Associate Professor James Kirby
Associate Professor
School of Psychology
+61 7 336 56802
McElwain Building (24A)
Level 3, Room 332
Level 3, Room 332
Researcher biography
James N. Kirby, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor, Clinical Psychologist, Director of the Clinical Programs, and the Co-Director of the Compassionate Mind Research Group at the University of Queensland. His research focus is on the science of compassion, exploring what helps or hinders our ability to be compassionate, with a key focus on the clinical effectiveness of compassion-focused interventions for addressing self-criticism and shame. James is an international trainer of Compassion Focused Therapy and is an accredited clinical supervisor, and STAP accredited Trainer. James is an Honorary Associate Professor of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University, an Honorary Member of the Compassionate Mind Foundation UK, a Fellow of the Mind & Life Institute, and a founding board member of the Global Compassion Coalition. In 2022 he authored Choose Compassion, and in 2020 he co-edited Making an Impact on Mental Health. His new book just published by Routledge is called, The Essentials of Compassion Focused Therapy: A Practice Manual for Clinicians.
Publications
Books
Petrocchi, Nicola, Kirby, James and Baldi, Beatrice (2024). Essentials of Compassion Focused Therapy: A Practice Manual for Clinicians. London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003436058
Kirby, James (2022). Choose compassion: why it matters and how it works. St Lucia, QLD Australia: UQP.
Book Chapters
Sherwell, Chase S. and Kirby, James N. (2024). Compassion focused therapy and heart rate variability. Integrating psychotherapy and Psychophysiology: theory, assessment, and practice. (pp. 391-411) edited by Donald Moss. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/oso/9780198888727.003.0018
Kirby, James N. and Petrocchi, Nicola (2023). Compassion Focused Therapy – What It Is, What It Targets, and the Evidence. Handbook of Self-Compassion. (pp. 417-432) Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-22348-8_23
Kirby, James N. and Tellegen, Cassandra L. (2021). Parenting, family environments, and mental health and illness. Making an impact on mental health: the applications of psychological research. (pp. 71-96) edited by James N. Kirby and Paul Gilbert. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780429244551-4
Kirby, James N. and Gilbert, Paul (2020). Introduction to psychological impacts on mental health: How psychological science informs how we approach mental health. Making an Impact on Mental Health and Illness. (pp. 1-3) New York, NY, United States: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780429244551-1
Kirby, James N. and Hoang, Nam-Phuong T. (2018). Parenting of adult children: a neglected area of parenting studies. Handbook of parenting and child development across the lifespan. (pp. 653-675) edited by Matthew R. Sanders and Alina Morawska. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-94598-9_29
Kirby, J.N. (2017). Compassionate parenting: The role of compassion in parenting. The Handbook of Compassion Science. edited by Emma M. Seppälä, Emiliana Simon-Thomas, Stephanie L. Brown, Monica C. Worline, C. Daryl Cameron and James R. Doty. Oxford, England, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190464684.013.8
Kirby, James N., Steindl, Stanley R. and Doty, James R. (2017). Compassion as the highest ethic. Mindfulness in Behavioral Health. (pp. 253-277) edited by Lynette M. Monteiro, Jane F. Compson and Frank Musten. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-64924-5_10
Kirby, James N. and Gilbert, Paul (2017). The emergence of the compassion focused therapies. Compassion: concepts, research and applications. (pp. 258-285) edited by Paul Gilbert. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315564296
Sanders, Matthew R. and Kirby, James N. (2017). Quality assurance and program development. The power of positive parenting: transforming the lives of children, parents, and communities using the Triple P system. (pp. 460-471) edited by Matthew R. Sanders and Trevor G. Mazzuchelli. New York, United States: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/med-psych/9780190629069.003.0043
Kirby, James N. (2017). Working with grandparents and extended family members. The Power of Positive Parenting. (pp. 196-205) edited by Matthew R. Sanders and Trevor G. Mazzucchelli. New York, NY, United States: Oxford University Press.. doi: 10.1093/med-psych/9780190629069.003.0016
Sanders, Matthew and Kirby, James (2010). Parental programs for preventing behavioural and emotional problems in children. Oxford Guide to Low Intensity CBT Interventions. (pp. 399-406) edited by James Bennett-Levy, David Richards, Paul Farrand, Helen Christensen, Kathy Griffiths, David Kavanagh, Britt Klein, Mark A. Lau, Judy Proudfoot, Lee Ritterband, Chris Williams and Jim White. New York, United States: Oxford University Press.
