Dr Kayla Stefanidis | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

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Dr Kayla Stefanidis

BPsych(Hons) UTAS, PhD

  • Senior Research Fellow
Email
Telephone
07 5430 1166
Office location
Room G.43, Innovation Centre
Campus
Sunshine Coast

Kayla's program of work focuses on the association between neurocognition/neuropsychological function and driving capacity across different settings and populations. Kayla also leads the senior driver research program, focusing specifically on neurocognition, age-related changes and diseases, and fitness to drive capacity in older adults.

Awards

  • University of the Sunshine Coast Postgraduate Research Scholarship

Memberships

  • School of Law and Society Research Sub-Committee Member
  • Cerebral Autoregulation Research Network (CARNet)

Research areas

  • Neuropsychology/Neuroscience
  • Fitness to Drive
  • Ageing and age-related cognitive decline
  • Impaired Driving

Supervision

  • The relationship between neurocognition and fitness to drive
  • Age-related changes and driving

Recent Publications

  • Marigold, J.L., Truelove, V., & Stefanidis, K. (2025). A qualitative exploration of older drivers' attitudes towards driving cessation: Application of the transactional model of stress and coping. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 111, 331-342. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2025.03.009 
  • Mieran, T., Hill, A., Horswill, M., Summers, M., & Stefanidis, K. (2025). The effects of orally ingested Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol on drivers' hazard perception and risk-taking behaviours: A within-subjects study of medicinal cannabis users. Psychopharmacology, Advanced access. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-025-06869-w 
  • Stefanidis, K., Mieran, T., & Summers, M. (2025). Standardised neuropsychological test correlates of driving performance in mild cognitive impairment and dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Transport & Health, 44, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2025.102141 
  • Stefanidis, K., Schiemer, C., Mieran, T., Hill, A., Horswill, M., & Summers, M. (2025). Elucidating the acute effects of medically prescribed oral and vaporised delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on cognitive functions important for driving. Drug and Alcohol Review, 44(4), 1010-1023. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.14060 
  • Stefanidis, K., Summers, M., & Clark, M. (2025). The assessment of cognitive function and medical fitness to drive in older adults: A qualitative study with general practitioners. Journal of Transport & Health, 42, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2025.102020 
  • Schiemer, C., Horswill, M., Hill, A., Summers, M., & Stefanidis, K. (2025). The acute effects of vaporized cannabis on drivers’ hazard perception and risk-taking behaviors in medicinal patients: A within-subjects experiment. Journal of Safety Research, 92, 385-392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2024.12.004

     

FOR MORE PUBLICATIONS, PLEASE SEE DR STEFANIDIS' RESEARCH BANK

Dr Kayla Stefanidis' specialist areas of knowledge include neuropsychology, neuroscience, fitness to drive, ageing and age-related cognitive decline, and impaired driving.

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