Dr Rachel Curtis

Research Fellow UniSA Allied Health & Human Performance

City East Campus (P4-18A)
tel +61 8 830 22455

email Rachel.Curtis@unisa.edu.au

Research Degree Supervisor

About me

ARENA member

Dr Curtis is a Research Fellow in the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA) at the University of South Australia. Her research focuses on understanding and improving people's health and wellbeing by identifying psychological and social risk factors for unhealthy behaviours, such as poor diet and physical inactivity, and developing innovative programs to help people make and sustain positive lifestyle changes.

UniSA Allied Health & Human Performance

Focused on shaping community wellbeing, UniSA Allied Health & Human Performance educates future health professionals and delivers solutions-based research that addresses global health needs.

Tweets by @UniversitySA

Research

Research focus

Medical and Health Sciences
Psychology
Human Movement and Sports Science
Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
Curriculum and Pedagogy

Research

Outputs

Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. Some long-standing staff members may have older outputs included. To see earlier years visit ORCID, ResearcherID or Scopus

Open access indicates that an output is open access.

Chapters

Year	Output
2016	Windsor, TD, Curtis, RG & Luszcz, MA 2016, 'Social engagement in late life', in H Kendig, P McDonald & J Piggott (eds), Population ageing and Australia's future, Australian National University Press, Australia, ch. 9, pp. 185-204. Open access

