Trish Tucker, PhD

Books

• Tucker, P. (2009). Environmental Influences on Physical Activity Among Children and Youth. Saarbrücken, Germany: VDM Publishers

Articles in Peer-Reviewed Journals

• Bourke, M., Vanderloo, L. M., Irwin, J. D., Burke, S. M., Driediger, M., Timmons, B. W., & Tucker, P. (October 2022). Association Between Childcare Movement Behaviour Compositions with Health and Development among Preschoolers: Finding the Optimal Combinations of Physical Activities and Sedentary Time. Journal of Sports Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2022.2134969
• Bruijns, B.A., Johnson, A.M., Burke, S.M., & Tucker, P. (April 2022). Educators’ Self-Efficacy to Promote Physical Activity and Outdoor Play and Minimize Sedentary Behaviour in Childcare: A Tool Validation Study. Journal of Research in Childhood Education. Published online ahead-of-print: https://doi.org/10.1080/02568543.2022.2053006
• Bruijns, B.A., Vanderloo, L.M., Johnson, A.M., Adamo, K.B., Burke, S.M., Carson, V., Heydon, R., Irwin, J.D., Naylor, P.J., Timmons, B.W., & Tucker, P. (March 2022). Implementation of an e-Learning Course in Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour for Pre- and In-Service Early Childhood Educators: Evaluation of the TEACH Pilot Study. BMC Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 8(64), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-022-01015-1
• Szpunar, M., Johnson, A.M., Driediger, M., Burke, S.M., Irwin, J.D., Shelley, J., Timmons, B.W., Vanderloo, L.M. & Tucker, P. (March 2022). Implementation Adherence and Perspectives of the Childcare PhysicaL ActivitY (PLAY) Policy: A Process Evaluation. Health Education & Behavior, 49(1), 66-77. https://doi:10.1177/1090198121996285
• Bruijns, B.A., Vanderloo, L.M., Johnson, A.M., Adamo, K.B., Burke, S.M., Carson, V., Heydon, R., Irwin, J.D., Naylor, P.J., Timmons, B.W., & Tucker, P. (February 2022). Change in Pre- and In-Service Early Childhood Educators’ Knowledge, Self-Efficacy, and Intentions Following an e-Learning Course in Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior: A Pilot Study. BMC Public Health, 22, 244. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12591-5
• Statler, J., Wilk, P., Timmons, B.W., Colley, R., & Tucker, P. (December 2020). Habitual Physical Activity Levels and Sedentary Time of Children in Different Childcare Arrangements from a Nationally Representative Sample of Canadian Preschoolers. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 9(6), 657-663. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2019.03.009
• Truelove, S., Vanderloo, L.M., Tucker, P., Di Sebastiano, K.M., & Faulkner, G. (December 2020). The Use of the Behaviour Change Wheel in the Development of ParticipACTION’s Physical Activity App. Preventive Medicine Reports, 20, 101224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101224
• Bruijns, B.A., Johnson, A.M., & Tucker, P. (October 2020). Content Development for a Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour e-Learning Module for Early Childhood Education Students: A Delphi Study. BMC Public Health, 20, 1600. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09670-w
• Bruijns, B.A., Truelove, S., Johnson, A.M., Gilliland, J., & Tucker, P. (February 2020). Infants’ and Toddlers’ Physical Activity and Sedentary Time as Measured by Accelerometry: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 17, 14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-020-0912-4

Visit Google Scholar for a comprehensive list of publications.

• Impact of the Supporting Physical Activity in the Childcare Environment (SPACE) intervention on preschoolers' physical activity levels and sedentary time: a single-blind cluster randomized controlled trial
• TEACH: The purpose of the Training EArly CHildhood educators in physical activity (TEACH) study is to develop and implement a physical activity and sedentary behaviour e-Learning training module for post-secondary Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs to better support students’ related learning.
• PLAY: Currently, formal written physical activity policy is lacking in Canadian childcare centres. The purpose of the PhysicaL ActivitY (PLAY) Policy pilot study was to explore the effects of implementing a written physical activity policy has on toddlers’ and preschoolers’ physical activity levels. This institutional level policy provides Early Childhood Educators with guidance on the appropriate daily physical activity, outdoor play, and (reduced) screen time affordances in childcare. Return to Play Post-COVID - The purpose of this study is to explore parents’ perspectives and intent (or not) to return their child(ren) to opportunities that support active play, following the pandemic.

The Development, Short-Term Efficacy, and Pilot Implementation of an e-Learning Course in Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour for Pre-Service Early Childhood Educators

• Bruijins, Brianne (2021). PhD, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.

Implementation Adherence and Perspectives of the PhysicaL ActivitY (PLAY) Policy Study: A Process Evaluation

• Szpunar, Monika (2020). MSc, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.

Assessing Physical Activity and Sedentary Time in the Early Years

• Vanderloo, Leigh (2016). PhD, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.

Exploring Physical Activity and Screen-Viewing Policies in Canadian Childcare Centres

• Ott, Emily (2017). MSc, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.

Change in Preschoolers’ Health-Related Quality of Life Following the Implementation of a Childcare Physical Activity Intervention

• Truelove, Stephanie (2017). MSc, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.

Visit Scholarship@Western for a list of completed student theses and dissertations in the repository.

• Director, Child Health and Physical Activity Lab
• Scientist, Children’s Health Research Institute
• Associate Scientist, Lawson Health Research Institute

• CIHR Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (IHDCYH), Post-doctoral and New Investigators Travel Award
• Early Researcher Award, Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation (2016-2021)
• Petro Canada Young Innovator Award (2019)
• Post-Doctoral Supervisor of the Year (2019)
• Faculty Scholar (2020-2022)
• Outdoor Play Canada Research Award (2021)

• Chair – Health Eating and Physical Activity Committee, Child & Youth Network
• Board of Directors - Kidzone Daycare (2012-2018)
• Research Advisory Committee, ParticiPACTION Report Card - Activities
• College of Reviewers, Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Activities
• Member – Sedentary Behaviour Research Network
• State of the Sector Consultation Group – Outdoor Play Canada