Mr Aaron Bezzina
Research Assistant
Office of the PVC Health and Medicine
Career Summary
Biography
Aaron Bezzina is a PhD candidate at the University of Newcastle and an Accredited Practicing Dietitian (APD).
In 2017 Aaron graduated from the University of Newcastle with a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics with Honours. Aaron begun his research career as a casual research assistant at the Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition within the University of Newcastle.
In 2019 Aaron transitioned over to the Centre for Resources Health and Safety and commenced work as a research assistant. Here he worked on a range of projects concerning occupational health and safety with a particular focus on obesity and mental health within the Australian resource sector. In 2020 Aaron commenced his PhD candidature at the University of Newcastle researching the effect of workplace wellness interventions on health behaviours and attitudes within the Australian mining sector.
Aaron’s research interests include workplace wellness interventions, obesity, human factors and an array of occupational health and safety issues.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honors), University of Newcastle
Languages
- English (Mother)
Fields of Research
| Code | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 111199 | Nutrition and Dietetics not elsewhere classified | 75 |
| 111705 | Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety | 25 |
Professional Experience
Professional appointment
| Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
|---|---|---|
| 1/3/2018 - | Research Assistant | The University of Newcastle Australia |
Awards
Scholarship
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2020 |
Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarships – Vice-Chancellor’s PhD Training Priority Scheme. The University of Newcastle |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Journal article (4 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 |
James C, Rahman M, Bezzina A, Kelly B, 'Factors associated with patterns of psychological distress, alcohol use and social network among Australian mineworkers', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, (2020) © 2020 The Authors Objective: To investigate the convergence of individual findings relating to psychological distress, alcohol use and social network (SN) to identify their assoc... [more] © 2020 The Authors Objective: To investigate the convergence of individual findings relating to psychological distress, alcohol use and social network (SN) to identify their associated clusters within Australian mineworkers. Methods: This study used cross-sectional survey data from 3,056 participants across 12 Australian mines. Latent class analysis used the scores of Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and Social Network Index. Results: Class 1 (moderate to very high psychological distress, low SN score and low to moderate AUDIT) included 39% (n=1,178) participants and class 2 (low to moderate psychological distress and AUDIT and very high SN) composed of 61% (n=1,873) participants. Class 1 was associated with younger age (OR=0.65, 95%CI=0.53-0.81), being a current smoker (OR=1.45, 95%CI=1.18-1.79), and reporting a history of anxiety (OR=3.00, 95%CI=2.23-4.05) and/or depression (OR=2.18, 95%CI=1.65-2.90). Conclusions: These findings highlight the challenges the mining sector faces regarding the welfare of its employees. Implications for public health: Modifiable work factors associated with lower social networks and higher psychological distress need addressing at an individual and industry level through targeted and specifically tailored multi-component interventions.
|
||||||||||
| 2020 |
Sharkey T, Whatnall MC, Hutchesson MJ, Haslam RL, Bezzina A, Collins CE, Ashton LM, 'Effectiveness of gender-targeted versus gender-neutral interventions aimed at improving dietary intake, physical activity and/or overweight/obesity in young adults (aged 17-35 years): a systematic review and meta-analysis', Nutrition journal, 19 78-98 (2020) [C1]
|
||||||||||
| 2020 |
Ashton LM, Sharkey T, Whatnall MC, Haslam RL, Bezzina A, Aguiar EJ, et al., 'Which behaviour change techniques within interventions to prevent weight gain and/or initiate weight loss improve adiposity outcomes in young adults? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials', OBESITY REVIEWS, 21 (2020) [C1]
|
||||||||||
| 2019 |
Ashton LM, Sharkey T, Whatnall MC, Williams RL, Bezzina A, Aguiar EJ, et al., 'Effectiveness of Interventions and Behaviour Change Techniques for Improving Dietary Intake in Young Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of RCTs', NUTRIENTS, 11 (2019) [C1]
|
||||||||||
| Show 1 more journal article | |||||||||||
Conference (4 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 |
Collins C, Bezzina A, Deroover K, Hartmann C, Bucher T, 'Do Images of Unhealthy Foods and Beverages Elicit Disgust or Fear; A Comparison of General Public and Nutrition Expert Responses', Do Images of Unhealthy Foods and Beverages Elicit Disgust or Fear; A Comparison of General Public and Nutrition Expert Responses, Newcastle, NSW, Australia (2020)
|
|||||||
| 2020 |
Haslam R, Rollo M, Bezzina A, Spratt N, Collins C, 'Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of a Ketogenic Diet for Reducing Migraine Frequency, Severity and Duration', Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of a Ketogenic Diet for Reducing Migraine Frequency, Severity and Duration, Newcastle, NSW, Australia (2020)
|
|||||||
| 2020 |
Ashton L, Sharkey T, Whatnall M, Haslam R, Bezzina A, Auguiar E, et al., 'Which Behaviour-Change Techniques within Weight-Management Interventions Improve Adiposity Outcomes in Young Adults? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs)', Which Behaviour-Change Techniques within Weight-Management Interventions Improve Adiposity Outcomes in Young Adults? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs), Newcastle, NSW, Australia (2020)
|
|||||||
| Show 1 more conference | ||||||||
Research Collaborations
The map is a representation of a researchers co-authorship with collaborators across the globe. The map displays the number of publications against a country, where there is at least one co-author based in that country. Data is sourced from the University of Newcastle research publication management system (NURO) and may not fully represent the authors complete body of work.
| Country | Count of Publications | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 7 | |
| United States | 2 | |
| Bangladesh | 1 | |
| Switzerland | 1 | |
| United Kingdom | 1 |
Mr Aaron Bezzina
Positions
Research Assistant
Office of the PVC Health and Medicine
Faculty of Health and Medicine
Casual Research Assistant
School of Medicine and Public Health
Faculty of Health and Medicine
Contact Details
| aaron.bezzina@newcastle.edu.au |
Connect with me
