Senior Research Fellow
PhD, MPH, BSc
Dr Jacinta Francis is a Senior Research Fellow at Telethon Kids Institute. She is a public health researcher with over 20 years of research experience exploring how built, social and policy environments improve the social and emotional health of children and their families.
Dr Francis has worked across a wide range of public health and health promotion projects aiming to improve mental health and wellbeing, bullying prevention, safety, physical activity, and nutrition. Her projects have been conducted in schools, neighbourhoods, and online settings with a diverse range of children and families, including children with neurodiversity and paediatric patients with chronic health conditions.
Dr Francis’ current research interests include mental health promotion; bullying prevention; social inclusion; sense of community; built environments; restorative spaces; and food environments.
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Projects
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Publications
January 2022
The Effects of Using the Sun Safe App on Sun Health Knowledge and Behaviors of Young Teenagers: Results of Pilot Intervention Studies
A balanced approach toward sun exposure and protection is needed by young people. Excessive sun exposure increases their risk for skin cancers such as melanoma, whereas some exposure is necessary for vitamin D and healthy bones. We have developed a new iOS smartphone app-Sun Safe-through a co-design process, which aims to support healthy and balanced decision-making by young teenagers (aged 12-13 years).
Published research Vitamin D and Sunlight Cardiometabolic Sunhealth Subsite: CliniKids Technology & Kids School and Community WellbeingNovember 2022School Built Environments and Bullying Behaviour: A Conceptual Model Based on Qualitative Interviews
Interest in how the school built environment impacts bullying behaviour has gained momentum in recent years. While numerous studies have identified locations within schools where bullying frequently occurs, few studies have investigated the potential conceptual pathways linking school locations to bullying behaviour.
Published research Bullying Human Capability School Attendance Food and NutritionNovember 2022School staff responses to student reports of bullying: A scoping review
Bullying in schools has been associated with poor academic and mental health outcomes in students. While students are often encouraged to report bullying incidents to school staff, some students avoid reporting incidents as they lack faith in staff members ability to intervene.
Published research Bullying School Attendance 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 School Attendance Food and Nutrition Youth mental health School and Community WellbeingSeptember 2022‘It’s All About Context’: Building School Capacity to Implement a Whole-School Approach to Bullying
Student bullying behaviours are a significant social issue in schools worldwide. Whilst school staff have access to quality bullying prevention interventions, schools can face significant challenges implementing the whole-school approach required to address the complexity of these behaviours.
Published research Parenting & Families Child Health, Development & Education Bullying School Attendance School and Community WellbeingAugust 2022Gender-Neutral Toilets: A Qualitative Exploration of Inclusive School Environments for Sexuality and Gender Diverse Youth in Western Australia
School toilets have been identified by sexuality and gender diverse (SGD) students as the least safe spaces in educational institutions. They are sites of verbal, physical and sexual victimisation.
Published research Parenting & Families Gender Diversity Youth Mental Health School and Community WellbeingAugust 2022A Gender Lens on User Quality Ratings From Young Teenagers Assessing the Sun Safe App: Comparing Responses From Co-researchers and Participants of Pilot Intervention Studies
We developed the iOS smartphone app Sun Safe to support healthy sun practices in young teenagers (aged 12-13 years). The production involved co-design with young co-researchers (ie, aged 12-13 years) with a health message of using sun protection when the UV index is ≥3. Important features include real-time and location-specific weather data on the UV index and gamified educational content.
Published research Vitamin D and Sunlight Cardiometabolic Sunhealth Food and NutritionNovember 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 DevelopmentMarch 2020Developing a smartphone application to support social connectedness and wellbeing in young people with cystic fibrosis
This study developed and tested a highly usable, and moderately acceptable, smartphone app to improve the psychosocial health of young people living with CF
Cystic Fibrosis Published research School and Community WellbeingOctober 2017Informing Intervention Strategies to Reduce Energy Drink Consumption in Young People: Findings From Qualitative Research
Determining young people's knowledge of energy drink (EDs), factors influencing ED consumption and intervention strategies to lower ED consuption in youth.
Published research Food and Nutrition -
Education and Qualifications