Professor Naomi Priest
Research interests
Dr Naomi Priest’s broad research interest is to integrate social and epidemiologic methods to examine and address inequalities in health and development across populations and place and throughout the lifecourse. This includes social epidemiology and qualitative research to understand differences in health and development experienced by children and youth from Indigenous backgrounds and from ethnic minorities, and explanations for observed differences across intersecting identities and experiences such as gender, socioeconomic position, and disability. Much of this work focuses on patterns, mechanisms and prospective influence of adverse early life exposures and stressors, including discrimination, stigma and bias.
She is also interested in socialisation processes among children from stigmatised and non-stigmatised groups, including development of racial/ethnic attitudes, bias, stereotypes and prejudice.
A third area of her research is focused on initiatives to counter stigma, discrimination and bias and promote diversity and inclusion among individuals, organisations and across society.
Biography
Dr Naomi Priest received her PhD in 2009 in population health at the University of Melbourne. She then completed a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) post-doctoral fellowship 2010-2014 also at the University of Melbourne with training in social epidemiology. In 2014-15 she was a Visiting Scientist at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
She was recently awarded a NHMRC Career Development Fellowship (2017-2020) to continue her work on How does early life adversity “get under the skin” to influence lifelong health? – Identifying opportunities for prevention among Aboriginal and ethnic minority peoples.
Publications
- Korda, R, Biddle, N, Lynch, J et al 2020, 'Education inequalities in adult all-cause mortality: first national data for Australia using linked census and mortality data. International Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 49, Issue 2, April 2020, Pages 511–518, https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyz191.
- Priest, N, Kavanagh, A, Bécares, L et al 2019, 'Cumulative Effects of Bullying and Racial Discrimination on Adolescent Health in Australia', Journal of Health and Social Behavior, vol. 60, no. 3, pp. 344-361.
- Finan, S, Warren, N, Priest, N et al 2019, 'Parent Non-engagement in Preventive Parenting Programs for Adolescent Mental Health: Stakeholder Views', Journal of Child and Family Studies, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 711-724.
- Slopen, N, Slopen, N, Strizich, G et al 2019, 'Maternal experiences of ethnic discrimination and child cardiometabolic outcomes in the Study of Latino Youth', Annals of Epidemiology, vol. 34, pp. 52-57.
- Kavanagh, A, Priest, N, Emerson, E et al 2018, 'Gender, parental education, and experiences of bullying victimization by Australian adolescents with and without a disability', Child: Care, Health and Development, vol. 44, no. 2, pp. 332-341.
- Perry, R, Priest, N, Paradies, Y et al 2018, 'Barriers to Multiculturalism: In-Group Favoritism and Out-Group Hostility Are Independently Associated With Policy Opposition', Social Psychological and Personality Science, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 89-98.
- Krnjacki, L, Priest, N, Aitken, Z et al 2018, 'Disability-based discrimination and health: findings from an Australian-based population study', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, vol. 42, no. 2, pp. 172-174.
- King, T, Aitken, Z, Milner, A et al 2018, 'To what extent is the association between disability and mental health in adolescents mediated by bullying? A causal mediation analysis', International Journal of Epidemiology, vol. 47, no. 5, pp. 1402-1413.
- Priest, N, Slopen, N, Woolford, S et al 2018, 'Stereotyping across intersections of race and age: Racial stereotyping among White adults working with children', PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), vol. 13, no. 9, pp. 20pp.
- Finan, S, Swierzbiolek, B, Priest, N et al 2018, 'Parental engagement in preventive parenting programs for child mental health: a systematic review of predictors and strategies to increase engagement', PeerJ, vol. 6, pp. 1-37.
- Priest, N, Perry, R, Ferdinand, A et al 2017, 'Effects over time of self-reported direct and vicarious racial discrimination on depressive symptoms and loneliness among Australian school students', BMC Psychiatry, vol. 17, no. 50, pp. 1-11pp.
- Ford, R, King, T, Priest, N et al 2017, 'Bullying and mental health and suicidal behaviour among 14- to 15-year-olds in a representative sample of Australian children', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 51, no. 9, pp. 897-908.
- Paradies, Y, Bastos, J & Priest, N 2017, 'Prejudice, Stigma, Bias, Discrimination, and Health', in Chris G. Sibley & Fiona K. Barlow (ed.), The Cambridge Handbook of the Psychology of Prejudice, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge UK, pp. 559-581pp.
