Research

JCU OT student takes out ultimate student leadership challenge - 18 December 2022
Congratulations to Isabelle Merchant, JCU Occupational Therapy student, who recently attended the Indigenous Allied Health Associations ultimate student leadership challenge with a sponsorship from JCU, and won the overall challenge with her team. >>more

Two new PhDs in health awarded at JCU Cairns graduation - 13 December 2022
Dr Mary O’Loughlin explored the experiences of adults living with chronic conditions, and Dr Vanessa Sparke investigated the influence of social, cultural and spiritual beliefs in the practice of infection control in the Pacific.  >>more

Australian Sports Medicine Federation welcomes newly inducted Fellows - 9 December 2022
The Australian Sports Medicine Federation (ASMF) welcomes to the Fellowship, Associate Professor Anthony Leicht. The newly inducted Fellows were announced at the ASMF Fellows Dinner at the 2022 SMA Conference.  >>more

Health students broaden horizons through hands-on learning in remote QLD - 7 December 2022
Allied health students on clinical placements in rural and remote North West Queensland get to experience a sense of community and unlimited learning opportunities, according to third year Bachelor of Occupational Therapy student Hope. She said completing her seven-week placement with the Queensland Department of Education in Mount Isa had encouraged her to consider choosing a career path in rural and remote areas. >>more

How do you condition your body to be more resilient in hot and humid conditions? - 5 December 2022
Wade Sinclair, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science, explains how exercising in general causes an increase in body temperature as the chemical processes within the body go to work and utilise the fuel that powers the exercise. When exercising in hot environments, there is an additional increase in body temperature due to the environment, with high humidity making conditions feel even hotter. >>more

Exercise Physiology Expert Lends Support to SINIS - 25 November 2022
Dr Glen Deakin, an adjunct Senior Lecturer from JCU: James Cook University, Australia is in Honiara for 3 weeks supervising Sport & Exercise Science students at the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport - SINIS. Dr Deakin and his JCU colleague Associate Professor Anthony Leicht have been leading groups to Solomon Islands for almost a decade. They have now connected with SINIS to expand opportunities in a High Performance environment.  >>more

JCU Nursing Alumnus receives Queensland's Local Hero Award - 16 November 2022
Congratulations to JCU Nursing alumnus Melissa Redsell, who has received Queensland's Local Hero Award in the Australian of the Year Awards.  Working in healthcare, Melissa recognised the need for better support for teenage and young mothers and started gifting newborn essentials to young mums who were struggling. Within 12 months, she’d started A Brave Life. The charity supports young mothers dealing with domestic violence, poverty, trauma, relationship breakdowns, unplanned pregnancy and homelessness.  >>more

Bionics Challenge 2022 Major Prize Winner - 11 November 2022
Major Prize Winner - Dr Shou-Han Zhou.  Congratulations to Dr Shou-Han Zhou and his team. A North Queensland team of bionics innovators at James Cook University has won $25k in Bionics Challenge 2022 delivered by Bionics Qld in partnership with MAIC. Dr Shou-Han Zhou and his team are developing a new-to-the-world device to objectively and comprehensively measure apathy which adversely affects the physical rehabilitation of individuals with traumatic brain injuries. Together with physical exercise and VR/AR therapy, this new apathy measurement device is set to dramatically improve the long term recovery of road accident survivors. See the pitch video here.  >>more

Game-changing tool to help rehab patients - 11 November 2022
A James Cook University team developing a world-first device which keeps trauma patients focused on their recovery is a step closer to starting patient trials after being awarded a major prize. The Bionics Challenge 2022 awarded $25,000 to the JCU: College of Healthcare Sciences and JCU: College of Science and Engineering collaborative team that’s developing a tool which uses an exoskeleton and virtual reality (VR) games to measure and increase a patient’s engagement and motivation during their rehabilitation. The device is expected to dramatically improve the take-up and sustained use of rehabilitation technologies by road accident survivors suffering traumatic brain injuries.  >>more

First Nations women are 69 times more likely to have a head injury after being assaulted - 10 November 2022
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are 69 times more likely than non-First Nations women to go to hospital with a head injury because of an assault. But not all First Nations women get the support they need. A new study by JCU: College of Healthcare Sciences Adjunct Associate Professor Jennifer Cullen and Western Sydney University's Professor Karen Soldatic and Michelle Fitts show how health and support services working in remote areas are not equipped with the tools to identify the potential of a head injury for women who experience violence. >>more

Hit song secrets unveiled - 9 November 2022
Psychologists have revealed some of the secrets of scoring a chart-topping, hit song. JCU psychology lecturer Dr Amanda Krause was a co-author of the new paper. She said several studies show that a concept or object is more popular when it’s easier to process.  >>more

American nursing students opportunity of a lifetime - 8 November 2022
A group of American nursing students has experienced the “opportunity of a lifetime” during a recent placement at Townsville University Hospital (TUH). The six nurses from Fairfield University in Connecticut have been based at JCU: College of Healthcare Sciences since July as part of a study abroad program.  >>more

Bush tucker proves nourishing for pregnant First Nations mums - 3 November 2022
‘You are what you eat’. It's an often-used catchcry aimed at encouraging healthy eating. But what if you're eating for two or more? And what if you're a First Nations pregnant woman living on country? The nutritional habits of pregnant Indigenous women are being examined by JCU Researcher Dr Janelle James-McAlpine as part of a broader body of work.  >>more

