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Emeritus Professor Kenneth Pakenham
Emeritus Professor

Kenneth Pakenham

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Overview

Background

Kenneth Pakenham, PhD, is an Emeritus Professor of clinical and health psychology in the School of Psychology at The University of Queensland, Australia. His research and clinical practice in psychology spans 40 years. Inspired by the resilience of some people with serious illnesses, he has committed much of his career to investigating the processes that foster personal growth in the context of health adversities, and to translating his findings into interventions that help people live fully with illness. This passion has driven his empirical, theoretical and translational research, curriculum development, and clinical training and supervision. Importantly, his work has included not only the person with chronic illness, but also his or her network, particularly the carer. Through his 180+ publications, over 80 conference presentations, 3 research awards, and more than 3 million dollars of competitive grant funding, he has become a leader in the application of positive health frameworks to several chronic illnesses, and to caregiving in these contexts. His research has helped to inform government policies, particularly those related to carers, and establish interventions and assessment protocols within government and community services. The “living fully with illness” theme integrates his early research in stress/coping theory, his mid-career shift to incorporate the rise of positive psychology, and his current and future focus on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Using ACT to extend his research on living fully with illness has also invigorated his teaching. He developed the first ACT university course in Australia. This course integrates training in therapist competencies and self-care skills and shows published empirical evidence of fostering competent and resilient clinicians. Through peer reviewed publications, conference and keynote presentations, and three teaching awards, he has become a leader in integrating training in therapist and self-care competencies into clinical psychology curricula using an ACT framework. He has six teaching awards including two national teaching awards. He has supervised the postgraduate research of 53 students. He has served in many influential professional roles including: Chair of the Registration Committee of the Psychologists Board of Queensland for over 10 years, Director of The University of Queensland Psychology Clinic for 7 years, Honours Convenor for 3 years, and member of the editorial boards for six international journals.

His career-long commitment to ‘practice what you teach’ is epitomised in his recently published memoir The Trauma Banquet: Eating Pain – Feasting on Life.

Availability

Emeritus Professor Kenneth Pakenham is:
Not available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Arts, The University of Queensland
  • Bachelor (Honours), University of New South Wales
  • Masters (Coursework), The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Resilience Training

    Development, implementation, and evaluation of group and individual online ACT based resilience training interventions.

  • Mental Health Promotion

    Investigation of the psychological flexibility model of mental health promotion via theory testing studies and applied population-based intervention research.

  • Coping with Chronic Illness

    Exploration into the protective factors that enhance adaptation to chronic illness within a ‘patient’ and informal carer social context and the development of interventions that foster positive adjustment.

  • Youth Caregiving

    Research into the impacts of youth caregiving in the context of a seriously ill family member, including theory development and testing, measure construction, and intervention development.

Research impacts

The impacts of Emeritus Professor Pakenham's research has been recognised through three research awards (UQ Trailblazer Award, 2010; UQ Partners in Research Excellence Award, 2016; UQ Faculty of Health & Behavioural Sciences Staff Award for Research Translation, 2017). His research on chronic illness and caregiving has informed key government policy and service developments. For example, his definitive report on adult caregiving (Pakenham, Stebbins et al, 2005), and his young carer research findings were presented to the Director Generals of Qld Health and Community Services and government working groups responsible for the implementation of the Qld Govt. Carer Recognition Policy (2003). Subsequently, this research informed the Carers Recognition Bill (2008). In 2018 he was nominated by the Board of MS Queensland as one of the 60 most influential people in MS Queensland’s 60-year history. He has also participated on Federal Government expert panels (e.g., Expert Reference Group to develop a Carer Payment assessment tool). His expertise has also been utilised internationally. For example, he was invited to give expert testimony on young caregiving in a high profile landmark trial in USA (July 2007).

Interventions he has developed have transformed services in the chronic illness field. For example, he and a colleague developed a resilience training program called READY, which Professor Pakenhm later modified for people with MS. He and a student developed the Mindfulness for MS Program. Both programs have received research awards and have become flagship services in peak MS frontline services in Australia and internationally. Evidence shows that both programs have enhanced the quality of life of patients and their carers and the morale of staff delivering them. His interventions have also been adopted internationally. For example, the READY for MS program is used in the UK, Germany, Greece and Italy, 2 carer interventions are listed on the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (Georgia Southwestern State University, USA) catalogue of evidenced-based interventions for carers, and his young carer intervention is listed on the website of a carer Centre at Linnaeus University, Sweden and is being utilised by the MS Society of Canada.

