Dr James Kirby
Snr Lecturer in Clinical Psychology
School of Psychology
+61 7 336 56802
McElwain Building (24A)
Level 3, Room 332
Level 3, Room 332
Researcher biography
James is a Senior Lecturer and Clinical Psychologist. James has broad research interests in compassion science, however, specific research areas include: a) examining compassion focused therapy; b) examining compassion with children; c) what fears, blocks, & resistances people have towards compassion; & d) developing and evaluating compassion interventions. James also holds an Visiting Fellowship at the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University and is an Honorary Member of the Compassionate Mind Foundation UK. If you are interested in undertaking a PhD focused on compassion please contact me.
Book Chapters
Kirby, James N. and Tellegen, Cassandra L. (2020). Parenting, family environments, and mental health and illness. Making an Impact on Mental Health and Illness. (pp. 71-96) edited by James N. Kirby and Paul Gilbert. New York, United States: 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. (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 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. 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 - Taylor and Francis. doi: 10.4324/9781315564296
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
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
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 bjso.12483. 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, 135910532110276. 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 cpp.2601, 1-17. doi: 10.1002/cpp.2601
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, 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
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, 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
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., 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
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
Hoang, Nam-Phuong T. and Kirby, James N. (2019). 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., 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. 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., 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
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
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 & Psychotherapy: theory, research & 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
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
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. (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
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
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
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.
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.