Veterans tap into mindfulness with new program - 1 November 2022
A new James Cook University study will use techniques such as mindfulness meditation to try to improve the mental health of Townsville’s military veterans. To begin in February 2023, the pilot study into the effectiveness of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) will take 50 veterans through an eight week course at veteran facility The Oasis Townsville. Lead researcher and JCU Associate Professor of Psychology Wendy Li said little was known about the effectiveness of using MBSR on Australian veterans, a therapy which has been shown to increase attention to and feelings of well-being and reduce stress and worry.  >>more

New online tool for prenatal testing decisions - 28 October 2022
A new online tool has been launched to support expectant parents in their choices around prenatal testing for chromosome conditions in their unborn baby. It’s YourChoice, created by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and James Cook University, aims to guide pregnant women through the prenatal testing options and which tests may be best suited for them. James Cook University Professor Cate Nagle said the decision aid was not a stand-alone tool and worked alongside clinical support. >>more

Radio in the golden age - 19 October 2022
A James Cook University researcher says music brings much comfort and joy to older people, and she wants older Australians to join a research project examining why they love listening to the radio. Dr Amanda Krause is a music psychology researcher at James Cook University. Her research looks at how people experience music and the radio in everyday life. She is currently investigating how radio impacts the lives of older listeners.  >>more

A special connection: Humans and their pets - 18 October 2022
Dr Jessica Oliva, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at JCU, tells us how cat and dog owners have weathered the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, and how pets coped when their owners could suddenly go out again after the lockdowns eased. >>more

Aspiring Health Professionals key to successful Mount Isa Rehab Service - 18 October 2022
Aspiring occupational therapists and physiotherapists are gaining important on-the-ground experience in the North West Community Rehabilitation Centre in Mount Isa. Under the supervision of experienced clinical leads, more than 30 university students completed clinical placements during the past 12 months.  >>more

Building a tactical athlete - 17 October 2022
JCU Sport and Exercise Science researchers are targeting a new approach to military training techniques that may result in Australian soldiers suffering fewer injuries in the field. The researchers reviewed previous studies and compared traditional vs non-traditional military physical training methods and their documented impact on occupational performance and musculoskeletal injury risk. >>more

An accidental occupational therapist - 12 October 2022
A career crossroad inspires a leap into the unknown. Turning 28 and worn out after a decade working long, unpredictable hours in the hospitality industry, former chef Matthew Ganly found himself in a career conundrum. The Townsville local decided to pursue a degree in physiotherapy but was advised to study occupational therapy initially as the physiotherapy course was full at the time.  >>more

Receiving the energy to go further - 5 October 2022
For JCU Student Jodie Mottram, receiving the Arrow Energy Scholarship was the key to unlocking the opportunity to achieve her personal, educational and professional goals. Jodie is a proud Indigenous woman and a single mother raising three children while studying a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Criminology and Indigenous Studies.  >>more

Our future health in Tyeena's caring hands - 30 September 2022
With young aspiring nurses like Tyeena Pang, our future health services are in good hands. A James Cook University Mount Isa Campus first year nursing student, Tyeena has had her eyes set on a nursing career since she was a youngster. Her mother, a local Community Liaison Officer, took her to communities where she witnessed first-hand health risks and issues faced by Indigenous Australians. >>more

Great Handiwork - 27 September 2022
JCU Alumni Mignon Prinsloo tells us about her journey to become an Occupational Therapist (OT) working in Hand Therapy, and why OT and Physiotherapy both have their place in a good rehabilitation program. >>more

A guide to procrastination and how to overcome it - 19 September 2022
The truth is, you are not born as a procrastinator. Dr Alla Demutska, Lecturer of Clinical Psychology at James Cook University in Singapore, shares, “Your family and life history play a role in the development of procrastination. For example, a harsh controlling family environment is often linked to the development of procrastination. Procrastination is a learned response, which means you can unlearn it. First, you need to understand why and how you use procrastination, and then learn how to change this habit.”  >>more

Putting the ‘fun’ in functional training - 13 September 2022
JCU Sport and Exercise Science researchers have been analysing an increasingly popular workout technique and have found it reduces blood pressure and cheers people up. Associate Professor Anthony Leicht of James Cook University’s College of Healthcare Sciences was part of an international team that studied a group of people who took part in ‘functional training’ (FT).  >>more

Fighting fit - 12 September 2022
In a new paper for Military Medicine journal, JCU Sport and Exercise Science's Chelsea Smith, Dr Kenji Doma, Brian Heilbronn and Associate Professor Anthony Leicht reviewed the effects of exercise training on various fitness domains (i.e., aerobic fitness, flexibility, muscular endurance, muscular power, muscular strength, and occupationally specific physical performance) that contribute to occupational performance and musculoskeletal injury risk in military personnel.  >>more

Grandmother inspires award winner to follow a career in nursing - 9 September 2022
A mother of three young children with a strong commitment to the Mount Isa Aboriginal community, Lauren Ah-One, has received the Murtupuni Centre for Rural and Remote Health award at the James Cook University Annual Indigenous Student Awards. >>more

