Janine Olthuis

Associate Professor

PhD

Psychology

Keirstead Hall 115

Fredericton

j.olthuis@unb.ca
1 506 447 3006



My research explores different ways to increase access to evidence-based psychological interventions. My interests are grounded in cognitive behavioural theories with a focus on anxiety and related disorders (e.g., depression, posttraumatic stress, substance use).

Within this scope, my three primary interests are:

  1. The use of physical activity (e.g., running) in mental health treatment,
  2. The exploration of transdiagnostic interventions (i.e., interventions focused on treating shared risk factors, most notably anxiety sensitivity), and
  3. The development and evaluation of distance-delivered psychological interventions (e.g., Internet-based care).

In line with my interest in the intersection between physical activity and mental health, I also study the psychosocial factors that impact athlete mental health and substance use.

I welcome enquiries from graduate and undergraduate students who might be interested in pursuing research in any of these areas! You can learn more about our research activities.

Education

  • BA (Hon) Smith College
  • PhD (Clinical Psychology) Dalhousie University

Selected publications

Note: Bold names indicate students under her supervision.

Bell, L., Olthuis, J. V., Meca, A., Zamboanga, B. L., & Fitzpatrick, S. F. (2024). Athlete identity, athlete-specific drinking motives, and alcohol-related behaviours among university student-athletes: Examining indirect pathways. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 55, 153-172.

Olthuis, J. V., Connell, E. M., Watt, M. C., & Stewart, S. H. (2024). What does ‘high anxiety sensitivity’ look like? Using cluster analysis to identify distinct profiles of high anxiety sensitive treatment-seekers. Cognitive Therapy & Research, 48, 337-349.

Olthuis, J. V., Connell, E. M., O’Sullivan, L. F., & Byers, E. S. (2024). Does anxiety sensitivity interfere with sexual well-being? Evidence from a community sample. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 39(4), 1292-1308.

Newcombe, B., Olthuis, J. V., Hamilton, R., MacLean, M., & McAulay, T. (2024). Cognitive behavioural therapy plus exercise intervention vs. treatment as usual in treating symptoms of anxiety and depression in university students. Journal of College Student Mental Health, 38(2), 311-327.

Giberson, E., Olthuis, J. V., & Connell, E. M. (2023). Investigating the relation between anxiety sensitivity and substance use: What are the roles of social anxiety and outcome expectancies? Substance Use and Misuse, 58(13), 1634-1642.

Jemcov, A., Olthuis, J. V., Watt, M. C., & Stewart, S. H. (2023). Do anxiety sensitivity cognitive concerns and/or depression symptoms independently explain sleep disturbances in a high anxiety sensitive treatment-seeking sample? Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 97, 102731.

Nah, K., & Olthuis, J. V. (2023). Exercise and health anxiety in older women: Exploring the mediating role of anxiety sensitivity. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 31(6), 978-986.

Olthuis, J. V., Kaltenbach, E., Giberson, E., Saryeddine, T., Asmundson, G. J. G., Carleton, R. N., Cramm, H., Crombach, A., Devlin, J., Mack, J., Lingley-Pottie, P., Rao, S., Sullivan, M., Wozney, L., & McGrath, P. J. (2023). Paraprofessional delivery of online Narrative Exposure Therapy for firefighters. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 36(4), 772-784.

Olthuis, J. V., Thompson, K., Watt, M. C., & Stewart, S. H. (2023). Investigating pathways from anxiety sensitivity to impairment in a treatment-seeking sample. Journal of Affective Disorders, 324, 455-462.

Byers, E. S., Olthuis, J. V., O’Sullivan, L., & Connell, E. M. (2023). Anxiety sensitivity in the sexual context: Links between sexual anxiety sensitivity and sexual well-being. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 49, 550-562.

Connell, E. M., & Olthuis, J. V. (2023). Mental health and physical activity in SCI: Is anxiety sensitivity important? Rehabilitation Psychology, 68(2), 174-183.

