
Overview
Background
Professor John Cairney is the Head of School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences. He is an academic leader in the field of paediatric exercise medicine and child health research and is particularly well-known for his work on developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and its impact on the health and well-being of children. Prof John Cairney started at UQ in January 2020.
Until the end of 2019, he was the Director of Graduate Studies in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto and Director of the Infant and Child Health (INCH) Research Laboratory at both the University of Toronto and McMaster University. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the Departments of Public Health Sciences and Psychiatry at the University of Toronto and Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University and a core scientist with the Offord Centre for Child Studies, CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research at McMaster University, and the independent Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences.
Professor Cairney completed his PhD studies at the University of Western Ontario and has held academic appointments at Brock University, the University of Toronto and McMaster University before his current UQ role. He has held, among other research leadership positions, a Canada Research Chair in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, and a Professorship in Child Health, and subsequently a Research Chair, in the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University.
Professor Cairney has been the recipient of ~$A17 million in research grants as a principal investigator and has some 310 published works with a Scopus h index of 51 (Aug 2022).
Professor Cairney is a former President of the North American Society of Pediatric Exercise Medicine.
Availability
- Professor John Cairney is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Research interests
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Physical activity and health
Professor Cairney's broad interest is in the association between physical activity and health (physical and mental), with a specific interest in the role that physical activity plays in the health and quality of life of children with chronic disease.
Research impacts
From 2012-2015, Professor John Cairney co-led the evaluation of the multi-ministerial Children’s Mental Health Strategy in Canada, and since 2013 he has been the Scientific Lead of the screening arm of the Special Needs Strategy for Children in Ontario. These roles have allowed him to influence policy development in Ontario.
Works
Search Professor John Cairney’s works on UQ eSpace
2008
Journal Article
What should we do to help children with DCD
Cairney, John (2008). What should we do to help children with DCD. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 50 (8), 566-566. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8749.2008.03056.x
2008
Book Chapter
Tracking the relationship between motor proficiency and BMI over a 24-month period among Canadian school children
Hay, J., Veldhuizen, S. and Cairney, J. (2008). Tracking the relationship between motor proficiency and BMI over a 24-month period among Canadian school children. Children and Exercise XXIV. (pp. 129-133) Routledge Taylor & Francis Group. doi: 10.4324/9780203890851
2008
Journal Article
Characteristics of physically active smokers and implications for harm reduction
DeRuiter, Wayne K., Faulkner, Guy, Cairney, John and Veldhuizen, Scott (2008). Characteristics of physically active smokers and implications for harm reduction. American Journal of Public Health, 98 (5), 925-931. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2007.120469
2008
Journal Article
Screening for motor coordination challenges in children using teacher ratings of physical ability and activity
Faught, Brent E., Cairney, John, Hay, John, Veldhuizen, Scott, Missiuna, Cheryl and Spironello, Cristina A. (2008). Screening for motor coordination challenges in children using teacher ratings of physical ability and activity. Human Movement Science, 27 (2), 177-189. doi: 10.1016/j.humov.2008.02.001
2008
Journal Article
Generalized self-efficacy and performance on the 20-metre shuttle run in children
Cairney, John, Hay, John A., Faught, Brent E., Léger, Luc and Mathers, Brittany (2008). Generalized self-efficacy and performance on the 20-metre shuttle run in children. American Journal of Human Biology, 20 (2), 132-138. doi: 10.1002/ajhb.20690
2008
Journal Article
Perceived unmet need for mental health care for Canadians with co-occurring mental and substance use disorders
Urboanoski, Karen A., Cairney, John, Bassani, Diego G. and Rush, Brian R. (2008). Perceived unmet need for mental health care for Canadians with co-occurring mental and substance use disorders. Psychiatric Services, 59 (3), 283-289. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.59.3.283
2008
Journal Article
Comorbid depression and anxiety in later life: Patterns of association, subjective well-being, and impairment
Cairney, John, Coma, Laurie M., Veldhuizen, Scott, Herrmann, Nathan and Streiner, David L. (2008). Comorbid depression and anxiety in later life: Patterns of association, subjective well-being, and impairment. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 16 (3), 201-208. doi: 10.1097/01.JGP.0000300627.93523.c8
2008
Journal Article
Re: The social causes of psychosis in North American psychiatry: A review of a disappearing literature [3]
Cairney, John (2008). Re: The social causes of psychosis in North American psychiatry: A review of a disappearing literature [3]. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 53 (1), 74-74. doi: 10.1177/070674370805300116
2008
Journal Article
The social epidemiology of affective and anxiety disorders in later life in Canada
Cairney, John, Corna, Laurie M., Veldhuizen, Scott, Kurdyak, Paul and Streiner, David L. (2008). The social epidemiology of affective and anxiety disorders in later life in Canada. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 53 (2), 104-111. doi: 10.1177/070674370805300205
2008
Journal Article
Negative life events and age-related decline in mastery: Are older adults more vulnerable to the control-eroding effect of stress?