The chronic illness and caregiving measures he has developed are extensively used in clinical and research endeavours internationally. Ten of his published measures are catalogued with international databases.

Through his RHD supervision he has also developed effective interventions that have impacted the work settings of his students. For example, a student employed by the Australian Defence Force and Prof Pakenham developed a psychological intervention for recruits undertaking basic military training, which has been incorporated into the recruit training schedule in all basic military training programs in Australia.

Works

Search Professor Kenneth Pakenham’s works on UQ eSpace

197 works between 1985 and 2024

1 - 20 of 197 works

2024

Book Chapter

ACT resilience training in multiple sclerosis

Pakenham, Kenneth I. and Giovannetti, Ambra Mara (2024). ACT resilience training in multiple sclerosis. Innovations in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Acquired Brain Injury. (pp. 6-21) London: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003193722-2

ACT resilience training in multiple sclerosis

2024

Journal Article

Internet-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Thompson, Emma M., Albertella, Lucy, Viskovich, Shelley, Pakenham, Kenneth I. and Fontenelle, Leonardo F. (2024). Internet-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 180 104595, 104595. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2024.104595

Internet-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2024

Journal Article

Pilot Evaluation of a Self-help ACT Intervention for Palliative Care Patients

Martin, Christopher L. and Pakenham, Kenneth I. (2024). Pilot Evaluation of a Self-help ACT Intervention for Palliative Care Patients. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 33 100797, 100797. doi: 10.1016/j.jcbs.2024.100797

Pilot Evaluation of a Self-help ACT Intervention for Palliative Care Patients

2024

Journal Article

Parental cancer: mediating and moderating roles of psychological inflexibility in the links between illness severity and parental quality of life and family outcomes

Landi, Giulia, Pakenham, Kenneth I., Cattivelli, Roberto, Golfieri, Lucia, Grandi, Silvana and Tossani, Eliana (2024). Parental cancer: mediating and moderating roles of psychological inflexibility in the links between illness severity and parental quality of life and family outcomes. Current Psychology, 43 (27), 1-11. doi: 10.1007/s12144-024-06008-2

Parental cancer: mediating and moderating roles of psychological inflexibility in the links between illness severity and parental quality of life and family outcomes

2024

Journal Article

Cross-cultural validity and reliability of the comprehensive assessment of acceptance and commitment therapy processes (CompACT) in people with multiple sclerosis

Giovannetti, Ambra Mara, Rosato, Rosalba, Galán, Ingrid, Toscano, Anna, Anglada, Elisenda, Menendez, Rebeca, Hoyer, Jürgen, Confalonieri, Paolo, Giordano, Andrea, Pakenham, Kenneth Ian, Pöttgen, Jana and Solari, Alessandra (2024). Cross-cultural validity and reliability of the comprehensive assessment of acceptance and commitment therapy processes (CompACT) in people with multiple sclerosis. Quality of Life Research, 33 (5), 1359-1371. doi: 10.1007/s11136-024-03609-z

Cross-cultural validity and reliability of the comprehensive assessment of acceptance and commitment therapy processes (CompACT) in people with multiple sclerosis

2023

Journal Article

Opportunities in multiple sclerosis care partner research: an interview

Finlayson, Marcia and Pakenham, Kenneth (2023). Opportunities in multiple sclerosis care partner research: an interview. International Journal of MS Care, 25 (6), 278-280. doi: 10.7224/1537-2073-25.6.278

Opportunities in multiple sclerosis care partner research: an interview

2023

Journal Article

Identification of psychological flexibility and inflexibility profiles during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Pakenham, Kenneth I., Landi, Giulia, Cattivelli, Roberto, Grandi, Silvana and Tossani, Eliana (2023). Identification of psychological flexibility and inflexibility profiles during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 79 (10), 2225-2250. doi: 10.1002/jclp.23536

Identification of psychological flexibility and inflexibility profiles during the COVID‐19 pandemic

2023

Journal Article

The mediating role of psychological flexibility in the relationship between resilience and distress and quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis

Pakenham, Kenneth I, Landi, Giulia, Grandi, Silvana and Tossani, Eliana (2023). The mediating role of psychological flexibility in the relationship between resilience and distress and quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis. Journal of Health Psychology, 29 (1), 65-80. doi: 10.1177/13591053231182364

The mediating role of psychological flexibility in the relationship between resilience and distress and quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis

2023

Journal Article

Fluctuations in mental health in students accessing a university-wide online mental health promotion intervention before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Viskovich, Shelley, Fowler, James A. and Pakenham, Kenneth I. (2023). Fluctuations in mental health in students accessing a university-wide online mental health promotion intervention before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Australian Psychologist, 58 (5), 373-387. doi: 10.1080/00050067.2023.2212150

