Overview
Background
Dr Cassandra Pattinson has strong research interests in exploring the effects of sleep and circadian rhythms on health, wellbeing, and recovery across the lifespan. Dr Pattinson completed her PhD through Queensland University of Technology, Faculty of Health in 2017. Her thesis explored the effects of sleep and light exposure on child health, specifically childhood obesity, in preschool children, aged 3 to 5 years. Prior to joining UQ's Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR), Dr Pattinson worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. In this role Dr Pattinson examined the effect of traumatic brain injury (TBI) on health, including the effects of TBI on protein and gene expression, as well as exploring the role of sleep on TBI-related symptom perturbation, maintenance, and recovery.
Her research has involved a range of populations from children and adolescents, through to military personnel and athletes. Dr Pattinson's research spans a range of study designs and methodologies, including longitudinal studies tracking large child cohorts (>2000 children), standard observation techniques, survey and individualised standard child assessment, as well as studies employing physiological (actigraphy, heart rate variability) and biological (hormones, proteomic, genomic) designs. Dr Pattinson also has a strong track record in research translation, these have included manuscripts in top scientific journals, reports for government and non-government organisations, development of professional development programs, as well as designing and presenting vodcasts and resources (e.g. fact sheets, workshops) to parent groups, young adults, government departments and the early childhood sector.
Dr Pattinson also prioritises research mentorship and leadership. When mentoring, she aims to create an engaging learning environment which promotes critical analysis and reflection. She has co-supervised, two PhD students (NIH). eight Masters of Developmental and Education Psychology Students (QUT), and four NIH Postbaccalaureate students (equivalent of honours) to completion. She currently supervisors two honours of Psychology students, one honours of Biomedical Science student and one PhD candidate.
Availability
- Dr Cassandra Pattinson is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Queensland University of Technology
Works
Search Professor Cassandra Pattinson’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2020
Journal Article
Excessive daytime sleepiness is associated with altered gene expression in military personnel and veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: An RNA sequencing study
Pattinson, Cassandra L., Guedes, Vivian A., Edwards, Katie, Mithani, Sara, Yun, Sijung, Taylor, Patricia, Dunbar, Kerri, Kim, Hyung-Suk, Lai, Chen, Roy, Michael J. and Gill, Jessica M (2020). Excessive daytime sleepiness is associated with altered gene expression in military personnel and veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: An RNA sequencing study. Sleep, 43 (9), 1-11. doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsaa036
Featured
2019
Journal Article
Concurrent mild traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorder is associated with elevated tau concentrations in peripheral blood plasma
Pattinson, Cassandra L., Gill, Jessica M., Lippa, Sara M., Brickell, Tracey A., French, Louis M. and Lange, Rael T. (2019). Concurrent mild traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorder is associated with elevated tau concentrations in peripheral blood plasma. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 32 (4), 546-554. doi: 10.1002/jts.22418
Featured
2018
Journal Article
Mandatory naptimes in childcare do not reduce children's cortisol levels
Thorpe, Karen J., Pattinson, Cassandra L., Smith, Simon S and Staton, Sally L. (2018). Mandatory naptimes in childcare do not reduce children's cortisol levels. Scientific Reports, 8 (1) 4545, 4545. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-22555-8
Featured
2017
Journal Article
Weighing in on international growth standards: testing the case in Australian preschool children
Pattinson, C. L., Staton, S. L., Smith, S. S., Trost, S. G., Sawyer, E. F. and Thorpe, K. J. (2017). Weighing in on international growth standards: testing the case in Australian preschool children. Obesity Reviews, 18 (10), 1111-1121. doi: 10.1111/obr.12581
Featured
2016
Journal Article
Environmental light exposure is associated with increased body mass in children
