Dr Koa Whittingham
PhD, BSc (Hons), BA, MAPS
NHMRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow, QCPRRC
Child Health Research Centre, University of Queensland
+61 7 3069 7346
Researcher biography
Dr Koa Whittingham is an Associate Investigator on the CRE and a member of two themes: Clinical Trials and Engagement & Health Policy themes.
Dr Koa Whittingham is a clinical and developmental psychologist and part-time NHMRC postdoctoral fellow with the QCPRRC at UQ. She has significant expertise in the application of evidence-based parenting interventions to neurodevelopmental disabilities and a leading researcher in the application of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, to parenting. In 2010, she received the Early Career Research Award at the International Helping Families Change Conference. In 2014, she received the Award for Best Paper for Effective Intervention for People Living with CP at the AusAACPDM. Dr Whittingham was a chief investigator on the first randomized controlled trial of a parenting intervention for families of children with cerebral palsy to test mindfulness-based therapeutic techniques. She is currently developing and testing a translatable by design online parenting support platform based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. She acts as a research consultant for the not-for-profit organisation Possums, and engages with the community through her blog Parenting from the Heart (www.koawhittingham.com) and her book Becoming Mum (www.becomingmum.com.au)
Book
Whittingham, Koa and Coyne, Lisa W. (2019). Acceptance and commitment therapy: the clinician's guide for supporting parents. London, United Kingdom: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/C2017-0-01265-X
Book Chapters
Sofronoff, Kate, Whittingham, Koa and Brown, Felicity L. (2018). Children with developmental disorders. Handbook of parenting and child development across the lifespan. (pp. 313-334) edited by Matthew R. Sanders and Alina Morawska. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-94598-9_14
Jones, Laura Backen, Whittingham, Koa, Coyne, Lisa and Lightcap, April (2016). A contextual behavioral science approach to parenting intervention and research. The Wiley handbook of contextual behavioral science. (pp. 398-421) edited by Robert D. Zettle , Steven C. Hayes , Dermot Barnes‐Holmes and Anthony Biglan. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley Blackwell. doi: 10.1002/9781118489857.ch20
Whittingham, Koa (2016). Mindfulness and transformative parenting. Mindfulness and Buddhist-derived approaches in mental health and addiction. (pp. 363-390) edited by Edo Shonin, William Van Gordon and Mark D. Griffiths. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-22255-4_18
Whittingham, K. and Douglas, P. (2016). "Possums": building contextual behavioural science into an innovative evidence-based approach to parenting support in early life. Psychotherapy in parenthood and beyond: personal enrichment in our lives. (pp. 43-56) edited by Bruce Kirkcaldy. Turin, Italy: Edizioni Minerva Medica.
Sofronoff, K. V. and Whittingham, K. (2007). Parent management training to improve competence in parents of children with Aspergers syndrome. Handbook of Parent training: Helping parents prevent and solve problem behaviours. (pp. 107-128) edited by J. Briesmeister and C.E. Schaefer. United States: John Wiley & Sons.
Journal Articles
Whittingham, Koa, Benfer, Kath, Sakzewski, Leanne, Wotherspoon, Jane, Burgess, Andrea, Comans, Tracy, Keramat, Syed Afoz, Ware, Robert S. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2024). Sleep problems in a population-based cohort of primary school age children with Cerebral Palsy. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 147 104690, 104690. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2024.104690
Benfer, Katherine A., Whittingham, Koa, Ware, Robert S., Ghosh, Asis Kumar, Chowdhury, Sayak, Moula, Golam, Samanta, Sandip, Khan, Naila Zaman, Bell, Kristie L., Oftedal, Stina, Bandaranayake, Sasaka, Salt, Alison T., Bhattacharya, Anjan, Maiti, Pradip, Tripathi, Santanu K., Morgan, Cathy, Novak, Iona and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2024). Efficacy of Early Intervention for Infants With Cerebral Palsy in an LMIC: An RCT. Pediatrics, 153 (4) e2023063854. doi: 10.1542/peds.2023-063854
Kwong, Amanda KL., Eeles, Abbey, Anderson, Peter J., Badawi, Nadia, Boyd, Roslyn N., Cameron, Kate L., Cheong, Jeanie, Colditz, Paul, Koorts, Pieter, Crowle, Cathryn, Dale, Russell C., Doyle, Lex W., Fahey, Michael, George, Joanne, Hunt, Rod W., McNamara, Lynda, Morgan, Catherine, Novak, Iona, Olsen, Joy E., Reid, Nadia, Rieger, Ingrid, Whittingham, Koa and Spittle, Alicia J. (2024). The Knowledge Translation of Early Cerebral Palsy (KiTE CP) Study: Implementing Screening among a High-risk Prospective Cohort of Australian infants. The Journal of Pediatrics, 268 113949, 113949. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.113949
Lee, Jia Ying Sarah, Whittingham, Koa, Olson, Rebecca and Mitchell, Amy E. (2023). “Their happiness, not neurotypical success”: autistic adults reflect on the parenting of autistic children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. doi: 10.1007/s10803-023-06188-z
Mitchell, Amy E. and Whittingham, Koa (2023). Predicting breastfeeding continuation to 6 and 12 months in an Australian context: a cross-sectional study. Breastfeeding Review, 31 (2), 25-36.
