Dr Nicola Burton
BSc(Hons) Qld, MPsych(Clinical) Qld, Grad Cert Higher Ed Griffith, PhD QUT, MAPS
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Physical Activity and Health
Contact details
Rm 530
Phone: (+61) 7 3365 6282
Fax: (+61) 7 3365 6877
E-mail: nburton@hms.uq.edu.au
Background
Nicola joined the School of Human Movement Studies in 2004 and is a Research Fellow in Physical Activity and Health. After obtaining a Masters degree in clinical psychology, Nicola practiced in the areas of employee assistance and vocational/psychiatric rehabilitation, with a specific focus on managing stress and anxiety disorders, and psychosocial and lifestyle programs with socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals. Moving to an academic career, Nicola worked at several universities as a lecturer and project manager in the areas of behavioural medicine, health psychology, and public health. She has been responsible for research project management and administration on a range of population health research projects. Nicola is a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) Colleges of Clinical and Health Psychology in Queensland, and an executive committee member of the APS Brisbane Area Branch and the APS QLD State Committee.
Research Interests
Nicola's research interests are in the areas of health psychology, behavioural epidemiology, and the prevention and management of illness from a population health perspective. She is particularly interested in the association between physical activity and psychological health and well being , as well as in strategies to promote physical and psychological health.
Current and recent research includes :
- a study of psychologists' attitudes to physical activity counseling
- a multi-level study to examine the individual and neighbourhood factors contributing to socioeconomic differences in leisure time physical activity participation
- a pedometer and questionnaire study of physical activity participation among mid aged adults in Brisbane
- a mail survey to examine t he relative importance of self reported psychological, social, and environmental correlates of leisure-time physical activity at a population level
- the development and evaluation of a questionnaire to assess psychological, social, and environmental correlates of leisure-time physical activity
- a qualitative studying exploring socioeconomic differences in leisure time physical activity
In recognition of her work, Nicola has received three awards from the National Heart Foundation of Australia to present her research at international conferences.
Selected Publications
Burton NW, Oldenburg B, Sallis JF, Turrell, G. (2007). Measuring psychological, social, and environmental influences on leisure-time physical activity. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 31(1); 36-43
Brown WJ, Salmon J, Burton NW. People, places and physical activity. (2006). Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 9(5), 353-6.
Brown WJ, Ford J, Burton NW, Marshall AL, Dobson A. (2005). Prospective study of physical activity and depressive symptoms in mid age women. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 29(4), 265-72.
Burton NW, Turrell G, Oldenburg B, Sallis, JF. (2005). The relative contributions of psychological, social, and environmental variables to explain walking, moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 2 (2), 181-96.
Oldenburg, B & Burton, NW. (2005). Social and environmental strategies. In J. Kerr, R. Weitkunat, & M. Moretti (Eds.), ABC of behaviour change: a guide to successful disease prevention and health promotion. Edinburgh: Elsevier Limited. pp289-301.
Burton NW, Turrell G, Oldenburg B. (2004). Item non-response in a population-based mail survey of physical activity. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 1(4), 345-61.
Oldenburg, B & Burton, NW. (2004). Primary prevention. In A. Kaptein & J. Weinman (Eds.), Health psychology. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers. pp 305-336.
Oldenburg B, Burton NW, Parker E. (2004). Health promotion and environmental health. In N. Cromar, S. Cameron, & H. Fallowfield (Eds.), Environmental health in Australia and New Zealand (pp. 213-226). South Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press. pp 213-226.
Burton NW, Oldenburg BF, & Turrell G. (2003). Why socio-economic groups differ in their participation in leisure time physical activity. Health Education and Behavior, 30(2), 225-44.
Burton NW, & Turrell G. (2000). Occupation, hours worked, and participation in leisure time physical activity. Preventive Medicine, 31(6), 673-81.
Simons-Morton, D., Calfas, K., Oldenburg, B., & Burton, N.W. (1999). Effects of interventions in health-care settings on physical activity or cardiorespiratory fitness. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 15(4), 413-30.