Journal Articles

Year	Output
2025	Beckett, D, Curtis, R, Szeto, K & Maher, C 2025, 'Changing user experience of wearable activity monitors over 7 years: repeat cross-sectional survey study', Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 27, no. , pp. 1-13. Open access 1
2025	Brinsley, J, Schmidt, M, Curtis, R, Simpson, CE, Edwards, J, Eglitis, EE, Gosse, G, Broad, M, Jardine, B, Taddeo, E, Banati, P & Maher, C 2025, 'Effectiveness of peer-led health behaviour interventions on adolescent's mental health and wellbeing: a systematic review and meta-analysis', Scientific Reports, vol. 15, no. 1, article no. 16480, pp. 1-11. Open access
2025	Gába, A, Hartwig, TB, Jašková, P, Sanders, T, Curtis, RG, Maher, CA & Lonsdale, C and 26 other authors 2025, 'Reallocating time between 24-h movement behaviors for obesity management across the lifespan: a pooled data meta-analysis of more than 9800 participants from seven countries', Sports Medicine, 55, pp. 641-654. Open access 2 1 24
2025	Maher, C, Christian, H, Nathan, N, Okely, A, Esterman, A, Curtis, RG, Brinsley, J, Ferguson, T, Virgara, R & Wolfenden, L 12 other authors 2025, 'Improving physical activity and screen time in Australian Outside School Hours Care: study protocol', Pediatric Research, vol. 97, no. 5, pp. 1516-1521. Open access
2025	Singh, B, Bennett, H, Miatke, A, Dumuid, D, Curtis, R, Ferguson, T, Brinsley, J, Szeto, K, Petersen, JM, Gough, C, Eglitis, E, Simpson, CE, Ekegren, CL, Smith, AE, Erickson, K I & Maher, C 2025, 'Effectiveness of exercise for improving cognition, memory and executive function: a systematic umbrella review and meta-meta-analysis', British Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 59, no. 12, pp. 866-876. Open access 7 5
2024	Curtis, RG, Hendrie, GA, Ferguson, T, Olds, T, Fraysse, F, Dumuid, D, Brown, WJ, Esterman, A & Maher, CA 2024, 'Annual and seasonal patterns of dietary intake in Australian adults: a prospective cohort study', Nutrients, vol. 16, no. 16, article no. 2718, pp. 1-14. Open access 35
2024	Ferguson, T, Curtis, R, Fraysse, F, Olds, T, Dumuid, D, Brown, W, Esterman, A & Maher, C 2024, 'The annual rhythms in sleep, sedentary behavior, and physical activity of Australian adults: a prospective cohort study', Annals of Behavioral Medicine, vol. 58, no. 4, pp. 286-295. Open access 1 1 1
2024	Kidman, PG, Curtis, RG, Watson, A & Maher, CA 2024, 'When and why adults abandon lifestyle behavior and mental health mobile apps: scoping review', Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 26, article no. e56897, pp. 1-12. Open access 2 2 2
2024	Maher, C, Dankiw, KA, Singh, B, Bogomolova, S & Curtis, RG 2024, 'In-home evaluation of the neo care artificial intelligence sound-based fall detection system', Future Internet, vol. 16, no. 6, article no. 197, pp. 1-17. Open access 2 1 1
2024	Simpson, CE, Curtis, RG, Virgara, R, Crisp, M, Licari, S, James, M, Reece, L & Maher, CA 2024, 'Financial incentives for physical activity and sports participation in young people', Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, vol. 52, no. 3, pp. 108-114. Open access 1 1
2024	Simpson, CE, Virgara, R, Curtis, RG, Crisp, M, Licari, S, Foley, BC & Maher, CA 2024, 'Setting the game plan: an international Delphi study on evaluating a population-wide youth sports financial incentive', BMC Public Health, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 1-15. Open access
2023	Curtis, RG, Crisp, M, Licari, S, Virgara, R, Simpson, CE & Maher, CA 2023, 'Uptake of a universal sports subsidy program for school-aged children: a population data analysis', Journal of Physical Activity and Health, vol. 20, no. 10, pp. 948-953. Open access 4 4 7
2023	Curtis, RG, Dumuid, D, McCabe, H, Singh, B, Ferguson, T & Maher, C 2023, 'The association between 24-hour activity, sedentary and sleep compositions and mental health in Australian adults: a cross-sectional study', Journal of Activity, Sedentary and Sleep Behaviors , vol. 2, article no. 15, pp. 1-9. Open access 1
2023	Curtis, RG, Prichard, I, Gosse, G, Stankevicius, A & Maher, CA 2023, 'Hashtag fitspiration: credibility screening and content analysis of Instagram fitness accounts', BMC Public Health, vol. 23, no. 1, article no. 421, pp. 1-7. Open access 18 16 291
2023	Dumuid, D, Singh, B, Brinsley, J, Virgara, R, Curtis, RG, Brinkman, S & Maher, CA 2023, 'Trends in well-being among youth in Australia, 2017-2022', JAMA network open, vol. 6, no. 8, article no. e2330098, pp. 1-14. Open access 3 3 37
2023	Ferguson, T, Curtis, R, Fraysse, F, Olds, T, Dumuid, D, Brown, W, Esterman, A & Maher, C 2023, 'How do 24-h movement behaviours change during and after vacation? A cohort study', International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 1-12. Open access 3 1 1018
2023	Ferguson, T, Curtis, R, Fraysse, F, Olds, T, Dumuid, D, Brown, W, Esterman, A & Maher, C 2023, 'Weather associations with physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep patterns of Australian adults: a longitudinal study with implications for climate change', International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, vol. 20, no. 1, article no. 30, pp. 1-11. Open access 21 20 148
2023	Maher, C, Ferguson, T, Curtis, R, Brown, W, Dumuid, D, Fraysse, F, Hendrie, GA, Singh, B, Esterman, A & Olds, T 2023, 'Weekly, seasonal, and festive period weight gain among Australian adults', JAMA network open, vol. 6, no. 7, pp.1-12. Open access 5 4 655