Wotherspoon, J., Whittingham, K., Sheffield, J. and Boyd, R. N. (2023). Cognition and learning difficulties in a representative sample of school-aged children with cerebral palsy. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 138 104504, 104504. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2023.104504
Barfoot, Jacqueline, Meredith, Pamela, Whittingham, Koa and Kerley, Lachlan (2023). Including a relationship-focus in paediatric occupational therapy interventions: Introducing the PAIR Model. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, and Early Intervention. doi: 10.1080/19411243.2023.2203416
McGlade, Andrea, Whittingham, Koa, Barfoot, Jacqui, Taylor, Leisa and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2023). Efficacy of very early interventions on neurodevelopmental outcomes for infants and toddlers at increased likelihood of or diagnosed with autism: a systematic review and meta‐analysis. Autism Research, 16 (6), 1145-1160. doi: 10.1002/aur.2924
Whittingham, Koa and Mitchell, Amy E. (2023). Postnatal traumatic symptoms and shame: a cross-sectional study examining the role of birth, breastfeeding, psychological flexibility and self-compassion. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 28, 248-255. doi: 10.1016/j.jcbs.2023.04.004
Wotherspoon, Jane, Whittingham, Koa, Sheffield, Jeanie and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2023). Executive function, attention and autism symptomatology in school-aged children with cerebral palsy. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 36 (1), 1-16. doi: 10.1007/s10882-023-09905-9
Benfer, Katherine, Boyd, Roslyn N, Roe, Yvette, Fagan, Ruth, Luke, Carly, Mick-Ramsamy, Leeann, Whittingham, Koa, Novak, Iona, Bosanquet, Margot, McNamara, Lynda, Khandaker, Gulam, Fogarty, Lucy, Cadet-James, Yvonne, Ruben, Alan, Comans, Tracy, Smith, Anthony and Ware, Robert S (2023). Study protocol: peer delivered early intervention (Learning through Everyday Activities with Parents for Infants at risk of Cerebral Palsy: LEAP-CP) for First Nation Australian infants at high risk of cerebral palsy – an RCT study. BMJ Open, 13 (3) e059531, 1-16. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059531
Kulasinghe, Kavindri, Whittingham, Koa, Mitchell, Amy E. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2023). Psychological interventions targeting mental health and the mother–child relationship in autism: systematic review and meta‐analysis. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 65 (3), 329-345. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.15432
Morgan, Catherine, Badawi, Nadia, Boyd, Roslyn N., Spittle, Alicia J., Dale, Russell C., Kirby, Adrienne, Hunt, Rod W., Whittingham, Koa, Pannek, Kerstin, Morton, Rachael L., Tarnow-Mordi, William, Fahey, Michael C., Walker, Karen, Prelog, Kristina, Elliott, Catherine, Valentine, Jane, Guzzetta, Andrea, Olivey, Shannon, Novak, Iona and The GAME study team (2023). Harnessing neuroplasticity to improve motor performance in infants with cerebral palsy: a study protocol for the GAME randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open, 13 (3) e070649, 1-11. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-070649
Caldwell, Julia Marysia, Meredith, Pamela J., Whittingham, Koa, Ziviani, Jenny and Wilson, Trish (2023). Women pregnant after previous perinatal loss: relationships between adult attachment, shame, and prenatal psychological outcomes. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 1-15. doi: 10.1080/02646838.2023.2180142
Boyd, Roslyn N., Novak, Iona, Morgan, Catherine, Bora, Samudragupta, Sakzewski, Leanne, Ware, Robert S., Comans, Tracy, Fahey, Michael Collingwood, Whittingham, Koa, Trost, Stewart, Pannek, Kerstin, Pagnozzi, Alex, Mcintyre, Sarah, Badawi, Nadia, Smithers Sheedy, Hayley, Palmer, Kirsten Rebecca, Burgess, Andrea, Keramat, Afroz, Bell, Kristie, Hines, Ashleigh, Benfer, Katherine, Gascoigne-Pees, Laura, Leishman, Shaneen and Oftedal, Stina (2023). School readiness of children at high risk of cerebral palsy randomised to early neuroprotection and neurorehabilitation: protocol for a follow-up study of participants from four randomised clinical trials. BMJ Open, 13 (2) e068675, 1-17. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-068675
Kulasinghe, Kavindri, Whittingham, Koa and Mitchell, Amy E. (2022). Emotional availability in the mother-child relationship for families of young children with autism spectrum disorder in Australia: a cross-sectional survey. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 131 104365, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104365
Dickinson, Corrine, Sheffield, Jeanie, Mak, Catherine, Boyd, Roslyn N. and Whittingham, Koa (2022). When a baby is diagnosed at high risk of cerebral palsy: understanding and meeting parent need. Disability and Rehabilitation, 45 (24), 1-9. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2022.2144491
Lee, Jia Ying Sarah, Whittingham, Koa and Mitchell, Amy E. (2022). Childhood experiences of being parented, adult attachment, psychological inflexibility, social engagement, and mental health of autistic adults. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 130 104343, 1-17. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104343
Burgess, Andrea, Sakzewski, Leanne, Whittingham, Koa, Wotherspoon, Jane, Chatfield, Mark D., Ware, Robert S. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2022). Development of social functioning in children with cerebral palsy: a longitudinal study. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 65 (5), 1-9. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.15439
