Senior Research Fellow, National Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellow
BSc (1st Class Hons), PhD W.Aust.
Associate Professor Hayley Christian AM has more than 18 years’ professional experience in health promotion practice, health promotion research project management and health promotion teaching and research. To help people enjoy good health and wellbeing throughout their lives, Professor Christian’s research focuses on improving children’s physical activity, health and wellbeing through multi-level interventions that are focused on the child, the family, and social and built environments. This includes identifying strategies to create healthy early childhood education and care environments, and investigating how the home and neighbourhood environment shapes children’s health and development.
To make an impact on a wider scale, Professor Christian and her team work closely with government, non-government organisations, professional bodies and the private sector to identify and implement programs and policies to help children establish healthy behaviours early to provide the foundation for lifelong health.
Professor Christian is a Senior Research Fellow and National Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellow. She leads the PLAYCE (PLAY Spaces and Environments for Children’s Physical Activity, Health & Development) program of research, which is a multidisciplinary team focused on turning challenges into opportunities to make a positive difference in people’s health.
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Projects
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Publications
March 2024
A great way to bring up health behaviour topics at playgroup: a qualitative evaluation of the Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup program
The early years is a critical stage to establish optimal nutrition and movement behaviours. Community playgroups are a relaxed environment for parents with a focus on social connection and supporting parents in their role as 'First Teachers'. Playgroups are therefore an opportunistic setting to promote health behaviours in the early years.
Published research Nutrition Playgroups Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Physical activityFebruary 2024Organizational readiness and implementation fidelity of an early childhood education and care-specific physical activity policy intervention: findings from the Play Active trial
Many children do not accumulate sufficient physical activity for good health and development at early childhood education and care (ECEC). This study examined the association between ECEC organizational readiness and implementation fidelity of an ECEC-specific physical activity policy intervention.
Published research Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Physical activity Child careFebruary 2024Introducing the Cochrane Nutrition & Physical Activity Thematic Group
Improving nutrition and physical activity is a global health priority. Within Cochrane’s new production model, Thematic Groups (TG) with specialist content and review methods expertise have been established. The purpose of TGs is to support the development and dissemination of high-quality evidence syntheses on priority issues.
Published research Nutrition Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Physical activityJanuary 2024Interpregnancy interval and adverse birth outcomes: a population-based cohort study of twins
To investigate associations between interpregnancy intervals (IPIs) and adverse birth outcomes in twin pregnancies.
Published research Human Development and Community Wellbeing Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Maternal healthJanuary 2024Association between preschooler outdoor play and home yard vegetation as measured by high resolution imagery: Findings from the PLAYCE study
Outdoor play in the home yard is an important source of physical activity for many preschoolers. This study investigated if home yard size and vegetation are related to preschooler outdoor play time.
Published research Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Physical activityJanuary 2024Longitudinal effects of dog ownership, dog acquisition, and dog loss on children’s movement behaviours: findings from the PLAYCE cohort study
Regular physical activity is important for children's physical and mental health, yet many children do not achieve recommended amounts of physical activity. Dog ownership has been associated with increased physical activity in children, however, there have been no longitudinal studies examining this relationship.
Published research Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Physical activityOctober 2023The built environment and child obesity: A review of Australian policies
Child obesity is a serious public health challenge affected by both individual choice and societal and environmental factors. The main modifiable risk factors for child obesity are unhealthy eating and low levels of physical activity, both influenced by aspects of the built environment.
Published research Nutrition Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Food and Nutrition Child and adolescent health Physical activityJun 2023Neighborhood Places for Preschool Children's Physical Activity: A Mixed-Methods Study Using Global Positioning System, Geographic Information Systems, and Accelerometry Data
This study adds to the current literature by using a novel device-based method to explore where preschool children are physically active outside of home and childcare settings. This study combined accelerometry with geospatial data to explore the influence of the environment on preschool children's physical activity by objectively identifying the locations where preschool children engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) within and outside of their neighborhood.
Published research Early Childhood Development Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Geospatial Mapping Physical activityJun 2023Adaptations to scale-up an early childhood education and care physical activity intervention for real-world availability — Play Active
Adaptations for scale-up are ubiquitous but are rarely described in detail. Adaptations may be a key reason for the "scale-up penalty" which is when there is a reduction in intervention effect size following scale-up. The Play Active intervention consists of a physical activity policy for early childhood education and care (ECEC) services, with accompanying implementation support strategies.
