Research Fellow, The ORIGINS Project
BA (Hons), MPsych, PhD
Dr Lisa Gibson is a research fellow at Telethon Kids Institute and an adjunct research fellow at The University of Western Australia. She has a Master of Developmental Psychology and PhD from The University of Western Australia.
Since joining the Telethon Kids Institute in 2005, Dr Gibson has led Healthway-funded projects, developing and testing community-based interventions for children with obesity and their families, and was awarded a Healthway research fellowship aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles among overweight and obese mothers in pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Since 2014, Lisa has held the position of stakeholder management lead on The ORIGINS Project – a pregnancy cohort study based at Joondalup Health Campus, establishing and nurturing a community and participant reference group to provide input and feedback on all aspects of the project. As a research fellow on ORIGINS, Lisa also leads two sub-projects – “Nature Play & Grow” and “Community Wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic”.
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Publications
October 2023
The Right Advice, from the Right Person, in the Right Way: Non-Engaged Consumer Families’ Preferences for Lifestyle Intervention Design Relating to Severe Obesity in Childhood
Family-based lifestyle interventions for children/adolescents with severe levels of obesity are numerous, but evidence indicates programs fail to elicit short- or longer-term weight loss outcomes. Families with lived experience can provide valuable insight as we strive to improve outcomes from programs. Our aim was to explore elements that families desired in a program designed to treat severe levels of obesity in young people.
Diabetes (Type 1) Published research Early Childhood Development ORIGINS Diabetes and Obesity Psychology of Active, Healthy Living Child and adolescent healthJun 2023‘It’s been a lifelong thing for me’: parents’ experiences of facilitating a healthy lifestyle for their children with severe obesity
For parents and guardians, assisting children/adolescents with severe obesity to lose weight is often a key objective but a complex and difficult challenge. Our aim in this study was to explore parents' (and guardians') perspectives on the challenges they have faced in assisting their children/adolescents with severe obesity to lead a healthy lifestyle.
ORIGINS Diabetes and Obesity Subsite: ORIGINS Project Psychology of Active, Healthy LivingOctober 2022Strengthening Peer Mentoring Relationships for New Mothers: A Qualitative Analysis
The transition to motherhood can be challenging, especially for first-time mothers, and can accompany maternal distress. Social support—such as that offered by peers—can be important in assisting mothers to manage such distress.
Published research ORIGINS Psychology of Active, Healthy LivingAugust 2022Longitudinal changes in wellbeing amongst breastfeeding women in Australia and New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted new mothers’ wellbeing and breastfeeding experience. Women have experienced changes in birth and postnatal care and restricted access to their support network. It is unclear how these impacts may have changed over time with shifting rates of infection and policies restricting movement and access to services in Australia and New Zealand.
Published research Breastfeeding Infectious Diseases ORIGINS COVID-19August 2022Understanding Engagement in Digital Mental Health and Well-being Programs for Women in the Perinatal Period: Systematic Review Without Meta-analysis
Pregnancy and the postnatal period can be a time of increased psychological distress, which can be detrimental to both the mother and the developing child. Digital interventions are cost-effective and accessible tools to support positive mental health in women during the perinatal period.
Published research ORIGINS Technology & KidsAugust 2022The impact a Mediterranean Diet in the third trimester of pregnancy has on neonatal body fat percentage
Maternal diet during pregnancy has long been recognised as an important determinant of neonatal outcomes and child development. Infant body composition is a potentially modifiable risk factor for predicting future health and metabolic disease.
Published research Early Childhood Development Nutrition ORIGINS Subsite: ORIGINS ProjectFebruary 2008Clustering of psychosocial symptoms in overweight children
The aims of the present study were to (i) examine the relationship between children's degree of adiposity and psychosocial functioning; and (ii) compare patterns of clustering of psychosocial measures between healthy weight and overweight/obese children.
Published research Early Childhood Development Nutrition Human Development and Community Wellbeing ORIGINS Diabetes and Obesity Subsite: ORIGINS ProjectJune 2007The role of family and maternal factors in childhood obesity
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between a child's weight and a broad range of family and maternal factors.
