Jessica Oliva
- jessica.oliva@jcu.edu.au
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2639-045X- Senior Lecturer, Psychology
- Psychology
Projects
0
Publications
28
Awards
5
Biography
Dr Jessica Oliva is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at James Cook University based at the Townsville campus. Her research interests include human-animal interactions and animal conservation. Inspired by her own experiences adopting a shelter dog, Bonnie, she completed a PhD at Monash University in 2015 investigating the role of the neuropeptide, oxytocin, in human-dog bonding and communication. She then completed a Post-Doctoral fellowship at the Institute of Research in Semi-chemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA) in France, investigating the efficacy of Dog Appeasing Pheremone (DAP) versus oxytocin, in dog social cognition, and the influence of human attachment. She is currently completing a Master of Science in Tropical Biology and Conservation at JCU. Before arriving to JCU, Dr Oliva worked as a Lecturer in Psychology at Monash University in Melbourne, research supervisor at the Institute of Social Neuroscience, and post-doc researcher at the Parent-Infant Research Institute. Dr Oliva is currently accepting expressions of interest for supervision of HDR students.
Research
Research Interests
- human-animal interactions
- oxytocin
- canine science
- attachment
- conservation
Research Collaborators and Partners
Hands on Wildlife
Cairns Aquarium
The CAPTA Group
Billabong Sanctuary
Wildlife Surrounds
Teaching
Research Advisor Accreditation
Advisor Type
Primary
Taught Modules
2023
2021
2023
2021
2021
2026
[PY1101] Exploring Psychology: from Brain to PracticeCoordinator, Lecturer
2022
[PY1102] Exploring Psychology: from Perception to RealityCoordinator, Lecturer
2022
[PY1101] Exploring Psychology: from Brain to PracticeCoordinator, Lecturer
2023
2026
2026
[PY1102] Exploring Psychology: from Perception to RealityCoordinator, Lecturer
2023
[PY2109] Environmental PsychologyCoordinator, Lecturer
2025
2023
2024
2025
2024
2025
[PY1102] Exploring Psychology 2Coordinator, Lecturer
2026
Current JCU Research Students
Psychedelic harm reduction and integration for psilocybin users in Australia: An evaluation of harm reduction and integration interventions
Doctor of Philosophy (Health)
Current Honours and External Research Students
Climate change and reproductive decision making in childfree Australians
HONOURS- 2026
The Animal Ambassador Effect on Human Pro-Environmental Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviours: A Scoping Review
HONOURS- 2026
An investigation into the impact of pet ownership on species conservation attitudes in Australia
HONOURS- 2026
Understanding Blue Biophobia: Pathways of Ocean Fear Across Communities and Lifespans
PHD- 2026
An investigation into the impact of parenthood on species conservation attitudes in Australia
HONOURS- 2026
Support for the Cognitive Hierarchy Theory: Predicting animal attitudes from wildlife values
HONOURS- 2026
An investigation into the impact of diet on species conservation attitudes in Australia
HONOURS- 2026
Climate change and reproductive decision making in Australian parents
HONOURS- 2026
An investigation into the influence of personality on species conservation attitudes in Australia
HONOURS- 2026
Completed Honours and External Research Students
Losing Sleep: Traumatic-Stress and Sleep Quality Association Unaffected by Insomnia Sub-Types
HONOURS
Tails of Connection: Unravelling the Relationship Between Adopted Pets and Their Owners
RESEARCH_MASTERS
From puppy love to pet peeve. What caused Second Dog Syndrome in pet owners?
HONOURS
Paws for Thought: The Importance of Dogs in a Seniors Social Intervention
HONOURS
Children's Depression and Anxiety Symptoms Unchanged Following an Animal Assisted Mindfulness Intervention
HONOURS
The Animal Ambassador Effect on Human Pro-Environmental Attitudes and Behaviours: A Scoping Review
HONOURS
The experience effect: Being the primary caregiver for a companion animal is associated with increased animal directed empathy in Australian males
HONOURS
Better to Have Loved and Lost? Human Avoidant Attachment Style Towards Dogs Predicts Group Membership as Forever Owner of Foster Carer.
HONOURS
Public Perceptions of Assistance Dogs: Happier and Better Used Than Companion Dogs
HONOURS
Animals, Who Cares and Why? Factors impacting Empathy and Attitudes Toward Animals
HONOURS
Political Partisanship and the Perceived Legitimacy of Sexual Misconduct Allegations Against Politicians
HONOURS
Scoping Review: Investigating the Welfare of Animal Ambassadors
HONOURS
Validating the Pet Owner Connectedness Scale (POCS) in Fish and Horse Owners
HONOURS
Dispositional and Motivational Factors in Anthropomorphism and Pet Attachment: The Roles of Dispositional Optimal Level of Stimulation, Need for Cognition and Loneliness
HONOURS
More Nuanced than Expected: Pet Number, Species, Costs, Ownership Length, and Owner Gender Differentially Predict Pet-Owner Connectedness
HONOURS
Perceptions & Attitudes Towards Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Cancer Care
HONOURS
Public attitudes towards companion and working dogs with a focus on drug detection dogs in an Australian sample.
