers feel they lack the skills to effectively promote or ‘teach’ physical literacy.
Published research Early Childhood Development Kids Rehab Research WA Psychology of Active, Healthy LivingMarch 2022Within- and between-person relationships between spontaneous self-affirmations, coping style, and wellbeing
Self-affirmations—responding to self-threatening information by reflecting on positive values or strengths—help to realign working self-concept and may support adaptive coping and wellbeing. Little research has been undertaken on spontaneous self-affirmations in response to everyday threats, and less has been undertaken on the relationships between spontaneous self-affirmations, coping, and wellbeing.
Published research Youth Health Youth mental healthApril 2022Attenuation of Post-Exercise Energy Intake Following 12 Weeks of Sprint Interval Training in Men and Women with Overweight
An acute bout of sprint interval training (SIT) performed with psychological need-support incorporating autonomy, competence, and relatedness has been shown to attenuate energy intake at the post-exercise meal, but the long-term effects are not known. The aim of this trial was to investigate the effects of 12 weeks of SIT combined with need-support on post-exercise food consumption.
Published research Human Development and Community WellbeingAugust 2021Advancing our understanding of psychological flow: A scoping review of conceptualizations, measurements, and applications
Research on psychological flow is well established, although criticisms remain regarding conceptual and measurement issues associated with the construct. This scoping review maps flow-related research across scientific disciplines, examining the conceptualization, measurement instruments, and outcomes of flow between 2012 and 2019. Across 236 sources that met the review criteria, 108 different flow-related constructs were measured by 141 instruments, and 84 possible antecedents were identified.
Published researchOctober 2021Physical activity participation among children diagnosed with mental health disorders: A qualitative analysis of children’s and their guardian’s perspectives
Children with mental health disorders have lower physical activity levels compared to their peers; however, minimal research has been conducted to date to understand their unique experiences of physical activity. We sought to better understand these experiences, along with contributing factors, through interviews with children with mental health disorders and their parents/guardians.
Published research Youth mental healthFebruary 2022Likeability and perceived effectiveness of messages designed to encourage physical activity participation among older adults
Older adults are significantly less likely than their younger counterparts to engage in physical activity. Comprehensive policies to support healthy ageing thus need to include components encouraging greater participation in physical activity in later life. This study tested potential messages for use in health communication campaigns aimed at increasing physical activity among older adults.
Published researchOctober 2021Communicating with older people about physical activity
Little is known about how to effectively encourage higher levels of activity among older people. This study tested the effectiveness of a public service advertisement designed according to recommendations for communicating with older audiences and featuring five types of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity: tennis, line dancing, cycling, swimming and jogging.
Published researchJuly 2021Effects of diurnal exercise timing on appetite, energy intake and body composition: A parallel randomized trial
To determine the effect of diurnal exercise timing on appetite, energy intake and body composition in individuals with overweight or obesity.
Published research Nutrition -
Education and Qualifications