Doctor Karena Burke School of Human, Health and Social Sciences

Karena completed her doctoral studies at the University of Tasmania in Launceston where she also held positions as an Associate Lecturer and Junior Research Fellow within the School of Psychology.  Her PhD project examined the adjustments made by police officers when they enter the police profession. 

Karena's primary research interests are in the areas of preventive health, adjustment, and well-being at both individual and organisational levels and the development of health concepts in children. Karena has a keen interest in the role of food and food choices in health, well-being and development, and is currently conducting a range of projects examining the factors that influence food choices, and the difficulties faced by those with food intolerances and food allergies. 

Karena completed a postdoctoral fellowship at CQUniversity between 2008 and 2011 intially as part of the Healthy Communities Initiative, then within the Institute for Health and Social Science Research (IHSSR).

Karena started as a Senior Lecturer in Psychology in August 2011, and is the current coordinator of the 4th Year Honours and Graduate Diploma programs in Psychology. 

Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology (ANZSOC)

Australasian Society of Behavioural and Health Medicine (ASBHM)

Associate Member - Food and Behaviour Research (www.fabresearch.org)

Senior Lecturer in Psychology

Honours and 4th Year Coordinator

Member IHSSR - Centre for Longitudinal and Preventative Health Research

Burke, K.J. Adjusting to Life 'On the Beat'. A Longitudinal Examination of Adaptation to the Police Profession. (PhD Thesis, School of Psychology, University of Tasmania).

2012
Iannou, Kristelle. The Relationship between the Severity of Depressive Symptoms and Health Behaviours. Master of Clinical Psychology. (Co-Supervision with Dr. David Scott).

Arlott-Webb, Rachel. Self-determined Motivation and Physical Activity in line with Government Exercise Guidelines. Bachelor of Psychology (Honours).

Hooper, Jackie. Stress and Adjustment in Parents of Children with Food Sensitivities. Bachelor of Arts (Honours - Psychology).

Leis, Michele. Positive Adjustment Post Stem Cell Transplant: The Utility of Coping and Negative Trauma Symptoms. Bachelor of Arts (Honours - Psychology).

Semken, Nyleve. Recovery Workers Perceptions and Experiences of Shared Trauma. Bachelor of Psychology (Honours).

Clatworthy, Sarah. Comparison of Health Related Quality of Life Between Individuals with a Food Allergy or a Food Intolerance. Graduate Diploma in Psychology.

Logan, Olivia. The Impact of Physical Activity and Quality of Sleep as Predictors of Psychological Functioning in Young Adults. Graduate Diploma in Psychology.

Diversi, Tara. Weight Bias, Perfectionism and Optimism among Dietitians: Implications for Practice. Graduate Diploma in Psychology.

2011

2010

Gallienne, Jessica. The power of positive doing: Determinants of peak performance in Australian alliance construction projects. Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology.

Field, Jillian. Self-esteem and children's perceptions of healthy eating. Bachelor of Psychology (Honours).

Szertirmay, Clare. Children's perceptions of and percieved barriers to a healthy diet. Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology.

2009

Cruice, Roberta. Personal transitions for women into their fifties. Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology.

Earl, Michelle. The effects of occupational stress on job performance and job effectiveness of health care workers. Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology.

Kelly, Michelle. Tertiary preparation program in schools: An evaluation of a pilot program. Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology.

Jones, Kylie. The relationship between food allergy and food intolerance and the diagnosis of developmental disorders. Bachelor of Psychology (Honours.)

2007

Bell, Stewart. House fire preparedness: A Social Cognitive Perspective. (Honours thesis, School of Psychology, University of Tasmania). Co-supervisor.

Jerome, Claire. Person-Environment Fit: A Nurses Perspective. (Honours thesis, School of Psychology, University of Tasmania).

Happell, B., Byrne, L., Choudhury, J., & Burke, K.J. Service Delivery Models and Consumer Participation Strategies in Queensland Mental Health Non-Government Organisations. Queensland Alliance for Mental Health Research - $22 500. 2011.

