Overview
Background
A/Prof Janni Leung (PhD) is an NHMRC Development Fellow at National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research (NCYSUR) at The University of Queensland. Their program of research includes investigating the epidemiology of substance use and mental health because they are both major public health issues that commonly occur together. This research program had made paradigm-changing development through 100+ articles, which have recognised impact (15,000+ cites, 30% output in the top 1% citation percentile). Many of their work involves conducting systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and applying statistical models to epidemiological data on addiction and mental health issues to better understand their impacts on populations. Her work is used to inform policies on how to reduce the disease burden caused by addiction and mental health problems in Australia and overseas. Janni is committed to conducting high-quality rigorous research to generate empirical epidemiological evidence to inform decisions to prevent addiction-related harms in the population.
Teaching and supervision: They have qualifications and training in public health, sociology, and psychology. In addition, they have strong research and teaching experience in epidemiology and biostatistics. Janni has worked with a range of students from diverse demographic and cultural backgrounds, including mature-aged students and students with family responsibilities. She currently has a topic available for a self-motivated student interested in addiction research. Janni’s current research focus is on the epidemiology and disease burden associated with mental and substance use disorders across the globe.
Consultation: Janni is available for private consultation and workshop presentations on request for various research methodological and statistical topics, e.g. systematic reviews and meta-analysis, questionnaire and survey designs, cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.
Where can you find Janni: Janni is based at the UQ St Lucia campus with regular visits to the Long Pocket and Herston campuses. You may also catch Janni at the APSAD conference.
Availability
- Associate Professor Janni Leung is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor of Health Sciences, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Substance use, substance abuse, and substance dependence
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Mental health and mental disorders
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Epidemiology, public health
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Burden of disease
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Higher education
Works
Search Professor Janni Leung’s works on UQ eSpace
2023
Journal Article
Cryptocurrency trading, mental health and addiction: a qualitative analysis of Reddit discussions
Johnson, Benjamin, Stjepanović, Daniel, Leung, Janni, Sun, Tianze and Chan, Gary C. K. (2023). Cryptocurrency trading, mental health and addiction: a qualitative analysis of Reddit discussions. Addiction Research and Theory, 31 (5), 345-351. doi: 10.1080/16066359.2023.2174259
2023
Journal Article
Trends in cannabis use intention around the period of cannabis legalisation in Australia: an age‐period‐cohort model
Chiu, Vivian, Chan, Gary, Hall, Wayne, Hides, Leanne and Leung, Janni (2023). Trends in cannabis use intention around the period of cannabis legalisation in Australia: an age‐period‐cohort model. Drug and Alcohol Review, 42 (2), 337-345. doi: 10.1111/dar.13578
2023
Journal Article
How should policy makers regulate the tetrahydrocannabinol content of cannabis products in a legal market?
Hall, Wayne, Leung, Janni and Carlini, Beatriz H. (2023). How should policy makers regulate the tetrahydrocannabinol content of cannabis products in a legal market?. Addiction, 118 (6), 998-1003. doi: 10.1111/add.16135
2023
Journal Article
What client demographic, substance use, mental health, treatment, and psychological variables predict residential treatment completion for substance use disorders?
Tisdale, Calvert, Leung, Janni, de Andrade, Dominique and Hides, Leanne (2023). What client demographic, substance use, mental health, treatment, and psychological variables predict residential treatment completion for substance use disorders?. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. doi: 10.1007/s11469-022-01002-w
2023
Journal Article
Perceptions of social media challenges and benefits during the Covid-19 pandemic: Qualitative findings from a cross sectional international survey
Schoultz, Mariyana, Lamph, Gary, Thygesen, Hilde, Leung, Janni, Bonsaksen, Tore, Ruffolo, Mary, Price, Daicia, Watson, Paul, Kabelenga, Isaac, Chiu, Vivian and Østertun Geirdal, Amy (2023). Perceptions of social media challenges and benefits during the Covid-19 pandemic: Qualitative findings from a cross sectional international survey. PLoS Global Public Health, 3 (1) e0001463, 1-13. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001463
2023
Journal Article
Cryptocurrency trading and its associations with gambling and mental health: a scoping review
Johnson, Benjamin, Co, Steven, Sun, Tianze, Lim, Carmen C.W., Stjepanović, Daniel, Leung, Janni, Saunders, John B. and Chan, Gary C.K. (2023). Cryptocurrency trading and its associations with gambling and mental health: a scoping review. Addictive Behaviors, 136 107504, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107504
2023
Journal Article
Associations between social media use and loneliness in a cross-national population: do motives for social media use matter?
