Dr Levi Wade is a Senior Lecturer in Educational Psychology at UNSW Sydney. His research examines how sport and physical activity experiences - particularly in schools and community settings - can be designed to support young people’s wellbeing, social connection, learning and development. He is particularly interested in understanding how these outcomes arise, for whom, and under what conditions, including the roles of peer relationships, self-efficacy, motivation, leadership, physical competence and self-regulation.
His recent work includes the implementation and evaluation of peer-led school programs combining student leadership with fundamental movement skill development; research examining the mental and social health outcomes associated with youth sport participation; and studies investigating links between physical activity, executive function and classroom outcomes. Across this work, he uses methods including randomised trials, multilevel modelling, mediation and moderation analysis, and systematic review and meta-analysis.
He welcomes opportunities to collaborate with researchers, schools, education systems, and sport and community organisations.
Wade L; Jaakkola T; Saakslahti A; Lubans DR, 2025, 'Harnessing the Power of Group Dynamics to Increase Physical Activity in the School Setting', in Group Dynamics in Exercise and Sport Psychology New Perspectives Third Edition, pp. 164 - 181, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781032649177-10
Journal articles | 2026
BAO R; WADE L; LEAHY AA; BEAUCHAMP MR; DIALLO TMO; SMITH JJ; HILLMAN CH; LUBANS DR, 2026, 'Mediating Effects of Fitness and Motor Competence on Children’s Executive Functions: Findings from the Learning to Lead Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial', Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 58, pp. 1085 - 1096, http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000003928
Journal articles | 2026
Cox ER; Beacroft S; Jansson AK; Wade L; Duncan MJ; Lubans DR; Robards SL; Leitner M; Gutberlet N; Plotnikoff RC, 2026, 'Effects of mHealth interventions to prescribe resistance training: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials', International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 23, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12966-025-01868-8
Journal articles | 2026
Lubans DR; Blakemore T; Smith JJ; Rosenbaum S; Teychenne M; Morgan PJ; Walker FR; Vella S; Young MD; Eather N; Wade L; Owen K; Rak L; Nickson R; Beauchamp MR, 2026, 'Physical activity as a vehicle for addressing complex social issues: A call for impactful research and knowledge mobilisation', Mental Health and Physical Activity, 31, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2026.100797
Journal articles | 2026
Regan CP; Morgan PJ; Hardacre SL; Wade L; Pagoto SL; Hunt K; Knox JM; Drew RJ; Young MD, 2026, 'Men's Representation in Behavioral Weight Loss Trials: A Systematic Review', Obesity Reviews, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/obr.70170
Journal articles | 2026
Wade L; Beauchamp MR; Nathan N; Smith JJ; Leahy AA; Bao R; Kennedy SG; Boyer J; Diallo TMO; Beacroft S; Lubans DR, 2026, 'Effects of a school-based leadership program on student leaders and their peers: The Learning to Lead cluster randomized controlled trial', Contemporary Educational Psychology, 84, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cedpsych.2026.102444
Journal articles | 2026
Wade L; Eime R; Pankowiak A; Vella S; Robinson K; Kennedy S; Parkes R; Eather N, 2026, 'The impact of sports participation on psychological health and social outcomes in children and adolescents: a systematic review and update to the “Mental Health through Sport” conceptual model', Systematic Reviews, 15, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13643-026-03104-1
Journal articles | 2025
Mavilidi MF; Vazou S; Lubans DR; Robinson K; Woods AJ; Benzing V; Anzeneder S; Owen KB; Álvarez-Bueno C; Wade L; Burley J; Thomas G; Okely AD; Pesce C, 2025, 'How Physical Activity Context Relates to Cognition Across the Lifespan: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis', Psychological Bulletin, 151, pp. 544 - 579, http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/bul0000478
Journal articles | 2025
Smith JJ; Beauchamp MR; Puterman E; Leahy AA; Valkenborghs SR; Wade L; Chen F; Lubans DR, 2025, 'Physical activity intensity and older adolescents’ stress: The ‘STress-Reactivity after Exercise in Senior Secondary EDucation’ (STRESSED) 3-arm randomised controlled trial', Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 76, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2024.102754
Journal articles | 2024
Bao R; Leahy AA; Lubans DR; Diallo TMO; Beauchamp MR; Smith JJ; Hillman CH; Wade L, 2024, 'Mediators of the association between physical activity and executive functions in primary school children', Journal of Sports Sciences, 42, pp. 2029 - 2038, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2024.2422203
Journal articles | 2024
Bao R; Wade L; Leahy AA; Owen KB; Hillman CH; Jaakkola T; Lubans DR, 2024, 'Associations Between Motor Competence and Executive Functions in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis', Sports Medicine, 54, pp. 2141 - 2156, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40279-024-02040-1
Journal articles | 2023
Eather N; Wade L; Pankowiak A; Eime R, 2023, 'The impact of sports participation on mental health and social outcomes in adults: a systematic review and the ‘Mental Health through Sport’ conceptual model', Systematic Reviews, 12, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13643-023-02264-8
Journal articles | 2023
Wade L; Beauchamp MR; Nathan N; Smith JJ; Leahy AA; Kennedy SG; Boyer J; Bao R; Diallo TMO; Vidal-Conti J; Lubans DR, 2023, 'Investigating the direct and indirect effects of a school-based leadership program for primary school students: Rationale and study protocol for the 'Learning to Lead' cluster randomised controlled trial', Plos One, 18, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279661
Journal articles | 2022
Wade L; Leahy AA; Babic MJ; Beauchamp MR; Smith JJ; Kennedy SG; Boyer J; Nathan N; Robinson K; Lubans DR, 2022, 'A systematic review and meta-analysis of the benefits of school-based, peer-led interventions for leaders', Scientific Reports, 12, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-25662-9
Journal articles | 2021
Mavilidi MF; Mason C; Leahy AA; Kennedy SG; Eather N; Hillman CH; Morgan PJ; Lonsdale C; Wade L; Riley N; Heemskerk C; Lubans DR, 2021, 'Effect of a Time-Efficient Physical Activity Intervention on Senior School Students’ On-Task Behaviour and Subjective Vitality: the ‘Burn 2 Learn’ Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial', Educational Psychology Review, 33, pp. 299 - 323, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10648-020-09537-x
Journal articles | 2020
Wade L; Leahy A; Lubans DR; Smith JJ; Duncan MJ, 2020, 'A systematic review of cognitive assessment in physical activity research involving children and adolescents', Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 23, pp. 740 - 745, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2019.12.020
Journal articles | 2020
Wade L; Lubans DR; Smith JJ; Duncan MJ, 2020, 'The impact of exercise environments on adolescents’ cognitive and psychological outcomes: A randomised controlled trial', Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 49, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2020.101707
Journal articles | 2018
Murawski B; Wade L; Plotnikoff RC; Lubans DR; Duncan MJ, 2018, 'A systematic review and meta-analysis of cognitive and behavioral interventions to improve sleep health in adults without sleep disorders', Sleep Medicine Reviews, 40, pp. 160 - 169, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2017.12.003
Journal articles | 2018
Wade L; Smith JJ; Duncan MJ; Lubans DR, 2018, 'Mediators of aggression in a school-based physical activity intervention for low-income adolescent boys', Mental Health and Physical Activity, 14, pp. 39 - 46, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2017.12.006