Dixson, Barnaby J.W., Borg, Danielle, Rae, Kym M., Whittingha, Koa, Gannon, Brenda, McPhail, Steven M., Carter, Hannah E., Moritz, Karen M., Boyd, Roslyn N., Bora, Samudragupta, Kumar, Sailesh, Frater, Julanne, Schweitzer, Daniel, Miller, Paul, Mehter, Divya and Clifton, Vicki L. (2022). The social predictors of paternal antenatal mental health and their associations with maternal mental health in the Queensland Family Cohort prospective study. Archives of Women's Mental Health, 26 (1), 1-10. doi: 10.1007/s00737-022-01257-1
Clifton, Vicki L., Kumar, Sailesh, Borg, Danielle, Rae, Kym M., Boyd, Roslyn N., Whittingham, Koa, Moritz, Karen M., Carter, Hannah E., McPhail, Steven M., Gannon, Brenda, Ware, Robert, Dixson, Barnaby J. W., Bora, Samudragupta and Hurst, Cameron (2022). Associations between COVID-19 lockdown and post-lockdown on the mental health of pregnant women, postpartum women and their partners from the Queensland family cohort prospective study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 22 (1) 468, 1-12. doi: 10.1186/s12884-022-04795-9
Whittingham, Koa, Sheffield, Jeanie, Mak, Catherine, Wright, Ashleigh and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2022). Parenting Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: an RCT of an online course with families of children with CP. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 155 104129, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2022.104129
Laporta-Hoyos, Olga, Pannek, Kerstin, Pagnozzi, Alex M., Whittingham, Koa, Wotherspoon, Jane, Benfer, Kath, Fiori, Simona, Ware, Robert S. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2022). Cognitive, academic, executive and psychological functioning in children with spastic motor type cerebral palsy: influence of extent, location, and laterality of brain lesions. European Journal of Paediatric Neurology, 38, 33-46. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2022.02.004
Caldwell, Julia, Meredith, Pamela, Whittingham, Koa and Ziviani, Jenny (2022). Associations between prenatal factors and self-reported emotional availability at 3- and 6-months postpartum. OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine, 7 (3), 1-30. doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2203028
Evans, Tracey, Boyd, Roslyn N., Colditz, Paul B., Sanders, Matthew and Whittingham, Koa (2022). Predictors of maternal bonding and responsiveness for mothers of very preterm infants. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 29 (2), 391-402. doi: 10.1007/s10880-021-09833-w
Crawford, Emma, Whittingham, Koa, Pallett, Emma, Douglas, Pamela and Creedy, Debra K. (2021). An evaluation of Neuroprotective Developmental Care (NDC/Possums Programs) in the first 12 months of life. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 26 (1), 110-123. doi: 10.1007/s10995-021-03230-3
Barfoot, Jacqueline, Meredith, Pamela, Ziviani, Jenny and Whittingham, Koa (2021). PlayConnections: relationship-focussed early childhood intervention training for allied health practitioners. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 69 (1), 217-238. doi: 10.1080/1034912x.2021.1955334
Whittingham, Koa and Mitchell, Amy E. (2021). Birth, breastfeeding, psychological flexibility and self‐compassion as predictors of mother–infant emotional availability in a cross‐sectional study. Infant Mental Health Journal, 42 (5) imhj.21935, 718-730. doi: 10.1002/imhj.21935
Morgan, Catherine, Fetters, Linda, Adde, Lars, Badawi, Nadia, Bancale, Ada, Boyd, Roslyn N., Chorna, Olena, Cioni, Giovanni, Damiano, Diane L., Darrah, Johanna, De Vries, Linda S., Dusing, Stacey, Einspieler, Christa, Eliasson, Ann-Christin, Ferriero, Donna, Fehlings, Darcy, Forssberg, Hans, Gordon, Andrew M., Greaves, Susan, Guzzetta, Andrea, Hadders-Algra, Mijna, Harbourne, Regina, Karlsson, Petra, Krumlinde-Sundholm, Lena, Latal, Beatrice, Loughran-Fowlds, Alison, Mak, Catherine, Maitre, Nathalie, McIntyre, Sarah ... Novak, Iona (2021). Early intervention for children aged 0 to 2 years with or at high risk of cerebral palsy: international clinical practice guideline based on systematic reviews. JAMA Pediatrics, 175 (8), 846-858. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.0878
Lennard, Georgina R., Mitchell, Amy E. and Whittingham, Koa (2021). Randomized controlled trial of a brief online self‐compassion intervention for mothers of infants: effects on mental health outcomes. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 77 (3) jclp.23068, 473-487. doi: 10.1002/jclp.23068
Kulasinghe, Kavindri, Whittingham, Koa and Mitchell, Amy E. (2021). Mental health, broad autism phenotype and psychological inflexibility in mothers of young children with autism spectrum disorder in Australia: a cross-sectional survey. Autism, 25 (5), 1362361320984625-1202. doi: 10.1177/1362361320984625
Whittingham, Koa, Sheffield, Jeanie, Mak, Catherine, Dickinson, Corrine and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2020). Early parenting acceptance and commitment therapy ‘early PACT’ for parents of infants with cerebral palsy: a study protocol of a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open, 10 (10) e037033, e037033. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-037033
Whittingham, Koa, Palmer, Chloe, Douglas, Pamela, Creedy, Debra K. and Sheffield, Jeanie (2020). Evaluating the “possums” health professional training in parent–infant sleep. Infant Mental Health Journal, 41 (5) imhj.21885, 603-613. doi: 10.1002/imhj.21885
Whittingham, Koa, McGlade, Andrea, Kulasinghe, Kavindri, Mitchell, Amy E., Heussler, Honey and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2020). ENACT (ENvironmental enrichment for infants; parenting with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy): a randomised controlled trial of an innovative intervention for infants at risk of autism spectrum disorder. BMJ Open, 10 (8) e034315, 1-10. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034315
