James Dimmock
Honorary Research Associate
BSc (Hons); BComm; PhD
james.dimmock@jcu.edu.au
James is a Professor of health psychology at James Cook University, an Adjunct Professor at The University of Western Australia, and an Honorary Research Associate at The Kids Research Institute Australia. He is a co-director of the award-winning Psychology of Active, Healthy Living (PAHL) group. PAHL is a cross-institutional health psychology group involving James Cook University, the University of Western Australia, and The Kids Research Institute Australia. In his role in PAHL, James works with researchers, students, industry, government, the non-profit sector, and the media to improve health outcomes in various populations.
PAHL's (and James's) mission is to harness the 'power of people' to promote mental and physical health in people from all walks of life. The group has developed, delivered, and evaluated numerous community programs that have helped thousands of Australians to live happier and healthier lives. Among other things, PAHL has helped people to lose weight, improve their mental health, make better dietary choices, be more physically active, and feel less stressed at work and home.
James has published in excess of 125 articles in peer-reviewed journals, has written or edited dozens of books or book chapters, and has won over $3.5 million in competitive research funding. He has supervised (to completion) in excess of 60 research students, and has won multiple awards for his teaching and student support. James is most interested in translational health psychology, undertaking research at all ends of the bench-to-bedside spectrum with an eye to community impact. In 2019, he was recognised as a University of Western Australia Innovation Fellow due to his--and PAHL's--work on novel community health interventions.
James is a member of the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, a member of the Mental Health & Exercise Research Group, an affiliate member of the Researchers in Behavior Sequence Analysis group, and an international faculty member of the Motivation in Educational Research Laboratory. He is Chair of JCU's Department of Psychology Research Committee and a JCU College of Healthcare Sciences Ethics Advisor. James previously served as an Associate Editor for Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport as well as Psychology of Sport and Exercise. He is currently Deputy Editor at Stress & Health, and serves on the Editorial Boards for International Review of Sport and Exericse Psychology; Asian Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology; and Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology.
Projects
The Growth and Resilience in Teachers program (GRIT): Evaluation of a Co- Designed Program for High School Teacher Wellbeing
Mental health problems are prevalent in working populations worldwide. Researchers attribute many of these issues to rising work pressures, which can lead to the development of conditions such as depression, anxiety, distress, and burnout.
Purpose After Service through Sport (PASS): Supporting Military Veterans and their Families
Veterans who transition out of the military often face substantive challenges during their move to civilian life, including the management of their health, identifying opportunities for employment, contributing to the financial and emotional functioning of their household, and developing high-quality social connec
A sport-based mental health intervention for children at risk of mental illness
We know that sport, when the appropriate environment is provided, can be an enriching experience for children – with many physical and mental health benefits.
Parent and Child Engagement in Family-oriented Therapies for Childhood Obesity
This project will be conducted in conjunction with the Perth Childrens Hospital Health Weight Service (PCHHWS) and will involve three phases.
The Stride Program
Young adults, aged 18-24 years, are currently experiencing the highest rates of mental health challenges relative to the general population.
May 2022
Published research
Indigenous Australian perspectives on the perinatal period: Social well-being, culture and early infant attachments
Although social factors and culture are significant determinants of health in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, little is known academically about key interpersonal and social experiences of this population during the perinatal period, or how early attachments are formed through culture. This study addressed this gap in the literature.
Physical activity interventions for the promotion of mental health outcomes in at-risk children and adolescents: a systematic review
Many young people are exposed to risk factors that increase their risk of mental illness. Physical activity provision is an increasingly popular approach to protect against mental illness in the face of these risk factors. We examined the effectiveness of physical activity interventions for the promotion of mental health outcomes in at-risk children and adolescents.
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.
The 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.
Psychological 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.
The 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.
‘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.
Climate Change is an Emerging Threat to Perinatal Mental Health
In this discussion, we build the case for why climate change is an emerging threat to perinatal mental health
MAN 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.
Perceptions 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.
Education and Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science (Hons) – The University of Western Australia
- Bachelor of Commerce – The University of Western Australia
- PhD – The University of Western Australia