Published research Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Kids Rehab Research WA Child and adolescent health Physical activityApril 2023Movement behavior policies in the early childhood education and care setting: An international scoping review
Meeting 24-h movement behavior guidelines for the early years is associated with better health and development outcomes in young children. Early childhood education and care (ECEC) is a key intervention setting however little is known about the content and implementation of movement behavior polices in this context. To inform policy development this international scoping review examined the prevalence, content, development and implementation of ECEC-specific movement behavior policies.
Published research Early Childhood Development Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentMay 2023The moderating role of parent perceptions in relationships between objectively measured neighbourhood environment attributes and pre-schooler's physical activity: Findings from the PLAYCE study
We examined the moderating effects of parent perceptions of the neighbourhood environment on associations between objectively measured neighbourhood environment attributes and physical activity among pre-schoolers. The number of neighbourhood parks was positively associated with pre-schooler energetic play when parents had above average perceptions of access to services.
Published research Early Childhood Development Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentApril 2023Play Active physical activity policy intervention and implementation support in early childhood education and care: results from a pragmatic cluster randomised trial
Policy interventions to increase physical activity in early childhood education and care (ECEC) services are effective in increasing physical activity among young children. However, a large proportion of ECEC services do not have nor implement a physical activity policy.
Published research Early Childhood Development Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Food and Nutrition Kids Rehab Research WAApril 2023The impact of weather on time allocation to physical activity and sleep of child-parent dyads
Previous studies showed that unfavourable weather conditions discourage physical activity. However, it remains unclear whether unfavourable weather conditions have a differential impact on physical activity in children compared with adults.
Published research Early Childhood Development Human Development and Community Wellbeing Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentFebruary 2023Young children's use of blue spaces and the impact on their health, development and environmental awareness: A qualitative study from parents' perspectives
This study examined how families with young children access and use different types of blue spaces and the health and development benefits, and potential negative effects.
Published research Early Childhood Development Child and adolescent healthMay 2022Parents' Perceptions of the Neighbourhood Built Environment Are Associated with the Social and Emotional Development of Young Children
The influence of the neighbourhood built environment on young children's physical development has been well-documented; however, there is limited empirical evidence of an association with social and emotional development. Parental perceptions of the neighbourhood built environment may act as facilitators or barriers to young children's play and interactions in their local environment. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between parents' perceptions of the neighbourhood built environment and the social-emotional development of children aged two-to-five years.
Published research Early Childhood Development Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentJune 2022Causal Impact of Physical Activity on Child Health and Development
The relationship between physical activity and child health and development is well-documented, yet the extant literature provides limited causal insight into the amount of physical activity considered optimal for improving any given health or developmental outcome.
Published research Early Childhood Development Human Development and Community Wellbeing Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentMay 2022A mobile health intervention to encourage physical activity in children: a randomised controlled trial
Despite immense benefits of physical activity on health and developmental outcomes, few children achieve recommended daily levels of physical activity. Given more than half of families with children own a dog, we investigated the effect of a mobile health (mHealth) intervention to encourage dog-facilitated physical activity through increased family dog walking and children's active play with their dog.
Published research Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentNovember 2022The community food environment and its association with diet, health or weight status in Australia: A systematic review with recommendations for future research
This study systematically reviewed Australian literature to determine if an association exists between geospatial exposure to food outlets and diet, health or weight status. Recommendations for future research are provided.
Published research Nutrition Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Food and NutritionOctober 2022How does the school built environment impact students’ bullying behaviour? A scoping review
School bullying is a public health concern affecting the physical and mental health of children and young people. While school-based interventions to prevent bullying have been developed internationally, the effectiveness of many interventions has been mixed and modest.
Published research Parenting & Families Bullying Human Development and Community Wellbeing School Attendance Food and Nutrition Youth mental healthOctober 2022Built Environments And Child Health in WalEs and AuStralia (BEACHES): a study protocol
Childhood obesity and physical inactivity are two of the most significant modifiable risk factors for the prevention of non-communicable diseases. Yet, a third of children in Wales and Australia are overweight or obese, and only 20% of UK and Australian children are sufficiently active.
Published research Parenting & Families Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Geospatial Health and Development Child and adolescent healthAugust 2022Where are preschoolers active in childcare centers? A hot-spot analysis using GIS, GPS and accelerometry data
This study investigated where preschool children were more or less active in outdoor play areas in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) centers using a novel method of combined device-measured physical activity, spatial data and on-site audit data.