Journal Articles
Laughton, Shana, Abkhezr, Peyman, Kirby, James N. and Burton, Nicola W. (2026). A qualitative study of compassion from the perspective of adolescents: a foundation for counselling practice. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 1-18. doi: 10.1080/03069885.2025.2529009
Mekelburg, Annelie, Maliske, Lara, Kirby, James N., Kanske, Philipp and Förster, Katharina (2025). Functional neural plasticity after compassion-based interventions: A scoping review of longitudinal neuroimaging studies. Journal of Affective Disorders, 388 119346, 119346-388. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.05.006
Lloyd-Collins, Teagan M., Fitzallen, Grace C. and Kirby, James N. (2025). A compassion-focused approach to support parents after preterm birth. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 28 (4), 954-972. doi: 10.1007/s10567-025-00549-z
Clarke, Chantelle, Kirby, James N. and Best, Talitha (2025). Beyond the physical: the interplay of experienced weight stigma, internalised weight bias and depression in lipoedema. Clinical Obesity, 15 (3) e12727, e12727. doi: 10.1111/cob.12727
Moloney-Gibb, Dylan, Sherwell, Chase S., Lynn, Sasha, Day, Jamin and Kirby, James N. (2025). Testing a digital and interactive scale (the three circles) to assess emotion regulation. Scientific Reports, 15 (1) 16351, 1-14. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-94706-7
Kirby, James N. (2025). Compassion as a transdiagnostic target to reduce mental health symptoms and promote well-being. Nature Reviews Psychology, 4 (4) 80, 249-263. doi: 10.1038/s44159-025-00422-4
van Heerden, Daniel, Mazzucchelli, Trevor G., Kirby, James N., Brett, Jack D. and Mancini, Vincent O. (2025). Fathers’ self-compassion and child attachment quality: testing a sequential indirect effect via emotion regulation difficulties, loneliness, and psychological distress in two paternal samples. Mindfulness, 16 (4), 982-1001. doi: 10.1007/s12671-025-02538-3
Walton, Courtney C., Kirby, James N., McKenzie, Sabrina, Gao, Caroline X., Purcell, Rosemary, Rice, Simon M. and Osborne, Margaret S. (2025). A preliminary investigation into self-compassion and compassion-based intervention for mental health in the performing arts. Frontiers in Psychology, 16 1512114, 1512114. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1512114
Varley, Deanna, Sherwell, Chase S. and Kirby, James N. (2025). Daily effects of a brief compassion‐focused intervention for self‐compassion. British Journal of Psychology, 116 (1), 183-197. doi: 10.1111/bjop.12746
Varley, Deanna, Sherwell, Chase S. and Kirby, James N. (2025). Compassion focused imagery reduces fears of compassion irrespective of attachment. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 72 (1), 69-79. doi: 10.1037/cou0000770
Sherwell, Chase S., Varley, Deanna, Kinnane, Claudia, Turner, Wesley, Zimmerman, David and Kirby, James N. (2025). Examining the impact of a brief compassion focused intervention on everyday experiences of compassion in autistic adults through psychophysiology and experience sampling. Applied Psychophysiology Biofeedback, 50 (2), 247-260. doi: 10.1007/s10484-024-09681-y
Healy, Karyn L., Payne, Kirsty and Kirby, James N. (2024). The effectiveness of brief workplace compassion-focussed training in improving wellbeing of stressed school employees. Australian Journal of Management, 50 (3), 728-748. doi: 10.1177/03128962241270860
Varley, Deanna, Sherwell, Chase S. and Kirby, James N. (2024). Attachment and propensity for reporting compassionate opportunities and behavior in everyday life. Frontiers in Psychology, 15 1409537, 1409537. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1409537
Kirby, James N., Day, Jamin and Gilbert, Paul (2024). Social rank and compassion: how insecure striving, social safeness and fears of compassion mediate the relationship between masculinity, depression and anxiety. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 97 (2), 339-353. doi: 10.1111/papt.12520
Kim, Jeffrey J., Sherwell, Chase, Parker, Stacey L. and Kirby, James N. (2024). Compassion training influences heart-rate variability within severe depression. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, 16 100760, 100760-16. doi: 10.1016/j.jadr.2024.100760
Walton, Courtney C., Lewis, Kelsey J., Kirby, James, Purcell, Rosemary, Rice, Simon M. and Osborne, Margaret S. (2024). Self-compassionate motivation and athlete well-being: the critical role of distress tolerance. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 18 (1), 131-149. doi: 10.1123/jcsp.2022-0009
Varley, Deanna, Sherwell, Chase S., Fu, Mina and Kirby, James N. (2024). A multi-level meta-analytic review of attachment and fears of compassion. Personality and Individual Differences, 218 112477, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2023.112477
