Dr George Thomas
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences
Affiliate of Health and Wellbeing Centre for Research Innovation
Health and Wellbeing Centre for Research Innovation
Associate Member of Centre for Community Health and Wellbeing
Centre for Community Health and Wellbeing
Researcher biography
Dr George Thomas is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Queensland’s Health and Wellbeing Centre for Research Innovation and a member of the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child. His work focuses on understanding children’s engagement with digital technologies and how this shapes their health, wellbeing, and development.
George has over 15 years of experience in public health and behavioural sciences, with expertise spanning:
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Digital health and healthy screen use in childhood
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Health behaviour change and family-based interventions
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Translation of research into community programs
He began his career with a UK government taskforce on weight management, delivering healthy lifestyle programs for school children and families. Since then, his research has focused on bridging science and practice, ensuring evidence informs policy and community action.
George is also committed to education and mentorship. He has taught research methods and public health to undergraduate students in paramedicine and sport and exercise sciences, consistently receiving excellent feedback, and has supervised more than 30 student research projects.
A passionate advocate for promoting healthy behaviours, George works to create practical solutions that support families, schools, and communities.
Journal Articles
Tweedy, Sean, Fortnum, Kathryn, Thomas, George, Cole, Damien, Demetriou, Bridget, Dutia, Iain, Hill, Jessica, Cairney, John and Beckman, Emma (2025). An analysis of people with disabilities in Australia by age, sex, disability type and severity – Implications for leveraging the 2032 Paralympic games to increase physical activity participation. JSAMS Plus, 6 100110, 100110. doi: 10.1016/j.jsampl.2025.100110
Fortnum, Kathryn, Thomas, George, Too, Kiara, Tam, Athena, Tilley, Kate, Cairney, John, Healy, Genevieve N. and Gomersall, Sjaan (2025). The role of lifestyle factors in type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents: a systematic review. BMC Public Health, 25 (1) 3675. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-23767-0
Sim, Stephanie, Zabatiero, Juliana, Bear, Natasha, Beynon, Amber, Thomas, George, Srinivasjois, Ravisha, Jongeling, Brad, Silva, Desiree and Straker, Leon (2025). Longitudinal associations between maternal and child screen use at 1 year of age and child behavior and development at 3 years of age. BMC Pediatrics, 25 (1) 791, 1-14. doi: 10.1186/s12887-025-05701-w
Wang, Hiu Fei Wendy, Smith, Simon S., O’Flaherty, Martin, Trost, Stewart G., Thomas, George, Walker, Jacqueline L., Fortnum, Kathryn, McNaughton, Sarah, Cairney, John and Bourke, Matthew (2025). Associations between screen time, sleep quality, diet quality and food selectivity among school-aged autistic children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 1-14. doi: 10.1007/s10803-025-07064-8
Andriyani, Fitria Dwi, Hastuti, Tri Ani, Ries, Francis, Sari, Indah Prasetyawati Tri Purnama, Andrianto, Sigit Dwi, Thomas, George and Biddle, Stuart J. H. (2025). Correlates of Physical Activity among 4,719 Indonesian Adolescents: The Role of Sociodemographic, Screen Time, and Sports Participation. International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 13 (4), 942-953. doi: 10.13189/saj.2025.130430
Bourke, Matthew, Wang, Hiu Fei Wendy, Fortnum, Kathryn, Thomas, George, O'Flaherty, Martin, Mulcahy, Samantha K., Gomersall, Sjaan R., Alsop, Tahlia, Trost, Stewart G., Bruijns, Brianne A., Phillips, Sophie M., Vanderloo, Leigh, Tucker, Patricia, Hesketh, Kylie D., Kwan, Matthew Y. W. and Cairney, John (2025). Association between 24-h movement behaviors and mental health in children and adolescents: a systematic review and compositional data meta-analysis. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 35 (8) e70120, e70120-8. doi: 10.1111/sms.70120
Healy, Genevieve N., Melendez-Calderon, Alejandro, Kaab, Sami, Bongers, Noah, Heseltine, Katherine A., Yue, Chan Hi, Thomas, George and Clark, Bronwyn K. (2025). Development, validation, acceptability and usability of a device-based system to measure sit-stand desk usage. Applied Ergonomics, 126 104490. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104490