Outstanding Alumni honoured - 9 September 2022
Congratulations to our JCU: College of Healthcare Sciences Outstanding Early Career Alumni Award winner, Dr Lewan Parker, NHMRC/National Heart Foundation Early Career Fellow, Deakin University; and Outstanding Alumni Award winner, Ms Andrea Mann, Director of Nursing, Clinical Coordinator TCHHS COVID-19, Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service.  >>more

Indigenous students shine at awards - 8 September 2022
JCU Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students have been recognised for their outstanding academic and personal achievements at a major awards ceremony last night. Congratulations to our JCU: College of Healthcare Sciences Indigenous Student Awards recipients: Myles McKenzie (Psychology); Isabelle Merchant (Occupational Therapy); Tara-Lee Player (Nursing); Fenella Hartley (Nursing); Dylan Spencer (Psychology); Jamie Yule (Nursing), Lauren Ah-One (Nursing).  >>more

Guiding and providing diabetes care - 6 September 2022
JCU College of Healthcare Sciences alumni and dietitian Annabel Johnston says that after studying JCU Graduate Certificate of Diabetes Education, it gave her the boost in professional skills to launch into a new avenue of dietetics. Annabel now has her own practice, Nutrition for Living, which caters to a variety of clients including people with gut issues and diabetes.  >>more

An app for that: Prenatal education & support - 2 September 2022
A pregnancy journey requires many important decisions to be made along the way. JCU Professor Cate Nagle has developed an informative app, YourChoice, that aims to support pregnant women to make confident, informed decisions. The app is the result of over a decade of work within Professor Nagle’s long career in midwifery and women’s health. >>more

Indigenous perspectives improve Indigenous health outcomes - 31 August 2022
Two recent JCU Speech Pathology graduates, Jasmine Kennell and Morgan Appleby, are using their skills as well as their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds to make a difference to the health services they are now working in.  >>more

Study to tackle concussion head on - 30 August 2022
Understanding more about the effects of concussion in women’s contact sports is set to be the focus of a new study by James Cook University. JCU PhD candidate Catherine de Hollander has put the call out for female athletes who compete in rugby league, rugby union or Australian rules football in Townsville, ahead of the 2023 season. The study will measure the of impact of collisions on short-term and long-term health.  >>more

Achieving meaningful movement - 24 August 2022
JCU student Kady Delle Baite has always found her happiness in helping others. Now in her fourth year of studying Occupational Therapy, Kady has been able to do just that. Although Kady knew early on that she wanted a career providing empathetic and accessible healthcare, she says the variety and volume of her placement experiences at JCU have inspired a sense of certainty about what area of Occupational Therapy she wants to specialise in after graduation. >>more

JCU Speech Pathology class of 2022 - 18 August 2022
During Speech Pathology Week some of JCU's final year Speech Pathology students who are currently undertaking their final placement created this excellent video and considered what speech pathology means to them and what excites them about their future in speech pathology. >>more

Sing like there's nobody comparing - 18 August 2022
New research reveals the exceptional singing skills of contestants on reality TV shows may be stopping people from singing in public. James Cook University psychology lecturer Dr Amanda Krause said the finding has important implications for singing participation, which is proven to have significant health and well-being benefits in adults.  >>more

From sporty kid to sport specialist - 17 August 2022
As a sporty kid with a dedication to the books, a career in exercise physiology is a perfect fit for Samantha Beringen. But it took a post-high school gap year working with cardiac specialists for her to figure that out. Now 23, the recent JCU Sport and Exercise graduate has just landed a full-time job at Physio North in Townsville, and she can’t wait to embark on her career. >>more

Placed on a path to occupational therapy - 11 August 2022
After deciding to study Occupational Therapy, JCU Alumni Dominique Di Marzio says that her placements set her up for success in her career. Now two years since graduating, Dominique says that she loves working as a paediatrics OT in the small town of Bowen and bringing smiles to the children and families that she helps. >>more

Riding into a career as an equine-assisted therapist - 10 August 2022
Not all psychology graduates work indoors. James Cook University Singapore alumna Lavannya Sivanandan discovered the world of equine therapy through an internship that would change her life. >>more

A path to practicing psychology -  9 August 2022
As a child, JCU Alumni Lauren Cavati says she was always the person who enjoyed providing her friends with support and lending an ear to those in need. But it was later in life that Lauren moved to Townsville to study psychology and decided to forge her own path by opening her own practice, Deep Speak. >>more

Humble colleagues or competent colleagues, which do you prefer? - 29 July 2022
New research explores whether people value humble colleagues more than competent colleagues. Managing social interactions with colleagues at work can make the difference between success or failure in your career. Dr Ai Ni Teoh, Academic Head of the School of Social and Health Sciences at James Cook University in Singapore, and Ms Livia Kriwangko, Graduate Diploma of Psychology student, set out to examine how humility and competence affect interactions, and in turn better understand when each trait should be valued in organisational settings.  >>more

Pursuing psychology for player support - 21 July 2022
Working with the North Queensland Cowboys since 1994, Kevin Marty wanted to develop the skills to support players’ wellbeing both on and off the field. After studying Psychology at JCU, Kevin became the club’s Wellbeing and Education Manager. >>more

Giving Cairns kids first dibs on speech pathology - 18 July 2022
Having seen the benefits first-hand of early intervention speech pathology therapies on young children, JCU Speech Pathology Alumni Grace Munro and Rachael Di Bella decided it was time to take the plunge and set up their own paediatric speech therapy clinic in Cairns, specifically for children aged 0 to 12 years old.  >>more