HONOURS
The effects of night shift on cognition and mood in warehouse workers
HONOURS
Unleashing the Personality Divide: Resilience in Dog Owners, Neuroticism in Cat Owners
HONOURS
Dog Tales: Mindful Dog Interactions Evoke Similar Experiences to Dog Assisted Mindfulness Meditations
HONOURS
Stay Away from the Dog: New Mothers More Avoidantly Attached Than Childless Women to Their Pet Dogs
HONOURS
Beyond Cats and Dogs: Validating the POCS in Bird and Reptile Owners
HONOURS
Woeful Walks: Dog Walking Is Not Associated With Increased Mindfulness or Decreased Loneliness in Australians Living Alone During Second COVID-19 Lockdown
HONOURS
Speciesism and belief in animal-human continuity, political orientation, and gender
HONOURS
Invalidating Experiences in Childhood and Their Association with Adult Attachment, Pet Attachment and Adult Wellbeing
HONOURS
You Are What You Eat: Veganism and Empathy Negatively Predict Speciesism
HONOURS
Influence of Leadership, Political Jiu-jitsu and Social Movement Strategies on Socio-Political Outcomes
HONOURS
101 Ways to Wok Your Dog: Priming Australian Attitudes towards Chinese People during COVID-19
HONOURS
Activities
Outreach
Media
News, Sonshine 98.5
2024
News, Star 106.3
2024
News, Curtin FM
2024
Interview, 3AW 693
2024
Interview, 4RO AM
2024
News, 4MKAM1026
2024
Committees
Trimester Implementation Working Group
2023 - 2023
Psychology Community of Practice
2025 - 2026
Other Activities
Awards
Education
PhD Ecology and Evolution, Monash University
2011 - 2015
Employment
Lecturer, Monash University
2019 - 2020
Senior Online Instructor, Monash University
2017 - 2019
Associations
Output
Kresic, Kristina; Oliva, Jessica Lee (2026) 'Hot off the press: Media primes successfully influence attitudes towards Chinese people during COVID-19'. Communication and Race, 3 (1):1-18. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Dutton, Carissa; North, Emily; Chun Tie, Ylona; Oliva, Jessica; Skeffington, Petra (2025) 'Harm reduction practises for users of psychedelic drugs: a scoping review'. Harm Reduction Journal, 158 (22). [DOI]
Frampton, Georgia Anne; Oliva, Jessica Lee (2024) 'Support for the ‘Pets as Ambassadors’ hypothesis in men: Higher animal empathy in Australian pet-owners vs non-owners and farmers'. Animal Welfare, 33 . [DOI]
Oliva, Jessica Lee; Cobb, Mia L. (2024) 'Sniffing out what Australians know and believe about Drug Detector Dogs'. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 27 (3):487-501. [DOI]
Howell, Tiffani J.; Bennett, Pauleen C.; Oliva, Jessica Lee (2024) 'Disruptions in Transportation and Medical Care Experienced by Handlers of Assistance Dogs in Australia'. Anthrozoos, 38 (2):389-406. [DOI]
Baines, Leah Michelle; Oliva, Jessica Lee (2024) 'Unleashing the Personality Divide: Resilience in Dog Owners, Neuroticism in Cat Owners'. Anthrozoos, 37 (6):1155-1170. [DOI]
Four’s a Crowd? Attachment Styles in Childless Women and First-Time Mothers Toward Their Pet Dog
2024
Campbell, Kathleen Isobel; Oliva, Jessica Lee (2024) 'Four’s a Crowd? Attachment Styles in Childless Women and First-Time Mothers Toward Their Pet Dog'. Anthrozoos, 37 (4):727-743. [DOI]
Disanayake, Mikayla; Howell, Tiffani; Oliva, Jessica (2023) 'From Puppy Love to Pet Peeve: What Causes Second/Successor Dog Syndrome in Assistance-Dog Handlers and Companion-Dog Owners?'. Anthrozoos, 36 (6):999-1012. [DOI]
Lau, Rachel Rou Qian; Oliva, Jessica Lee (2023) 'Woeful Walks? Dog Walking Not Associated with Mindfulness or Loneliness in Australians Living Alone During a COVID-19 Lockdown'. Anthrozoos, 36 (1):99-115. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Oliva, Jessica Lee; Johnston, Kim Louise (2022) 'Development of the pet owner connectedness scale (POCS)'. Anthrozoos, 35 (4):545-557. [DOI]
Gemmill, Alan W.; Oliva, Jessica Lee; Ericksen, Jennifer; Holt, Charlene; Holt, Christopher J.; Milgrom, Jeannette (2022) 'Web‑based treatment for depression in pregnancy: a feasibility study of Mum2BMoodBooster'. BMC Psychiatry, 22 . [DOI]
Oliva, Jessica Lee; Lau, Rachel Rou Qian (2022) 'A qualitative insight into the removal of the Australian COVID-19 lockdowns on dogs and cats, and their owners'. Pet Behaviour Science, 13 :1-15. [DOI]
Gibson, Paris Emmanuelle; Oliva, Jessica Lee (2022) 'Public perceptions of Australian assistance dogs: happier and better used than companion dogs'. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 25 (1):18-30. [DOI]
Nikcevic, Jovana; Oliva, Jessica Lee (2022) 'What’s in a dog? Children learn and apply mindfulness similarly with and without a dog'. Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin, 11 (1):36-53.
