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
2015
Conference Publication
Group napping patterns in relation to duration of mandatory naptimes in childcare settings
Staton, S., Hurst, C., Pattinson, C., Smith, S. and Thorpe, K. (2015). Group napping patterns in relation to duration of mandatory naptimes in childcare settings. 29th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, Seattle, WA, United States, 6 - 10 June 2015. Cary, NC, United States: Oxford University Press.
2015
Journal Article
Characteristics of children who do not nap in childcare
Smith, S., Neil, E., Thorpe, K., Pattinson, C. and Staton, S. (2015). Characteristics of children who do not nap in childcare. Sleep, 38, A391-A391.
2015
Conference Publication
Characteristics of children who do not nap in childcare
Smith, S., Neil, E., Thorpe, K., Pattinson, C. and Staton, S. (2015). Characteristics of children who do not nap in childcare. SLEEP, Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS), Seattle, WA United States, 2015.
2015
Conference Publication
Parent preferences regarding napping for their preschool children
Thorpe, K., Sinclair, D., Staton, S., Pattinson, C. and Smith, S. (2015). Parent preferences regarding napping for their preschool children. European Conference on Developmental Psychology (ECDP), Braga, Portugal, 2015.
2014
Conference Publication
Mandatory sleep practices in early childhood education and care settings: Implications for children's night-time sleep
Staton, S., Smith, S., Pattinson, C. and Thorpe, K. (2014). Mandatory sleep practices in early childhood education and care settings: Implications for children's night-time sleep. AARE-NZARE conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, November 2014.
2014
Conference Publication
Sleep, Eat Play: Childcare as settings to establish lifetime foundations of physical and emotional health
Thorpe, K., Staton, S., Pattinson, C. and Smith, S. (2014). Sleep, Eat Play: Childcare as settings to establish lifetime foundations of physical and emotional health. Australia-China Centre for Public Health Research Forum, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 2 August 2014.
2014
Conference Publication
Mandatory sleep time in childcare associated with increased day-time napping and decreased duration of night-time sleep
Staton, Sally, Pattinson, Cassandra, Smith, Simon and Thorpe, Karen (2014). Mandatory sleep time in childcare associated with increased day-time napping and decreased duration of night-time sleep. Sleep DownUnder 2014 ASM, Sleep Frontiers, 26th ASM of Australasian Sleep Association and Australasian Sleep Technologists Association, Perth, WA Australia, 9–11 October 2014. Springer Nature. doi: 10.1111/sbr.12082
2014
Conference Publication
Impact of sleep practices in childcare settings on child well-being
Thorpe, K., Staton, S., Marriott, A., Pattinson, C. and Smith, S. (2014). Impact of sleep practices in childcare settings on child well-being. SLEEP, Conference of the American Sleep Medicine Association, United States, 2014.
2014
Conference Publication
The relationship between history of childcare and age of cessation of napping in preschool aged children
Staton, S., Smith, S., Pattinson, C. and Thorpe, K. (2014). The relationship between history of childcare and age of cessation of napping in preschool aged children. Conference of the American Sleep Medicine Association, United States, 2014. Basel, Switzerland: S. Karger.
2014
Conference Publication
Impact of sleep practices in childcare on child well-being: a focus for policy and practice
Thorpe, K., Staton, S., Pattinson, C., Marriot , A. and Smith, S. (2014). Impact of sleep practices in childcare on child well-being: a focus for policy and practice. Society for Research in Child Development. Strengthening Connections among Child and Family Research, Policy and Practice, Alexandria, VA United States, 2014.
2014
Conference Publication
Sleep and weight status of Australian children: The effects of day, night and total sleep
Pattinson, Cassandra, Smith, Simon, Staton, Sally and Thorpe, Karen (2014). Sleep and weight status of Australian children: The effects of day, night and total sleep. Sleep DownUnder 2014 ASM, Sleep Frontiers, 26th ASM of Australasian Sleep Association and Australasian Sleep Technologists Association, Perth, WA Australia, 9–11 October 2014. London, United Kingdom: Springer Nature. doi: 10.1111/sbr.12082
2014
Journal Article
Impact of sleep practices in childcare on child well being
Thorpe, K., Staton, S., Pattinson, C. and Smith, S. (2014). Impact of sleep practices in childcare on child well being. Sleep, 37, A304.