Bonsaksen, Tore, Ruffolo, Mary, Price, Daicia, Leung, Janni, Thygesen, Hilde, Lamph, Gary, Kabelenga, Isaac and Geirdal, Amy Østertun (2023). Associations between social media use and loneliness in a cross-national population: do motives for social media use matter?. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 11 (1) 2158089, 2158089. doi: 10.1080/21642850.2022.2158089
2022
Journal Article
A longitudinal cohort study observed increasing perfectionism and declining resilience, ambiguity tolerance and calling during medical school which is not explained by student personality
Eley, Diann S., Leung, Janni and Cloninger, Kevin M. (2022). A longitudinal cohort study observed increasing perfectionism and declining resilience, ambiguity tolerance and calling during medical school which is not explained by student personality. BMC Medical Education, 22 (1) 784, 784. doi: 10.1186/s12909-022-03850-5
2022
Journal Article
Non-medical use of pharmaceutical opioids with and without other illicit substance use: Trends from two repeated nationally representative Australian surveys
Leung, Janni, Stjepanovic, Daniel, Vu, Giang, Lim, Carmen, Anandan, Aathavan Shanmuga, Hall, Wayne, Connor, Jason and Chan, Gary (2022). Non-medical use of pharmaceutical opioids with and without other illicit substance use: Trends from two repeated nationally representative Australian surveys. Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports, 5 100118, 1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.dadr.2022.100118
2022
Journal Article
Mental health service utilization in a low resource setting: A qualitative study on perspectives of health professionals in Northwest Ethiopia
Mekonen, Tesfa, Chan, Gary C. K., Belete, Tilahun, Menberu, Melak, Davidson, Lily, Hides, Leanne and Leung, Janni (2022). Mental health service utilization in a low resource setting: A qualitative study on perspectives of health professionals in Northwest Ethiopia. PLoS One, 17 (11) e0278106, 1-13. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278106
2022
Journal Article
Trends and socio-demographic differences of cannabis vaping in the USA and Canada
Lim, Carmen C. W., Chan, Gary C. K., Wadsworth, Elle, Stjepanović, Daniel, Chiu, Vivian, Chung, Jack Y. C., Sun, Tianze, Connor, Jason, Leung, Janni, Gartner, Coral, Hall, Wayne and Hammond, David (2022). Trends and socio-demographic differences of cannabis vaping in the USA and Canada. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (21) 14394, 14394. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192114394
2022
Journal Article
Retrospective self-reports of how adolescent substance use changed with the COVID-19 pandemic
Leung, Janni, Quinn, Catherine, Carlyle, Molly, Ellem, Rhiannon, Tisdale, Calvert, Davidson, Lily, White, Melanie J., Kavanagh, David J. and Hides, Leanne (2022). Retrospective self-reports of how adolescent substance use changed with the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (20) 13680, 1-10. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192013680
2022
Conference Publication
Perceived loneliness, peer and parental relationship with smoking: A cross-sectional analysis of adolescents across South-East Asia
McClure-Thomas, Caitlin, Lim, Carmen C. W., Sebayang, Susy, Fausiah, Fitri, Farassania, Ghea, Gouda, Hebe and Leung, Janni (2022). Perceived loneliness, peer and parental relationship with smoking: A cross-sectional analysis of adolescents across South-East Asia. HOBOKEN: WILEY.
2022
Conference Publication
Does second-hand smoking mass-media campaign increase public awareness and reduce second-hand smoke exposure? A systematic review
Lim, Carmen C. W., McClure-Thomas, Caitlin, Stjepanovic, Daniel, Cheng, Brandon, Sebayang, Susy, Fausiah, Fitri, Farassania, Ghea, Maidin, Alimin, Ansariadi, Ansariadi, Gartner, Coral, Scheurer, Roman, Chan, Gary C. K., Gouda, Hebe and Leung, Janni (2022). Does second-hand smoking mass-media campaign increase public awareness and reduce second-hand smoke exposure? A systematic review. APSAD 2022 Conference, Darwin, NT Australia, 9–12 October 2022. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2022
Conference Publication
Systematic review and meta-analysis of the level of cannabis use in the sub-Saharan region
Belete, Habte, Mekonen, Tesfa, Ambaw, Fentie, Chan, Gary C. K., Hides, Leanne and Leung, Janni (2022). Systematic review and meta-analysis of the level of cannabis use in the sub-Saharan region. APSAD 2022 Conference, Darwin, NT, Australia, 9-12 October 2022. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2022
Conference Publication
Prevalence of participation in a tobacco, alcohol or other drug treatment program - Findings from the 2019 Australian National Drug Strategy Household Survey
Chiu, Vivian, Mekonen, Tesfa and Leung, Janni (2022). Prevalence of participation in a tobacco, alcohol or other drug treatment program - Findings from the 2019 Australian National Drug Strategy Household Survey. APSAD 2022 Conference, Darwin, NT, Australia, 9-12 October 2022. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2022
Conference Publication
Adolescent exposure to advertisements and promotions for tobacco products on the internet
Leung, Janni, Foo, Shaun, McClure-Thomas, Caitlin, Lim, Carmen C. W., Fausiah, Fitri, Farassania, Ghea, Gouda, Hebe and Sebayang, Susy (2022). Adolescent exposure to advertisements and promotions for tobacco products on the internet. HOBOKEN: WILEY.