Kirby, James N., Hoang, April and Crimston, Charlie R. (2024). A brief compassion focused therapy intervention can increase moral expansiveness: a randomized controlled trial. Mindfulness, 15 (2), 1-13. doi: 10.1007/s12671-023-02300-7
Fitzallen, Grace C., Kirby, James N., Taylor, H. Gerry, Liley, Helen G. and Bora, Samudragupta (2024). Evaluating multidimensional facets of the maternal experience after preterm birth. Journal of Perinatology, 44 (5), 635-642. doi: 10.1038/s41372-024-01865-y
Mallett, Clifford J., Sanders, Matthew R., Dittman, Cassandra K., Kirby, James N. and Rynne, Steven B. (2023). Understanding parenting behavior in junior rugby league in Australia. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 33 (1), 271-287. doi: 10.1007/s10826-023-02744-4
Fitzallen, Grace C., Griffin, Alison, Taylor, H. Gerry, Kirby, James N., Liley, Helen G. and Bora, Samudragupta (2023). Risk profiles of the preterm behavioral phenotype in children aged 3 to 18 years. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 11 1084970, 1084970. doi: 10.3389/fped.2023.1084970
Gilbert, Paul, Basran, Jaskaran, Plowright, Ptarmigan, Matos, Marcela, Kirby, James and Petrocchi, Nicola (2023). Fears and resistances to mindfulness: development of a self-report scale. Mindfulness, 14 (11), 2602-2616. doi: 10.1007/s12671-023-02171-y
Carter, Alicia, Steindl, Stanley R., Parker, Stacey, Gilbert, Paul and Kirby, James N. (2023). Compassion focused therapy to reduce body weight shame for individuals with obesity: a randomized controlled trial. Behavior Therapy, 54 (5), 747-764. doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2023.02.001
Kirby, James N., Hoang, April and Ramos, Norman (2023). A brief compassion focused therapy intervention can help self‐critical parents and their children: a randomised controlled trial. Psychology and Psychotherapy, 96 (3), 608-626. doi: 10.1111/papt.12459
Cha, Jane E., Serlachius, Anna S., Cavadino, Alana, Kirby, James N. and Consedine, Nathan S. (2023). Self-compassion and compassion for others: a multiple mediation study of personal values. Mindfulness, 14 (10), 2417-2429. doi: 10.1007/s12671-023-02202-8
Kirby, James N., Sherwell, Chase, Lynn, Sasha and Moloney-Gibb, Dylan (2023). Compassion as a framework for creating individual and group-level wellbeing in the classroom: new directions. Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools, 33 (1) PII S2055636523000058, 2-12. doi: 10.1017/jgc.2023.5
Wang, Jingyun, Guo, Mingchun, Day, Jamin and Kirby, James N. (2023). Self-acceptance mediates the relationship between perceived parenting behaviors and fears of compassion. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 32 (3), 744-755. doi: 10.1007/s10826-022-02522-8
Kirby, James N., Kirkland, Kelly, Wilks, Matti, Green, Mitchell, Tanjitpiyanond, Porntida, Chowdhury, Nafisa and Nielsen, Mark (2023). Testing the bounds of compassion in young children. Royal Society Open Science, 10 (2) 221448, 1-14. doi: 10.1098/rsos.221448
Kirkland, Kelly, Jetten, Jolanda, Wilks, Matti and Kirby, James (2023). Promoting prosocial behavior in an unequal world. Frontiers in Psychology, 13 1021093, 1-15. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1021093
Matos, Marcela, McEwan, Kirsten, Kanovský, Martin, Halamová, Júlia, Steindl, Stanley R., Ferreira, Nuno, Linharelhos, Mariana, Rijo, Daniel, Asano, Kenichi, Vilas, Sara P., Márquez, Margarita G., Gregório, Sónia, Brito-Pons, Gonzalo, Lucena-Santos, Paola, da Silva Oliveira, Margareth, de Souza, Erika Leonardo, Llobenes, Lorena, Gumiy, Natali, Costa, Maria Ileana, Habib, Noor, Hakem, Reham, Khrad, Hussain, Alzahrani, Ahmad, Cheli, Simone, Petrocchi, Nicola, Tholouli, Elli, Issari, Philia, Simos, Gregoris, Lunding-Gregersen, Vibeke ... Gilbert, Paul (2023). Improvements in compassion and fears of compassion throughout the COVID-19 pandemic: a multinational study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20 (3) 1845, 1-17. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20031845
Romaniuk, Madeline, Hampton, Sarah, Brown, Kelly, Fisher, Gina, Steindl, Stanley R., Kidd, Chloe and Kirby, James N. (2023). Compassionate mind training for ex‐service personnel with PTSD and their partners. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 30 (3), 643-658. doi: 10.1002/cpp.2825
Perrykkad, Kelsey, Sherwell, Chase, Kirby, James and Hohwy, Jakob (2023). Beliefs about action efficacy mediate the relationship between self-concept clarity and self-reported compassionate action. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice, 12 (2), 269-288. doi: 10.1037/cns0000349
Cha, Jane E., Serlachius, Anna S., Kirby, James N. and Consedine, Nathan S. (2023). What do (and don’t) we know about self-compassion? Trends and issues in theory, mechanisms, and outcomes. Mindfulness, 14 (11), 2657-2669. doi: 10.1007/s12671-023-02222-4
