Samantha Hajna, PhD

Assistant Professor, Health Sciences

Samantha Hanja

905 688 5550 x4038
shajna@brocku.ca

Google Scholar

Dr. Hajna’s research is focused on understanding how the environments in which people live shape their health behaviours and impact their health – with the overall aim of generating epidemiological evidence that can be used to inform the design and delivery of interventions that promote public health. With expertise in the application of GIS to health research and interests in real-time monitoring of health behaviours (using wearables), physical activity, and the prevention of chronic disease risk, Samantha’s work spans a range of disciplines, including health geography and physical activity, environmental, and clinical epidemiology.

Research Interests

  • Greenspaces and child mental health
  • Greenspaces and mortality risk
  • Neighbourhood designs, physical activity, and cardiometabolic disease risk
  • Application of real-time monitoring (i.e. wearables) to health research

Teaching

Public Health Capstone

Geospatial Analytics for Public Health

Publications

Hajna S, Nafilyan, V, Cummins, S. (2023) Associations between residential greenspace exposure and mortality: Longitudinal study of 4,645,581 adults in London, UK. Lancet Planetary Health.7:459-468.

Hajna S & Cummins S. (2023) Effects of the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions on park crime in London, England: An interrupted time series analysis. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 84: 127934.

Yerrakalva D, Hajna S, Suhrcke M, Wijndaele K, Westgate K, Khaw KT, Wareham N, Brage S & Griffin S. (2023) Associations between change in physical activity and sedentary time and health-related quality of life in older English adults: the EPIC-Norfolk cohort study. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes. 21(60).

Tobin M, Hajna S, Orychock K, Ross N, DeVries M, Villeneuve P J, Frank L D, McCormack G, Wasfi R, Steinmetz-Wood M, Gilliland J, Booth GL, Winters M, Kestens Y, Manaugh K, Rainham D, Gauvin L, Widener M J, Muhajarine N, Luan H, Fuller D. (2022) Active Living Environments: Re-Framing and Defining the Concept of Walkability. BMC Public Health. 22: 450.

Hajna S, Sharp SJ, Cooper A, Williams KM, van Sluijs EMF, Brage S, Sutton S & Griffin SJ. (2021) Effectiveness of minimal contact interventions: An RCT. Am J Prev Med. 60(3): e111-e121.

Hajna S, Brage S, Dalton A, Griffin SJ, Jones AP, Khaw KT, Luben R, Wareham N & Panter J. (2021) Cross-sectional and prospective associations between objectively-assessed and perceived active-living environments and accelerometer-assessed physical activity in the EPIC-Norfolk cohort. Health & Place. 67: 102490.

Yerrakalva D, Hajna S, Wijndaele K, Westgate K, Khaw KT, Wareham N, Griffin SJ & Brage S. (2021) Correlates of change in accelerometer-assessed total sedentary time and prolonged sedentary bouts among older English adults: Results from five-year follow-up in the EPIC-Norfolk cohort. Aging. 13(1):134-149.

Hajna S, White T, Panter J, Brage S, Wijndaele K, Woodcock J, Ogilvie D, Imamura F & Griffin SJ. (2019) Driving and accelerometer-assessed physical activity in younger, middle-aged, and older adults: Results from 90,810 UK Biobank participants. Int J Epidemiol. 48(4), 1175-1186.

Yerrakalva D, Yerrakalva D, Hajna S & Griffin SJ. (2019) Effects of mobile app interventions on sedentary time, physical activity and fitness: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Med Internet Res. 21(11): e14343.

Yerrakalva D, Wijndaele K, Hajna S, Westgate K, Khaw KT, Wareham NJ, Griffin SJ; Brage S. (2019) Do Older English Adults Exhibit Day-to-day Compensation in Sedentary Time and in Prolonged Sedentary Bouts? An EPIC-Norfolk Cohort Analysis. PLoS One. Oct 25;14(10):e0224225.

Hajna S, Brage S, vanSluijs EMF, Westgate K, Luben R, Jones AP, Khaw KT, Wareham NJ & Griffin SJ. (2018) Descriptive epidemiology of changes in objectively measured sedentary behaviour and physical activity in older adults: six-year follow-up of the EPIC-Norfolk cohort. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 15(1):122.

Hajna S, Dasgupta K & Ross N. (2018) Laboratory-assessed markers of cardiometabolic health and associations with street connectivity, land use mix, and population density. Int J Environ Res Pub Health. 15(10), 2079.

Hajna S, Ross N & Dasgupta K. (2018) Steps, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and cardiometabolic profiles. Prev Med. 107:69-74.

Hajna S, Dasgupta K, Halparin M & Ross N. (2013) Neighborhood walkability: Field validation of Geographic Information System Measures. Am J Prev Med. 44(6):e51-52.

Dasgupta K, Hajna S, Joseph L, Da Costa D, Christopoulos S & Gougeon R. (2012) Effects of meal preparation training on body weight, glycemia, and blood pressure: Results of a phase 2 trial in type 2 diabetes. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 9(1):125.

Hajna S, Liu J, LeBlanc PJ, Faught BE, Merchant AT, Cairney J & Hay J. (2012) Association between body composition and conformity to the recommendations of Canada’s Food Guide and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet in peri-adolescence. Pub Health Nutr

Graduate Student Opportunities

Dr. Hajna is currently accepting applications from prospective master’s students.