2023	Singh, B, Olds, T, Curtis, R, Dumuid, D, Virgara, R, Watson, A, Szeto, K, O'Connor, E, Ferguson, T, Eglitis, E, Miatke, A, Simpson, CE & Maher, C 2023, 'Effectiveness of physical activity interventions for improving depression, anxiety and distress: an overview of systematic reviews', British Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 57, no. 18, pp. 1-10. Open access 417 375 4998
2023	Singh, B, Olds, T, Curtis, R, Ferguson, T, Matricciani, L, Brown, WJ, Dumuid, D, Esterman, A & Maher, C 2023, 'Association between the use of weight management strategies and weight change among Australian adults over 12 months: an observational study', BMC Public Health, vol. 23, no. 1, article no. 1461. Open access 11
2022	Ferguson, T, Olds, T, Curtis, R, Blake, H, Crozier, AJ, Dankiw, K, Dumuid, D, Kasai, D, O'Connor, E, Virgara, R & Maher, C 2022, 'Effectiveness of wearable activity trackers to increase physical activity and improve health: a systematic review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses', The Lancet Digital Health, vol. 4, no. 8, pp. e615-e626. Open access 216 105 1122
2022	Kennewell, E, Curtis, RG, Maher, C, Luddy, S & Virgara, R 2022, 'The relationships between school children's wellbeing, socio-economic disadvantage and after-school activities: a cross-sectional study', BMC Pediatrics, vol. 22, no. 1, article no. number 297, pp. 1-9. Open access 23 19 350
2022	Maher, CA, Olds, T, Vandelanotte, C, Plotnikoff, R, Edney, SM, Ryan, JC, Desmet, A & Curtis, RG 2022, 'Gamification in a physical activity app: what gamification features are being used, by whom, and does it make a difference?', Games for Health Journal, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 193-199. Open access 19 17 24
2022	Procter, N, Posselt, M, Ferguson, M, McIntyre, H, Kenny, M-A, Curtis, R, Loughhead, M, Clement, N & Mau, V 2022, 'An evaluation of suicide prevention education for people working with refugees and asylum seekers: improvements in competence, attitudes, and confidence', Crisis: the Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, vol. 43, no. 3, pp. 205-213. Open access 9 4 31
2021	Curtis, RG, Bartel, B, Ferguson, T, Blake, HT, Northcott, C, Virgara, R & Maher, CA 2021, 'Improving user experience of virtual health assistants: scoping review', Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 23, no. 12, article no. e31737. Open access 69 53 15
2021	Curtis, RG, Olds, T, Ferguson, T, Fraysse, F, Dumuid, D, Esterman, A, Hendrie, GA, Brown, WJ, Lagiseti, R & Maher, CA 2021, 'Changes in diet, activity, weight, and wellbeing of parents during COVID-19 lockdown', PLoS One, vol. 16, no. 3 March, article no. e0248008, pp. 1-14. Open access 49 43 187
2021	Curtis, RG, Olds, T, Fraysse, F, Dumuid, D, Hendrie, GA, Esterman, A, Brown, WJ, Ferguson, T, Lagiseti, R & Maher, CA 2021, 'Annual rhythms in adults' lifestyle and health (ARIA): protocol for a 12-month longitudinal study examining temporal patterns in weight, activity, diet, and wellbeing in Australian adults', BMC Public Health, vol. 21, no. 1, article no. 70, pp. 1-8. Open access 7 6 1
2021	Ferguson, T, Curtis, R, Fraysse, F, Lagiseti, R, Northcott, C, Virgara, R, Watson, A & Maher, CA 2021, 'Annual, seasonal, cultural and vacation patterns in sleep, sedentary behaviour and physical activity: a systematic review and meta-analysis', BMC Public Health, vol. 21, no. 1, article no. 1384, pp. 1-14. Open access 20 20 10
2021	Jennings, C, Patterson, E, Curtis, RG, Mazzacano, A & Maher, CA 2021, 'Effectiveness of a lifestyle modification program delivered under real-world conditions in a rural setting', Nutrients, vol. 13, no. 11, article no. 4040, pp. 1-12. Open access 3 3
2021	Northcott, C, Curtis, R, Bogomolova, S, Olds, T, Vandelanotte, C, Plotnikoff, R & Maher, C 2021, 'Evaluating the effectiveness of a physical activity social media advertising campaign using Facebook, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram', Translational Behavioral Medicine, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 870-881. Open access 16 9 11
2021	Northcott, C, Curtis, R, Bogomolova, S, Olds, T, Vandelanotte, C, Plotnikoff, R & Maher, C 2021, 'Seasonal differences in the cost and engagement of Facebook advertisements for a physical activity smartphone app', American Journal of Health Promotion, vol. 35, no. 6, pp. 803-808. Open access 1
2021	Northcott, C, Curtis, R, Bogomolova, S, Olds, T, Vandelanotte, C, Plotnikoff, R & Maher, C 2021, 'Should Facebook advertisements promoting a physical activity smartphone app be image or video-based, and should they promote benefits of being active or the app attributes?', Translational Behavioral Medicine, vol. 11, no. 12, pp. 2136-2143. Open access 2 2 6
2021	Romeo, A V, Edney, SM, Plotnikoff, RC, Olds, T, Vandelanotte, C, Ryan, J, Curtis, R & Maher, CA 2021, 'Examining social-cognitive theory constructs as mediators of behaviour change in the active team smartphone physical activity program: a mediation analysis', BMC Public Health, vol. 21, no. 1, article no. 88, pp. 1-11. Open access 22 17 2
2021	Windsor, TD, Curtis, RG, Gerstorf, D, Hoppmann, CA & Luszcz, MA 2021, 'Conscientiousness, activity engagement, and momentary affect in oldest-old adulthood', Journal of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, vol. 76, no. 6, pp. 1049-1059. Open access 6 5 32
