PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH IN COMMUNITIES
Associate Professor Joanna Barlas is the lead for research projects in this stream. The Mental Health in Communities stream has a focus on understanding and supporting the mental health of people, including marginalized groups, in the community.
CURRENT PROJECTS
Post-traumatic growth following adverse childhood experiences: A meta-synthesis of qualitative research
Research typically focuses on understanding the needs of children and young people who have been exposed to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) (Lester et al., 2020) but there is a growing interest in understanding the potential for positive outcomes. This project seeks to synthesise the findings on post-traumatic growth following ACEs in the qualitative literature.
Experiences and perceptions of self-compassion amongst migrant domestic workers in Singapore
Research with migrant domestic workers (MDWs) shows that they draw on various coping resources in the face of numerous stressors and poor mental health outcomes (Zainal & Barlas, 2023). This project will explore their understanding and use of self-compassion specifically to understand how it might be incorporated into well-being programs for MDWs.
The relationship between early adaptive schemas, social goals and connectedness in adolescents
Research on early adaptive schemas and their unique contribution to mental health is in its infancy (Louis et al., 2018). This project seeks to understand the role early adaptive schemas play in adolescent connectedness as supportive peer relationships are crucial to adolescent well-being.