‘Dog people’ may do better in lockdown - 18 July 2022 
Researchers examining why dog owners living alone during Covid restrictions were less lonely think it may have to do with the type of person who owns dogs rather than having a dog itself. Dr Jessica Oliva is a lecturer in psychology at James Cook University. She said a previous study found Australian dog owners living alone were less likely to be lonely than non-dog owners living alone during the first COVID-19 lockdown.  >>more

Online mental health fine-tuned - 14 July 2022
James Cook University researchers working on fine-tuning online mental health programs for young people say parental involvement is key – and they have some ideas on how to maximise it. JCU Psychology PhD candidate Jessica Muller said mental health problems in children and adolescents are recognised as an ongoing and worldwide health concern.  >>more

Innovative stroke recovery research - 5 July 2022
James Cook University researchers are testing an innovative new way to help stroke survivors regain arm movement and learn to speak again, and they are looking for volunteers for the research project. Ruth Barker, Associate Professor of Rehabilitation at JCU, is chief investigator at the trial site in Townsville. She said losing arm, hand, and language functions after a stroke affects 1 in 6 survivors three-months after a stroke.  >>more

Future cricket stars to take skills to next level - 28 June 2022
James Cook University and Queensland Cricket have joined forces to give North Queensland’s best junior cricketers every chance of success at the highest level in a new training program set to start next month. About 20 junior cricketers between the ages of 14 and 16 from Townsville, Ingham, Charters Towers and Home Hill will take part in the 10-week High Performance Development and Education Pilot Program, to be run out of JCU’s Performance Science Hub in Townsville. The program is the brainchild of JCU Sport and Exercise Science Lecturer Dr Jonathan Connor and Queensland Cricket Coaching and Talent Specialist Tony Hampson, who both saw a need to level the playing field for the region’s junior cricketers by offering the same high performance training and skills their southern counterparts already receive.  >>more

How a Q&A could be career-defining - 24 June 2022
The time it takes for a candidate to respond to questions during a job interview could determine their future career path, according to new research by James Cook University involving more than 5100 participants from the UK, US, Singapore, and Australia. In a series of experiments, JCU Singapore social psychologist Dr Deming (Adam) Wang and his team found that prompt responses during a range of conversational scenarios, including everyday small talk and mock job interviews, were seen as relaxed and proactive, while responses after a slight pause were considered to signal nervousness and social passivity.  >>more

The mating game -  2 June 2022
A James Cook University study has found men who want to be fathers are more attractive to women – but with a catch. Dr Ryan Anderson led the study, which presented more than 260 heterosexual women under 40-years-old with a short, fictional bio of potential mates, including their intentions toward fatherhood.  >>more

New program to boost veterans’ health - 31 May 2022
A new program designed to help Townsville veterans thrive physically and mentally is set to be rolled out by James Cook University. Program co-ordinator and JCU Associate Lecturer in Exercise Physiology Brian Heilbronn said JCU’s program was modelled on a similar program at the University of South Australia, which offers pathways for veterans to prepare to compete in the Invictus Games - an international sporting event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women. >>more

Terror Management Theory: Thinking about death can bring out the worst in us - 17 May 2022
A new study makes use of big data analysis to examine terror management theory’s effects amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a terrifying event that no one can escape — death. When was the last time you thought about it?  Dr Peter Chew, Senior Lecturer of Psychology at James Cook University in Singapore, decided to tap on the COVID-19 pandemic to better understand Terror Management Theory and how people would react in a real-world situation.  >>more

Pepper the vaccine prepper - 29 April 2022 
A humanoid robot called Pepper has proven an effective way to overcome vaccine hesitancy and spread health information, according to researchers. James Cook University’s Professor Cate Nagle was part of a study which placed Pepper – a 1.4 metre tall, 28 kg robot with human-like features – inside a Queensland hospital and invited patients and staff to interact with it. Professor Nagle said the use of humanoid robot technologies within healthcare settings is rapidly evolving; but the potential of robots in health promotion and health education had not been well established.  >>more

Overwhelmed by the crisis in Ukraine? Here's how you can deal with the stress - 26 April 2022
Dr Alla Demutska, originally from Ukraine, shares her thoughts on the crisis in Ukraine and how we can deal with the accompanying stress. The sheer impact of this war also stretches beyond those who have relatives and friends in Ukraine; keeping up with the Russian invasion is taking a toll on our mental health. “Humans are empathic beings, and it is very difficult to observe suffering that our other fellow beings are going through, see the ruins of once beautiful cities, and try to comprehend the devastation and impact,” says Dr Alla Demutska — who is originally from Ukraine — Lecturer of Clinical Psychology at James Cook University in Singapore.  >>more

Confronting pre-COVID mental health demons - 20 April 2022
The hidden personal demons faced by people prior to the COVID-19 pandemic must be confronted as Australia begins to socially reconnect, according to a JCU researcher. James Cook University PhD candidate and TV psychologist Sandy Rea said the isolation and social disconnection experienced by many people during the pandemic has highlighted the importance of mental health conditions that have not been addressed previously. >>more

