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Faculty

Michael C. Robertson, PhD, MPH
Family and Preventive Medicine

Michael C. Robertson, PhD, MPH

Assistant Professor

Health Promotion Research Center
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
655 Research Parkway, Suite 400
Oklahoma City, OK  73104

(405) 271-6872

michael-robertson@ouhsc.edu

Michael C. Robertson, PhD, MPH, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center. He completed his PhD in Behavioral Science at the UTHealth School of Public Health in Houston, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

Dr. Robertson’s research is focused on advancing autonomy-supportive, context-sensitive approaches to physical activity promotion for healthy aging and cancer prevention & control. Dr. Robertson has been working closely with older adults and people living with and beyond cancer throughout the United States to develop psychotherapy-informed, intrinsically motivating techniques to target autonomous motivations for physical activity (i.e., increasing enjoyment, interest, identity, and values associated with physical activity). His research investigates the biopsychosocial processes involved in sustained behavior change and how emerging technologies can enhance health and human agency.

Dr. Robertson has expertise in health-behavior change theories and techniques, program planning, research design, user-centered qualitative research methods, and advanced quantitative analyses. He has authored over 30 peer-reviewed publications and has served as Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator on grants from the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute on Aging.

Academic Section(s):

Research

Education:

Degree-Granting Institutions

  • PhD, Behavioral Science (minor in Biostatistics), UTHealth School of Public Health, Houston, TX, 2020
  • MPH, Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, UTHealth School of Public Health, Houston, TX, 2016
  • BA, Psychology, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX, 2011

Postgraduate Training

Postdoctoral Fellowship, Department of Nutrition, Metabolism, and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 2021-2023

Graduate Training

  • NCI F31 NRSA Predoctoral Fellow (F31CA236433) Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, UTHealth School of Public Health, Houston, TX, 2019-2021
  • Trainee, Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2015-2020
  • NCI R25E Fellow (R25CA056452) Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2015

Select Publications:

  1. Robertson MC, Downer BG, Schulz PE, Samper-Ternent R, Lyons EJ, Milani SA. Social and leisure activities predict transitions in cognitive functioning in older Mexican adults: A latent transition analysis of the Mexican Health and Aging Study. Journal of Gerontology: Series B Psychological Sciences: gbad082. PMID: 37227927
  2. Olson JL, Robertson MC, Chen M, Conroy DE, Schmitz KH Mama SK. Healthier energy balance behaviors most important for health-related quality of life in rural cancer survivors in central Pennsylvania. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, Advance online publication, 2023. PMID: 37210076.
  3. Swartz MC, Robertson MC, Christopherson U, Wells SJ, Lewis ZH, Bai J, Swartz MD, Silva HC, Martinez E, Lyons EJ. Assessing the suitability of a virtual ‘Pink Warrior’ for older breast cancer survivors during COVID-19: A pilot study. Life, 13(2) 574, 2023. PMCID: PMC9965453.
  4. Liao Y, Robertson MC, O’Connor SG, Naya CH, Balachandran DD, & Dunton GF. Exploring the effects of perceived stress on the within-person relationships between daily activity levels and sleep in women: An ecological momentary assessment study. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 30(4):578-583, 2022. PMID: 36161390.
  5. Robertson MC, Swartz MC, Christopherson U, Bentley JR, Basen-Engquist KM, Thompson D, Volpi E, & Lyons EJ. A photography-based, social media walking intervention targeting autonomous motivations for physical activity: semi-structured interviews with older women. JMIR Serious Games, 10(2):e35511, 2022. PMCID: PMC9052025.
  6. Robertson MC, Cox-Martin E, Shegog R, Markham CM, Fujimoto K, Durand CP, Brewster A, Lyons EJ, Liao Y, Flores SA, & Basen-Engquist KM. The acceptability of an electronically delivered acceptance- and mindfulness-based physical activity intervention for survivors of breast cancer: One-group pretest-posttest design. JMIR Cancer, 8(2):e31815, 2022. PMCID: PMC9107061.
  7. Robertson MC, Lee CY, Wu I, Liao Y, Raber MP, Parker N, Le TA, Gatus L, & Basen-Engquist KM. Changes in physical activity associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in individuals with overweight and obesity: an interrupted time series analysis with historical controls. J Behav Med, 1-11, 2021. PMCID: PMC8546384
  8. Robertson, MC, Baranowski, T, Thompson, D, Basen-Engquist, KM, Swartz, MC, & Lyons, EJ. Using the Behaviour Change Wheel program planning model to design games for health: development study. JMIR Serious Games, 9(4), e29964, 2021. PMCID: PMC8686484.
  9. Robertson MC, Cox-Martin E, Liao Y, Flores SA, Shegog R, Markham CM, Fujimoto K, Durand CP, Brewster A, Lyons EJ, & Basen-Engquist KM. Acceptance- and mindfulness-based techniques for physical activity promotion in breast cancer survivors: a qualitative study. Support Care Cancer, 30(1):465-473, 2021. PMCID: PMC8314027.
  10. Robertson MC, Raber MP, Liao Y, Wu I, Parker N, Gatus L, Le TA, Durand CP, & Basen-Engquist KM. Patterns of self-monitoring technology use and weight loss in people with overweight or obesity. Transl Behav Med, 11(8):1537-1547, 2021. PMCID: PMC8604273.
  11. Liao Y*, Robertson MC*, Winne A, Wu IHC, Le TA, & Basen-Engquist KM. Investigating the within-person relationships between activity levels and sleep duration using Fitbit data. Transl Behav Med, 11(2):619-624, 2021. PMCID: PMC7963288. (*contributed equally)
  12. Robertson MC, Lyons EJ, Liao Y, Baum ML, & Basen-Engquist KM. Gamified text messaging contingent on device-measured steps: randomized feasibility study of a physical activity intervention for cancer survivors. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth; 8(11):e18364, 2020. PMCID: PMC7723748.
  13. Knell G, Robertson MC, Dooley EE, Burford K, Mendez KS. Health behaviors during COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent “stay-at-home” orders. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 17(17), 6268, 2020. PMCID: PMC7504386.
  14. Robertson MC, Green CE, Liao Y, Durand C, & Basen-Engquist KM. Self-efficacy and physical activity in overweight and obese adults participating in a worksite weight loss intervention: multi-state modeling of wearable device data. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 29(4):769-776, 2020. PMCID: PMC7125025.
  15. Liao Y, Song J, Robertson MC, Cox-Martin E, & Basen-Engquist KM. An ecological momentary assessment study investigating self-efficacy and outcome expectancy as mediators of acute affective and physiological response and physical activity among endometrial cancer survivors. Ann Behav Med, 54(5):320-334], 2019. PMCID: PMC7168577.
  16. Robertson MC, Lyons EJ, Song, J, Cox-Martin M, Li Y, Green CE, Pinto B, Carmack C, Harrison C, Baum G, & Basen-Engquist KM. Change in physical activity and quality of life in endometrial cancer survivors receiving a physical activity intervention. Health Qual Life Outcomes, 17(1):91, 2019. PMCID: PMC6537149.
  17. Robertson MC, Liao Y, Song J, Lyons EJ, & Basen-Engquist KM. Motivation for physical activity and the moderating effect of cancer diagnosis: A nationally representative cross-sectional study. Prev Med, 115:8-11, 2018. PMCID: PMC8170853.
  18. Schembre SM*, Liao Y*, Robertson MC, Dunton GF, Kerr J, Haffey M, Burnett T, Basen-Engquist KM, & Hicklen R. Just-in-Time Feedback in Diet and Physical Activity Interventions: Systematic Review and Practical Design Framework. J Med Internet Res; 20(3):e106, 2018. PMCID: PMC5887039. (*contributed equally)
  19. Robertson MC, Song J, Taylor WC, Durand CP, & Basen-Engquist KM. Urban-rural differences in aerobic physical activity, muscle strengthening exercise, and screen-time sedentary behavior. J Rural Health, 34(4):401-410, 2018. PMCID: PMC8170852.
  20. Tsai E, Robertson MC, Lyons EJ, Swartz MC, & Basen-Engquist KM. Physical activity and exercise self-regulation in cancer survivors: A qualitative study. Psychooncology, 27(2):563-568, 2017. PMCID: PMC5929476.
  21. Robertson MC, Tsai E, Lyons EJ, Srinivasan S, Swartz MC, Baum ML, & Basen-Engquist KM. Mobile health physical activity intervention preferences in cancer survivors: a qualitative study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth; 5(1):e3, 2017. PMCID: PMC5296620.


Link to full published works: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/michael.robertson.3/bibliography/public/