Mongrain, Myriam, Kirby, James and Keltner, Dacher (2023). Editorial: Community series: expanding the science of compassion, volume II. Frontiers in Psychology, 14 1341792, 1341792. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1341792
Hoang, Nam-Phuong T., Kirby, James N., Haslam, Divna M. and Sanders, Matthew R. (2022). Promoting positive relationship between parents and grandparents: a randomized controlled trial of Group Triple P Plus Compassion in Vietnam. Behavior Therapy, 53 (6), 1175-1190. doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2022.06.002
Clarke, Chantelle, Kirby, James N., Smidt, Tilly and Best, Talitha (2022). Stages of lipoedema: experiences of physical and mental health and health care. Quality of Life Research, 32 (1), 1-11. doi: 10.1007/s11136-022-03216-w
Cha, Jane E., Boggiss, Anna L., Serlachius, Anna S., Cavadino, Alana, Kirby, James N. and Consedine, Nathan S. (2022). A systematic review on mediation studies of self-compassion and physical health outcomes in non-clinical adult populations. Mindfulness, 13 (8), 1876-1900. doi: 10.1007/s12671-022-01935-2
Kirby, James N., Gerrish, Ruby, Sherwell, Chase and Gilbert, Paul (2022). The role of likeability in discriminating between kindness and compassion. Mindfulness, 13 (6), 1555-1564. doi: 10.1007/s12671-022-01900-z
Steindl, Stan, Bell, Tobyn, Dixon, Alison and Kirby, James N. (2022). Therapist perspectives on working with fears, blocks and resistances to compassion in compassion focused therapy. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 23 (3), 850-863. doi: 10.1002/capr.12530
Walton, Courtney C., Osborne, Margaret S., Gilbert, Paul and Kirby, James (2022). Nurturing self-compassionate performers. Australian Psychologist, 57 (2), 77-85. doi: 10.1080/00050067.2022.2033952
Matos, Marcela, McEwan, Kirsten, Kanovský, Martin, Halamová, Júlia, Steindl, Stanley R., Ferreira, Nuno, Linharelhos, Mariana, Rijo, Daniel, Asano, Kenichi, Márquez, Margarita G., Gregório, Sónia, Vilas, Sara P., Brito-Pons, Gonzalo, Lucena-Santos, Paola, da Silva Oliveira, Margareth, de Souza, Erika Leonardo, Llobenes, Lorena, Gumiy, Natali, Costa, Maria Ileana, Habib, Noor, Hakem, Reham, Khrad, Hussain, Alzahrani, Ahmad, Cheli, Simone, Petrocchi, Nicola, Tholouli, Elli, Issari, Philia, Simos, Gregoris, Lunding-Gregersen, Vibeke ... Gilbert, Paul (2022). Compassion protects mental health and social safeness during the COVID-19 pandemic across 21 countries. Mindfulness, 13 (4), 1-18. doi: 10.1007/s12671-021-01822-2
Matos, Marcela, McEwan, Kirsten, Kanovský, Martin, Halamová, Júlia, Steindl, Stanley R., Ferreira, Nuno, Linharelhos, Mariana, Rijo, Daniel, Asano, Kenichi, Vilas, Sara P., Márquez, Margarita G., Gregório, Sónia, Brito-Pons, Gonzalo, Lucena-Santos, Paola, da Silva Oliveira, Margareth, de Souza, Erika Leonardo, Llobenes, Lorena, Gumiy, Natali, Costa, Maria Ileana, Habib, Noor, Hakem, Reham, Khrad, Hussain, Alzahrani, Ahmad, Cheli, Simone, Petrocchi, Nicola, Tholouli, Elli, Issari, Philia, Simos, Gregoris, Lunding-Gregersen, Vibeke ... Gilbert, Paul (2021). The role of social connection on the experience of COVID-19 related posttraumatic growth and stress. PLoS One, 16 (12 December) e0261384, e0261384. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261384
Best, Talitha, Herring, Lee, Clarke, Chantelle, Kirby, James and Gilbert, Paul (2021). The experience of loneliness: The role of fears of compassion and social safeness. Personality and Individual Differences, 183 111161, 111161. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2021.111161
Carter, Alicia, Gilbert, Paul and Kirby, James N. (2021). A systematic review of compassion-based interventions for individuals struggling with body weight shame. Psychology and Health, 38 (1), 1-31. doi: 10.1080/08870446.2021.1955118
Kim, Jeffrey J., Doty, James R., Cunnington, Ross and Kirby, James N. (2021). Does self-reassurance reduce neural and self-report reactivity to negative life events?. Frontiers in Psychology, 12 658118, 658118. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.658118
Mongrain, Myriam, Keltner, Dacher and Kirby, James (2021). Editorial: Expanding the science of compassion. Frontiers in Psychology, 12 745799, 745799. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.745799
Crimston, Charlie R., Blessing, Sarah, Gilbert, Paul and Kirby, James N. (2021). Fear leads to suffering: fears of compassion predict restriction of the moral boundary. British Journal of Social Psychology, 61 (1) bjso.12483, 345-365. doi: 10.1111/bjso.12483
Carter, Alicia, Hoang, Namphuong, Gilbert, Paul and Kirby, James N. (2021). Body weight perception outweighs body weight when predicting shame, criticism, depression and anxiety for lower BMI range and higher BMI range adults. Journal of Health Psychology, 27 (10), 135910532110276-2290. doi: 10.1177/13591053211027641
