Jolene A Cox
Research Fellow, Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science
Email: jcox@usc.edu.au
Telephone: +61 7 5456 3579
Jolene Cox is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Human Factors and Systems science at UniSC. She is a human factors and complex systems researcher. Her research is interdisciplinary, with a keen emphasis on complex systems science and health services research. Her primary research interest focuses on the investigation of help-seeking for mental health and the impact of mental health system complexity on mental health and well-being outcomes. Her research interest is motivated by her passion to support the mental health and well-being of others and to close the mental health care gap. In addition to her mental health research, she conducts research that uses methods underpinned by human factors and complex systems theory to address other safety-critical issues (e.g., transport safety).
Jolene is a trained cognitive psychologist. She was awarded her PhD in Cognitive Psychology from the Australian National University in 2022. Her PhD was on visual statistical learning, an important cognitive function that enables the extraction and adaption of statistical regularities from our visual environment across time and space. She continues to conduct cognitive psychological research and is interested in understanding the cognitive processes involved in human behaviour, in important contexts such as safe driving.
Research
Publications
Book chapter | Peer reviewed
Shut Up and Write!, Connect, and Support: Bridging the Gap to Support Rural Postgraduate Students ↗
by Rebecca Terlich, Ishwar Koirala, Daniel P Wadsworth, Alexandra Potter, Michelle Gossner, David Duncan, Stacey Whitelaw, Kate McCubbery, Erin Harcourt, Jolene A Cox and Dylan Poulus
2026
Fostering Wellbeing through Collective Writing Practices: Shut Up & Write! in Higher Education Settings
Postgraduate-qualified individuals living in rural, regional, and remote (herein referred to as 'rural') areas are uniquely placed to answer calls for locally-led rural research, making support for rural postgraduate students a pertinent challenge. The often-isolating nature of postgraduate studies is magnified for rural students, contributing towards lower enrolment and completion rates than urban counterparts. Tailored systems to support research training and capacity building in rural settings are critical. This chapter describes how peer-led virtual Shut Up and Write! (SUAW) sessions have supported rural postgraduate students' wellbeing and development. Our reflections highlight how the benefits of virtual SUAW sessions extend far beyond writing productivity, connecting disparate groups of rural postgraduate students, and providing opportunities for interaction, knowledge-sharing, belonging, community, and identity formation. Such initiatives may be key to supporting rural postgraduate students' wellbeing and development, building capacity for locally-led rural research.
Journal article | Peer reviewed
Hemispheric Asymmetry for Global-Local Processing: Effects of Stimulus Category and Ageing ↗
by Haiwen Chen, Jolene Alexa Cox and Anne Marie Aimola Davies
2025
The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology
Hemispheric asymmetry has been reported for global-local processing in young and older adults, with global processing specialised in the right hemisphere (RH-global specialisation) and local processing specialised in the left hemisphere (LH-local specialisation). Questions persist regarding the extent to which hemispheric asymmetry is influenced by stimulus category (verbal stimuli processed in the left hemisphere; visuospatial stimuli processed in the right hemisphere). Some evidence suggests stimulus category does not influence hemispheric asymmetry (stimulus-independent account) while other evidence suggests it does (stimulus-dependent account). In older adults, there was evidence of a local-processing advantage, believed to result from slower and less accurate performance in right-hemisphere compared to left-hemisphere functioning-the right-hemisphere ageing hypothesis. We examined hemispheric asymmetry for global-local processing in young and older participants with three hierarchical figures (letters, verbalisable objects, nonverbalisable shapes), in a within-subjects design using a divided-attention paradigm and unilateral presentation. Our findings for letters and verbalisable objects support the stimulus-independent account-young and older participants demonstrated RH-global specialisation and LH-local specialisation regardless of stimulus category. In older participants, we also found a local-processing advantage for all three stimulus categories-an advantage best explained as faster and more accurate performance in local processing regardless of the visual field of stimulus presentation. Overall, we found hemispheric asymmetry for global-local processing in both young and older adults, and differences in global processing between young and older adults. Future investigation is suggested for the hemispheric asymmetry found in global-local processing of nonverbalisable shapes, and the mechanisms underlying age-related changes in global processing.Hemispheric asymmetry has been reported for global-local processing in young and older adults, with global processing specialised in the right hemisphere (RH-global specialisation) and local processing specialised in the left hemisphere (LH-local specialisation). Questions persist regarding the extent to which hemispheric asymmetry is influenced by stimulus category (verbal stimuli processed in the left hemisphere; visuospatial stimuli processed in the right hemisphere). Some evidence suggests stimulus category does not influence hemispheric asymmetry (stimulus-independent account) while other evidence suggests it does (stimulus-dependent account). In older adults, there was evidence of a local-processing advantage, believed to result from slower and less accurate performance in right-hemisphere compared to left-hemisphere functioning-the right-hemisphere ageing hypothesis. We examined hemispheric asymmetry for global-local processing in young and older participants with three hierarchical figures (letters, verbalisable objects, nonverbalisable shapes), in a within-subjects design using a divided-attention paradigm and unilateral presentation. Our findings for letters and verbalisable objects support the stimulus-independent account-young and older participants demonstrated RH-global specialisation and LH-local specialisation regardless of stimulus category. In older participants, we also found a local-processing advantage for all three stimulus categories-an advantage best explained as faster and more accurate performance in local processing regardless of the visual field of stimulus presentation. Overall, we found hemispheric asymmetry for global-local processing in both young and older adults, and differences in global processing between young and older adults. Future investigation is suggested for the hemispheric asymmetry found in global-local processing of nonverbalisable shapes, and the mechanisms underlying age-related changes in global processing.