Fitzpatrick, S., & Olthuis, J. V. (2023). Alcohol and athletics: A study of Canadian student-athlete risk. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 17, 53-71.

Bouchard, D. R., Olthuis, J. V., Bouffard, V., Shannon-McCallum, C., McDonald, T., & Senechal, M. (2021). Peer-led exercise program for older adults to improve functional abilities: A randomized trial. European Review of Aging and Physical Activity, 18.

Olthuis, J. V., Zamboanga, B. L., Perotte, J. K., & McAulay, T. (2021). An investigation of the relevance of athlete-specific psychosocial factors in high school student-athlete alcohol consumption. Substance Use & Misuse, 56, 264-274.

Olthuis, J. V., Watt, M. C., DeWolfe, C., Connell, E., Wright, E., & Sevigny, L. (2020). Learn to run for anxiety sensitivity: A short-term, community- based accessible physical exercise intervention. Women in Sport and Physical Activity, 28, 151-160.

Olthuis, J. V., McGrath, P. J., Cunningham, C. E., Boyle, M. H., Lingley-Pottie, P., Reid, G. J., Bagnell, A., Lipman, E. L., Turner, K., Corkum, P., Stewart, S. H., Berrigan, P., & Sdao-Jarvie, K. (2018). Distance-delivered parent training for childhood disruptive behavior (Strongest FamiliesTM): A randomized controlled trial and economic analysis. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 46, 1613-1629.

Huguet, A., Olthuis, J. V., McGrath, P. J., Tougas, M. E., Hayden, J., Stinson, J. N., & Chambers, C. T. (2017). Systematic review of childhood and adolescent risk and prognostic factors for functional abdominal pain. Acta Paediatrica, 106, 545-553.

Wozney, L., Olthuis, J. V., Lingley-Pottie, P., McGrath, P. J., Chaplin, W., Elgar, F., Cheney, B., Huguet, A., Turner, K., & Kennedy, J. (2017). Strongest FamiliesTM Managing Our Mood (MOM): A randomized controlled trial of a distance intervention for women with postpartum depression. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 20, 525-537.

Olthuis, J. V., Wozney, L., Asmundson, G. J. G., Cramm, H., Lingley-Pottie, P., & McGrath, P. J. (2016). Distance-delivered interventions for PTSD: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 44, 9-26.

Olthuis, J. V., Watt, M. C., Bailey, K., Hayden, J. A., & Stewart, S. H. (2016). Therapist-supported Internet cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety disorders in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 3. Art No.: CD011565.pub2.

Olthuis, J. V., Watt, M. C., Mackinnon, S. P., Potter, S., & Stewart, S. H. (2015). The nature of the association between anxiety sensitivity and pain-related anxiety: Evidence from correlational and intervention studies. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 44, 423-440.

Olthuis, J. V., Stewart, S. H., Mackinnon, S. P., & Watt, M. C. (2015). CBT for high anxiety sensitivity: Alcohol use outcomes. Addictive Behaviors, 46, 19-24.

Olthuis, J. V., Watt, M. C., Mackinnon, S. P., & Stewart, S. H. (2014). Telephone-delivered CBT for high anxiety sensitivity: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 82, 1005- 1022.

Teaching

  • Undergraduate courses:
    • PSYC 3353 - Abnormal Psychology
    • PSYC 3415 - Community Psychology
  • Graduate courses: 
    • PSYC 6405 - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Professional awards

  • 2023, Merit Award, University of New Brunswick
  • 2019, Nominee, Allan P. Stuart Award for Excellence in Teaching
  • 2018, Nominee, Arts Faculty Teaching Award
  • 2015: Dissertation Award, Traumatic Stress Section, Canadian Psychological Association
  • 2014: Ronald Melzack Award (oral communication), Health Psychology Section, Canadian Psychological Association
  • 2014: Postdoctoral Fellowship, Canadian Institutes for Health Research
  • 2013: Brian Dufton Memorial prize for Outstanding Graduate Achievement in Psychology, Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia
  • 2010-2013: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholar Award, Canadian Institute of Health Research