- Priest, N, King, T, Becares, L et al 2016, 'Bullying Victimization and Racial Discrimination Among Australian Children', American Journal of Public Health, vol. 106, no. 10, pp. 1882-1884.
- Priest, N, Thompson, L, Mackean, T et al 2017, ''Yarning up with Koori kids' - hearing the voices of Australian urban Indigenous children about their health and well-being', Ethnicity and Health, vol. 22, no. 6, pp. 631-647.
- Williams, D, Priest, N & Anderson, N 2016, 'Understanding associations among race, socioeconomic status, and health: Patterns and prospects', Health Psychology, vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 407-411.
- Slopen, N, Chen, Y, Priest, N et al 2016, 'Emotional and instrumental support during childhood and biological dysregulation in midlife', Preventive Medicine, vol. 84, pp. 90-96.
- Walton, J, Priest, N, Kowal, E et al 2016, 'Whiteness and national identity: teacher discourses in Australian primary schools', Race Ethnicity and Education, pp. -.
- Priest, N, Esmail, A, Kline, R et al 2015, 'Promoting equality for ethnic minority NHS staff-what works?', BMJ - British Medical Journal, vol. 351.
- Williams, D & Priest, N 2015, 'Racism and health: A growing body of international evidence', Sociologias, vol. 17, no. 40, pp. 124-174.
- Paradies, Y, Ben, J, Denson, N et al 2015, 'Racism as a Determinant of Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis', PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), vol. 10, no. 9.
- Priest, N, Walton, J, White, F et al 2016, '"You are not born being racist, are you?' Discussing racism with primary aged-children', Race Ethnicity and Education, vol. 19, no. 4, pp. 808-834.
- Schorch, P, Walton, J, Priest, N et al 2015, 'Encountering the 'Other': Interpreting Student Experiences of a Multi-Sensory Museum Exhibition', Journal of Intercultural Studies, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 221-240.
- Luiz Bastos, J, Celeste, R, Santos Silva, D et al 2015, 'Assessing mediators between discrimination, health behaviours and physical health outcomes: a representative cross-sectional study', Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, vol. 50, no. 11, pp. 1731-1742.
- Becares, L & Priest, N 2015, 'Understanding the Influence of Race/Ethnicity, Gender, and Class on Inequalities in Academic and Non-Academic Outcomes among Eighth-Grade Students: Findings from an Intersectionality Approach', PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), vol. 10, no. 10, pp. 1-17.
- Walton, J, Paradies, Y, Priest, N et al 2015, 'Fostering intercultural understanding through secondary school experiences of cultural immersion', International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 216-237.
- Priest, N, Perry, R, Ferdinand, A et al 2014, 'Experiences of Racism, Racial/Ethnic Attitudes, Motivated Fairness and Mental Health Outcomes Among Primary and Secondary School Students', Journal of Youth and Adolescence, vol. 43, no. 10, pp. 1672-1687.
- Paradies, Y, Truong, M & Priest, N 2014, 'A systematic review of the extent and measurement of healthcare provider racism', Journal of General Internal Medicine, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 364-387.
- Priest, N, Walton, J, White, F et al 2014, 'Understanding the complexities of ethnic-racial socialization processes for both minority and majority groups: A 30-year systematic review', International Journal of Intercultural Relations, vol. 43, pp. 139-155.
- Walton, J, Priest, N, Kowal, E et al 2014, 'Talking culture? Egalitarianism, color-blindness and racism in Australian elementary schools', Teaching and Teacher Education, vol. 39, pp. 112-122.
- Truong, M, Paradies, Y & Priest, N 2014, 'Interventions to improve cultural competency in healthcare: A systematic review of reviews', BMC Health Services Research, vol. 14, pp. 99-99.
- Priest, N, Paradies, Y, Ferdinand, A et al 2014, 'Patterns of Intergroup Contact in Public Spaces: Micro-Ecology of Segregation in Australian Communities', Societies, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 30-44.
- Baxi, R, Sharma, M, Roseby, R et al 2014, 'Family and carer smoking control programmes for reducing children's exposure to environmental tobacco smoke', Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR), no. 3, pp. 1-106.
- Riggs, E, Gussy, M, Van Gemert, C et al 2014, 'Assessing the cultural competence of oral health research conducted with migrant children', Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, vol. 42, no. 1, pp. 43-52.
- Ben, J, Jamieson, L, Priest, N et al 2014, 'Experience of racism and tooth brushing among pregnant aboriginal Australians: Exploring psychosocial mediators', Community Dental Health, vol. 31, no. 3, pp. 145-152.
- Ben, J, Paradies, Y, Priest, N et al 2014, 'Self-reported racism and experience of toothache among pregnant Aboriginal Australians: The role of perceived stress, sense of control, and social support', Journal of Public Health Dentistry, vol. 74, no. 4, pp. 301-309.
- Priest, N, Paradies, Y, Trenerry, B et al 2013, 'A systematic review of studies examining the relationship between reported racism and health and wellbeing for children and young people', Social Science and Medicine, vol. 95, pp. 115-127.
- Walton, J, Priest, N & Paradies, Y 2013, 'Identifying and developing effective approaches to foster intercultural understanding in schools', Intercultural Education, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 181-194.
- Walton, J, Priest, N & Paradies, Y 2013, '"It depends how you're saying it": The complexities of everyday racism', International Journal of Conflict and Violence, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 75-90.
- Priest, N, Paradies, Y, Stevens, M et al 2012, 'Exploring relationships between racism, housing and child illness in remote indigenous communities', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, vol. 66, no. 5, pp. 440-447.
- Davis, E, Priest, N, Davies, B et al 2012, 'Family day care educators: An exploration of their understanding and experiences promoting children's social and emotional wellbeing', Early Child Development and Care, vol. 182, no. 9, pp. 1193-1208.
- Priest, N, Mackean, T, Davis, E et al 2012, 'Aboriginal perspectives of child health and wellbeing in an urban setting: Developing a conceptual framework', Health Sociology Review, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 180-195.
- Baker, P, Shipp, J, Wellings, S et al 2012, 'Assessment of applicability and transferability of evidence-based antenatal interventions to the Australian indigenous setting', Health Promotion International, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 208-219.
- Bodkin-Andrews, G, Paradies, Y, Parada, R et al 2012, 'Theory and research on bullying and racism from an Aboriginal Australian perspective', Australian Association for Research in Education 2012, Australian Association for Research in Education, Sydney, Australia, pp. 1-14.
- Priest, N, Baxter, J & Hayes, L 2012, 'Social and emotional outcomes of Australian children from Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 183-190.
- Priest, N, Mackean, T, Davis, E et al 2012, 'Strengths and challenges for Koori Kids: Harder for Koori Kids, Koori Kids Doing Well - Exploring Aboriginal perspectives on social determinants of Aboriginal child health and wellbeing', Health Sociology Review, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 165-179.
- Priest, N, Paradies, Y, Stewart, P et al 2011, 'Racism and health among urban Aboriginal young people', BMC Public Health, vol. 11, pp. 568-568.
- Priest, N, Paradies, Y, Gunthorpe, W et al 2011, 'Racism as a determinant of social and emotional wellbeing for aboriginal Australian youth', Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 194, no. 10, pp. 546-550.
- Runions, K, Priest, N & Dandy, J 2011, 'Discrimination and Psychological Adjustment Amongst Australian Children From Middle-Eastern and Asian backgrounds', The Australian community psychologist, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 23-33.
Projects and Grants
Grants information is drawn from ARIES. To add or update Projects or Grants information please contact your College Research Office.
- Revealing the Realities of Racism for Rangatahi in Aotearoa - R4Aotearoa (Primary Investigator)
- National Australia Bank Future Workforce Project (Primary Investigator)
- FDV in the 2018 Australian Survey of Social Attitudes (AuSSA) (Primary Investigator)
- Faith communities responses to Family Violence (Primary Investigator)
- Whole-of-population linked data: strengthening the evidence to drive improvement in health and health care in Australia (Secondary Investigator)
- How does early life adversity "get under the skin" to influence lifelong health - Identifying opportunities for prevention among Aboriginal and ethnic minority peoples. (Primary Investigator)
- Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities Study (Secondary Investigator)
- Building Children's Resilience through Healthy, Respectful and Equitable Relationships (Primary Investigator)
- Standing up to racism and racial bullying among Australian school students (Primary Investigator)