Bourke, Matthew, Wang, Hiu Fei Wendy, McNaughton, Sarah A., Thomas, George, Firth, Joseph, Trott, Mike and Cairney, John (2025). Clusters of healthy lifestyle behaviours are associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Clinical Psychology Review, 118 102585, 102585. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2025.102585
Mavilidi, Myrto F., Vazou, Spyridoula, Lubans, David R., Robinson, Katie, Woods, Andrew J., Benzing, Valentin, Anzeneder, Sofia, Owen, Katherine B., Álvarez-Bueno, Celia, Wade, Levi, Burley, Jade, Thomas, George, Okely, Anthony D. and Pesce, Caterina (2025). How physical activity context relates to cognition across the lifespan: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 151 (5), 544-579. doi: 10.1037/bul0000478
O'Flaherty, Martin, Hill, Jessica, Bourke, Matthew, Fortnum, Kathryn, Thomas, George, Gomersall, Sjaan R. and Cairney, John (2025). Unpacking the relationship between autism, sport participation, and adolescent health: a causal mediation analysis. Disability and Health Journal, 18 (3) 101832, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2025.101832
Bourke, Matthew, Harrison, Zoe, Fortnum, Kathryn, Thomas, George, O'Flaherty, Martin, Mulcahy, Samantha K., Gomersall, Sjaan R., Alsop, Tahlia, Trost, Stewart G., Koplin, Jennifer J., Bruijns, Brianne A., Phillips, Sophie M., Vanderloo, Leigh M., Tucker, Patricia, Hesketh, Kylie D., Kwan, Matthew Y. W. and Cairney, John (2025). Association between 24-hour movement behaviors and adiposity in children and adolescents: A compositional data meta-analysis. Obesity Reviews, 26 (5) e13884, e13884. doi: 10.1111/obr.13884
Barratt, Jaime, Dudley, Dean, Stylianou, Michalis, Thomas, George, Wheeler, Kai and Cairney, John (2025). Construct validity and reliability of the effective early childhood physical literacy pedagogue (ECE-PLP) self-report instrument. Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, 29 (2), 145-159. doi: 10.1080/1091367x.2024.2422309
Lund Rasmussen, Charlotte, Hendry, Danica, Thomas, George, Beynon, Amber, Stearne, Sarah Michelle, Zabatiero, Juliana, Davey, Paul, Roslyng Larsen, Jon, Rohl, Andrew Lloyd, Straker, Leon and Campbell, Amity (2024). Evaluation of the ActiMotus software to accurately classify postures and movements in children aged 3–14. Sensors, 24 (20) 6705, 6705. doi: 10.3390/s24206705
Fortnum, Kathryn, Gomersall, Sjaan R., Ross, Megan H., Woodforde, James, Thomas, George, Wen, Yu-Shu, Perales, Francisco and Stylianou, Michalis (2024). 24-hour movement behaviors of LGBTQA+ young people: a systematic review. Journal of Physical Activity & Health, 21 (12), 1-17. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2024-0343
Bongers, Noah, Healy, Genevieve N., Thomas, George and Clark, Bronwyn K. (2024). Device-based measurement of office-based physical activity and sedentary time: a systematic review. Journal for the Measurement of Physical Behaviour, 7 (1), 10-22. doi: 10.1123/jmpb.2024-0011
Mallawaarachchi, Sumudu, Burley, Jade, Mavilidi, Myrto, Howard, Steven J., Straker, Leon, Kervin, Lisa, Staton, Sally, Hayes, Nicole, Machell, Amanda, Torjinski, Marina, Brady, Brodie, Thomas, George, Horwood, Sharon, White, Sonia L. J., Zabatiero, Juliana, Rivera, Clara and Cliff, Dylan (2024). Early childhood screen use contexts and cognitive and psychosocial outcomes : a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatrics, 178 (10), 1017-1026. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.2620
Khan, Asaduzzaman, Thomas, George, Karatela, Shamshad, Morawska, Alina and Werner-Seidler, Aliza (2024). Intense and problematic social media use and sleep difficulties of adolescents in 40 countries. Journal of Adolescence, 96 (5), 1116-1125. doi: 10.1002/jad.12321
Beynon, Amber, Hendry, Danica, Lund Rasmussen, Charlotte, Rohl, Andrew L., Eynon, Rebecca, Thomas, George, Stearne, Sarah, Campbell, Amity, Harris, Courtenay, Zabatiero, Juliana and Straker, Leon (2024). Measurement method options to investigate digital screen technology use by children and adolescents: a narrative review. Children, 11 (7) 754, 754. doi: 10.3390/children11070754
Sanders, Taren, Noetel, Michael, Parker, Philip, Del Pozo Cruz, Borja, Biddle, Stuart, Ronto, Rimante, Hulteen, Ryan, Parker, Rhiannon, Thomas, George, De Cocker, Katrien, Salmon, Jo, Hesketh, Kylie, Weeks, Nicole, Arnott, Hugh, Devine, Emma, Vasconcellos, Roberta, Pagano, Rebecca, Sherson, Jamie, Conigrave, James and Lonsdale, Chris (2024). An umbrella review of the benefits and risks associated with youths’ interactions with electronic screens. Nature Human Behaviour, 8 (1), 82-99. doi: 10.1038/s41562-023-01712-8