Pattinson, Cassandra L., Allan, Alicia C., Staton, Sally L., Thorpe, Karen J. and Smith, Simon S. (2016). Environmental light exposure is associated with increased body mass in children. PLoS One, 11 (1) e0143578, e0143578. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143578
Featured
2015
Journal Article
Napping, development and health from 0 to 5 years: a systematic review
Thorpe, Karen, Staton, Sally, Sawyer, Emily, Pattinson, Cassandra, Haden, Catherine and Smith, Simon (2015). Napping, development and health from 0 to 5 years: a systematic review. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 100 (7), 615-622. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2014-307241
Featured
2014
Journal Article
Emotional climate and behavioral management during sleep time in early childhood education settings
Pattinson, Cassandra L., Staton, Sally L., Smith, Simon S., Sinclair, Dominique M. and Thorpe, Karen J. (2014). Emotional climate and behavioral management during sleep time in early childhood education settings. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 29 (4), 660-668. doi: 10.1016/j.ecresq.2014.07.009
2024
Journal Article
Sleep deprivation and recovery: Endurance racing as a novel model
Mann, Dwayne L., Pattinson, Cassandra L, Allan, Alicia, St Pierre, Liam, Staton, Sally, Thorpe, Karen, Rossa, Kalina and Smith, Simon S. (2024). Sleep deprivation and recovery: Endurance racing as a novel model. European Journal of Sport Science, 24 (8), 1176-1185. doi: 10.1002/ejsc.12143
2024
Journal Article
Heart rate variability as an indicator of fatigue: A structural equation model approach
Srinivasan, Arvind Gnani, Smith, Simon S., Pattinson, Cassandra L., Mann, Dwayne, Sullivan, Karen, Salmon, Paul and Soleimanloo, Shamsi Shekari (2024). Heart rate variability as an indicator of fatigue: A structural equation model approach. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 103, 420-429. doi: 10.1016/j.trf.2024.04.015
2024
Journal Article
Reducing crash risk for young drivers: Protocol for a pragmatic randomised controlled trial to improve young driver sleep
Smith, Simon S., Rossa, Kalina R., Soleimanloo, Shamsi Shekari, Pattinson, Cassandra L., Mann, Dwayne L., Edmed, Shannon L., Salmon, Paul M. and Sullivan, Karen A. (2024). Reducing crash risk for young drivers: Protocol for a pragmatic randomised controlled trial to improve young driver sleep. Heliyon, 10 (5) e27066, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27066
2023
Journal Article
Objective measurement of posture and movement in young children using wearable sensors and customised mathematical approaches: a systematic review
Hendry, Danica, Rohl, Andrew L., Rasmussen, Charlotte Lund, Zabatiero, Juliana, Cliff, Dylan P., Smith, Simon S., Mackenzie, Janelle, Pattinson, Cassandra L., Straker, Leon and Campbell, Amity (2023). Objective measurement of posture and movement in young children using wearable sensors and customised mathematical approaches: a systematic review. Sensors, 23 (24) 9661, 1-35. doi: 10.3390/s23249661
2023
Other Outputs
Understanding sleep routines: A novel mixed methods approach to understand promoters and barriers of healthy sleep
Rossa, Kalina, Pattinson, Cassandra L., Edmed, Shannon L., Coles, Laetitia, Allan, Alicia and Smith, Simon S. (2023). Understanding sleep routines: A novel mixed methods approach to understand promoters and barriers of healthy sleep. LCC Working Paper Series. 2023-21. Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland Australia. doi: 10.14264/e03665f
2023
Journal Article
P099 Use of Digital Technology During Child Bedtime Routines: A qualitative investigation
McKenzie, J, Pattinson, C., Rossa, K., Edmed, S., Loeffler, A and Smith, S. (2023). P099 Use of Digital Technology During Child Bedtime Routines: A qualitative investigation. Sleep Advances, 4 (Supplement_1), A71-A71. doi: 10.1093/sleepadvances/zpad035.184
2023
Journal Article
Sleep duration is associated with young adult's heart rate variability response to stress
Gadam, S., Rossa, K., Pattinson, C., Shekari Soleimanloo, S., Mann, D., Salmon, P., Sullivan, K. and Smith, S. (2023). Sleep duration is associated with young adult's heart rate variability response to stress. Sleep Advances, 4 (Supplement_1) O045, A17-A17. doi: 10.1093/sleepadvances/zpad035.045
2023
Journal Article
Questioning the effectiveness of behavioural sleep interventions for infants
Pattinson, Cassandra L., Edmed, Shannon, Smith, Simon S. and Douglas, Pamela S. (2023). Questioning the effectiveness of behavioural sleep interventions for infants. The Journal of Pediatrics, 261 113335, 113335. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2023.01.012
