Timothy Budden
Honorary Research Associate
BSc PhD
Tim is an Associate Lecturer at The University of Western Australia and a member of the PAHL group. Tim’s research focuses on developing and evaluating community health programs and understanding the experiences of people in a variety of health contexts (e.g., men’s health, veteran’s health, families, cardio-vascular disease, and mental illness), with a particular emphasis on qualitative research methods and mixed methods approaches. Tim has expertise in conducting qualitative research and is particularly interested in understanding people’s experiences by employing novel qualitative research approaches (e.g., narrative psychology). Tim’s work has been published in leading international outlets including Psychology of Sport and Exercise, and Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health.
At UWA, Tim’s teaching focuses on psychological and social aspects of exercise, health, and sport, and he teaches two courses in the Sport Science, Exercise and Health department at UWA. These include SSEH2270, a second-year undergraduate course on social psychology and how it relates to sport, exercise, and health, and a fourth-year unit for the Honours and Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology courses, SSEH4664, which focuses on understanding behaviour change and psychological principles that can be leveraged to promote exercise and health behaviour. Tim is also an editorial board member for the international journal, Stress & Health.
Projects
The Growth and Resilience in Teachers program (GRIT): Evaluation of a Co- Designed Program for High School Teacher Wellbeing
Mental health problems are prevalent in working populations worldwide. Researchers attribute many of these issues to rising work pressures, which can lead to the development of conditions such as depression, anxiety, distress, and burnout.
Purpose After Service through Sport (PASS): Supporting Military Veterans and their Families
Veterans who transition out of the military often face substantive challenges during their move to civilian life, including the management of their health, identifying opportunities for employment, contributing to the financial and emotional functioning of their household, and developing high-quality social connec
A sport-based mental health intervention for children at risk of mental illness
We know that sport, when the appropriate environment is provided, can be an enriching experience for children – with many physical and mental health benefits.
Parent and Child Engagement in Family-oriented Therapies for Childhood Obesity
This project will be conducted in conjunction with the Perth Childrens Hospital Health Weight Service (PCHHWS) and will involve three phases.
The Stride Program
Young adults, aged 18-24 years, are currently experiencing the highest rates of mental health challenges relative to the general population.
May 2022
Published research
Physical activity interventions for the promotion of mental health outcomes in at-risk children and adolescents: a systematic review
Many young people are exposed to risk factors that increase their risk of mental illness. Physical activity provision is an increasingly popular approach to protect against mental illness in the face of these risk factors. We examined the effectiveness of physical activity interventions for the promotion of mental health outcomes in at-risk children and adolescents.
Barriers and enablers to promoting grandchildren’s physical activity and reducing screen time: a qualitative study with Australian grandparents
With an increasing number of grandparents providing care to their grandchildren, calls have been made for these caregivers to be considered important stakeholders in encouraging children's engagement in health-promoting behaviors, such as physical activity.
Australian children's physical activity and screen time while in grandparental care
The objective of this study was to explore Australian children's engagement in physical activity and screen time while being cared for by their grandparents.
Parents on the Concept of Physical Literacy: What Do They Know, What Do They Do, and What Do They Want?
Physical literacy development in early childhood, viewed by many as the foundation for lifelong physical activity engagement, is significantly influenced by parents. Our aim was to explore parents' understanding of physical literacy and gain insight into their perspectives on physical literacy promotion.
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.
The Stride program: Feasibility and pre-to-post program change of an exercise service for university students experiencing mental distress
Rates of mental illness are disproportionately high for young adult and higher education (e.g., university student) populations. As such, universities and tertiary institutions often devote significant efforts to services and programs that support and treat mental illness and/or mental distress. However, within that portfolio of treatment approaches, structured exercise has been relatively underutilised and greater research attention is needed to develop this evidence base.
The Influence of Grandparents on Children’s Dietary Health: A Narrative Review
To examine and synthesise recent evidence on the role of grandparents in shaping children's dietary health.
MAN v FAT Soccer: Feasibility Study and Preliminary Efficacy of a Sport-Based Weight-Loss Intervention for Overweight and Obese Men in Australia
MAN v FAT Soccer is a sport-based weight-loss program for overweight and obese men that originated in the United Kingdom (i.e., as MAN v FAT Football) and appears to successfully engage men with weight loss.
Education and Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science (Hons) – The University of Western Australia
- Doctor of Philosophy – The University of Western Australia
Awards/Honours
- Graduate Research School Publication Awards – Social Sciences (Qualitative)