Looking to exercise more? Focus and plan out your actions - 12 April 2022
A new JCU Singapore study examines how different types of planning could help increase physical exercise behaviour and overcome a lack of action. Dr Denise Dillon, together with Psychology Honours graduate Clement Wee, set out to examine how two types of planning could bridge the intention-behaviour gap and increase physical exercise behaviours.  >>more

Exploring the link between psychological science and well-being - 4 April 2022
James Cook University (JCU), Singapore’s first-ever Psychological Science and Well-Being Conference took place 4–5 March 2022. The two-day event was held in a hybrid format to provide participants with the option of joining virtually or in person. This marked the University’s first hybrid public event since the COVID-19 pandemic, with international presenters gracing the event in person. Overall, approximately 70 participants attended the event. >>more

JCU Hub works to build ultimate athletes - 21 March 2022
A band of elite super athletes could soon be leading their teams to victory with help from James Cook University’s Performance Science Hub. JCU Senior Lecturer and Elite Athlete Program Manager Wade Sinclair said the Hub has been in high demand from local teams and athletes eager to get a winning edge on the playing field. “We’ve got two regular programs up and running at the moment and we’re in discussions with another three groups as well,” Mr Sinclair said. “It’s going gangbusters at the moment. >>more

Is 'Going Troppo' an actual condition? - 11 March 2022
Ask an expert - with Carolyn Clark, Lecturer, Clinical Psychology, JCU: College of Healthcare Sciences. According to the Australian National Dictionary, ‘Going Troppo’ is to be “mentally disturbed due to too much time spent in the tropics (and heat)”. It is believed the term dates back to the 1940s and Australian troops using it widely while serving in the Pacific...but is it an actual condition? Let’s start by looking at what we actually know about heat and mental impacts. >>more

Turn on and tune out for free - 10 March 2022
Psychologists are offering free access to an innovative music project described as ‘a soundtracked therapy session’ as part of a James Cook University study. JCU Psychology lecturer Dr Amanda Krause said the Listen Up event is run by the progressive online therapy practice, The Indigo Project. “I’ve done in-depth research on the Listen Up event previously and found the experience improved the wellbeing of attendees, left them feeling less stressed and allowed them to process emotions,” said Dr Krause. She said the research is being further expanded upon in this new study.  >>more

A hookup may not make you feel better - 2 March 2022
A new study by James Cook University researchers has found satisfaction with casual sex depends on the motivation behind it. Psychologists Dr Ryan Anderson and Billie McKeen, current JCU Master of Psychology (Clinical) candidate, said research supports the idea that women generally experience worse psychological outcomes following casual sex than men.  >>more

New mothers and their parents: How past parenting affects new mothers - 16 February 2022
Research from James Cook University in Singapore explores how past parenting affects new mothers. Becoming a parent for the first time can be both exciting and daunting. First-time parents frequently grapple with mixed emotions and a changing identity, as they think about what kind of parent they will be and whether they might repeat mistakes made by their own parents. “We wanted to understand how past parenting affects new mothers, particularly their mental health, in the first year of motherhood. We were interested to consider the impact of specific types of interactions they had with their own parents, both positive and negative,” said Dr Joanna Barlas, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at James Cook University (JCU) in Singapore.  >>More

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: nostalgia’s impact on the Hottest 100 - 24 January 2022
There is an enormous amount going on in your brain when you listen to your favourite tunes. “That’s the period of our lives where we’re the most, what we call ‘open eared’, most likely to take in new music and find and develop those new preferences,” says Dr Amanda Krause, psychologist and lecturer at James Cook university. “So the music that we like at that stage of life stays with us, even as we get older.”  >>more

The relationship between your personality and gaming addiction - 13 January 2022
A new study explores the link between an addiction to video gaming and well-known personality traits. Video games are immensely popular, propelling the video games industry to become a multi-billion-dollar industry that is larger than the film and music industry combined. While games can be very entertaining, it can be easy to get absorbed in the competition, resulting in negative symptoms associated with excessive gaming. “Most gamers have little or no negative consequences from their pastime, but Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is a recognised phenomenon which affects a small number of gamers,” said Dr Peter Chew, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at James Cook University (JCU) in Singapore.  >>more

Game addiction linked to personality - 12 January 2022
A new study by James Cook University has found an addiction to video gaming is linked to well-known personality traits – and some, including people who display neurotic tendencies and are introverted are more likely to suffer the disorder. Dr Peter Chew is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at JCU. He said gaming is larger than the film and music industry combined, with an estimated 2.7 billion gamers spending a total of $US 159 billion on games last year.  >>more

Same-sex couples find their own way - 23 December 2021
A James Cook University study of how gay men maintain their long-term relationships in countries where homosexual practices are illegal has uncovered how couples overcome the obstacles to their love. JCU PhD candidate Muhamad Alif Bin Ibrahim led the study in conjunction with Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, Dr Joanna Barlas. >>more

International Postgraduate Student of the Year - 14 December 2021
What does it take to be JCU’s International Postgraduate Student of the Year? Nnamdi Mgbemena is an international student from Nigeria who makes moving halfway across the world to complete a PhD in cardiopulmonary physiotherapy look easy. “It was at a conference that I met a couple of Australians who were friendly and encouraged me to apply for a PhD in Australia. And fortunately, I ended up being accepted by JCU and having Associate Professor Anne Jones who is the head of the physiotherapy program, along with Associate Professor Anthony Leicht from exercise and sports science, as my supervisors.  >>more