Day, Jamin, Finkelstein, Joel C., Field, Brent A., Matthews, Benjamin, Kirby, James N. and Doty, James R. (2021). Compassion-focused technologies: reflections and future directions. Frontiers in Psychology, 12 603618, 603618. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.603618
Adie, Taylor, Steindl, Stanley R., Kirby, James N., Kane, Robert T. and Mazzucchelli, Trevor G. (2021). The relationship between self-compassion and depressive symptoms: avoidance and activation as mediators. Mindfulness, 12 (7), 1748-1756. doi: 10.1007/s12671-021-01637-1
Matos, Marcela, McEwan, Kirsten, Kanovský, Martin, Halamová, Júlia, Steindl, Stanley R., Ferreira, Nuno, Linharelhos, Mariana, Rijo, Daniel, Asano, Kenichi, Gregório, Sónia, Márquez, Margarita G., Vilas, Sara P., Brito-Pons, Gonzalo, Lucena-Santos, Paola, da Silva Oliveira, Margareth, de Souza, Erika Leonardo, Llobenes, Lorena, Gumiy, Natali, Costa, Maria Ileana, Habib, Noor, Hakem, Reham, Khrad, Hussain, Alzahrani, Ahmad, Cheli, Simone, Petrocchi, Nicola, Tholouli, Elli, Issari, Philia, Simos, Gregoris, Lunding-Gregersen, Vibeke ... Gilbert, Paul (2021). Fears of compassion magnify the harmful effects of threat of COVID-19 on mental health and social safeness across 21 countries. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 28 (6) cpp.2601, 1-17. doi: 10.1002/cpp.2601
Steindl, Stanley R., Tellegen, Cassandra L., Filus, Ania, Seppälä, Emma, Doty, James R. and Kirby, James N. (2021). The compassion motivation and action scales: a self-report measure of compassionate and self-compassionate behaviours. Australian Psychologist, 56 (2), 93-110. doi: 10.1080/00050067.2021.1893110
Kim, Jeffrey J., Oldham, Melissa, Fernando, Antonio T. and Kirby, James N. (2021). Compassion mediates poor sleep quality and mental health outcomes. Mindfulness, 12 (5), 1252-1261. doi: 10.1007/s12671-021-01595-8
Kanovský, Martin, Halamová, Júlia, Zuroff, David C., Troop, Nicholas A., Gilbert, Paul, Shahar, Ben, Petrocchi, Nicola, Hermanto, Nicola, Krieger, Tobias, Kirby, James N., Asano, Kenichi, Matos, Marcela, Yu, Fuya, Basran, Jaskaran and Kupeli, Nuriye (2021). A multilevel multidimensional finite mixture item response model to cluster respondents and countries: the forms of self-criticising/attacking and self-reassuring scale. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 37 (6), 1-12. doi: 10.1027/1015-5759/a000631
Sanders, Matthew R., Kirby, James N., Toumbourou, John W., Carey, Timothy A. and Havighurst, Sophie S. (2020). Innovation, research integrity, and change: a conflict of interest management framework for program developers. Australian Psychologist, 55 (2) ap.12404, 91-101. doi: 10.1111/ap.12404
Guo, Mingchun, Wang, Jingyun, Day, Jamin and Kirby, James N. (2020). Validation of the fears of compassion scale in a Chinese cultural context. Mindfulness, 12 (3), 683-692. doi: 10.1007/s12671-020-01534-z
Sanders, Matthew R., Spry, Carmen S., Tellegen, Cassandra L., Kirby, James N., Metzler, Carol M. and Prinz, Ronald J. (2020). Development and validation of fidelity monitoring and enhancement in an evidence-based parenting program. Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, 47 (4), 569-580. doi: 10.1007/s11414-020-09713-5
Kim, Jeffrey J., Henderson, Trent, Best, Talitha, Cunnington, Ross and Kirby, James N. (2020). Neural and self-report markers of reassurance: a generalized additive modelling approach. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11 566141, 566141. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.566141
Walton, Courtney C., Baranoff, John, Gilbert, Paul and Kirby, James (2020). Self-compassion, social rank, and psychological distress in athletes of varying competitive levels. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 50 101733, 101733. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2020.101733
Kim, Jeffrey J., Kent, Kirsty M., Cunnington, Ross, Gilbert, Paul and Kirby, James N. (2020). Attachment styles modulate neural markers of threat and imagery when engaging in self-criticism. Scientific Reports, 10 (1) 13776. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-70772-x
Kim, Jeffrey J., Parker, Stacey, Henderson, Trent and Kirby, James N. (2020). Physiological fractals: visual and statistical evidence across timescales and experimental states. Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 17 (167) 20200334, 20200334. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2020.0334
Carter, Alicia, Gilbert, Paul and Kirby, James N. (2020). Compassion focused therapy for body weight shame: a mixed methods pilot trial. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 28 (1) cpp.2488, 93-108. doi: 10.1002/cpp.2488
Hart, Jemma S., Kirby, James N., Steindl, Stanley R., Kane, Robert T. and Mazzucchelli, Trevor G. (2020). Insecure striving, self-criticism, and depression: the prospective moderating role of fear of compassion from others. Mindfulness, 11 (7), 1699-1709. doi: 10.1007/s12671-020-01385-8