2022
Journal Article
#TurntTrending: a systematic review of substance use portrayals on social media platforms
Rutherford, Brienna N., Lim, Carmen C. W., Johnson, Benjamin, Cheng, Brandon, Chung, Jack, Huang, Sandy, Sun, Tianze, Leung, Janni, Stjepanović, Daniel and Chan, Gary C. K. (2022). #TurntTrending: a systematic review of substance use portrayals on social media platforms. Addiction, 118 (2), 206-217. doi: 10.1111/add.16020
2022
Journal Article
Age at first alcohol‐related hospital separation or emergency department presentation and rate of re‐admission: a retrospective data linkage cohort of young Australians
Yuen, Wing S., Leung, Janni, Man, Nicola, Chiu, Vivian, Gisev, Natasa, Livingston, Michael, Degenhardt, Louisa, Farrell, Michael, Pearson, Sallie‐Anne, Dobbins, Timothy, Dunlop, Adrian, Mattick, Richard P. and Peacock, Amy (2022). Age at first alcohol‐related hospital separation or emergency department presentation and rate of re‐admission: a retrospective data linkage cohort of young Australians. Drug and Alcohol Review, 41 (7), 1577-1588. doi: 10.1111/dar.13529
2022
Journal Article
Mood and anxiety symptoms in persons taking prescription opioids: a systematic review with meta-analyses of longitudinal studies
Leung, Janni, Santo, Thomas, Colledge, Samantha, Mekonen, Tesfa, Thomson, Kate, Degenhardt, Louisa, Connor, Jason P., Hall, Wayne and Stjepanović, Daniel (2022). Mood and anxiety symptoms in persons taking prescription opioids: a systematic review with meta-analyses of longitudinal studies. Pain Medicine, 23 (8), 1442-1456. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnac029
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Janni Leung is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Available Dissertation and Thesis Topics (No International Scholarships Available)
How to apply – Send your CV, academic transcript, and cover letter to <j.leung1@uq.edu.au>
- Epidemiology of mental and substance use disorders
- Harmful alcohol use and alcohol use disorders
- Video gaming addiction in youth and across different population groups
- Smoking in South-East Asia
- Substance use treatment service use
- Cost-effectiveness of addiction interventions
*Propose your own topics. Research projects would be suitable to those:
- Highly motivated, proactive, and self-directed
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Has completed or is enrolled to complete the UQ library workshop on systematic reviews and database searching
- Able to travel to St Lucia, The University of Queensland
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Areas of RHD supervision
- Psychiatry epidemiology
- Alcohol use disorders
- Alcohol drinking behavior
- Tobacco smoking
- Gaming addiction
- Video game play behaviours
- Injecting drug use
- Person who inject drugs
- Substance use
- Substance dependence
- Substance abuse
- Drug use disorders
- Amphetamine / methamphetamine
- Cocaine / Heroin
- Marijuana / Cannabis
- Psycho-stimulants
- Mental health and mental disorders
- Depression & anxiety
- Public attitudes
- Burden of disease
- Treatment rates and treatment gaps
- Risk factors and outcomes of substance use
- Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Medicinal Cannabis Use in Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Wayne Hall, Dr Daniel Stjepanovic
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Doctor Philosophy
Enhancing self-confidence in school-aged adolescents for prevention impulsive behaviors (substance addiction, risky sexual behavior, gambling and internet addiction) and mental illnesses
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan, Professor Leanne Hides, Dr Carmen Lim
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Doctor Philosophy
Adolescent exposure to online cannabis advertisements
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jason Connor, Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan, Dr Tesfa Yimer
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Doctor Philosophy
Impacts of Cannabis Use and Cannabis Vaping - Insight into Australian Cannabis Policies
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Wayne Hall, Dr Daniel Stjepanovic, Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan
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Doctor Philosophy
Learning from the opioid crisis - Preventing the proliferation of prescription stimulant for non-medical use
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Wayne Hall, Dr Daniel Stjepanovic, Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan, Dr Natalie Thomas
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Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating the Public Health Impacts of Vaping Product Use
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jason Connor, Emeritus Professor Wayne Hall, Professor Coral Gartner, Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan
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Doctor Philosophy
Social media and substance use among young people
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jason Connor, Dr Daniel Stjepanovic, Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Utilisation of data linkage to determine the long-term health and substance use outcomes of residential substance use treatment
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Leanne Hides, Dr Dominique De Andrade
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Mental health services in low resource settings: Treatment gap, service utilization, and barriers to mental health service use
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan, Professor Leanne Hides
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Cannabis Legalisation: An Empirical Analysis Causes of Attitudinal Change in the U.S. and Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Wayne Hall, Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan, Professor Leanne Hides
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Emerging trends of cannabis vaping in the USA and Canada: Prevalence, correlates, and online presence
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jason Connor, Emeritus Professor Wayne Hall, Dr Daniel Stjepanovic, Professor Coral Gartner, Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Janni Leung directly for media enquiries about:
- Disease burden
- Mental health
- Substance abuse
- Substance dependence
- Substance use
Need help?
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