Fluctuations in mental health in students accessing a university-wide online mental health promotion intervention before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

2023

Journal Article

A pilot randomised control trial of an online acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) resilience training program for people with multiple sclerosis

Pakenham, Kenneth I. and Landi, Giulia (2023). A pilot randomised control trial of an online acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) resilience training program for people with multiple sclerosis. Sclerosis, 1 (1), 27-50. doi: 10.3390/sclerosis1010005

A pilot randomised control trial of an online acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) resilience training program for people with multiple sclerosis

2022

Journal Article

Caregiving responsibilities and mental health outcomes in young adult carers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study

Landi, Giulia, Pakenham, Kenneth I., Cattivelli, Roberto, Grandi, Silvana and Tossani, Eliana (2022). Caregiving responsibilities and mental health outcomes in young adult carers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (22) 15149, 1-17. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192215149

Caregiving responsibilities and mental health outcomes in young adult carers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study

2022

Journal Article

Psychosocial palliative care: Patients’ preferred intervention medium, target domains, and well-being priorities

Pakenham, Kenneth and Martin, Christopher Lloyd (2022). Psychosocial palliative care: Patients’ preferred intervention medium, target domains, and well-being priorities. Palliative and Supportive Care, 22 (4) PII S1478951522001535, 1-9. doi: 10.1017/s1478951522001535

Psychosocial palliative care: Patients’ preferred intervention medium, target domains, and well-being priorities

2022

Journal Article

Post-traumatic growth in people experiencing high post-traumatic stress during the COVID-19 pandemic: the protective role of psychological flexibility

Landi, Giulia, Pakenham, Kenneth I., Mattioli, Elisa, Crocetti, Elisabetta, Agostini, Alessandro, Grandi, Silvana and Tossani, Eliana (2022). Post-traumatic growth in people experiencing high post-traumatic stress during the COVID-19 pandemic: the protective role of psychological flexibility. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 26, 44-55. doi: 10.1016/j.jcbs.2022.08.008

Post-traumatic growth in people experiencing high post-traumatic stress during the COVID-19 pandemic: the protective role of psychological flexibility

2022

Journal Article

The trajectories of anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic and the protective role of psychological flexibility: A four-wave longitudinal study

Landi, Giulia, Pakenham, Kenneth I., Crocetti, Elisabetta, Tossani, Eliana and Grandi, Silvana (2022). The trajectories of anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic and the protective role of psychological flexibility: A four-wave longitudinal study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 307, 69-78. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.03.067

The trajectories of anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic and the protective role of psychological flexibility: A four-wave longitudinal study

2022

Journal Article

A group resilience training program for people with multiple sclerosis: study protocol of a multi-centre cluster-randomized controlled trial (multi-READY for MS)

Giovannetti, Ambra Mara, Pakenham, Kenneth Ian, Presti, Giovambattista, Quartuccio, Maria Esmeralda, Confalonieri, Paolo, Bergamaschi, Roberto, Grobberio, Monica, Di Filippo, Massimiliano, Micheli, Mary, Brichetto, Giampaolo, Patti, Francesco, Copetti, Massimiliano, Kruger, Paola and Solari, Alessandra (2022). A group resilience training program for people with multiple sclerosis: study protocol of a multi-centre cluster-randomized controlled trial (multi-READY for MS). PLoS One, 17 (5) e0267245, e0267245. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267245

A group resilience training program for people with multiple sclerosis: study protocol of a multi-centre cluster-randomized controlled trial (multi-READY for MS)

2022

Journal Article

The role of psychological flexibility in palliative care

Martin, Christopher L. and Pakenham, Kenneth I. (2022). The role of psychological flexibility in palliative care. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 24, 160-170. doi: 10.1016/j.jcbs.2022.05.004

The role of psychological flexibility in palliative care

2022

Journal Article

Young adult carers during the pandemic: The effects of parental illness and other ill family members on COVID-19-related and general mental health outcomes

Landi, Giulia, Pakenham, Kenneth I., Grandi, Silvana and Tossani, Eliana (2022). Young adult carers during the pandemic: The effects of parental illness and other ill family members on COVID-19-related and general mental health outcomes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (6) 3391, 3391. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19063391

Young adult carers during the pandemic: The effects of parental illness and other ill family members on COVID-19-related and general mental health outcomes

2022

Journal Article

Cross-country adaptation of a psychological flexibility measure: the comprehensive assessment of acceptance and commitment therapy processes