2020	Curtis, RG, Dumuid, D, Olds, T, Plotnikoff, R, Vandelanotte, C, Ryan, J, Edney, S & Maher, C 2020, 'The association between time-use behaviours and physical and mental wellbeing in adults: a compositional isotemporal substitution analysis', Journal of Physical Activity and Health, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 197-203. Open access 32 30 6
2020	Curtis, RG, Olds, T, Plotnikoff, R, Vandelanotte, C, Edney, S, Ryan, J & Maher, C 2020, 'Validity and bias on the online active Australia survey: activity level and participant factors associated with self-report bias', BMC Medical Research Methodology, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 1-8. Open access 26 24 1
2020	Curtis, RG, Ryan, JC, Edney, SM & Maher, CA 2020, 'Can Instagram be used to deliver an evidence-based exercise program for young women? A process evaluation', BMC Public Health, vol. 20, article no. 1506, pp. 1-9. Open access 15 15 3
2020	Davis, CR, Murphy, KJ, Curtis, RG & Maher, CA 2020, 'A process evaluation examining the performance, adherence, and acceptability of a physical activity and diet artificial intelligence virtual health assistant', International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 17, no. 23, article no. 9137, pp. 1-14. Open access 36 23 1
2020	Degroote, L, Hamerlinck, G, Poels, K, Maher, C, Crombez, G, De Bourdeaudhuij, I, Vandendriessche, A, Curtis, RG & DeSmet, A 2020, 'Low-cost consumer-based trackers to measure physical activity and sleep duration among adults in free-living conditions: a validation study', JMIR mHealth and uHealth, vol. 8, no. 5, pp. 1-22. Open access 46 44 9
2020	Edney, SM, Olds, TS, Ryan, JC, Vandelanotte, C, Plotnikoff, RC, Curtis, RG & Maher, CA 2020, 'A social networking and gamified app to increase physical activity: cluster RCT', American Journal of Preventive Medicine, vol. 58, no. 2,pp. e51-e62. 49 44 8
2020	Maher, CA, Davis, CR, Curtis, RG, Short, CE & Murphy, KJ 2020, 'A physical activity and diet program delivered by artificially intelligent virtual health coach: proof-of-concept study', JMIR mHealth and uHealth, vol. 8, no. 7, article no. e17558. Open access 94 76 7
2019	Curtis, RG & Windsor, TD 2019, 'Perceived ease of activity (but not strategy use) mediates the relationship between self-efficacy and activity engagement in midlife and older adults', Aging and Mental Health, vol. 23, no. 10, pp. 1367-1376. 6 6
2019	Edney, S, Olds, T, Ryan, J, Plotnikoff, R, Vandelanotte, C, Curtis, R & Maher, C 2019, 'Do birds of a feather flock together within a team-based physical activity intervention? A social network analysis', Journal of Physical Activity and Health, vol. 16, no. 9, pp. 745-751. 3 2 1
2019	Edney, S, Ryan, JC, Olds, T, Monroe, C, Fraysse, F, Vandelanotte, C, Plotnikoff, R, Curtis, R & Maher, C 2019, 'User engagement and attrition in an app-based physical activity intervention: secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial', Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 21, no. 11, article no. e14645, pp. 1-16. Open access 72 67 3
2019	Romeo, A, Edney, S, Plotnikoff, R, Curtis, R, Ryan, J, Sanders, I, Crozier, A & Maher, C 2019, 'Can smartphone apps increase physical activity? Systematic review and meta-analysis', Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 1-14. Open access 325 290 156
2019	Ryan, J, Curtis, R, Olds, T, Edney, S, Vandelanotte, C, Plotnikoff, R & Maher, C 2019, 'Psychometric properties of the PERMA profiler for measuring wellbeing in Australian adults', PLoS One, vol. 14, no. 12, article no. e0225932, pp. 1-12. Open access 70 62 4
2019	Sanders, I, Short, CE, Bogomolova, S, Stanford, T, Plotnikoff, R, Vandelanotte, C, Olds, T, Edney, S, Ryan, J, Curtis, RG & Maher, C 2019, 'Characteristics of adopters of an online social networking physical activity mobile phone app: cluster analysis', JMIR mHealth and uHealth, vol. 7, no. 6, article no. e12484, pp. 1-11. Open access 13 11 12
2018	Curtis, RG, Huxhold, O & Windsor, TD 2018, 'Perceived control and social activity in midlife and older age: a reciprocal association? Findings from the German Ageing Survey', Journal of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, vol. 73, no. 5, pp. 807-815. Open access 22 20
2017	Curtis, RG, Windsor, TD & Luszcz, MA 2017, 'Perceived control moderates the effects of functional limitation on older adults' social activity: findings from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing', Journal of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, vol. 72, no. 4, pp. 571-581. Open access 14 12 1
2017	Curtis, RG, Windsor, TD, Mogle, JA & Bielak, AA 2017, 'There's more than meets the eye: complex associations of daily pain, physical symptoms, and self-efficacy with activity in middle and older adulthood', Gerontology, vol. 63, no. 2, pp. 157-168. 7 6
2016	Windsor, TD, Rioseco, P, Fiori, KL, Curtis, RG & Booth, H 2016, 'Structural and functional social network attributes moderate the association of self-rated health with mental health in midlife and older adults', International Psychogeriatrics, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 49-61. 42 36 1
2015	Curtis, RG, Windsor, TD & Soubelet, A 2015, 'The relationship between Big-5 personality traits and cognitive ability in older adults - a review', Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition: A Journal on Normal and Dysfunctional Development, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 42-71. 150 139 1
2015	Windsor, TD, Curtis, RG & Luszcz, MA 2015, 'Sense of purpose as a psychological resource for aging well', Developmental Psychology, vol. 51, no. 7, pp. 975-986. Open access 127 113 11