Mak, Catherine, Whittingham, Koa, Cunnington, Ross, Chatfield, Mark and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2020). Six-month follow-up of a mindfulness yoga program, MiYoga, on attention, executive function, behaviour and physical outcomes in cerebral palsy. Disability and Rehabilitation, 44 (6), 1-7. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2020.1783582
Dickinson, Corrine, Whittingham, Koa, Sheffield, Jeanie, Wotherspoon, Jane and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2020). Efficacy of interventions to improve psychological adjustment for parents of infants with or at risk of neurodevelopmental disability: a systematic review. Infant Mental Health Journal, 41 (5) imhj.21871, 697-722. doi: 10.1002/imhj.21871
Caldwell, Julia, Meredith, Pamela, Whittingham, Koa and Ziviani, Jenny (2020). Shame and guilt in the postnatal period: a systematic review. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 39 (1), 1-19. doi: 10.1080/02646838.2020.1754372
Colditz, Paul B., Boyd, Roslyn N., Winter, Leanne, Pritchard, Margo, Gray, Peter H., Whittingham, Koa, O'Callaghan, Michael, Jardine, Luke, O'Rourke, Peter, Marquart, Louise, Forrest, Kylee, Spry, Carmen and Sanders, Matthew R. (2019). A randomized trial of Baby Triple P for Preterm Infants: child outcomes at 2 years of corrected age. The Journal of Pediatrics, 210, 48-54.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2019.01.024
Whittingham, Koa, Sanders, Matthew R., McKinlay, Lynne and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2019). Parenting intervention combined with acceptance and commitment therapy: processes of change. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 28 (6), 1673-1680. doi: 10.1007/s10826-019-01386-9
Wotherspoon, Jane, Whittingham, Koa, Boyd, Roslyn N and Sheffield, Jeanie (2019). Randomised controlled trial of a novel online cognitive rehabilitation programme for children with cerebral palsy: A study protocol. BMJ Open, 9 (6) e028505, e028505. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-028505
Mak, Catherine K., Whittingham, Koa and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2019). Experiences of children and parents in MiYoga, an embodied mindfulness yoga program for cerebral palsy: a mixed method study. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 34, 208-216. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.12.006
Ball, Helen L., Douglas, Pamela S., Kulasinghe, Kavindri, Whittingham, Koa and Hill, Peter (2018). The Possums Infant Sleep Program: parents’ perspectives on a novel parent-infant sleep intervention in Australia. Sleep Health, 4 (6), 519-526. doi: 10.1016/j.sleh.2018.08.007
Winter, Leanne, Sanders, Matthew R., Boyd, Roslyn N., Pritchard, Margo, Gray, Peter H., Whittingham, Koa, Forrest, Kylee, Webb, Lachlan, Marquart, Louise and Colditz, Paul B (2018). Predicting attendance of a preventive parenting intervention for very preterm infants. Infant Mental Health Journal, 39 (6), 699-706. doi: 10.1002/imhj.21749
Benfer, Katherine A., Novak, Iona, Morgan, Catherine, Whittingham, Koa, Khan, Naila Zaman, Ware, Robert S., Bell, Kristie L., Bandaranayake, Sasaka, Salt, Alison, Ghosh, Asis Kumar, Bhattacharya, Anjan, Samanta, Sandip, Moula, Golam, Bose, Dilip, Tripathi, Santanu and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2018). Community-based parent-delivered early detection and intervention programme for infants at high risk of cerebral palsy in a low-resource country (Learning through Everyday Activities with Parents (LEAP-CP): protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open, 8 (6) e017204, e021186. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-021186
Mak, Catherine, Whittingham, Koa, Cunnington, Ross and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2018). Effect of mindfulness yoga programme MiYoga on attention, behaviour, and physical outcomes in cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 60 (9), 922-932. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.13923
Mitchell, Amy E., Whittingham, Koa, Steindl, Stanley and Kirby, James (2018). Feasibility and acceptability of a brief online self-compassion intervention for mothers of infants. Archives of Women's Mental Health, 21 (5), 1-9. doi: 10.1007/s00737-018-0829-y
Winter, Leanne, Colditz, Paul B., Sanders, Matthew R., Boyd, Roslyn N., Pritchard, Margo, Gray, Peter H., Whittingham, Koa, Forrest, Kylee, Leeks, Rebecca, Webb, Lachlan, Marquart, Louise, Taylor, Karen and Macey, Judith (2018). Depression, posttraumatic stress and relationship distress in parents of very preterm infants. Archives of Women's Mental Health, 21 (4), 1-7. doi: 10.1007/s00737-018-0821-6
Mak, Catherine, Whittingham, Koa, Cunnington, Ross and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2018). Efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions for attention and executive function in children and adolescents - a systematic review. Mindfulness, 9 (1), 59-78. doi: 10.1007/s12671-017-0770-6
Bautista, Manuel, Whittingham, Koa, Edwards, Priya and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2017). Psychometric properties of parent and child reported sleep assessment tools in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 60 (2), 162-172. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.13609
Piovesana, Adina, Ross, Stephanie, Lloyd, Owen, Whittingham, Koa, Ziviani, Jenny, Ware, Robert S., McKinlay, Lynne and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2017). A randomised controlled trial of a web-based multi-modal therapy program to improve executive functioning in children and adolescents with acquired brain injury. Clinical Rehabilitation, 31 (10), 1351-1363. doi: 10.1177/0269215517695373