Published research Nutrition Human Development and Community Wellbeing ORIGINS Diabetes and ObesityAugust 2021Comparison of experiences in two birth cohorts comprising young families with children under four years during the initial Covid-19 lockdown in Australia and the UK: A qualitative study
This study aims to understand the experience and impact of the initial COVID-19 lock-down in young families with children aged below 4 years. Free text questions were administered to participants in the ORIGINS (Australia) and Born in Bradford (UK) cohort studies to collect qualitative information on worries, concerns and enjoyable experiences during the pandemic.
Published research Early Childhood Development ORIGINS Subsite: ORIGINS Project COVID-19June 2021Can positive mindsets be protective against stress and isolation experienced during the covid-19 pandemic? A mixed methods approach to understanding emotional health and wellbeing needs of perinatal women
The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between emotional health and wellbeing and support needs of perinatal women during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to understand their experiences and need for support. This is a potentially vulnerable group and a critical developmental phase for women and infants.
Published research ORIGINS Subsite: ORIGINS Project COVID-19May 2021Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD): The importance of life-course and transgenerational approaches
With well-established evidence that early life conditions have a profound influence on lifespan and health-span, new interventional birth cohorts are examining ways to optimise health potential of individuals and communities. These are aimed at going beyond preventing disease, to the conditions that facilitate flourishing from an early age.
Published research ORIGINS Subsite: ORIGINS ProjectMay 2021Wellbeing of breastfeeding women in australia and new zealand during the covid‐19 pandemic: A cross‐sectional study
During the COVID-19 pandemic, breastfeeding women have experienced restricted access to support, placing them at increased risk of mental health concerns and limited breastfeeding assistance. This study investigated the effect of the pandemic on feeding choices and maternal wellbeing amongst breastfeeding mothers living in Australian and New Zealand. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey that examined feeding methods, maternal mental wellbeing, worries, challenges, and positive experiences during the pandemic.
Published research Subsite: ORIGINS ProjectNovember 2021A peer support intervention for first-time mothers: Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the mummy buddy program
The transition to motherhood, although joyous, can be highly stressful, and the availability of professional postpartum support for mothers is often limited. Peer volunteer support programs may offer a viable and cost-effective method to provide community-based support for new mothers. The aim of this study is to determine the feasibility of a peer volunteer support program-The Mummy Buddy Program-in which experienced volunteer mothers are paired with, and trained to offer social support to, first-time mothers.
Published research Early Childhood Development ORIGINS Subsite: ORIGINS ProjectSeptember 2020Introducing the ORIGINS project: a community-based interventional birth cohort
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) pose the greatest threat to human health globally. The dramatic rise in early onset NCDs - such as childhood obesity, the allergy epidemic and an increasing burden of mental ill health in children and youth - reflect the profound early impact of modern environments on developing systems.
March 2020The Impact of Externally Worn Diabetes Technology on Sexual Behavior and Activity, Body Image, and Anxiety in Type 1 Diabetes
Wearable technologies impact upon sexual activity and this influences the decision to adopt the technology
Diabetes (Type 1) Published research ORIGINS Diabetes and Obesity Youth Mental HealthJanuary 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 ProjectJuly 2017The psychosocial burden of childhood overweight and obesity: evidence for persisting difficulties in boys and girls
Overweight and obese children reported greater psychosocial distress than healthy weight children, and these differences were more pronounced for girls than boys.
Published research Bullying Depression and Anxiety ORIGINS Youth Mental Health Subsite: ORIGINS ProjectNovember 2016Childhood Overweight and Obesity: Maternal and Family Factors
The need to target prevention and intervention efforts for childhood overweight and obesity towards families with overweight parents
Published research Nutrition Human Development and Community Wellbeing ORIGINS Diabetes and ObesityApril 2014Maternal and family factors and child eating pathology: Risk and protective relationships
This study aimed to identify maternal and family factors that may predict increases or decreases in child eating disorder symptoms over time, accounting for...
Published research Nutrition ORIGINS Diabetes and Obesity Subsite: ORIGINS ProjectAugust 2013Childhood obesity: what we have learnt from our failure to engage mothers in our intervention
With more than one in four Australian children overweight or obese, and the significant risks this poses for health problems like asthma, depression,...
Published research Human Development and Community Wellbeing ORIGINS Subsite: ORIGINS Project -
Education and Qualifications
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Awards/Honours
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Active Collaborations