Overview
Background
I am an Honorary Researcher with the Parenting and Family Support Centre at UQ, and a Lecturer at Central Queensland University. My research focuses on the prevention and treatment of behavioural problems in children and adolescents, with an emphasis on the impact of quality parenting on important developmental skills and outcomes, including positive development, physical activity and self-regulation. Recent research includes trials of online parenting support and brief, targeted parenting groups, alongside investigations into the parenting challenges and support needs of particular groups of parents, such as FIFO workers and parents of adolescents. Areas of current work include a partnership with the NRL to develop a new online induction program for parents of junior rugby league players to promote positive parental behaviour in the sporting context; ways to enhance the capacity of early childhood educators to promote children’s prosocial behaviour and reduce child behaviour problems; and the influence of strong parent-adolescent relationships in the positive development and mental health of young people. This latter research area includes the development of adolescent-specific measures of adolescent functioning, parenting, and the parent-adolescent relationship.
I have authored >20 publications in the area of parenting and child behaviour, and have presented or been a co-author on >30 conference presentations and invited addresses. I was awarded a UQ Early Career Researcher Award in 2013. I have an h-index of 11, and have been cited over 300 times in the past 5 years. I have also supervised 15 postgraduate research students to completion. My 2015 Masters student was awarded the APS College of Counselling Psychologists Award for Best Thesis. I am also a co-author on a new variant of Triple P, the Positive Early Childhood Education program, which uses blended modalities to train early childhood educators in behaviour modification strategies. I am also a registered psychologist with AHPRA.
Please note that I am not available for Honours or PhD supervision at the University of Queensland.
Availability
- Dr Cassandra Dittman is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Psychological Science, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Works
Search Professor Cassandra Dittman’s works on UQ eSpace
2019
Journal Article
Promoting self-regulation in young children: The role of parenting interventions
Morawska, Alina, Dittman, Cassandra K. and Rusby, Julie C. (2019). Promoting self-regulation in young children: The role of parenting interventions. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 22 (1), 43-51. doi: 10.1007/s10567-019-00281-5
2019
Other Outputs
Positive Early Childhood Education program
Turner, Karen M. T., Sanders, Matthew R., Dittman, Cassandra and Rusby, Julie R. (2019). Positive Early Childhood Education program. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Triple P International.
2019
Other Outputs
Positive Early Childhood Education Program [4-module interactive online program]
Turner, Karen M. T., Sanders, Matthew R., Dittman, Cassandra K. and Rusby, Julie R. (2019). Positive Early Childhood Education Program [4-module interactive online program]. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Triple P International.
2018
Conference Publication
The development of the Positive Early Childhood Education Program (PECE)
Turner, K. M. T., Dittman, C., Sanders, M. R. and Rusby, J.C. (2018). The development of the Positive Early Childhood Education Program (PECE). 19th Helping Families Change Conference, Santa Rosa, CA United States, 28 February - 2 March 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Predictors of completion and positive outcomes in Triple P Online programs
Day, J. J., Baker, S., Dittman, C., Turner, K. M. T., Sanders, M. R., Love, S. and Franke, N. (2018). Predictors of completion and positive outcomes in Triple P Online programs. 19th Helping Families Change Conference, Santa Rosa, CA United States, 28 February - 2 March 2018.
2018
Book Chapter
Long-distance parenting: the impact of parental separation and absence due to work commitments on families
Dittman, Cassandra (2018). Long-distance parenting: the impact of parental separation and absence due to work commitments on families. Handbook of parenting and child development across the lifespan. (pp. 511-533) edited by Matthew R. Sanders and Alina Morawska. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-94598-9_22
2018
Book Chapter
Parenting support in an early childhood learning context
Turner, Karen M. T., Dittman, Cassandra, Rusby, Julie C. and Lee, Shawna (2018). Parenting support in an early childhood learning context. The power of positive parenting: transforming the lives of children, parents, and communities using the Triple P system. (pp. 242-251) edited by Matthew R. Sanders and Trevor G. Mazzucchelli. Sydney, Australia: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/med-psych/9780190629069.003.0021
2018
Book Chapter
Training a workforce to implement evidence-based parenting programs
Ralph, Alan and Dittman, Cassandra (2018). Training a workforce to implement evidence-based parenting programs. The power of positive parenting: transforming the lives of children, parents, and communities using the Triple P system. (pp. 371-382) edited by Matthew R. Sanders and Trevor G. Mazzucchelli. Sydney, Australia: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/med-psych/9780190629069.003.0034
2018
Book Chapter
Working FIFO with a family: the impact on children, parenting and family relationships
Dittman, Cassandra (2018). Working FIFO with a family: the impact on children, parenting and family relationships. Fly-in, Fly-out (FIFO) employment: issues and challenges. (pp. 1-1) edited by Grant Michelson and Graeme Ditchburn. Sydney, NSW Australia: Federation Publishers.