Boyd, Roslyn N., Ziviani, Jenny, Sakzewski, Leanne, Novak, Iona, Badawi, Nadia, Pannek, Kerstin, Elliott, Catherine, Greaves, Susan, Guzzetta, Andrea, Whittingham, Koa, Valentine, Jane, Morgan, Cathy, Wallen, Margaret, Eliasson, Ann-Christin, Findlay, Lisa, Ware, Robert, Fiori, Simona and Rose, Stephen (2017). REACH: Study protocol of a Randomised trial of Rehabilitation very EArly in Congenital Hemiplegia. BMJ Open, 7 (9) e017204, 1-19. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017204
Barfoot, J., Meredith, P., Ziviani, J. and Whittingham, K. (2017). Parent-child interactions and children with cerebral palsy: An exploratory study investigating emotional availability, functional ability, and parent distress. Child: Care, Health and Development, 43 (6), 812-822. doi: 10.1111/cch.12493
Mak, Catherine, Whittingham, Koa, Cunnington, Ross and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2017). MiYoga: A randomised controlled trial of a mindfulness movement programme based on hatha yoga principles for children with cerebral palsy: A study protocol. BMJ Open, 7 (7) e015191, e015191. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-015191
Boyd, Roslyn N., Davies, Peter S. W., Ziviani, Jenny, Trost, Stewart, Barber, Lee, Ware, Robert, Rose, Stephen, Whittingham, Koa, Sakzewski, Leanne, Bell, Kristie, Carty, Christopher, Obst, Steven, Benfer, Katherine, Reedman, Sarah, Edwards, Priya, Kentish, Megan, Copeland, Lisa, Weir, Kelly, Davenport, Camilla, Brooks, Denise, Coulthard, Alan, Pelekanos, Rebecca, Guzzetta, Andrea, Fiori, Simona, Wynter, Meredith, Finn, Christine, Burgess, Andrea, Morris, Kym, Walsh, John ... Scuffham, Paul A. (2017). PREDICT-CP: study protocol of implementation of comprehensive surveillance to predict outcomes for school-aged children with cerebral palsy. BMJ Open, 7 (7) e014950, e014950. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014950
Barfoot, Jacqueline, Meredith, Pamela, Ziviani, Jenny and Whittingham, Koa (2017). Relationship-based approaches in early childhood intervention: are these applicable to paediatric occupational therapy under the NDIS?. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 64 (3), 273-276. doi: 10.1111/1440-1630.12343
Evans, Tracey, Boyd, Roslyn N., Colditz, Paul, Sanders, Matthew and Whittingham, Koa (2016). Baby triple P for parents of a very preterm infant: a case study. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 26 (2), 1-10. doi: 10.1007/s10826-016-0571-x
Whittingham, Koa, Sheffield, Jeanie and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2016). Parenting acceptance and commitment therapy: a randomised controlled trial of an innovative online course for families of children with cerebral palsy. BMJ Open, 6 (10) e012807, e012807. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012807
Evans, Tracey, Boyd, Roslyn N., Colditz, Paul, Sanders, Matthew and Whittingham, Koa (2016). Mother-very preterm infant relationship quality: RCT of baby triple P. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 26 (1), 1-12. doi: 10.1007/s10826-016-0555-x
Lai, Melissa M., D'Acunto, Giulia, Guzzetta, Andrea, Boyd, Roslyn N., Rose, Stephen E., Fripp, Jurgen, Finnigan, Simon, Ngenda, Naoni, Love, Penny, Whittingham, Koa, Pannek, Kerstin, Ware, Robert S. and Colditz, Paul B. (2016). PREMM: preterm early massage by the mother: protocol of a randomised controlled trial of massage therapy in very preterm infants. BMC Pediatrics, 16 (146) 146, 1-12. doi: 10.1186/s12887-016-0678-7
Whittingham, K., Sanders, M., McKinlay, L. and Boyd, R. N. (2016). Erratum: Parenting intervention combined with acceptance and commitment therapy: A trial with families of children with cerebral palsy (Journal of Pediatric Psychology (2016) 41 (531-542) DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsv118). Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 45 (7). doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsw069
Lipscombe, Belinda, Boyd, Roslyn N., Coleman, Andrea, Fahey, Michael, Rawicki, Barry and Whittingham, Koa (2016). Does early communication mediate the relationship between motor ability and social function in children with cerebral palsy?. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 53-54, 279-286. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2016.02.013
Piovesana, Adina M., Ross, Stephanie, Lloyd, Owen, Whittingham, Koa, Ziviani, Jenny, Ware, Robert S. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2016). Randomized controlled trial of a web-based multi-modal therapy program for executive functioning in children and adolescents with unilateral cerebral palsy. Disability and Rehabilitation, 39 (20), 1-8. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2016.1213899
Whittingham, Koa, Sanders, Matthew R., McKinlay, Lynne and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2015). Parenting intervention combined with acceptance and commitment therapy: a trial with families of children with cerebral palsy. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 41 (5), 531-542. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsv118
Barfoot, Jacqui, Meredith, Pamela, Ziviani, Jenny and Wittingham, Koa (2015). Relationship-based parenting to support developmental outcomes for a young child with cerebral palsy: a practice application.. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 78 (10), 640-643. doi: 10.1177/0308022615583304
Brown, Felicity L., Whittingham, Koa, Boyd, Roslyn N., McKinlay, Lynne and Sofronoff, Kate (2015). Does stepping stones triple p plus acceptance and commitment therapy improve parent, couple, and family adjustment following paediatric acquired brain injury? a randomised controlled trial. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 73, 58-66. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2015.07.001