JCU honours Outstanding Alumni - 6 December 2021
James Cook University graduates who have excelled in their chosen careers have been honoured at this morning’s Outstanding Alumni Awards. Congratulations to our College of Healthcare Sciences Outstanding Early Career Alumni Award winner Mr Ryan Wynch, Global Head of Occupational Health, Novartis; and Outstanding Alumni Award winner and Chancellor's Award Recipient, Professor Roianne West, CEO, Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives, and Foundation Chair and Professor of First Peoples Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University. >>more

Gala celebrates international students - 22 November 2021
The invaluable contribution made by James Cook University’s international students has been celebrated at an inaugural ball held in Townsville. JCU College of Healthcare Sciences  PhD student Nnamdi Chidiebere Mgbemena, from Nigeria, said it was surreal to win the International Postgraduate Student of the Year award, as he prepares to finish his studies after three-and-a-half years. >>more

Exploring interventions for youth crime - 18 November 2021
Youth crime is a serious issue and there is no simple solution. However, research into the underlying factors involved can lead to a breakthrough. JCU Master’s Student Belinda Astridge is aiming to provide new insights into how childhood experiences may help to inform our understanding of juvenile offenders. >>more

No joke – male humour helps groups reach goals - 22 October 2021
Researchers have found robust humour has a role in helping men in support groups achieve their goals – but it has to be used carefully. James Dimmock is a Professor of Health Psychology at James Cook University. He was part of an international team – led by The University of Western Australia’s Dr Timothy Budden – that questioned men involved in a weight loss support group on the role of humour in their progress. >>more

The hidden social cost of wearing face masks - 18 October 2021
Senior Lecturer of Psychology at JCU Singapore, Dr Chan Kai Qin, explores how face masks inhibit social interactions by pondering what the Mona Lisa would look like during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Mona Lisa — arguably the most famous painting in the world — involved a combination of art, science, optics, and more for Leonardo da Vinci to create her iconic smile. Mona Lisa’s smile incorporates the science of how our eyes process detail and perceptions, resulting in an elusive smile rich with inner emotion.  >>more

Online book helps explain devastating dementia condition - 23 September 2021
A unique variant of dementia that affected the late comedian Robin Williams will be highlighted in a new interactive teaching resource produced by James Cook University, with contributions by College of Healthcare Sciences researchers Dr Michael Inskip, A/Prof David Lindsay and Marie Bodak . “A long goodbye: Ed and Mary’s Journey with Lewy body dementia” is centred around the touching journal of a husband, Ed, documenting his wife Mary’s rapid mental and physical decline after being diagnosed with Lewy body dementia (LBD). >>more

Music trumps video during lockdown - 22 September 2021
New research shows people who listen to music during lockdown are happier than those who depend on their screens for distraction. James Cook University psychology lecturer Dr Amanda Krause, along with colleagues from Central Queensland University and the  University of Western Australia, surveyed people about their media habits before and during pandemic lockdowns.  >>more

The complex nexus of life, beliefs and disease: how we achieve true balance - 27 August 2021
Congratulations to JCU Nursing & Midwifery Senior Lecturer, Vanessa Sparke, for taking out the College of Healthcare Sciences 3-Minute-Thesis competition. Vanessa will now be put forward as a finalist in the JCU 3MT competition.  >>more

Chilled vibes ease work stress - 27 August 2021
A James Cook University researcher has found many people use music to help deal with work and social stress – but less often to cope with life’s other unpleasantries. JCU psychology lecturer Dr Amanda Krause, along with colleagues from JCU, Curtin University and Edith Cowan University, surveyed more than 550 people in Australia, Malaysia and the USA about their use of music as a coping mechanism.  >>more

Dark tourism can lead to dark places - 26 August 2021
A James Cook University researcher has been studying ‘dark tourism’ – the phenomenon in which tourists visit sites of death and disaster – and is warning of its psychological dangers. Travel medicine specialist Dr Irmgard Bauer, from JCU’s College of Healthcare Sciences, said the term dark tourism covered a range of destinations of varying danger and horror, from historic dungeons and prisons to old and current battlegrounds, to sites of the Inquisition, Holocaust or Rwandan genocide.  >>more

Healing voices on the radio - Studying senior adults' radio use -  25 August 2021
Does listening to the radio make you happier and healthier? JCU Psychology lecturer Dr Amanda Krause researches the benefits of listening to the radio especially for older adults.  >>more

A dog's life - they're not all equal - 18 August 2021
New research from James Cook University has found people support the use of assistance dogs – such as those used by visually and hearing-impaired people – and believe the dogs are happy serving humans. JCU psychology lecturer Dr Jessica Oliva said public perceptions of working animal welfare are highly influential, as human attitudes can influence industry regulations and standards – as seen in greyhound and horse racing, live animal exports, and sheep and dairy farming - as well as the lives of the owners and their dogs. >>more

Brain structure differences unlikely to be a major source of sex differences in behaviour - 3 August 2021
New research suggests brain structure differences in men and women aren’t strongly linked to behavioural differences.  James Cook University psychology lecturer Dr Liza van Eijk was the lead author of the study, in collaboration with A/Prof Brendan Zietsch and A/Prof Margie Wright at the University of Queensland, among others.  >>more

