Jennifer Irwin, PhD

Jennifer Irwin

Professor

Room 338, HSB
519 661-2111 x88367
jenirwin@uwo.ca
@drjenirwin
LinkedIn
Selected Works
Google Scholar

Education

  • PhD (Waterloo)
  • MA (Dalhousie)
  • BA (Wilfrid Laurier)

Graduate Program Supervision

  • Health & Rehabilitation Science, Health Promotion Field, MSc | PhD

Research In Profile

My health promotion research includes interrelated and overlapping streams that centre around health-related behaviours and behaviour change interventions. My program of research primarily encompasses: (1) motivational interviewing applied through Co-active life coaching interventions; and (2) understanding and promoting healthy lifestyle behaviours related to physical activity, sedentary engagements, sleep, mindfulness, prosocial practices, nomophobia, resilience, and healthy body weights .

Featured Publications and Projects

Books

  • Irwin, J.D., Burke, S.M., Insel, P., Roth, W. (2019). Core Concepts in Health, Third Canadian edition. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Chapters and Entries in Books and Dictionaries

Articles in Peer-Reviewed Journals

  • Fried, R. R., Karmali, S., & Irwin, J. D. (2022). Minding many minds: An assessment of mental health and resilience among undergraduate and graduate students: A mixed methods exploratory study.  American Journal of College Health, 70(3), 898-910. https://doi:10.1080/07448481.2020.1781134
  • Shillington, K. J., Vanderloo, L. M., Burke, S. M., Ng, V., Tucker, T., & Irwin, J. D. (2022). A Cross-Sectional Examination of Canadian Adults’ Prosocial Behaviour During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Rural Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1037/rmh0000201
  • Shillington, K. J., Vanderloo, L. M., Burke, S. M., Ng, V., Tucker, T., & Irwin, J. D. (2021). Ontario Adults’ Health Behaviors, Mental Health, and Overall Wellbeing During COVID-19. BMC Public Health, 21(1679), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11732-6
  • Moulin, S.M, Prapavessis, H., Tucker, P, & Irwin, J.D. (2021): Using mixed-method feasibility studies to examine the impact of a mobile standing desk on undergraduates’ sedentary time. Journal of American College Health. https://doi:10.1080/07448481.2020.1865974 
  • Ly, H., Lee, C. J., & Irwin, J. D. (2021). Step on up! A multi-component health promotion intervention to promote stair climbing. Health Education Journal. https://doi:10.1177/0017896920987586
  • Karmali, S., Battram, D. S., Burke, S. M., Cramp, A., Johnson, A. M., Mantler, T., Morrow, D., Ng, V., Pearson, E. S., Petrella, R. J., Tucker, P., & Irwin, J. D.  (2020). Perspectives and impact of a parent-child intervention on dietary intake and physical activity behaviours, parental motivation, and parental body composition: A randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186822
  • Rudkovska, A., Sui, W., & Irwin, J.D. (2020). Assessing the prevalence and severity of smartphone addiction in post-secondary students: A brief report. American Journal of College Health, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2020.1800712

Visit Google Scholar for a comprehensive list of publications.

Current Grants

  • Irwin, J.D. & Meadows, K. Leveraging Kindness to Enhance Post-secondary Students' Academic Success: A Transdisciplinary Synthesis. 2021-2022. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. $24,804 awarded.

Graduate Student Projects

Kindness as an Intervention for Student Social Interaction Anxiety, Resilience, Affect, and Mood: The KISS of Kindness Study II.

  • Shillington, Katie (2020). MSc, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Health Promotion Field.

A Coaching and/or Education Intervention Targeting Physical Activity and Nutrition Behaviours in Parents with Overweight/Obesity and Their Children.

  • Karmali, Shazya (2020). PhD, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Health Promotion Field.

The Creation and Application of a Validated Tool to Measure the Impact of Mobile Standing Desks on Undergraduate Students’ Sedentary Time

  • Moulin, Marc (2019). PhD, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Health Promotion Field.

Breaking Under/Grad - Assessing and Addressing Stress, Anxiety, and Resiliency Among Undergraduate and Graduate Students via Motivational Interviewing and A Smart, Healthy Campus Intervention

  • Fried, Rebecca (2019). PhD, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Health Promotion Field.

Routines to Enhance Active Lifestyles (REAL) Projects: A Pilot Program to Promote Incidental Physical Activity

  • Ly, Hieu (2019). PhD, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Health Promotion Field.

Visit Scholarship@Western for a comprehensive list of completed student theses and dissertations.

Additional Information

Teaching Philosophy

My goal is to ignite interest, curiosity, and passion for the subject matter of health promotion. I use a competency-based approach to teaching

Awards

  • Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations Teaching Award (2019)
  • Leadership in Wellness Award (2017)
  • Edward G. Pleva Award for Excellence in Teaching (2015)
  • Faculty of Health Sciences Teaching Award of Excellence (2014 )
  • Award of Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching: Western University Alumni Association and the University Students' Council (2013 & 2005)
  • Canada Obesity Network Student and New Professional Faculty Supervision Award (2011)

Professional Activities

  • Manuscript and granting agency reviewer
  • Actively engaged in School, Faculty, University, and community service roles