Boyd, Roslyn N., Baque, Emmah, Piovesana, Adina, Ross, Stephanie, Ziviani, Jenny, Sakzewski, Leanne, Barber, Lee, Lloyd, Owen, McKinlay, Lynne, Whittingham, Koa, Smith, Anthony C., Rose, Stephen, Fiori, Simona, Cunnington, Ross, Ware, Robert, Lewis, Melinda, Comans, Tracy A. and Scuffham, Paul A. (2015). Mitii™ ABI: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial of a web-based multi-modal training program for children and adolescents with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). BMC Neurology, 15 (140) 140, 140. doi: 10.1186/s12883-015-0381-6
Brown, Felicity L., Whittingham, Koa and Sofronoff, Kate (2015). Parental experiential avoidance as a potential mechanism of change in a parenting intervention for parents of children with pediatric acquired brain injury. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 40 (4), 464-474. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsu109
Whittingham, Koa (2015). Connect and shape: a parenting meta-strategy. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 4 (2), 103-106. doi: 10.1016/j.jcbs.2015.03.002
Whittingham, Koa, Boyd, Roslyn N., Sanders, Matthew R. and Colditz, Paul (2015). Parenting and Prematurity: Understanding Parent Experience and Preferences for Support (vol 23, pg 1050, 2014). Journal of Child and Family Studies, 24 (5), 1529-1529. doi: 10.1007/s10826-015-0166-y
Colditz, Paul, Sanders, Matthew R., Boyd, Roslyn, Pritchard, Margo, Gray, Peter, O'Callaghan, Michael J., Slaughter, Virginia, Whittingham, Koa, O'Rourke, Peter, Winter, Leanne, Evans, Tracey, Herd, Michael, Ahern, Jessica and Jardine, Luke (2015). Prem Baby Triple P: a randomised controlled trial of enhanced parenting capacity to improve developmental outcomes in preterm infants. BMC Pediatrics, 15 (1) 15, 1-13. doi: 10.1186/s12887-015-0331-x
Douglas, Pamela and Whittingham, Koa (2015). RESPONSE TO 'SLEEPING LIKE A BABY? INFANT SLEEP: IMPACT ON CARE GIVERS AND CURRENT CONTROVERSIES'. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 51 (2), 234-234. doi: 10.1111/jpc.12835
Piovesana, Adina M., Ross, Stephanie, Whittingham, Koa, Ware, Robert S. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2015). Stability of Executive Functioning Measures in 8–17-Year-Old Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy. Clinical Neuropsychologist, 29 (1), 133-149. doi: 10.1080/13854046.2014.999125
Whittingham, Koa, Sanders, Matthew, McKinlay, Lynne and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2015). Erratum: Stepping stones Triple P and acceptance and commitment therapy for parents of children with cerebral palsy: trial protocol. Brain Impairment, 15 (3), 234-234. doi: 10.1017/BrImp.2014.21
Whittingham, Koa (2014). Parents of children with disabilities, mindfulness and acceptance: a review and a call for research. Mindfulness, 5 (6), 704-709. doi: 10.1007/s12671-013-0224-8
Whittingham, Koa and Douglas, Pamela (2014). Optimizing parent-infant sleep from birth to 6 months: a new paradigm. Infant Mental Health Journal, 35 (6), 614-623. doi: 10.1002/imhj.21455
Herd, M., Whittingham, K., Sanders, M., Colditz, P. and Boyd R.N. (2014). Efficacy of preventative parenting interventions for parents of preterm infants on later child behavior: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Infant Mental Health Journal, 35 (6), 630-641. doi: 10.1002/imhj.21480
Whittingham, Koa, Sofronoff, Kate, Sheffield, Jeanie and Sanders, Matthew R. (2014). Erratum to: stepping stones Triple P: an RCT of a parenting program with parents of a child diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 42 (7), 1249-1249. doi: 10.1007/s10802-014-9927-0
Brown, Felicity L., Whittingham, Koa, Boyd, Roslyn N., McKinlay, Lynne and Sofronoff, Kate (2014). Improving child and parenting outcomes following paediatric acquired brain injury: a randomised controlled trial of Stepping Stones Triple P plus Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 55 (10), 1172-1183. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.12227
Whittingham, Koa (2014). Parenting in context. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 3 (3), 212-215. doi: 10.1016/j.jcbs.2014.01.001
Whittingham, Koa, Bodimeade, Harriet L., Lloyd, Owen and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2014). Everyday psychological functioning in children with unilateral cerebral palsy: does executive functioning play a role?. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 56 (6), 572-579. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12374
Evans, Tracey, Whittingham, Koa, Sanders, Matthew, Colditz, Paul and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2014). Are parenting interventions effective in improving the relationship between mothers and their preterm infants?. Infant Behavior and Development, 37 (2), 131-154. doi: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2013.12.009
Whittingham, Koa (2014). Interventions to Reduce Behavioral Problems in Children With Cerebral Palsy: An RCT (vol 133, pg e1249, 2014). Pediatrics, 134 (6), 1222-1222. doi: 10.1542/peds.2014-3029
Whittingham, Koa, Sanders, Matthew, McKinlay, Lynne and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2014). Interventions to reduce behavioral problems in children with cerebral palsy: an RCT. Pediatrics, 133 (5), E1249-E1257. doi: 10.1542/peds.2013-3620
Bodimeade, Harriet L., Whittingham, Koa, Lloyd, Owen and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2013). Executive function in children and adolescents with unilateral cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 55 (10), 926-933. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12195
Whittingham, Koa, Sanders, Matthew, McKinlay, Lynne and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2013). Stepping stones Triple P and acceptance and commitment therapy for parents of children with cerebral palsy: trial protocol. Brain Impairment, 14 (2), 270-280. doi: 10.1017/BrImp.2013.19
Brown, Felicity Louise, Whittingham, Koa, McKinlay, Lynne, Boyd, Roslyn and Sofronoff, Kate (2013). Efficacy of stepping stones triple p plus a stress management adjunct for parents of children with an acquired brain injury: The protocol of a Randomised controlled trial. Brain Impairment, 14 (2), 253-269. doi: 10.1017/BrImp.2013.18