Eating disorders: Discovering how it impacts our bodies and mental health - 19 July 2021
JCU in Singapore tackles eating disorders in its Master of Psychology (Clinical), as Dr Alla Demutska shares insights on the important issue.  >>more

Music listening habits give insight into human nature - 8 July 2021
New research has shown how important music is in people’s lives – and how it leads them to be their own personal DJs. JCU psychology lecturer Dr Amanda Krause conducted a study on people’s relationship to music with Dr Solange Glasser and Dr Margaret Osborne from the University of Melbourne.  >>more

New study shows dogs may be more beneficial than cats for mental health - 7NEWS - 7 July 2021
It's no surprise owning a pet can help improve mental health, but a new study by JCU Psychology lecturer Dr Jessica Oliva shows dogs may be more beneficial than cats. A survey of 400 Australians during lockdown found dogs chased away loneliness and encouraged their owners to be active. >>more

Dogs vs cats in lockdown - 7 July 2021
New research reveals there are differences in how dogs and cats help people deal with the loneliness of COVID lockdowns. Dr Jessica Oliva is a lecturer in psychology at James Cook University. She led a study that surveyed nearly four hundred people living alone in lockdown, with or without a dog or cat.  >>more

Congratulations to Tim McNabb on receiving a SERTA Grant Fellowship at TUH - 26 June 2021
Congratulations to Tim McNabb, and his HDR Supervisors Dr Kristin Wicking and Assistant Dean Trina Myers on receiving a Study Education Research Trust Account (SERTA) Grant Fellowship at the Townsville University Hospital.  The one-year fellowship allows time to complete Tim’s PhD in his multi-disciplinary field of research combining Healthcare Sciences, Computer Science and Architecture.  >>more

‘Be a sponge’: Tips to nail clinical placement - 24 June 2021
Registered nurse, Dr Tanya Langtree is a lecturer in Nursing and Midwifery at James Cook University, and Academic Lead: Practice Integration, providing on the ground support for students undertaking clinical placement in the Townsville region. Clinical placements give undergraduate nursing and midwifery students the opportunity to transfer theory into practice and consolidate their knowledge and skills. >>more

Congratulations to Dr Leesa Grier, recipient of the Dean's Awards for Excellence 2021 -  21 June 2021
Dr Grier Pearce studied the performance characteristics of Queensland Rugby League players within the talent development pathway. Significant differences were identified between the combined Under-18/Under-20 players, and those in the open-age level. Queensland Rugby League will use this evidence to support their talent development pathway and enhance young athlete transition.  >>more

New fathers: Under pressure and overlooked - 18 June 2021
JCU Psychology PhD candidate Dr Jasleen Chhabra has dedicated her research degree bringing light to an under-researched area of parenthood – the mental health of new fathers. Her findings highlight the unique challenges new fathers face, and how the right support can give their new family the best possible start.  >>more

More focus needed on female travellers’ needs - 17 June 2021
A James Cook University researcher has called for travel medicine organisations to focus more on the needs of women, who face a particular range of challenges when they travel. Travel medicine specialist Dr Irmgard Bauer is from JCU’s College of Healthcare Sciences. She said half of all travellers are women, but there is a distinct lack of detailed travel health knowledge on topics of unique relevance to women.  >>more

Is Autism linked to a more 'male' brain? - 16 June 2021
Researchers have been investigating an intriguing theory that links autism to having an ‘extreme male brain’ – but have found it is not that simple. James Cook University Psychology researcher Dr Liza van Eijk conducted the study, in collaboration with Associate Professor Brendan Zietsch at The University of Queensland. Dr van Eijk said autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is four times more common in males than females and has been linked to male-typical behaviour.  >>more

How the coronavirus pandemic impacts irritable bowel syndrome - 2 June 2021
New research studies the impact of COVID‐19 on respondents with self‐reported irritable bowel syndrome.  Dr Alla Demutska, Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at James Cook University in Singapore, collaborated with a team to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the seriousness of symptoms in patients with IBS and on development of new IBS cases.  >>more

Tech can help with lockdown blues - 2 June 2021
JCU Psychology researchers, Professor James Dimmock and Dr Amanda Krause, have found technology such as video conferencing is effective in helping people cope psychologically with COVID-19 restrictions, but face-to-face meetings also have an important part to play.  >>more

Social Psychological and Cultural Factors in Maintaining Mental Health in the Time of the COVID-19 - 26 May 2021
Invited by the 14th AASP Biennial Conference, co-organized by the Asian Association of Social Psychology (AASP) and the Korean Social and Personality Psychological Association (KSPPA), JCU Psychology's AMHRG team present a featured symposium entitled “Social Psychological and Cultural Factors in Maintaining Mental Health in the Time of the COVID-19”. >>more

Why do we feel less lonely in loud environments? - 25 May 2021
New JCU Psychology research conducted by Dr Adam Wang explores how louder sounds make people feel closer and more connected to others, while quietness evokes a sense of loneliness.  >>more

Busting the Florence Nightingale myth - 25 May 2021
Contrary to popular belief, the fundamentals of professional nursing did not start with Florence Nightingale and its history is older than many realise, according to research from Dr Tanya Langtree, JCU Nursing and Midwifery Lecturer.  >>more

Nurses leading beyond times of crisis - 12 May 2021
Nurses have always played a vital role in our health systems. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of that role to our global societies. While the media heralds our nurses as heroes and angels for the work they have performed during the epidemic, JCU Academic Head of Nursing and Midwifery, Professor Caryn West, tells us why nurses are much more than we may think.  >>more