Cairney, John and Krause, Neal (2008). Negative life events and age-related decline in mastery: Are older adults more vulnerable to the control-eroding effect of stress?. Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 63 (3). doi: 10.1093/geronb/63.3.S162
2008
Journal Article
Left-handedness and developmental coordination disorder
Cairney, John, Schmidt, Louis A., Veldhuizen, Scott, Kurdyak, Paul, Hay, John and Faught, Brent E. (2008). Left-handedness and developmental coordination disorder. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 53 (10), 696-699. doi: 10.1177/070674370805301009
2008
Journal Article
The epidemiology of psychiatric disorders in Quebec's older adult population
Préville, Michel, Boyer, Richard, Grenier, Sébastien, Dubé, Micheline, Voyer, Philippe, Punti, Rosita, Baril, Marie-Claire, Streiner, David L., Cairney, John and Brassard, Joëlle (2008). The epidemiology of psychiatric disorders in Quebec's older adult population. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 53 (12), 822-832. doi: 10.1177/070674370805301208
2008
Journal Article
The impact of a smoking cessation policy on visits to a psychiatric emergency department
Kurdyak, Paul, Cairney, John, Sarnocinska-Hart, Anna, Callahan, Russell C. and Strike, Carol (2008). The impact of a smoking cessation policy on visits to a psychiatric emergency department. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 53 (11), 779-782. doi: 10.1177/070674370805301110
2007
Journal Article
Evaluating the CSAPPA subscales as potential screening instruments for developmental coordination disorder
Cairney, John, Veldhuizen, Scott, Kurdyak, Paul, Missiuna, Cheryl, Faught, Brent E. and Hay, John (2007). Evaluating the CSAPPA subscales as potential screening instruments for developmental coordination disorder. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 92 (11), 987-991. doi: 10.1136/adc.2006.115097
2007
Journal Article
Panic disorder in later life: Results from a national survey of Canadians
Corna, Laurie M., Cairney, John, Herrmann, Nathan, Veldhuizen, Scott, McCabe, Laura and Streiner, David (2007). Panic disorder in later life: Results from a national survey of Canadians. International Psychogeriatrics, 19 (6), 1084-1096. doi: 10.1017/S1041610207004978
2007
Journal Article
Substance abuse and quality of life among severely mentally ill consumers
Urbanoski, Karen A., Cairney, John, Adlaf, Edward and Rush, Brian (2007). Substance abuse and quality of life among severely mentally ill consumers. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 42 (10), 810-818. doi: 10.1007/s00127-007-0236-6
2007
Journal Article
Comparison of anthropometry and parent-reported height and weight among nine year olds
Banach, Alayna, Wade, Terrance J., Cairney, John, Hay, John A., Faught, Brent E. and O'Leary, Deborah D. (2007). Comparison of anthropometry and parent-reported height and weight among nine year olds. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 98 (4), 251-253. doi: 10.1007/bf03405397
2007
Journal Article
Developmental coordination disorder and reported enjoyment of physical education in children
Cairney, John, Hay, John, Mandigo, James, Wade, Terrance, Faught, Brent E. and Flouris, Andreas (2007). Developmental coordination disorder and reported enjoyment of physical education in children. European Physical Education Review, 13 (1), 81-98. doi: 10.1177/1356336X07072678
2007
Journal Article
The sensitivity of the K6 as a screen for any disorder in community mental health surveys: A cautionary note
Veldhuizen, Scott, Cairney, John, Kurdyak, Paul and Streiner, David L. (2007). The sensitivity of the K6 as a screen for any disorder in community mental health surveys: A cautionary note. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 52 (4), 256-259. doi: 10.1177/070674370705200408
2007
Journal Article
Epidemiology of social phobia in later life
Cairney, John, McCabe, Laura, Veldhuizen, Scott, Corna, Laurie M., Streiner, David and Herrmann, Nathan (2007). Epidemiology of social phobia in later life. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 15 (3), 224-233. doi: 10.1097/01.JGP.0000235702.77245.46
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor John Cairney is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
The motor development of preschool children in the digital age
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Interventions to increase physical activity in children and youth with Autism
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stewart Trost, Dr Michalis Stylianou, Dr Jessica Hill
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Doctor Philosophy
Examining the Efficacy of Attentional Focus Instruction on Typically and Atypically Developing Young Learners Performing a Postural Control Task
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy, Dr Gregore Iven Mielke
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Doctor Philosophy
Health literacy of rheumatic heart disease within non-family based care
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kai Wheeler
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Doctor Philosophy
Developing a Motor Assessment Tool that is Feasible for Autistic Children with High Support Needs
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy, Associate Professor Emma Beckman
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Doctor Philosophy
Innovating physical literacy in childhood through the co-design of the MobMoves program
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Murray Phillips, Dr Kai Wheeler
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the Cultural Determinants of Physical Literacy in Diverse Communities
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kai Wheeler
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Doctor Philosophy
Co-designing trauma informed practices for Exercise Physiologists working with children
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kai Wheeler
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
The Development and Evaluation of a Self-Report Instrument to Measure Early Childhood Educators' Physical Literacy Capabilities, Knowledge, and Practices
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Michalis Stylianou
Media
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