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Mengoli, Manuel; Oliva, Jessica; Mendonca, Tiago; Chabaud, Camille; Arroub, Sana; Lafont-Lecuelle, Celine; Cozzi, Alessandro; Pageat, Patrick; Bienboire-Frosini, Cecile (2021) 'Neurohormonal profiles of assistance dogs compared to pet dogs: what is the impact of different lifestyles?'. Animals, 11 (9). [DOI]
Johnston, Kim; Oliva, Jessica (2021) 'COVID-19 Lockdown Landslides: the negative impact of subsequent lockdowns on loneliness, wellbeing, and mental health of Australians'. Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management, 16 (4):125-133. [DOI]
Oliva, Jessica; Green, Tim Robert (2021) 'Dog tales: mindful dog interactions evoke similar experiences to dog assisted mindfulness meditations'. Animals, 11 (7). [DOI]
Oliva, Jessica Lee; Johnston, Kim Louise (2021) 'Puppy love in the time of Corona: dog ownership protects against loneliness for those living alone during the COVID-19 lockdown'. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 67 (3):232-242. [DOI]
Lockyer, Jannine M.; Oliva, Jessica (2020) 'Better to have loved and lost? Human avoidant attachment style towards dogs predicts group membership as ‘forever owner’ or ‘foster carer’'. Animals, 10 . [DOI]
Oliva, Jessica Lee; Mengoli, Manuel; Mendonça, Tiago; Cozzi, Alessandro; Pageat, Patrick; Chabaud, Camille; Teruel, Eva; Lafont-Lecuelle, Céline; Bienboire-Frosini, Cécile (2019) 'Working smarter not harder: oxytocin increases domestic dogs’ (Canis familiaris) accuracy, but not attempts, on an object choice task'. Frontiers in Psychology, 10 . [DOI]
Papotto, Elisa Maria Concetta; Oliva, Jessica Lee (2019) 'Paws for thought: the importance of dogs in a seniors social intervention'. People and Animals, 2 (1).
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Oliva, Jessica Lee; Rault, Jean-Loup; Appleton, Belinda; Lill, Alan (2016) 'Oxytocin blocks pet dog (Canis familiaris) object choice task performance being predicted by owner-perceived intelligence and owner attachment'. Pet Behaviour Science, 1 :31-46. [DOI]
The oxytocin receptor gene, an integral piece of the evolution of Canis familaris from Canis lupus
2016
Oliva, Jessica Lee; Wong, Yen T.; Rault, Jean-Loup; Appleton, Belinda; Lill, Alan (2016) 'The oxytocin receptor gene, an integral piece of the evolution of Canis familaris from Canis lupus'. Pet Behaviour Science, 2 :1-15. [DOI]
Oliva, J.L.; Rault, J.-L.; Appleton, B.; Lill, A. (2015) 'Oxytocin enhances the appropriate use of human social cues by the domestic dog (Canis familiaris) in an object choice task'. Animal Cognition, 18 :767-775. [DOI]
Evidence for sex differences in the loudness dependence of the auditory evoked potential in humans
2011
Oliva, Jessica L.; Leung, Sumie; Croft, Rodney J.; O'Neill, Barry V.; Stout, Julie C.; Nathan, Pradeep J. (2011) 'Evidence for sex differences in the loudness dependence of the auditory evoked potential in humans'. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental, 26 (2):172-176. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Oliva, Jessica; Leung, Sumie; Croft, Rodney J.; O'Neill, Barry V.; O'Kane, Joanne; Stout, Julie; Phan, K. Luan; Nathan, Pradeep J. (2010) 'The loudness dependence auditory evoked potential is insensitive to acute changes in serotonergic and noradrenergic neurotransmission'. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental, 25 (5):423-427. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Bienboire-Frosini, Cecile; Chabaud, Camille; Mendonca, Tiago; Mengoli, Manuel; Arroub, Sana; Oliva, Jessica Lee; Cozzi, Alessandro; Pageat, Patrick (2019) 'Investigating the oxytocinergic system: Plasma measures of free vs. total oxytocin fractions in two animal models' Psychoneuroendocrinology, 107, Supplement :33-33. [DOI]
Journal Contribution
ResearchOnline@JCU
Kis, Anna; Oliva, Jessica Lee; Virányi, Zsófia; Topál, József (2019) 'Editorial: oxytocin and social behaviour in dogs and other (self-) domesticated species: methodological caveats and promising perspectives' Frontiers in Psychology, 10 . [DOI]