Kim, Jeffrey J., Parker, Stacey L., Doty, James R., Cunnington, Ross, Gilbert, Paul and Kirby, James N. (2020). Neurophysiological and behavioural markers of compassion. Scientific Reports, 10 (1) 6789, 6789. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-63846-3
Austin, J., Drossaert, C. H. C., Schroevers, M. J., Sanderman, R., Kirby, J. N. and Bohlmeijer, E.T. (2020). Compassion-based interventions for people with long-term physical conditions: a mixed methods systematic review. Psychology and Health, 36 (1), 1-27. doi: 10.1080/08870446.2019.1699090
Kim, Jeffrey J., Gerrish, Ruby, Gilbert, Paul and Kirby, James N. (2020). Stressed, depressed, and rank obsessed: individual differences in compassion and neuroticism predispose towards rank-based depressive symptomatology. Psychology and Psychotherapy, 94 (S2) papt.12270, 188-211. doi: 10.1111/papt.12270
Kim, Jeffrey J., Cunnington, Ross and Kirby, James N. (2020). The neurophysiological basis of compassion: An fMRI meta-analysis of compassion and its related neural processes. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 108, 112-123. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.10.023
Hoang, Nam-Phuong T. and Kirby, James N. (2020). A meta-ethnography synthesis of joint care practices between parents and grandparents from asian cultural backgrounds: benefits and challenges. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 29 (3), 605-619. doi: 10.1007/s10826-019-01553-y
Kirby, James N. (2019). Nurturing family environments for children: Compassion-focused parenting as a form of parenting intervention. Education Sciences, 10 (1) 3, 3. doi: 10.3390/educsci10010003
Kirby, James N., Seppälä, Emma, Wilks, Matti, Cameron, C. Daryl, Tellegen, Cassandra L., Nguyen, Dong T. H., Misra, Supriya, Simon-Thomas, Emiliana, Feinberg, Matthew, Martin, Daniel and Doty, James (2019). Positive and negative attitudes towards compassion predict compassionate outcomes. Current Psychology, 40 (10), 4884-4894. doi: 10.1007/s12144-019-00405-8
Sanders, Matthew R., De Caestecker, Linda, McLeod, Stephen, Day, Jamin J., Turner, Karen M. T., Morawska, Alina and Kirby, James (2019). Comparing apples and pears: misleading conclusions about the population mental health impact of a parenting programme, a commentary on Marryat, Thompson and Wilson (2017). BMC Pediatrics, 19 (1) 269, 269. doi: 10.1186/s12887-019-1570-z
Gilbert, Paul, Basran, Jaskaran, MacArthur, Michael and Kirby, James N. (2019). Differences in the semantics of prosocial words: an exploration of compassion and kindness. Mindfulness, 10 (11), 2259-2271. doi: 10.1007/s12671-019-01191-x
Kirby, James N. and Gilbert, Paul (2019). Commentary regarding Wilson et al. (2018) “Effectiveness of ‘Self-Compassion’ Related Therapies: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.” All Is Not as It Seems. Mindfulness, 10 (6), 1006-1016. doi: 10.1007/s12671-018-1088-8
Kirby, James N., Grzazek, Olivia and Gilbert, Paul (2019). The role of compassionate and self-image goals in predicting psychological controlling and facilitative parenting styles. Frontiers in Psychology, 10 (JUN) 1041, 1041. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01041
Kirby, James N., Day, Jamin and Sagar, Vinita (2019). The ‘Flow’ of compassion: A meta-analysis of the fears of compassion scales and psychological functioning. Clinical Psychology Review, 70, 26-39. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2019.03.001
Kirby, James N., Sampson, Hayley, Day, Jamin, Hayes, Alan and Gilbert, Paul (2019). Human evolution and culture in relationship to shame in the parenting role: Implications for psychology and psychotherapy. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 92 (2), 238-260. doi: 10.1111/papt.12223
Halamová, Júlia, Kanovský, Martin, Gilbert, Paul, Troop, Nicholas A., Zuroff, David C., Petrocchi, Nicola, Hermanto, Nicola, Krieger, Tobias, Kirby, James N., Asano, Kenichi, Matos, Marcela, Yu, FuYa, Sommers-Spijkerman, Marion, Shahar, Ben, Basran, Jaskaran and Kupeli, Nuriye (2019). Multiple Group IRT measurement invariance analysis of the forms of self-criticising/attacking and self-reassuring scale in thirteen international samples. Journal of Rational - Emotive and Cognitive - Behavior Therapy, 37 (4), 411-444. doi: 10.1007/s10942-019-00319-1
Gilbert, Paul and Kirby, James N. (2019). Building an integrative science for psychotherapy for the 21st century: Preface and introduction. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 92 (2), 151-163. doi: 10.1111/papt.12225
Dev, Vinayak, Fernando, Antonio T., Kirby, James N. and Consedine, Nathan S. (2019). Variation in the barriers to compassion across healthcare training and disciplines: a cross-sectional study of doctors, nurses, and medical students. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 90, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2018.09.015