Whittingham, Koa, Wee, Diana, Sanders, Matthew R. and Boyd, Roslyn (2013). Sorrow, coping and resiliency: parents of children with cerebral palsy share their experiences.. Disability and Rehabilitation, 35 (17), 1447-1452. doi: 10.3109/09638288.2012.737081
Whittingham, Koa, Boyd, Roslyn N., Sanders, Matthew R. and Colditz, Paul (2013). Parenting and prematurity: understanding parent experience and preferences for support. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 23 (6), 1050-1061. doi: 10.1007/s10826-013-9762-x
Whittingham, K., Wee, D., Sanders, M. R. and Boyd, R. (2013). Predictors of psychological adjustment, experienced parenting burden and chronic sorrow symptoms in parents of children with cerebral palsy. Child Care Health and Development, 39 (3), 366-373. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2012.01396.x
Boyd, Roslyn N., Mitchell, Louise E., James, Sarah T., Ziviani, Jenny, Sakzewski, Leanne, Smith, Anthony, Rose, Stephen, Cunnington, Ross, Whittingham, Koa, Ware, Robert S., Comans, Tracey A. and Scuffham, Paul A. (2013). Move it to improve it (Mitii): study protocol of a randomised controlled trial of a novel web-based multimodal training program for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. BMJ Open, 3 (4) e002853, e002853.1-e002853.20. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2013-002853
Bodimeade, Harriet L., Whittingham, Koa, Lloyd, Owen and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2013). Executive functioning in children with unilateral cerebral palsy: protocol for a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 3 (4) e002500, e002500.1-e002500.10. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2012-002500
Guzzetta, Andrea, Boyd, Roslyn N., Perez, Micah, Ziviani, Jenny, Burzi, Valentina, Slaughter, Virginia, Rose, Stephen, Provan, Kerry, Findlay, Lisa, Fisher, Imogen, Colombini, Francesca, Tealdi, Gessica, Marchi, Viviani and Whittingham, Koa (2013). UP-BEAT (Upper Limb Baby Early Action-observation Training): protocol of two parallel randomised controlled trials of action-observation training for typically developing infants and infants with asymmetric brain lesions. BMJ Open, 3 (2) 002512, 1-11. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2012-002512
Brown, Felicity L., Whittingham, Koa, Sofronoff, Kate and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2013). Parenting a child with a traumatic brain injury: Experiences of parents and health professionals. Brain Injury, 27 (13-14), 1570-1582. doi: 10.3109/02699052.2013.841996
Pennell, Claire, Whittingham, Koa, Boyd, Roslyn, Sanders, Matthew and Colditz, Paul (2012). Prematurity and parental self-efficacy: the Preterm Parenting & Self-Efficacy Checklist. Infant Behavior and Development, 35 (4), 678-688. doi: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2012.07.009
Evans, Tracey, Whittingham, Koa and Boyd, Roslyn (2012). What helps the mother of a preterm infant become securely attached, responsive and well-adjusted?. Infant Behavior and Development, 35 (1), 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2011.10.002
Brown, Felicity Louise, Koa Whittingham, Roslyn Boyd and Kate Sofronoff (2012). A systematic review of parenting interventions for traumatic brain injury: Child and parent outcomes. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 28 (5), 349-360. doi: 10.1097/HTR.0b013e318245fed5
Ferrari, Alize J., Whittingham, Koa, Boyd, Roslyn, Sanders, Matthew and Colditz, Paul (2011). Prem Baby Triple P a new parenting intervention for parents of infants born very preterm: Acceptability and barriers. Infant Behavior and Development, 34 (4), 602-609. doi: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2011.06.004
Whittingham, K., Wee, D. and Boyd, R. (2011). Systematic review of the efficacy of parenting interventions for children with cerebral palsy. Child Care Health and Development, 37 (4), 475-483. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01212.x
Whittingham, Koa, Wee, Diana, Sanders, Matthew and Boyd, Roslyn (2011). Responding to the challenges of parenting a child with cerebral palsy: A focus group. Disability and Rehabilitation, 33 (17-18), 1557-1567. doi: 10.3109/09638288.2010.535090
Whittingham, Koa, Fahey, Michael, Rawicki, Barry and Boyd, Roslyn (2010). The relationship between motor abilities and early social development in a preschool cohort of children with cerebral palsy. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 31 (6), 1346-1351. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2010.07.006
Harnett, Paul H., Whittingham, Koa, Puhakka, Elizabeth, Hodges, Julie, Spry, Carmen and Dob, Rian (2010). The short-term impact of a brief group-based mindfulness therapy program on depression and life satisfaction. Mindfulness, 1 (3), 183-188. doi: 10.1007/s12671-010-0024-3
Kang, Chris and Whittingham, Koa (2010). Mindfulness: A dialogue between Buddhism and clinical psychology. Mindfulness, 1 (3), 161-173. doi: 10.1007/s12671-010-0018-1
Cash, Morgan and Whittingham, Koa (2010). What facets of mindfulness contribute to psychological well-being and depressive, anxious, and stress-related symptomatology?. Mindfulness, 1 (3), 177-182. doi: 10.1007/s12671-010-0023-4
Rosbrook, Ainslie and Whittingham, Koa (2010). Autistic traits in the general population: What mediates the link with depressive and anxious symptomatology?. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 4 (3), 415-424. doi: 10.1016/j.rasd.2009.10.012
Mazzucchelli, Trevor G., Studman, Lisa J., Whittingham, Koa and Sofronoff, Kate (2010). Comments on a study of the social validity of the developmental disability parent training program Stepping Stones Triple P. Life Span and Disability, 13 (2), 109-128.
