Dr Anna Kokavec ~ Senior Lecturer, Medical Education, Student Support and Professional Practice

I have been a registered psychologist and member of the Australian psychological Society for more than 20 years. My research activities are largely focused in the human psychoneuroendocrinoimmunology area or in other words the interactions between human behaviour, brain, hormones and immune system. In particular, I am interested in investigating the effect of commercially available alcohol on the inter-relationship between steroid hormones, energy metabolism and immune function in healthy young adults. Other projects that I have been involved in include: determining the efficacy of nutritional therapy in prevention of migraine; identifying the psycho-social predictors of drug and alcohol consumption in young adults; assessing the effect of restricted feeding on cortisol rhythmicity in humans; developing community-based psychosocial support for cancer survivors; and investigating the contribution of psychological factors to diet and physical activity in young adults. 

Teaching

• MD1010: Introduction to Integrated Medical Studies Part 1 of 2 (Level 1; CNS & TSV)
• MD1020: Introduction to Integrated Medical Studies Part 2 of 2 (Level 1; TSV)
• MD2011: Integrated Human System Pathophysiology Part 1 of 2 (Level 2; TSV)
• MD2012: Integrated Human System Pathophysiology Part 2 of 2 (Level 2; TSV)
• MD3011: Introduction to Clinical Healthcare Part 1 of 2 (Level 3; TSV)
• MD3012: Introduction to Clinical Healthcare Part 2 of 2 (Level 3; TSV)
• MD4011: Integrated Pathology and Clinical Medicine Part 1 of 3 (Level 4; TSV)
• MD4012: Integrated Pathology and Clinical Medicine Part 2 of 3 (Level 4; TSV)
• MD4013: Integrated Pathology and Clinical Medicine Part 3 of 3 (Level 4; TSV)
• MD5010: Integrated Clinical Practice Part 1 of 3 (Level 5; TSV)
• MD5020: Integrated Clinical Practice Part 2 of 3 (Level 5; TSV)
• MD5030: Integrated Clinical Practice Part 3 of 3 (Level 5; TSV)
• MD6010: Advanced Clinical Medicine Part 1 of 3 (Level 6; TSV)
• MD6020: Advanced Clinical Medicine Part 2 of 3 (Level 6; TSV)
• MD6030: Advanced Clinical Medicine Part 3 of 3 (Level 6; TSV)

Interests

Research

• Complex feedback loop between energy intake and metabolism, immune response and activity of steroid hormones in humans. Biochemical markers of substance abuse in humans. Psycho-social determinants of substance abuse in young adults. Psycho-social determinants of diet and physical activity in young adults. Contribution of dietary factors to the development of disease. Effect of social media on mood and well-being. Psycho-social determinants of problem gambling. Community-based psychosocial support for cancer survivors. Relationships and the workplace.

Experience

• 2013 to 2017 - Senior Lecturer, University of New England (Armidale, NSW)
• 2006 to 2013 - Lecturer, La Trobe University (Bendigo, VIC)
• 2004 to 2006 - Lecturer, University of Newcastle (Callaghan, NSW)

Research Disciplines

• Curriculum and pedagogy (3901)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Schools and learning environments (1602)

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• Blumfield M, Schreurs M, Rollo M, MacDonald-Wicks L, Kokavec A and Collins C (2016) The association between portion size, nutrient intake and gestational weight gain: a secondary analysis in the WATCH study 2006/7. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 29 (3). pp. 271-280
• Kokavec A (2016) Community based psychosocial education can improve mood disturbance in breast cancer survivors at various stages of their recovery. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 44 (6). pp. 730-736
• Kokavec A (2016) Migraine: a disorder of metabolism? Medical Hypotheses, 97. pp. 117-130
• Kokavec A (2015) Effect of sucrose consumption on serum insulin, serum cortisol and insulin sensitivity in migraine: evidence of sex differences. Physiology & Behavior, 142. pp. 170-178
• Kokavec A and Halloran M (2011) Red wine alters the glucose-insulin relationship when consumed alone after a meal. International Journal of Diabetes and Metabolism, 19. pp. 1-9
• Kokavec A and Crebbin S (2010) Sugar alters the level of serum insulin and plasma glucose and the serum cortisol: DHEAS ratio in female migraine sufferers. Appetite, 55 (3). pp. 582-588
• Kokavec A and Halloran M (2010) Consuming a small-moderate dose of red wine alone can alter the glucose-insulin relationship. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 88 (12). pp. 1147-1156

Book Chapters

• Kokavec A, Harte J and Ross S (2022) Student Support in Medical Education: What does evidence-based practice look like? In: Mental Health and Higher Education in Australia. Springer, Singapore, pp. 103-121
• Kokavec A (2011) Decreased appetite for food in alcoholism. In: Handbook of Behavior, Food and Nutrition. Springer, New York, NY, USA, pp. 2949-2962

Other research outputs

• Kokavec A (2017) Effect of wine on postprandial serum insulin, plasma glucose, serum IgA and insulin sensitivity as all wines are not the same. Journal of Diabetes & Metabolism, 8 (Suppl 1).
• Kokavec A (2012) Salivary or serum cortisol: possible implications for alcohol research. In: Steroids: from physiology to clinical medicine. IntechOpen, pp. 199-211