Published research Early Childhood Development Playgroups Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentJune 2022Associations between the built environment and emotional, social and physical indicators of early child development across high and low socioeconomic neighbourhoods
Emerging evidence indicates that the built environment influences early child development. Access to, and the quality of, built environment features vary with the socioeconomic status (SES) of neighbourhoods. It has not yet been established whether the association between built environment features and early child development varies by neighbourhood SES.
Published research Early Childhood Development Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentMay 2022Educators’ Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity Policy Implementation in the Childcare Setting: Qualitative Findings From the Play Active Project
We explored childcare educators’ perceived barriers and facilitators to policy implementation in order to inform the development and implementation of an early childhood education and care (ECEC) specific physical activity policy. This study was part of the Play Active (2019-2023) project which aimed to develop, implement and evaluate evidence-based physical activity policy to improve physical activity levels in children attending ECEC.
Published research Early Childhood Development Human Development and Community Wellbeing Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentMay 2022Is early childhood development impeded by the birth timing of the younger sibling?
This study investigated whether the timing of birth of the younger siblings was associated with the risk of the older siblings’ developmental vulnerability in early childhood.
Published research Early Childhood Development Human Development and Community Wellbeing Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentNovember 2021Built Environments and Child Health: A Policy Review’, Life Course Centre Working Paper Series, 2021-22
Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century and is affected not only by individual choice but also by societal and environmental influences. Childhood obesity is higher in children living in regional and remote compared with major cities, in one-parent families and for those with a disability.
Published research Nutrition Human Development and Community Wellbeing Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Geospatial Health and DevelopmentJuly 2021The impact of weather on time allocation to physical activity and sleep of child-parent dyads - Life Course Centre Working Paper Series 2021
This study explores the differential impact of weather on time allocation to physical activity and sleep by children and their parents. We use nationally representative data with time use indicators objectively measured on multiple occasions for more than 1,100 child-parent pairs, coupled with daily meteorological data.
Published research Human Development and Community Wellbeing Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentMarch 2022A cross-sectional study of factors associated with regular dog walking and intention to walk the dog
Dog walking is important for public health and dog welfare, yet some owners do not walk with their dogs regularly. This study examined factors associated with participation in regular dog walking and intention to dog walk, in order to inform physical activity interventions.
Published research Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentJune 2022Meeting the Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years is associated with better social-emotional development in preschool boys
24-hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years promote that achieving all three-movement behaviour (sleep, sedentary behaviour and physical activity) recommendations is important for child health and development. We examined the association between meeting all, none and combinations of the Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years and social-emotional development in 1363 preschool (2-5 years) boys (52%) and girls.
Published research Early Childhood Development Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Food and NutritionApril 2021Prevalence and pattern of energy drink intake among Australian adolescents
Energy drinks (ED) are popular among young people despite evidence of associated health risks. Research into the prevalence and pattern of ED intake among young people is sparse. The present study investigates the prevalence and pattern of ED intake among a large sample of adolescents, including how many consume them, how often, for what reasons and in what contexts.
Published research Early Childhood Development Nutrition Human Development and Community Wellbeing Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Food and NutritionApril 2021Energy drink intake is associated with insomnia and decreased daytime functioning in young adult females
To investigate the association between energy drink (ED) use and sleep-related disturbances in a population-based sample of young adults from the Raine Study.
Published research Nutrition Child Disability Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Food and Nutrition Raine studyMarch 2021The relationship between dog ownership, dog play, family dog walking, and pre-schooler social-emotional development: findings from the PLAYCE observational study
Regular physical activity provides children with health and developmental benefits. This study investigated if active play and walking with the family dog was associated with better social-emotional development in young children.
Published research Early Childhood Development Human Development and Community Wellbeing Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentFebruary 2022Association between preschooler movement behaviours, family dog ownership, dog play and dog walking: Findings from the PLAYCE study
Physical inactivity in childhood is a major public health issue. Dog ownership has been widely reported to lead to greater physical activity in adults and school-aged children. We examined if dog ownership and dog-facilitated physical activity were associated with higher physical activity in preschoolers. Secondary analysis of the 'Play Spaces & Environments for Children's Physical Activity' (PLAYCE, 2015-2018) study involving 1366, 2-5-year-olds from 122 long day-care centres in Perth, Australia was conducted.
Published research Early Childhood Development Playgroups Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentMarch 2022Individual, Social, and Environmental Correlates of Energy Drink Use Among Adolescents
To investigate the correlates of adolescent energy drink use using a socioecological approach to inform future interventions.