Whittingham, Koa, Sofronoff, Kate, Sheffield, Jeanie and Sanders, Matthew R. (2009). Behavioural family intervention with parents of children with ASD: What do they find useful in the parenting program Stepping Stones Triple P?. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 3 (3), 702-713. doi: 10.1016/j.rasd.2009.01.009
Whittingham, Koa, Sofronoff, Kate, Sheffield, Jeanie and Sanders, Matthew R. (2009). Stepping Stones Triple P: An RCT of a parenting program with parents of a child diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 37 (4), 469-480. doi: 10.1007/s10802-008-9285-x
Whittingham, Koa, Sofronoff, Kathe, Sheffield, Jeanie and Sanders, Matthew R. (2009). Do parental attributions affect treatment outcome in a parenting program? An exploration of the effects of parental attributions in an RCT of Stepping Stones Triple P for the ASD population. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 3 (1), 129-144. doi: 10.1016/j.rasd.2008.05.002
Whittingham, Koa, Sofronoff, Kate, Sheffield, Jeanie and Sanders, Matthew R. (2008). An exploration of parental attributions within the autism spectrum disorders population. Behaviour Change, 25 (4), 201-214. doi: 10.1375/bech.25.4.201
Whittingham, K., Sofronoff, K. and Sheffield, J. K. (2006). Stepping Stones Triple P: A pilot study to evaluate acceptability of the program by parents of a child diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Research In Developmental Disabilities, 27 (4), 364-380. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2005.05.003
Conference Papers
Boyd, Roslyn, Sakzewski, Leanne, Novak, Iona, Greaves, Susan, Wallen, Margaret, Morgan, Catherine, Badawi, Nadia, Elliott, Catherine, Heathcock, Jill, Eliasson, Ann-Christian, Maitre, Natalie, Whittingham, Koa N. and Ware, Robert (2023). REACH: Randomised trial of rehabilitation very EArly in congenital hemiplegia.. American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine,, Chicago, IL, United States, 10-13 September 2023. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
Whittingham, K., Benfer, K., Leishman, S., Sakzewski, L. and Boyd, R. (2022). Predictors of parental psychological adjustment in a cohort of parents of children (aged 8–12 years) with cerebral palsy. Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine and the International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 1-5 March 2022. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
Whittingham, K., Benfer, K., Leishman, S., Sakzewski, L. and Boyd, R. (2022). Disordered sleep in a population-based cohort of primary school age children with cerebral palsy. Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine and the International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 1-5 March 2022. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
Barfoot, J., Meredith, P., Ziviani, J. and Whittingham, K. (2016). Parent-child interactions and cerebral palsy: an exploratory study. 2016 IASSIDD World Congress, Melbourne, Australia, 14-19 August 2016. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
Bodimeade, H., Whittingham, K., Boyd, R. and Lloyd, O. (2012). Executive functioning in children and adolescents with congenital hemiplegia. 12th International Child Neurology Congress and the 11th Asian and Oceanian Congress of Child Neurology, Brisbane Australia, 27 May-1 June 2012. Oxford, United Kingdom: Wiley - Blackwell Publishing.
Wee, Diana, Whittingham, Koa, Sanders, Matthew and Boyd, Roslyn (2010). Parenting experiences and coping strategies of parents of children with cerebral palsy. Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine Biennial Conference, Christchurch, New Zealand, 3-6 March 2010. Oxford, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
Wee, Diana, Whittingham, Koa, Sanders, Matthew, McKinlay, Lynne and Boyd, Roslyn (2010). Parenting intervention: Acceptability of Stepping Stones Triple P with parents of children with cerebral palsy. Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine Biennial Conference, Christchurch, New Zealand, 3-6 March 2010. Oxford, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
Thesis
Whittingham, Koa Lou (2007). Implementation and evaluation of the parenting program Stepping Stones Triple P for children with autism spectrum disorders. PhD Thesis, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/158797