Slepian, Michael L., Kirby, James N. and Kalokerinos, Elise K. (2019). Shame, guilt, and secrets on the mind. Emotion, 20 (2), 323-328. doi: 10.1037/emo0000542
Wilks, Matti, Kirby, James and Nielsen, Mark (2018). Developmental changes in young children's willingness to copy the antisocial actions of ingroup members in a minimal group context. Developmental Psychology, 55 (4), 709-721. doi: 10.1037/dev0000667
Steindl, Stanley R., Kirby, James N. and Tellegan, Cassandra (2018). Motivational interviewing in compassion-based interventions: theory and practical applications. Clinical Psychologist, 22 (3), 265-279. doi: 10.1111/cp.12146
Slepian, Michael L. and Kirby, James N. (2018). To whom do we confide our secrets?. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 44 (7), 1008-1023. doi: 10.1177/0146167218756032
Halamová, Júlia, Kanovský, Martin, Gilbert, Paul, Troop, Nicholas A., Zuroff, David C., Hermanto, Nicola, Petrocchi, Nicola, Sommers-Spijkerman, Marion, Kirby, James N., Shahar, Ben, Krieger, Tobias, Matos, Marcela, Asano, Kenichi, Yu, FuYa, Basran, Jaskaran and Kupeli, Nuriye (2018). The factor structure of the forms of self-criticising/attacking & self-reassuring scale in thirteen distinct populations. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 40 (4), 1-16. doi: 10.1007/s10862-018-9686-2
Green, Mitchell, Kirby, James N. and Nielsen, Mark (2018). The cost of helping: an exploration of compassionate responding in children. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 36 (4), 673-678. doi: 10.1111/bjdp.12252
Kirby, James N. and Baldwin, Sarah (2018). A randomized micro-trial of a loving-kindness meditation to help parents respond to difficult child behavior vignettes. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 27 (5), 1614-1628. doi: 10.1007/s10826-017-0989-9
Wilks, Matti, Kirby, James and Nielsen, Mark (2018). Children imitate antisocial in-group members. Developmental Science, 21 (6) e12675, e12675. doi: 10.1111/desc.12675
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
Kirby, James N., Tellegen, Cassandra L. and Steindl, Stanley R. (2017). A meta-analysis of compassion-based interventions: current state of knowledge and future directions. Behavior Therapy, 48 (6), 778-792. doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2017.06.003
Kirby, James N. (2017). Compassion interventions: the programmes, the evidence, and implications for research and practice. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 90 (3), 432-455. doi: 10.1111/papt.12104
Kirby, James N. and Kirby, Peter G. (2017). An evolutionary model to conceptualise masculinity and compassion in male teenagers: a unifying framework. Clinical Psychologist, 21 (2), 74-89. doi: 10.1111/cp.12129
Kirby, James N. and Laczko, David (2017). A randomized micro-trial of a loving-kindness meditation for young adults living at home with their parents. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 26 (7), 1-12. doi: 10.1007/s10826-017-0692-x
Kirby, James N., Doty, James R., Petrocchi, Nicola and Gilbert, Paul (2017). The current and future role of heart rate variability for assessing and training compassion. Frontiers in Public Health, 5 40, 40. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2017.00040
Pepping, Christopher A., Lyons, Anthony, McNair, Ruth, Kirby, James N., Petrocchi, Nicola and Gilbert, Paul (2017). A tailored compassion-focused therapy program for sexual minority young adults with depressive symotomatology: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychology, 5 (1) 5, 5. doi: 10.1186/s40359-017-0175-2
Kirby, James N., Sanders, Matthew R. and Mazzucchelli, Trevor G. (2016). A clinician's quick guide of evidence-based approaches: childhood disruptive disorders. Clinical Psychologist, 20 (3), 154-155. doi: 10.1111/cp.12076
Kirby, James N. (2016). The role of mindfulness and compassion in enhancing nurturing family environments. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 23 (2), 142-157. doi: 10.1111/cpsp.12149
Kirby, James N. and Sanders, Matthew R. (2015). Erratum to: using consumer input to tailor evidence-based parenting interventions to the needs of grandparents. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 24 (5), 1527-1527. doi: 10.1007/s10826-015-0164-0
Sanders, Matthew R. and Kirby, James N. (2015). Surviving or thriving: quality assurance mechanisms to promote innovation in the development of evidence-based parenting interventions. Prevention Science, 16 (3), 421-431. doi: 10.1007/s11121-014-0475-1
Kirby, James N. and Sanders, Matthew R. (2015). The acceptability of parenting strategies for grandparents providing care to their grandchildren. Prevention Science, 16 (3), 486-486. doi: 10.1007/s11121-015-0546-y
Kirby, James N. (2015). The Potential Benefits of Parenting Programs for Grandparents: Recommendations and Clinical Implications. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 24 (11), 3200-3212. doi: 10.1007/s10826-015-0123-9