Published research Nutrition Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Food and NutritionFebruary 2022Evaluating the effectiveness of the Play Active policy intervention and implementation support in early childhood education and care: a pragmatic cluster randomised trial protocol
Daily physical activity is critical during the early years of life for facilitating children's health and development. A large proportion of preschool children do not achieve the recommended 3 h of daily physical activity. Early childhood education and care (ECEC) services are a key setting to intervene to increase physical activity. There is a significant need for ECEC specific physical activity policy, including clearer guidelines on the amount of physical activity children should do during care, and strategies for implementation of these guidelines.
Published research Early Childhood Development Human Development and Community Wellbeing Playgroups Bacterial Respiratory Infectious Disease Group Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Food and NutritionFebruary 2022Interventions to Improve Child Physical Activity in the Early Childhood Education and Care Setting: An Umbrella Review
Early childhood education and care (ECEC) services are a key setting to support improvements in the physical activity of young children. This umbrella review gathered and synthesised systematic review evidence of the effectiveness of interventions in the ECEC setting on the physical activity levels of children aged 0–6.
Published research Early Childhood Development Playgroups Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentNovember 2021Is vegetation cover in key behaviour settings important for early childhood socioemotional function? A preregistered, cross-sectional study
The environmental influences on early childhood development are understudied. The association between vegetation cover (i.e., trees, shrubs, grassed areas) in four key behaviour settings and socioemotional functioning was investigated in 1196 young children (2–5 years).
Published research Playgroups Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentDecember 2021Active transport research priorities for Australia
To advance active transport, robust policy-relevant evidence is needed to understand how to change behaviour and to support decision-making by policy makers and practitioners. Currently, however, priority research questions that are most critical for advancing active transport have not been identified.
Published research Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentNovember 2021The relationship between physical activity, self-regulation and cognitive school readiness in preschool children
Limited research exists on the pathways through which physical activity influences cognitive development in the early years. This study examined the direct and indirect relationships between physical activity, self-regulation, and cognitive school readiness in preschool children.
Published research Early Childhood Development Human Development and Community Wellbeing School Attendance Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentSeptember 2021Study protocol for Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup: a multi-site cluster randomized controlled trial of an intervention to promote healthy lifestyle behaviours in young children attending community playgroups
Early childhood is a critical window for preventing obesity and chronic disease. Yet, 1 in 4 Australian children aged 5 years and under are affected by overweight or obesity; and significant proportions of children under 5 years fail to meet guidelines for diet quality, physical activity (PA), screen time, and sleep.
Published research Early Childhood Development Nutrition Playgroups Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Technology & KidsJuly 2021Gestational age and child development at school entry
Studies have reported a dose-dependent relationship between gestational age and poorer school readiness. The study objective was to quantify the risk of developmental vulnerability for children at school entry, associated with gestational age at birth and to understand the impact of sociodemographic and other modifiable risk factors on these relationships. Linkage of population-level birth registration, hospital, and perinatal datasets to the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC), enabled follow-up of a cohort of 64,810 singleton children, from birth to school entry in either 2009, 2012, or 2015.
Published research Early Childhood Development School Attendance Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentMay 2021The association between preschooler physical activity duration and intensity and social emotional development: Findings from the PLAYCE study
Social emotional development is imperative to young children's long-term psychological and physical health. Physical activity (PA) may be important for young children's social emotional development. The association between preschooler PA duration and intensity and social emotional development was investigated.
Published research Early Childhood Development Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentJune 2021Longitudinal evidence of the impact of dog ownership and dog walking on mental health
Emerging evidence supports the physical health and social benefits of dog ownership. This study examined the longitudinal effect of dog ownership and dog walking on mental health.
Published research Depression and Anxiety Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentApril 2021Exposomes and metabolic health through a physical activity lens: a narrative review
In this narrative review, we provide an overview of the role of physical activity as part of differing exposomes (our combined non-genetic exposures from conception onwards) and environmental influences on metabolic health. We discuss 'beneficial' exposomes (green/natural outdoor spaces, sun exposure, healthy diets and features of built environments) that could synergise with physical activity to prevent metabolic dysfunction, particularly that related to lifestyle diseases of obesity, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
Published research Diabetes and Obesity Respiratory Environmental Health Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentMarch 2021Barriers and motivators for preschoolers playing and walking with their dog: Results from qualitative research
A large proportion of preschoolers do not meet the recommended three hours of daily physical activity. A potential source of daily physical activity could be that provided via the family dog. This qualitative study aimed to explore the barriers and motivators to preschoolers playing with their dog and participating in family dog walks.
Published research Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentMarch 2021Impact of covid-19 restrictions on western Australian children’s physical activity and screen time
Physical activity is essential for children’s healthy development, yet COVID-19 physical distancing restrictions such as school closures and staying at home, playground closures, and the cancelling of organised community sport have dramatically altered children’s opportunities to be physically active. This study describes changes in levels of physical activity and screen time from February 2020 (i.e., before COVID-19 restrictions were introduced in Western Australia) to May 2020 (i.e., when COVID-19 restrictions were in place). Parents of children aged 5 to 9 years from Western Australia were eligible to participate and recruited through convenience sampling.
Published research Infectious Diseases Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Technology & KidsJanuary 2021A study protocol for a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a dog-facilitated physical activity minimal intervention on young children's physical activity, health and development: the PLAYCE PAWS trial
Pet ownership brings many health benefits to individuals. In children developmental benefits can extend to improved self-esteem, better social competence and decreased loneliness. The majority of households with children own a dog, however only a small proportion of children gain the benefits of dog ownership through dog walking and play. There are few intervention studies investigating the impact of dog-facilitated physical activity in children. The PLAYCE PAWS study aims to test a minimal-contact intervention through the use of mobile health ("mhealth") strategies, i.e. text (SMS) messages, to parents to encourage their children to walk and play with their dog more, and evaluate the impact on children's overall physical activity and development.
Published research Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentNovember 2020Consumption of energy drinks is associated with depression, anxiety, and stress in young adult males: Evidence from a longitudinal cohort study
Energy drinks (EDs) claim to boost mental performance, however, few studies have examined the prospective effects of EDs on mental health. This study examined longitudinal associations between ED use and mental health symptoms in young adults aged 20 years over a 2-year period.
Published research Child Health, Development & Education Depression and Anxiety Youth Health Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentJuly 2020Understanding obesity among companion dogs: New measures of owner's beliefs and behaviour and associations with body condition scores
The findings provide a method for assessing a wide range of factors that may be associated with obesity among companion dogs
Published research Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentMay 2020Pets Are Associated with Fewer Peer Problems and Emotional Symptoms, and Better Prosocial Behavior: Findings from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children
Pets may protect children from developing social-emotional problems and should be taken into account when assessing child development and school readiness
Published research Human Development and Community Wellbeing Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentApril 2020The influence of the early childhood education and care environment on young children’s physical activity
The PLAYCE Study instruments provide reliable measures of early childhood education and care physical activity environments
Published research Early Childhood Development Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentApril 2020Children's neighbourhood physical environment and early development: an individual child level linked data study
The neighbourhood physical environment has a weak but significant association with early childhood development
Published research Early Childhood Development Human Development and Community Wellbeing Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentApril 2020Living liveable? RESIDE's evaluation of the “Liveable Neighborhoods” planning policy on the health supportive behaviors and wellbeing of residents in Perth
New suburban communities built in accordance with the “Liveable Neighbourhoods” policy have the potential to encourage health supportive behaviors
Published research Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Food and NutritionJanuary 2020Feasibility of conducting an early pregnancy diet and lifestyle e-health intervention: The Pregnancy Lifestyle Activity Nutrition (PLAN) project
A lifestyle intervention starting in the first-trimester pregnancy utilising e-health mode of delivery is feasible
Published research Nutrition ORIGINS Diabetes and Obesity Subsite: ORIGINS ProjectJanuary 2020The effect of upgrades to childcare outdoor spaces on preschoolers’ physical activity: Findings from a natural experiment
This natural experiment investigated the influence of early childhood education and care outdoor physical environment upgrade on preschoolers' physical activity
Published research Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentJanuary 2020Nature play and fundamental movement skills training programs improve childcare educator supportive physical activity behavior
Both the Nature play and fundamental movement skills professional development programs were effective in improving educators’ self-efficacy to engage children
Published research Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentJanuary 2020Exploring stakeholders' perceptions of the acceptability, usability, and dissemination of the australian 24-hour movement guidelines for the early years
This study examined stakeholders' perceptions regarding the acceptability, usability, and dissemination of the Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines
Published research Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentDecember 2019Shade coverage, ultraviolet radiation and children’s physical activity in early childhood education and care
The provision of shade, particularly through natural forms such as tree canopy, is an important sun protection strategy and enabler of outdoor time
Published research Child Physical Activity, Health and Development -
Education and Qualifications
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