Investing in our midwives - 5 May 2021
Midwives play an incredibly important role in our societies, communities, and families. To our mothers and infants, the care and education that midwives bring is invaluable. JCU’s Head of Midwifery, Dr Marie McAuliffe, gives us insight into the difference that midwives make to the health of mothers and infants and how investing in the midwife can lead to healthier futures for our current and future generations.  >>more

Exploring the inner mind from the outer world - 4 May 2021
As an alumni, researcher, and lecturer in the discipline, Dr Hollie Baxter is an expert on what JCU Psychology is all about. From the importance of critical thinking to the interconnection of social theories and experiences, Hollie gives us a look into what it’s like to explore the inner mind from the outer world.  >>more

How to train your diet - 16 April 2021
Do you find it difficult to develop healthy eating habits? Is regular exercise hard for you to maintain? Many people face these struggles, but discoveries in health and psychological research may hold the answer to your fitness breakthrough. A PhD student at the University of Western Australia (UWA), under the supervision of JCU Psychology's Professor James Dimmock, sought to tackle this problem by answering a key question: can different exercises help us choose healthier foods?  >>more

Why can't I stop thinking about my ex? - 14 April 2021
When trying to stop thinking about an ex, individuals often engage in thought suppression. JCU Psychology researcher, Dr Adam Wang, explains that unfortunately, research has shown that thought suppression is often futile and can often make people ironically more preoccupied with the thought.  >>more

Everyday life during the COVID19 pandemic - 6 April 2021
This research project concerned how COVID-19 preparations (e.g., social distancing, quarantine) impact the everyday lives and well-being of adult students. The study was conducted by JCU Psychology's Dr Amanda Krause and Professor James Dimmock. A second phase of the research is currently being conducted by Psychology students as part of their 4th year course requirements at James Cook University.  >>more

How boredom affects bedtime procrastination and sleep quality - 3 April 2021
New research suggests that the inability to be mindfully attentive to the present plays a role in compromised sleep quality. “Bedtime procrastination is a relatively young area of study. It has started receiving the attention of psychology researchers, including myself, as it is an issue that bothers many people especially young adults,” said study author Dr Ai Ni Teoh, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at James Cook University Singapore.  >>more

Which cyclone prepper are you? - 11 March 2021
A JCU Psychology PhD student wants to use artificial intelligence to improve the way authorities communicate with people about disasters. Elizabeth Forest is investigating ways to simplify the process of grouping people according to their disaster preparation behaviour and beliefs, so that communications can be better targeted.  >>more

Sacking a football coach can yield short-term results - 8 March 2021
In what will be music to the ears of Cowboys supporters, research from JCU Sport and Exercise Science academic, Associate Professor Anthony Leicht, claims sacking the coach can produce a turnaround in results for a struggling football team – for a short time anyway.   >>more

International Women's Day 2021 - 8 March 2021
On 8 March, the world celebrates women for all that they are and all that they do. This year’s theme, #WomenLead, emphasises the diverse leadership positions of women across the globe. Discover the stories of seven researchers, including JCU Nursing and Midwifery Senior Lecturer, Dr Ylona Chun Tie, that showcase the difference that women lead research makes to communities on social, environmental and economic levels.  >>more

'Sack the manager' call supported by science - 26 February 2021
Firing the manager or coach when things go wrong is a common tactic for soccer teams looking to improve, and new research from James Cook University shows it works – for a while. Associate Professor Anthony Leicht from JCU’s Sport and Exercise Science said the aim of the study was to compare a team’s performance under the new and old coaches, and investigate the impact of a coaching change on a team’s performance, considering factors such as coach experience and team budget.  >>more

Slow lies: sincerity is in the timing - 17 February 2021 
When you ask someone a question, do you believe them more or less if they took a few seconds before replying? New research shows how we perceive someone’s sincerity – or insincerity – is influenced by response time. Study co-author Dr Adam Wang, Senior Lecturer in Psychology from James Cook University Singapore said people form impressions of others based on how many seconds it takes them to respond to a question.  >>more

How do top cricketers stay mentally sharp? - 31 January 2021
Tens of thousands of fans watching on. The weight of a country's hopes on your shoulders. And a leather ball speeding towards you at 140 kilometres per hour. Dr Jonathon Connor, Lecturer, JCU Sport and Exercise Science, tells us how cricket's top batsmen keep it together, mentally, under the weight of all this pressure.  >>more

Deep diving into mental health - 4 January 2021
James Cook University has been grooming a generation of psychologists to battle growing mental health issues in Singapore and the region. “There is no substitute for being taught by someone conducting cutting-edge research and pushing the boundaries of knowledge in that particular field,” says Dr Jonathan Ramsay, Associate Professor of Psychology at JCU’s Singapore campus.

2020 Award for Excellence - Leadership category - 2 January 2021
Congratulations to the JCU Nursing and Midwifery team, recipients of the 2020 Award for Excellence in the Leadership category, for their response to COVID-19.  Team members: Prof Melanie Birks, Dr Helena Harrison, Dr Tanya Langtree, Prof Caryn West, Vanessa Sparke, Dr Ylona Chun Tie, Dr Maude Chapman. >>more