External engagement & recognition

Collaborations

External engagement & recognition

Collaborations

Organisation	Country
Adelphi University	UNITED STATES
Australian Catholic University	AUSTRALIA
Australian National University	AUSTRALIA
Australian Red Cross	AUSTRALIA
Australian Sports Commission	AUSTRALIA
Central Queensland University	AUSTRALIA
Colorado State University	UNITED STATES
CSIRO Australia (Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research organisation)	AUSTRALIA
Flinders University	AUSTRALIA
German Centre of Gerontology	GERMANY
Ghent University Hospital	BELGIUM
Government of South Australia	AUSTRALIA
Humboldt University Berlin	GERMANY
Monash University	AUSTRALIA
Murdoch University	AUSTRALIA
National University of Singapore	SINGAPORE
Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing	AUSTRALIA
Palacký University Olomouc	CZECH REPUBLIC
Pennsylvania State University	UNITED STATES
Sonder Mental Health Services	AUSTRALIA
Survivors of Torture and Trauma Assistance and Rehabilitation Service	AUSTRALIA
Swansea University	UNITED KINGDOM
Telethon Kids Institute	AUSTRALIA
The University of Wollongong	AUSTRALIA
University Libre Bruxelles	BELGIUM
University of Adelaide	AUSTRALIA
University of Antwerp	BELGIUM
University of British Columbia	CANADA
University of Melbourne	AUSTRALIA
University of Newcastle	AUSTRALIA
University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis	FRANCE
University of Pittsburgh	UNITED STATES
University of Queensland	AUSTRALIA
University of South Australia	AUSTRALIA
University of South Carolina - Columbia	UNITED STATES
University of Sydney	AUSTRALIA
University of Western Australia	AUSTRALIA
University of Wollongong	AUSTRALIA
World Health Organisation	SWITZERLAND

External engagement & recognition

Engagement/recognition	Year
Honours thesis proposal committee member School of Psychology, Flinders University	2017
Member Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG)	2017
Member Gerontological Society of America	2017
Member Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research, Australian Research Council	2017
Honours thesis proposal committee member School of Psychology, Flinders University	2016

Teaching & student supervision

Research degree supervision

Supervisions from 2010 shown

Thesis title	Student status
A community wide intervention to improve equity of uptake of a universal sports voucher program	Current
Annual rhythms of diet in Australian adults	Current
Annual rhythms in the daily movement behaviours of Australian adults	Completed
Real-world implementation of a physical activity smartphone app: applying marketing principles to promote a health intervention	Completed
Understanding impact: towards a comprehensive evaluation of South Australia's Sports Voucher program	Completed

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Dr Rachel Curtis

About me

About me

UniSA Allied Health & Human Performance

About me

Professional Associations

Experience

Qualifications

Research

Research focus

Projects

Outputs

Chapters

Journal Articles

External engagement & recognition

Collaborations

Collaborations

External engagement & recognition

Honours thesis proposal committee member

Member

Member

Member

Honours thesis proposal committee member

Teaching & student supervision

Courses and programs

Research degree supervision

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