Journal article | Peer reviewed
Rail suicide: A systematic review using systems thinking ↗
by G.J.M. Read, I. Elstak, L.S. Too, D.F. Hermens, R. McClure, P.M. Salmon, A. Naweed and J.A. Cox
2025
Safety Science
Rail suicide is a complex problem with significant adverse social and economic impacts. Systems thinking approaches are commonly used to understand emergent outcomes in complex systems. Systems thinking takes the system as the unit of analysis; often using a hierarchical representation to show how decisions and actions made across levels of a system (e.g., by governments, regulators, industry associations, companies, and individuals) can interact to create adverse outcomes. However, the extent to which rail suicide research has explored the problem from a systems thinking approach is unclear. A systematic review was conducted to identify: (1) the theories and methods that have been used to investigate rail suicide in the peer reviewed literature; (2) the contributory and demographic/risk factors for rail suicide identified across system levels; and (3) the preventative measures to address rail suicide that have been evaluated in published studies. The review followed the PRISMA guidelines and the systems thinking techniques AcciMap and PreventiMap were used to map factors and interventions across system levels. Gaps identified included a lack of consideration of contributory factors at higher system levels, that few preventative measures have been subject to evaluation, and that there has been little consideration of relationships between preventative measures. The review highlights the need for structured systems approaches to gain a more holistic understanding of rail suicide and to design more effective preventative measures.
Journal article | Peer reviewed
A Systematic Review of the Facilitators and Barriers to Help‑Seeking for Self‑Harm in Young People: A Systems Thinking Perspective ↗
by Jolene A Cox, Lia Mills, Daniel Hermens, Gemma Read and Paul Salmon
21 May 2024
Adolescent Research Review
Young people who self-harm require support and resources to address their self-harm. However, they are often reluctant to seek help for their self-harm. Despite efforts to increase help-seeking, the rates of self-harm in this population continue to increase. A better understanding of the factors that influence help-seeking for self-harm in young people is necessary. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the existing literature on the known facilitators and barriers to help-seeking for self-harm in young people. Across the 33 studies included in this review, the age range of young people was 11 to 30 years. Facilitators and barriers to help-seeking for self-harm were extracted and mapped onto a systems thinking framework. The synthesis indicated that there were 17 known facilitators and twice as many barriers across the help-seeking system hierarchy. Most of these facilitators and barriers were related to lower levels of the system (i.e., service delivery and the social environment , and young people who self-harm). There was limited consideration of broader systemic factors that influence help-seeking for self-harm and the interactions between these facilitators and barriers in influencing help-seeking. Future research should consider the use of systems thinking frameworks and methods in understanding and addressing this complex problem.
Journal article | Peer reviewed
Gender differences in adolescents’ help-seeking behaviours and intentions for psychosocial problems in led outdoor activities ↗
by Scott McLean, Jolene A Cox and Melissa M Trapp
12 May 2024
Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning
Many adolescents who experience psychosocial problems do not often seek help. Help-seeking behaviours and intentions are influenced by personal, social, and structural factors, and they differ by gender. Help-seeking has not been investigated in the led outdoor activity (LOA) domain, in which thousands of adolescents participate annually. The present study investigated gender differences in adolescents’ help-seeking behaviours and intentions for psychosocial problems in LOAs. Existing data from the ‘Understanding and Preventing Led Outdoor Accidents Data System’ (UPLOADS) was analysed to investigate adolescents’ help-seeking behaviours. Additionally, data from an online survey was analysed to investigate adolescents’ help-seeking intentions. More female adolescents sought help for a psychosocial problem compared to male adolescents, but more male adolescents were observed to have experienced a psychosocial problem compared to female adolescents. There were no gender differences in help-seeking intentions. It is recommended that the LOA sector develop gender-specific strategies to encourage adolescents’ help-seeking behaviours.
Explore all Jolene A Cox's publications in UniSC Research Bank
Grants
15 September 2022 - 30 November 2024
Understanding the facilitators and barriers to help-seeking for self-harm in youth: A systems-thinking perspective
University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia, Sunshine Coast) - UniSC
Grant no. 0980027696.
Daniel Hermens, Paul Salmon, Gemma Read and Jolene Cox
15 November 2023 - 30 November 2024
Adolescent and Young Adult Health Service at SCUH: A Quality Improvement Activity
Wishlist (Australia, Sunshine Coast)
Grant no. 0980028816.
Paul Salmon and Jolene Cox
16 September 2024
Human Factors guidance to support innovative level crossing safety solutions
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (Australia, Canberra)
Grant no. 0980029238.
Zohre Abedi, Jolene Cox, Paul Salmon and Gemma Read
19 June 2024 - 21 August 2024
SPARK Essence of Research Leadership Program [Jolene Cox]
University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia, Sunshine Coast) - UniSC
Grant no. 0980029336.
Jolene Cox
1 July 2023 - 30 June 2024
Drug Driving Program - Systems Modelling
Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (Australia, Brisbane) - TMR
Grant no. 0980028388.
Gemma Read, Scott McLean, Jolene Cox, Roderick McClure and Paul Salmon
24 February 2023 - 24 February 2024
Nationwide assessment of the mental health of PhD students in Australia
University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia, Sunshine Coast) - UniSC
Grant no. 0980028017.
Jolene Cox
Professional
Education
BSc (Psych)
Australian National University (Australia, Canberra) - ANU
PhD (Psych)
Australian National University (Australia, Canberra) - ANU