School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences

Dr George Thomas

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences
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Researcher biography

Dr George Thomas is a Post Doctoral Research Fellow in the Health and Wellbeing Centre for Research Innovation at the University of Queensland and a member of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child. George has a PhD in behavioural sciences and his research has focused on better understanding digital technology use among children and how such engagement impacts on their health, wellbeing, and development. He has worked in public health and behavioral sciences for over 10 years, starting with a government taskforce on Weight Management, providing healthy lifestyle programs for school children and families. He has taught research methods and public health to undergraduate paramedic and sport and exercise science students and received excellent student ratings. He has supervised over 10 student research projects. George is a passionate advocate for the promotion of healthy behaviours and is committed to translating evidence into community settings.

Publications

Journal Articles (9)
Conference Papers (6)
Research Report (1)

Journal Articles

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. doi: 10.1002/jad.12321
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. 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

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.
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.
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.
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.

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.