2014
Conference Publication
Are sleep policies and practices in childcare a cause for concern?
Thorpe, K., Staton, S., Smith, S. and Pattinson, C. (2014). Are sleep policies and practices in childcare a cause for concern?. SRCD conference: Connecting policy Practice and Research, Alexandria Old Town, VA, United States, 2014.
2013
Conference Publication
Group differences in diurnal salivary cortisol patterns in relation to sleep practices in childcare
Staton, S., Smith, S., Pattinson, C. and Thorpe, K. (2013). Group differences in diurnal salivary cortisol patterns in relation to sleep practices in childcare. Sleep DownUnder 2013, River of Dreams, 25th ASM of Australasian Sleep Association and Australasian Sleep Technologists Association, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 17–19 October 2013. London, United Kingdom: Springer. doi: 10.1111/sbr.12028
2013
Conference Publication
Problem nappers: are they really a problem?
Neil, E., Staton, S., Smith, S., Pattinson, C. and Thorpe, K. (2013). Problem nappers: are they really a problem?. Sleep DownUnder 2013, River of Dreams, 25th ASM of Australasian Sleep Association and Australasian Sleep Technologists Association, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 17–19 October 2013. London, United Kingdom: Springer. doi: 10.1111/sbr.12028
2013
Conference Publication
Observing emotional climate of sleep time in early childhood education and care settings
Pattinson, C., Staton, S., Smith, S. and Thorpe, K. (2013). Observing emotional climate of sleep time in early childhood education and care settings. Sleep DownUnder 2013, River of Dreams, 25th ASM of Australasian Sleep Association and Australasian Sleep Technologists Association, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 17–19 October 2013. London, United Kingdom: Springer. doi: 10.1111/sbr.12028
2013
Conference Publication
Napping in preschoolers: staff beliefs and experiences in early childhood centres
Inglis, J., Staton, S., Smith, S., Pattinson, C. and Thorpe, K. (2013). Napping in preschoolers: staff beliefs and experiences in early childhood centres. Sleep DownUnder 2013, River of Dreams, 25th ASM of Australasian Sleep Association and Australasian Sleep Technologists Association, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 17–19 October 2013. London, United Kingdom: Springer.
2013
Conference Publication
Carers beliefs about the value of sleep time in childcare settings
Inglis, J., Staton, S., Pattinson, C., Smith, S. and Thorpe, K. (2013). Carers beliefs about the value of sleep time in childcare settings. Sleep Down-under, Australasian Sleep Association, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, October 2013.
2013
Conference Publication
Observing emotional climate of sleep time in early childhood education and care settings: application of the CLASS
Pattinson, C., Staton, S., Smith, S. and Thorpe, K. (2013). Observing emotional climate of sleep time in early childhood education and care settings: application of the CLASS. The Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), Seattle, WA United States, 2013.
2013
Conference Publication
The child’s perspective of sleep time in full-day child care centres
Northard, M., Staton, S., Pattinson, C., Smith, S. and Thorpe, K. (2013). The child’s perspective of sleep time in full-day child care centres. Sleep DownUnder 2013, River of Dreams, 25th ASM of Australasian Sleep Association and Australasian Sleep Technologists Association, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 17–19 October 2013. London, United Kingdom: Springer. doi: 10.1111/sbr.12028
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Cassandra Pattinson is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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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
Sleep, plasticity, and non-invasive brain stimulation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sonia Brownsett, Associate Professor Martin Sale
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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
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Cassandra Pattinson directly for media enquiries about:
- Circadian Rhythms
- Light Exposure
- Obesity
- Sleep
- Traumatic Brain Injury
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