Sanders, Matthew R. and Kirby, James N. (2014). A public-health approach to improving parenting and promoting children's well-being. Child Development Perspectives, 8 (4), 250-257. doi: 10.1111/cdep.12086
Kirby, James N. and Sanders, Matthew R. (2014). Corrigendum to "A randomized controlled trial evaluating a parenting program designed specifically for grandparents". Behaviour Research and Therapy, 63, 185-185. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2014.11.002
Sanders, Matthew R., Kirby, James N., Tellegen, Cassandra L. and Day, Jamin J. (2014). Erratum to "The triple P-positive parenting program: A systematic review and meta-analysis of a multi-level system of parenting support" [CPR (2014) 337-357]. Clinical Psychology Review, 34 (8), 658-658. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2014.09.001
Haslam, Divna M., Patrick, Pamela and Kirby, James N. (2014). Giving voice to working mothers: a consumer informed study to program design for working mothers. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 24 (8), 2463-2473. doi: 10.1007/s10826-014-0049-7
Sanders, Matthew R., Kirby, James N., Tellegen, Cassandra L. and Day, Jamin J. (2014). The Triple P-Positive Parenting Program: a systematic review and meta-analysis of a multi-level system of parenting support. Clinical Psychology Review, 34 (4), 337-357. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2014.04.003
Kirby, James N. and Sanders, Matthew R. (2014). A randomized controlled trial evaluating a parenting program designed specifically for grandparents. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 52 (1), 35-44. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2013.11.002
Leung, Cynthia, Sanders, Matthew, Fung, Barbara and Kirby, James (2014). The effectiveness of the Grandparent Triple P program with Chinese families: a randomized controlled trial.. Journal of Family Studies, 20 (2), 104-117. doi: 10.1080/13229400.2014.11082000
Kirby, James N. and Sanders, Matthew R. (2013). Using a behavioural family intervention to produce a three-generational benefit on family outcomes: a case report. Behaviour Change, 30 (4), 249-261. doi: 10.1017/bec.2013.24
Kirby, James N. and Sanders, Matthew R. (2013). The acceptability of parenting strategies for grandparents providing care to their grandchildren. Prevention Science, 15 (5), 777-787. doi: 10.1007/s11121-013-0428-0
Sanders, Matthew R., Pickering, John A., Kirby, James N., Turner, Karen M. T., Morawska, Alina, Mazzucchelli, Trevor, Ralph, Alan and Sofronoff, Kate (2012). A commentary on evidenced-based parenting programs: redressing misconceptions of the empirical support for Triple P. BMC Medicine, 10 (1) 145, 145.1-145.5. doi: 10.1186/1741-7015-10-145
Kirby, James N. and Sanders, Matthew R. (2012). Using consumer input to tailor evidence-based parenting interventions to the needs of grandparents. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 21 (4), 626-636. doi: 10.1007/s10826-011-9514-8
Sanders, Matthew R. and Kirby, James N. (2012). Consumer engagement and the development, evaluation and dissemination of evidence-based parenting programs.. Behavior Therapy, 43 (2), 234-250. doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2011.01.005
Sanders, Matthew R. and Kirby, James N. (2010). Consumer involvement and population based parenting interventions. Administration, 58 (2), 33-50.
Conference Papers
Best, Talitha, Clarke, Chantelle, Kirby, James and Gilbert, Paul (2025). Compassion in lipoedema: a group protocol and online compassion-focused intervention for symptom management. 18th Congress of Behavioral Medicine: Advancing Global Health Equity through Science, Education and Advocacy, Vienna, Austria, 6 - 9 August 2025. New York, NY, United States: Springer New York LLC.
Whittingham, K., Mitchell, A.E., Lennard, G., Steindl, S. and Kirby, J. (2021). Can a simple online CFT resource provide psychological support to mothers of infants?. World Association for Infant Mental Health 17th World Congress, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 22-26 June 2021.
Kirby, J.N., Tellegen, C.L., Steindl, S.R. and McLean, L. (2018). Compassion Symposium. AACBT National Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, October 2018.
Kirby, J.N. and Tellegen, C.L. (2014). Triple P Research in Perspective: Meta-Analysis of Triple P Studies. Helping Families Change Conference, Sydney, NSW Australia, October 2014.
Research Report
Sanders, Matthew R., Mallett, Cliff J., Kirby, James, Rynne, Steven and Marshall, David (2019). Parents as partners in Junior Rugby League: report to NRL research board. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Thesis
Kirby, James Nicholas (2013). The development and evaluation of a parenting program for grandparents: Grandparent Triple P. PhD Thesis, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland.