Dr Alexander O'Donnell
Research Fellow
Institute for Social Science Research
+61 7 334 67630

Researcher biography
I am a social and developmental psychologist specialising in how social environments shape people's development. My research focuses on family, peer, school, and community influences on mental health, educational aspirations, and social attitudes.
My work applies advanced statistical methods, including latent class analysis, longitudinal modeling, and moderation-mediation frameworks. I collaborate with schools, clinics, and policymakers to ensure my research has practical applications for improving life outcomes and fostering inclusive social environments.
Through interdisciplinary projects, I aim to bridge psychological research and real-world practice, contributing to healthier, more equitable societies.
Publications
Journal Articles
Thomas, Emma F., O'Donnell, Alexander, Osborne, Danny, Bird, Lucy, Yip, Lisette, Buonaiuto, Eliana, Lizzio-Wilson, Morgana, Skitka, Linda and Wenzel, Michael (2025). Conspiracy beliefs and democratic backsliding: Longitudinal effects of election conspiracy beliefs on criticism of democracy and support for authoritarianism during political contests. Political Psychology. doi: 10.1111/pops.13075
Wake, Alexandra and O’Donnell, Alexander W. (2024). Longitudinal Relationships Between Financial Stress, Career Related Optimism, and Psychological Distress During Emerging Adulthood in Australia. Youth & Society, 56 (7), 1336-1363. doi: 10.1177/0044118x241232997
Mendes, Renata A., Loxton, Natalie J., Stuart, Jaimee, O’Donnell, Alexander W. and Stainer, Matthew J. (2024). Statistics anxiety or statistics fear? A reinforcement sensitivity theory perspective on psychology students’ statistics anxiety, attitudes, and self-efficacy. European Journal of Psychology of Education, 39 (3), 2461-2480. doi: 10.1007/s10212-024-00802-z
Thomas, Emma F., Bird, Lucy, O'Donnell, Alexander, Osborne, Danny, Buonaiuto, Eliana, Yip, Lisette, Lizzio‐Wilson, Morgana, Wenzel, Michael and Skitka, Linda (2024). Do conspiracy beliefs fuel support for reactionary social movements? Effects of misbeliefs on actions to oppose lockdown and to “stop the steal”. British Journal of Social Psychology, 63 (3), 1297-1317. doi: 10.1111/bjso.12727
O'Donnell, Alexander W., Redmond, Gerry, Gardner, Alex A., Wang, Joanna J. J. and Mooney, Anna (2024). Extracurricular activity participation, school belonging, and depressed mood: a test of the compensation hypothesis during adolescence. Applied Developmental Science, 28 (4), 596-611. doi: 10.1080/10888691.2023.2260745
O'Donnell, Alexander W., Redmond, Gerry, Skattebol, Jennifer, Allen, Jacqueline, Thomson, Cathy and MacDougall, Colin (2023). The relationship between financial hardships and the development of risk-taking behaviors: the protective role of extracurricular activities. Youth and Society, 55 (5), 895-923. doi: 10.1177/0044118X221127724
O'Donnell, Alexander W., Paolini, Stefania and Stuart, Jaimee (2023). Distinct trajectories of psychological distress among resettled refugees: community acceptance predicts resilience while low ingroup social support predicts clinical distress. Transcultural Psychiatry, 60 (1) 13634615221098309, 26-38. doi: 10.1177/13634615221098309
Turkmani, Sabera, Bista, Sarita, Wang, Joanna J. J., O'Donnell, Alexander W., Thomson, Catherine, Radcliffe, Natasha Jane, Skattebol, Jennifer, Redmond, Gerry and Brooks, Fiona (2023). Social and emotional wellbeing among young people; the mitigating role of ecological domains. Child Indicators Research, 16 (3), 941-962. doi: 10.1007/s12187-022-10008-8
O'Donnell, Alexander W., Redmond, Gerry, Arciuli, Joanne, Robinson, Sally, Skattebol, Jennifer, Raghavendra, Parimala, Thomson, Cathy, Wang, Joanna J. J. and Emerson, Eric (2022). The association between parental educational expectations and school functioning among young people with disabilities: a longitudinal investigation. Exceptional Children, 89 (1), 60-78. doi: 10.1177/00144029221087392
O'Donnell, Alexander W., Redmond, Gerry, Thomson, Cathy, Wang, Joanna J. J. and Turkmani, Sabera (2022). Reducing educational disparities between australian adolescents in regional and metropolitan communities: the compensatory effects of extracurricular activities. Developmental Psychology, 58 (12), 2358-2371. doi: 10.1037/dev0001434
Stuart, Jaimee, O’Donnell, Alexander W., Scott, Riley, O’Donnell, Karlee, Lund, Rochelle and Barber, Bonnie (2022). Asynchronous and synchronous remote teaching and academic outcomes during COVID-19. Distance Education, 43 (3), 408-425. doi: 10.1080/01587919.2022.2088477
O'Donnell, Alexander W., Stuart, Jaimee, Jose, Paul E. and Homel, Jacqueline (2022). Trajectories of substance use and well-being in early and middle adolescence shaped by social connectedness. Journal of Research On Adolescence, 32 (2), 769-784. doi: 10.1111/jora.12620
Redmond, Gerry, Main, Gill, O'donnell, Alexander W., Skattebol, Jennifer, Woodman, Richard, Mooney, Anna, Wang, Joanna, Turkmani, Sabera, Thomson, Catherine and Brooks, Fiona (2022). Who excludes? Young people's experience of social exclusion. Journal of Social Policy, 53 (1) PII S0047279422000046, 236-259. doi: 10.1017/S0047279422000046
Scott, Riley A., Stuart, Jaimee, Barber, Bonnie L., O'Donnell, Karlee J. and O'Donnell, Alexander W. (2022). Social connections during physical isolation: how a shift to online interaction explains friendship satisfaction and social well-being. Cyberpsychology, 16 (2) 10. doi: 10.5817/CP2022-2-10
O'Donnell, Alexander W., Neumann, David L. and Duffy, Amanda L. (2021). Associative learning processes in the formation of intergroup anxiety and avoidance in society. Psychological Reports, 124 (6) 0033294120965472, 2587-2612. doi: 10.1177/0033294120965472
O'Donnell, Alexander W., Friehs, Maria‐Therese, Bracegirdle, Chloe, Zúñiga, Claudia, Watt, Susan Ellen and Barlow, Fiona Kate (2021). Technological and analytical advancements in intergroup contact research. Journal of Social Issues, 77 (1), 171-196. doi: 10.1111/josi.12424
Kauff, Mathias, Beneda, Marta, Paolini, Stefania, Bilewicz, Michal, Kotzur, Patrick, O'Donnell, Alexander W., Stevenson, Clifford, Wagner, Ulrich and Christ, Oliver (2021). How do we get people into contact? Predictors of intergroup contact and drivers of contact seeking. Journal of Social Issues, 77 (1), 38-63. doi: 10.1111/josi.12398
Stuart, Jaimee, O'Donnell, Karlee, O'Donnell, Alex, Scott, Riley and Barber, Bonnie (2021). Online social connection as a buffer of health anxiety and isolation during COVID-19. Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking, 24 (8), 521-525. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2020.0645
Thai, Michael, O’Donnell, Alexander W., Turner, Rhiannon N. and Barlow, Fiona Kate (2021). An investigation of the relationship between cross-race friendships and attraction. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 48 (6) 1461672211026130, 901-922. doi: 10.1177/01461672211026130
O'Donnell, Alexander W. and Barber, Bonnie L. (2021). Ongoing engagement in organized activities may buffer disadvantaged youth against increasing externalizing behaviors. Journal of Leisure Research, 52 (1), 22-40. doi: 10.1080/00222216.2020.1741328
O'Donnell, Alexander W., Stuart, Jaimee, Barber, Bonnie L. and Abkhezr, Peyman (2020). Sport participation may protect socioeconomically disadvantaged youths with refugee backgrounds from experiencing behavioral and emotional difficulties. Journal of Adolescence, 85, 148-152. doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2020.11.003
O'Donnell, Alexander W., Stuart, Jaimee and O'Donnell, Karlee J. (2020). The long-term financial and psychological resettlement outcomes of pre-migration trauma and post-settlement difficulties in resettled refugees. Social Science and Medicine, 262 113246, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113246
O'Donnell, Alexander W., Neumann, David L., Duffy, Amanda L. and Paolini, Stefania (2019). Learning to fear outgroups: an associative learning explanation for the development and reduction of intergroup anxiety. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 13 (3) e12442. doi: 10.1111/spc3.12442
O'Donnell, Alexander W. and Barber, Bonnie L. (2018). Exploring the association between adolescent sports participation and externalising behaviours: The moderating role of prosocial and risky peers. Australian Journal of Psychology, 70 (4), 361-368. doi: 10.1111/ajpy.12203
Pegg, Karlee J., O'Donnell, Alexander W., Lala, Girish and Barber, Bonnie L. (2018). The Role of Online Social Identity in the Relationship between Alcohol-Related Content on Social Networking Sites and Adolescent Alcohol Use. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 21 (1), 50-55. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2016.0665