2023
Conference Publication
Exploring environmental light exposure in children: a novel pilot spectrometer study
Pattinson, C., Mann, D., McKenzie, J., Rossa, K., Edmed, S., Westwood, E. and Smith, S. (2023). Exploring environmental light exposure in children: a novel pilot spectrometer study. 2023 Sleep DownUnder, Adelaide, SA Australia, 8-11 November 2023. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/sleepadvances/zpad035.059
2023
Journal Article
Interventions to increase sleep duration in young people: a systematic review
Gadam, Sylistah, Pattinson, Cassandra L., Rossa, Kalina R., Shekari Soleimanloo, Shamsi, Moore, Jane, Begum, Tahmina, Gnani Srinivasan, Arvind and Smith, Simon S. (2023). Interventions to increase sleep duration in young people: a systematic review. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 70 101807, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2023.101807
2023
Journal Article
The effects of light in children: a systematic review
Westwood, Emily, Smith, Simon, Mann, Dwayne, Pattinson, Cassandra, Allan, Alicia and Staton, Sally (2023). The effects of light in children: a systematic review. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 89 102062, 102062. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2023.102062
2023
Journal Article
Perceived neighborhood characteristics and sleep in Australian adults
Edmed, Shannon L., Huda, M Mamun, Pattinson, Cassandra L., Rossa, Kalina R. and Smith, Simon S. (2023). Perceived neighborhood characteristics and sleep in Australian adults. Health Education & Behavior, 51 (1), 155-166. doi: 10.1177/10901981231177687
2022
Journal Article
Identifying factors for poorer educational outcomes that may be exacerbated by COVID ‐19: A systematic review focussing on at‐risk school children and adolescents
Coles, Laetitia, Johnstone, Melissa, Pattinson, Cassandra, Thorpe, Karen, Van Halen, Olivia, Zheng, Zhaoxi, Bayliss, Olivia, Lakeman, Nicole, Western, Mark, Povey, Jenny and Staton, Sally (2022). Identifying factors for poorer educational outcomes that may be exacerbated by COVID ‐19: A systematic review focussing on at‐risk school children and adolescents. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 58 (1), 13-40. doi: 10.1002/ajs4.236
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Cassandra Pattinson is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
-
Climate anxiety and sleep disturbance
Climate change can have a negative impact on mental health, wellbeing, and potentially even sleep. Direct exposures to climate change, such as experiencing a bush fire or hurricane, can result in increased levels of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression. Climate change can also impact mental health through indirect exposures such as observing or thinking about climate change. Climate anxiety refers to the feelings of anxiety, distress, or loss one may experience when thinking about or perceiving climate change. It is important to understand how emotional responses to climate change, such as climate anxiety, relate to mental health and sleep. In particular, there is a need to understand the risk and protective factors that may position an individual as being more vulnerable or resilient to experiencing mental health conditions in response to climate anxiety. The role of sleep health in the relationship between climate anxiety and mental health is under explored. This research will explore the role of sleep health in mediating the impact of climate anxiety on mental health. This PhD will be supervised by Dr Anne Cleary and Dr Cassandra Pattinson, Institute for Social Science Research.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
A sleep extension intervention for precarious shift workers to mitigate the effects of shift work
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dwayne Mann, Professor Simon Smith
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Doctor Philosophy
Improving sleep health in young adults
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kalina Rossa, Professor Simon Smith
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Doctor Philosophy
Sleep, plasticity, and non-invasive brain stimulation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sonia Brownsett, Associate Professor Martin Sale
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Cassandra Pattinson directly for media enquiries about:
- Circadian Rhythms
- Light Exposure
- Obesity
- Sleep
- Traumatic Brain Injury
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