Andriyani, Fitria Dwi, Biddle, Stuart J. H., Priambadha, Aprida Agung, Thomas, George and De Cocker, Katrien (2022). Physical activity and sedentary behaviour of female adolescents in Indonesia: a multi-method study on duration, pattern and context. Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness, 20 (2), 128-139. doi: 10.1016/j.jesf.2022.02.002
Thomas, George, Bennie, Jason A., De Cocker, Katrien, Dwi Andriyani, Fitria, Booker, Bridget and Biddle, Stuart J. H. (2022). Using wearable cameras to categorize the type and context of screen-based behaviors among adolescents: observational study. JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting, 5 (1) e28208, e28208. doi: 10.2196/28208
Thomas, George, Bennie, Jason A., De Cocker, Katrien, Ireland, Michael J. and Biddle, Stuart J. H. (2020). Screen-based behaviors in Australian adolescents: longitudinal trends from a 4-year follow-up study. Preventive Medicine, 141 106258, 106258. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2020.106258
Thomas, George, Bennie, Jason A., De Cocker, Katrien and Biddle, Stuart J.H. (2020). Exploring contemporary screen time in Australian adolescents: a qualitative study. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 32 (S2), 238-247. doi: 10.1002/hpja.440
Thomas, George, Bennie, Jason A., De Cocker, Katrien, Castro, Oscar and Biddle, Stuart J. H. (2020). A descriptive epidemiology of screen-based devices by children and adolescents: a scoping review of 130 surveillance studies since 2000. Child Indicators Research, 13 (3), 935-950. doi: 10.1007/s12187-019-09663-1
Biddle, Stuart J. H., Ciaccioni, Simone, Thomas, George and Vergeer, Ineke (2019). Physical activity and mental health in children and adolescents: an updated review of reviews and an analysis of causality. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 42, 146-155. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2018.08.011
Bennie, J. A., Thomas, G., Wiesner, G. H., van Uffelen, J. G.Z., Khan, A., Kolbe-Alexander, T., Vergeer, I. and Biddle, S. J.H. (2018). Australian fitness professionals’ level of interest in engaging with high health-risk population subgroups: findings from a national survey. Public Health, 160, 108-115. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2018.03.035
Conference Papers
Pattinson, C. L., Thomas, G., Mann, D. L., MacKenzie, J., Rossa, K. R., Edmed, S. L., Westwood, E. and Smith, S. S. (2024). Everyday environmental light exposures in children. 10th International Society for Physical Activity and Health Congress, Paris, France, 28-31 October 2024.
Thomas, G., Bennie, J., De Cocker, K., Sanders, T. and Biddle, S. J. H. (2020). Screen-based behaviors in Australian adolescents: longitudinal trends from 2010 to 2014. International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Online, 15-25 June 2020.
Biddle, S. J. H., Ciaccioni, S., Thomas, G. and Vergeer, I. (2019). Physical activity and self-esteem outcomes in young people: what can we conclude from research syntheses?. Australasian Society for Behavioural Health and Medicine , Christchurch, New Zealand, 15-17 February 2019.
Lonsdale, Chris, Biddle, Stuart, Parker, Phil, Salmon, Jo, Hesketh, Kylie, Thomas, George, Weeks, Nicole and Sanders, Taren (2018). Benefits and risks associated with children and adolescents' interactions with electronic screens: A synthesis of 474 systematic reviews. CHAMPAIGN: HUMAN KINETICS PUBL INC.
Thomas, G., Bennie, J., De Cocker, K. and Biddle, S. J. H. (2018). Time-use in screen-based devices among children and adolescents: a systematic scoping review of large population-based studies published since 2000. International Society for Physical Activity and Health, London, United Kingdom, 15-17 October 2018. CHAMPAIGN: HUMAN KINETICS PUBL INC.
Thomas, G., Bennie, J., De Cocker, K. and Biddle, S. J. H. (2018). Screen time use among children and adolescents: methodology for a scoping review and preliminary findings. Exercise and Sports Science Australia: Research to Practice , Brisbane, Australia, 27-29 March 2018.
Ciaccioni, S., Thomas, G., Vergeer, I. and Biddle, S. J. H. (2018). Physical activity and self-esteem in children and adolescents: update of review of reviews. European College of Sport Science , Dublin, Ireland, 4-7 July 2018.
Preprint
Fortnum, Kathryn, Bourke, Matthew, Thomas, George, Mulcahy, Samantha, Alsop, Tahlia and Gomersall, Sjaan (2025). Promoting mental wellbeing and recovery across the lifespan: a review of evidence. doi: 10.31219/osf.io/y7uwj_v1
Research Report
Zabatiero, Juliana, Thomas, George and Straker, Leon (2022). Screen time. In Active Healthy Kids Australia (2022). Reboot! Reimagining Physically Active Lives: 2022 Australian Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Young People. Melbourne, Australia: Active Health Kids Australia.