Giovannetti, Ambra Mara, Pöttgen, Jana, Anglada, Elisenda, Menéndez, Rebeca, Hoyer, Jürgen, Giordano, Andrea, Pakenham, Kenneth Ian, Galán, Ingrid and Solari, Alessandra (2022). Cross-country adaptation of a psychological flexibility measure: the comprehensive assessment of acceptance and commitment therapy processes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (6) 3150, 3150. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19063150

Cross-country adaptation of a psychological flexibility measure: the comprehensive assessment of acceptance and commitment therapy processes

2022

Journal Article

Evaluation of a program for training psychologists in an acceptance and commitment therapy resilience intervention for people with multiple sclerosis: a single-arm longitudinal design with a nested qualitative study

Giovannetti, Ambra Mara, Messmer Uccelli, Michele, Solari, Alessandra and Pakenham, Kenneth I. (2022). Evaluation of a program for training psychologists in an acceptance and commitment therapy resilience intervention for people with multiple sclerosis: a single-arm longitudinal design with a nested qualitative study. Disability and Rehabilitation, 44 (22), 1-13. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2022.2025926

Evaluation of a program for training psychologists in an acceptance and commitment therapy resilience intervention for people with multiple sclerosis: a single-arm longitudinal design with a nested qualitative study

2022

Book Chapter

Self-care and burnout: a proactive values-based perspective

Rupert, Patricia A. and Pakenham, Kenneth Ian (2022). Self-care and burnout: a proactive values-based perspective. Comprehensive clinical psychology. (pp. 138-148) Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-818697-8.00102-3

Self-care and burnout: a proactive values-based perspective

Funding

Past funding

  • 2020 - 2022
    Evaluating the effectiveness of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy web-based intervention (YOLO) for individuals with subclinical Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
    Monash University
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Digitisation of READY Program for People with MS
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2021
    MS-PROACTIVE: Preventing job loss using Acceptance & Commitment Therapy in Vocational Rehabilitation- an external randomised pilot trial (MS Society Project Grant administered by University of Leeds)
    University of Leeds
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Development and evaluation of a digital resilience program for people with MS
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    For 'Caring for Self to Care for Others': scholarly leadership in integrating self-care into a psychotherapy curriculum that builds resilient clinicians able to relieve human suffering (AAUT COCSL)
    AAUT Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Digital Equipment for clinical psychology research
    UQ School/Centre Co-Funding
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2010
    Young Carers: Investigation of the Psychosocial Impact of Caregiving on Youth Who Have a Parent with an Illness or Disability
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2010
    Increasing psychosocial resilience and physical activity for heart health: a randomised trial of the READY (REsilience and Activity every DaY) program
    National Heart Foundation of Australia
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    Investigation of the Psychosocial Needs and Issues of Parents with MS and their Children: Informing Practice and Policy
    Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia
    Open grant
  • 2004
    Search for Meaning in Chronic Illness
    University of Queensland Research Development Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2004
    Development of benefit finding measures for people with MS and their carers
    Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2006
    Predictive Genetic Testing for Adult-Onset Disorders: An Investigation of Coping and Adaptation Over Time
    University of Queensland Research Development Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2001 - 2002
    Caregiver Stress Research Project
    Queensland Health
    Open grant
  • 2001 - 2003
    The impact of men's stress on their health and roles: a comparison of rural, remote and urban families
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2001 - 2002
    The influence of psychological treatments, gender and coping styles on adjustment, immunity and health for cardiac patients.
    Wesley Merdical Research
    Open grant
  • 1997 - 1998
    AIDS prevention in adolescents: utility of motivation model and intervention
    PHRDC - Project Grants
    Open grant
  • 1996 - 1997
    AIDS volunteer work: application of a stress/coping model and intervention
    PHRDC - Project Grants
    Open grant
  • 1996 - 1997
    Evaluation of a psychological intervention for people with MS and their carers
    National Multiple Sclerosis Society of Australia
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Emeritus Professor Kenneth Pakenham is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Final ACT - Quality of Life for Palliative Patients and their Families, the role of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Fiona Maccallum

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Final ACT - Quality of Life for Palliative Patients and their Families, the role of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Fiona Maccallum

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Final ACT - Quality of Life for Palliative Patients and their Families, the role of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Fiona Maccallum

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Emeritus Professor Kenneth Pakenham directly for media enquiries about:

  • caregiving - children
  • carers
  • chronic illness - adjusting
  • chronic illness - coping
  • Clinical health psychology
  • disability - carers
  • illness - carers
  • meaning making processes - psychology
  • Positive psychology

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