Burke, K.J. The psychological health of parents of children with adverse reactions to food.  CQ University Research Development & Incentives Program - Seed Grant Scheme, $9,803.

Burke, K.J. The impact of food hypersensitivity on psychological health and well-being.  IHSSR Enhancing External Research Funding Grant - $9, 710.

Happel, B., Mummery, K., Reid-Searl, K., Dwyer, T., Johnson, M., Burke, K., Caperchione, C. Promotion of physical and psychosocial well-being or nurses in a regional Queensland hospital.  Queensland Nursing Council - Experienced Researcher Grant - $29, 848.

Burke, K.J. The Effects of Food Intolerance and Food Allergy on the Development of Concepts and Healthy Eating and Nutrition. PRL Queensland Social Survey Grant, Population Research Grant Scheme, $6,000.

Burke, K.J., & Ronan, K.  Public health myths: Fact or Fiction. PRL Central Queensland Social Survey Grant, Population Research Grant Scheme, $15,000.

Nancarrow, H. & Burke, K.J.  Intimate partner abuse of women in Queensland. PRL Focus Grant, $20,000. 2008-2009.

Burke, K 2009, 'The role of dietary habits in the psychosocial health of Australian children', paper presented to the Growing up in Australia: 2nd Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) Research Conference, Melbourne, Victoria, 3-4 December 2009

Burke, K.J. (2008, July). Collaboration to develop healthy communities: Promoting population health and community sustainability. In Friday Session 3, Stream 4, Service Provision. Presentation at the Australian Universities Community Engagement Alliance Annual National Conference, Sunshine Coast and Fraser Island, July 2008. (Refereed Paper - see below)

Burke, K.J. (2008, September). What makes a happy cop? Longitudinal predictors of police officer well-being. Stream 4 - Tuesday, Forensic Psychology Individual Papers. Presentation at the Australian Psychological Society 43rd Annual Conference, Hobart, Tasmania, September 2008. (Refereed Paper - See below)

Burke, K.J. (2008, December). The effects of food allergy and food intolerance on the development of concepts of healthy eating and nutrition: Incidence rates in an Australian population. Stream 3 - Monday - Nutrition and its relation to physical and mental well-being. Presentation at the Vario Health Conference, Perth, WA, December 2008. (Refereed Paper - See below) 

Burke, K.J., Paton, D., Shakespeare-Finch, J., & Ryan, M. (2006, February). Adjusting to life ‘On the Beat': Investigating adaptation to the police profession. In A. Freiberg (Chair) Policing, Government and Anti-social Behaviour 1. Symposium presentation conducted at the 19^th Annual Conference of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology Conference, Hobart, Tasmania.

Burke, K.J., Paton, D., Shakespeare-Finch, J., & Ryan, M. (2006, February). Developing the resilient officer: The process of adjustment in the police profession . Poster session presented at the 19^th Annual Conference of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology conference, Hobart, Tasmania.

Paton, D., & Burke, K.J. (2006, February). Victims of violent crime: Social-cognitive aspects of adaptation and recovery. Poster session presented at the 19^th Annual Conference of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology Conference, Hobart, Tasmania.

Burke, K.J., Paton, D., Shakespeare-Finch, J., & Ryan, M. (2005, November). Stress reactions of emergency responders: Similarities and differences between police, ambulance and fire personnel. In 2.2 Response and Recovery.  Invited symposium presentation at the Australian Institute of Emergency Services Conference, Gold Coast, Queensland.

Burke, K.J., Paton, D., Shakespeare-Finch, J., & Ryan, M. (2005, February). Adjusting to Life ‘On the Beat' - A Longitudinal Investigation of Adaptation in the Police Profession- Preliminary Findings. Poster session presented at the 2005 annual conference for the Australasian Society of Behavioural Health and Medicine, Melbourne, Victoria.