2016
Journal Article
Measuring positive and negative aspects of youth behavior: development and validation of the Adolescent Functioning Scale
Dittman, Cassandra K., Burke, Kylie, Filus, Ania, Haslam, Divna and Ralph, Alan (2016). Measuring positive and negative aspects of youth behavior: development and validation of the Adolescent Functioning Scale. Journal of Adolescence, 52 (1), 135-145. doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2016.08.002
2016
Conference Publication
Translating evidence-based behavioural family interventions for online delivery: Our experience with The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program
Turner, K. M. T., Sanders, M. R., Baker, S., Day, J. and Dittman, C. (2016). Translating evidence-based behavioural family interventions for online delivery: Our experience with The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program. 8th World Congress of Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 22-26 June 2016.
2016
Conference Publication
Development and pilot evaluation of the Positive Child Care Program for educators: Bringing a behavioural family intervention approach to early learning and childcare settings
Turner, K. M. T., Dittman, C. and Lee, S. (2016). Development and pilot evaluation of the Positive Child Care Program for educators: Bringing a behavioural family intervention approach to early learning and childcare settings. 8th World Congress of Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 22-26 June 2016.
2016
Journal Article
Associations between inattention, hyperactivity and pre-reading skills before and after formal reading instruction begins
Dittman, Cassandra K. (2016). Associations between inattention, hyperactivity and pre-reading skills before and after formal reading instruction begins. Reading and Writing, 29 (9), 1-21. doi: 10.1007/s11145-016-9652-x
2016
Journal Article
When a non-resident worker is a non-resident parent: investigating the impact of Fly-in/Fly-out work practices in Australia
Dittman, Casandra K., Henriquez, Ashley and Roxburgh, Natalie (2016). When a non-resident worker is a non-resident parent: investigating the impact of Fly-in/Fly-out work practices in Australia. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 25 (9), 2778-2796. doi: 10.1007/s10826-016-0437-2
2015
Journal Article
Erratum: What are the parenting experiences of fathers? The use of household survey data to inform decisions about the delivery of evidence-based parenting interventions to fathers
Sanders, Matthew R., Dittman, Cassandra K., Keown, Louise J., Farruggia, Sue and Rose, Dennis (2015). Erratum: What are the parenting experiences of fathers? The use of household survey data to inform decisions about the delivery of evidence-based parenting interventions to fathers. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 46 (5), 822-822. doi: 10.1007/s10578-014-0503-1
2015
Journal Article
Dealing with Disobedience: An Evaluation of a Brief Parenting Intervention for Young Children Showing Noncompliant Behavior Problems
Dittman, Cassandra K, Farruggia, Susan P, Keown, Louise J and Sanders, Matthew R (2015). Dealing with Disobedience: An Evaluation of a Brief Parenting Intervention for Young Children Showing Noncompliant Behavior Problems. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 47 (1), 102-112. doi: 10.1007/s10578-015-0548-9
2015
Journal Article
Using Father Preference Data to Increase Father Engagement in Evidence-Based Parenting Programs (vol 24, pg 937, 2015)
Frank, Tenille J., Keown, Louise J., Dittman, Cassandra K. and Sanders, Matthew R. (2015). Using Father Preference Data to Increase Father Engagement in Evidence-Based Parenting Programs (vol 24, pg 937, 2015). Journal of Child and Family Studies, 24 (5), 1530-1530. doi: 10.1007/s10826-015-0167-x
2015
Journal Article
Predicting Success in an Online Parenting Intervention: The Role of Child, Parent, and Family Factors (vol 28, pg 236, 2014)
Dittman, C. K. (2015). Predicting Success in an Online Parenting Intervention: The Role of Child, Parent, and Family Factors (vol 28, pg 236, 2014). Journal of Family Psychology, 29 (1), 140-140. doi: 10.1037/fam0000062
2014
Journal Article
Parent and adolescent effects of a universal group program for the parenting of adolescents
Chu, Joanna Ting Wai, Bullen, Pat, Farruggia, Susan P., Dittman, Cassandra K. and Sanders, Matthew R. (2014). Parent and adolescent effects of a universal group program for the parenting of adolescents. Prevention Science, 16 (4), 609-620. doi: 10.1007/s11121-014-0516-9
2014
Journal Article
Erratum: A comparison of online versus workbook delivery of a self-help positive parenting program
Sanders, Matthew R., Dittman, Cassandra K., Farruggia, Susan P. and Keown, Louise J. (2014). Erratum: A comparison of online versus workbook delivery of a self-help positive parenting program. Journal of Primary Prevention, 35 (5), 389-389. doi: 10.1007/s10935-014-0360-5
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Cassandra Dittman is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Raising voices: Examining the role of parent-directed interventions in supporting children's early language development
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Rebecca Armstrong, Professor Alina Morawska
Completed supervision
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding and increasing father involvement in Mainland China
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Divna Haslam
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Cassandra Dittman directly for media enquiries about:
- FIFO
- parenting
- parenting interventions
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