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International Network for Well-Being

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Our research comprises the whole field of the Science of Well-Being within different populations to promote health and the study of biopsychosocial resilience in the face of the challenges of the 21st century.

The International Network for Well-Being is a network of junior and senior researchers and students who are interested in the Science of Well-Being. Our research comprises the whole field of the Science of Well-Being within different populations, such as, healthcare professionals, teachers, social workers, young adults, children, elderly, refugees, long-term unemployed, and etc., in order to promote health, health equality, and the study of biopsychosocial resilience in the face of the challenges of the 21st century.

We use the biopsychosocial model of health, comprising physical, psychological, social well-being, as the base of our research. Our methods are person-centered and therefore focusing on the non-linear characteristics of complex adaptive systems, such as, human personality and other determinants of health. Thus, we work in multi-Disciplinary Research and Innovation Teams. At this moment we have two active labs within the network:

  • Promotion of Health and Innovation (PHI) Lab.
  • Lab for Biopsychosocial Personality Research (BPS-PR Lab).

Publications

Cover of publication ''
Danilo Garcia, Maryam Kazemitabar, Mojtaba Habibi Asgarabad (2023)
Corrigendum: The 18-item Swedish version of Ryff's psychological wellbeing scale: psychometric properties based on classical test theory and item response theory

Frontiers in Psychology , Vol.14 , s.1-2 Continue to DOI

Cover of publication ''
Danilo Garcia, Elina Björk, Maryam Kazemitabar (2022)
The A(ffect) B(ehavior) C(ognition) D(ecision) of parasocial relationships: A pilot study on the psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Measure of Parasocial Relationships (MMPR)

Heliyon , Vol.8 Continue to DOI

Cover of publication ''
Marko Mihailovic, Danilo Garcia, Clara Amato, Erik Lindskar, Patricia Rosenberg, Elina Bjork, Nigel Lester, Kevin M. Cloninger, Robert Cloninger (2022)
The personality of newly graduated and employed nurses: Temperament and character profiles of Swedish nurses

International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances , Vol.4 Continue to DOI

Contact

danga84

Danilo Garcia

Senior Associate Professor

Researchers

C Robert Cloninger

MD, PhD

 

C Robert Cloninger.
C. Robert Cloninger is a renowned psychiatrist and geneticist known for his significant contributions to the study of personality genetics, particularly in relation to schizophrenia.

One of Dr. Cloninger's major achievements is his development of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), a psychometric tool that assesses personality traits. This inventory has been influential in understanding how genetic factors contribute to individual differences in personality. Through his work with the TCI, Cloninger proposed a biopsychosocial model of personality that integrates genetic, neurobiological, and developmental factors.

In the realm of schizophrenia research, Dr. Cloninger has made notable contributions by investigating the genetic basis of this complex psychiatric disorder. His studies have elucidated the role of genetic predispositions in the development and manifestation of schizophrenia, underscoring the importance of both genetic and environmental factors in its etiology.

More recently, Cloninger's work has focused on the genetics of personality traits, well-being, and resilience. His research has employed advanced genetic methodologies, including genome-wide association studies (GWAS), unsupervised machine learning techniques, etc. Dr. Cloninger's most recent findings underscore the polygenic nature of personality, suggesting that multiple genes of small effect collectively contribute to the heritability of different personality traits. This research has advanced our understanding of the biological basis of personality and its implications for mental health and well-being.

Sverker Sikström

Phd

 

Sverker Sikström.

Dr. Sikström is the professor in Cognitive Psychology at Lund university. His research interests include measuring psychological constructs with open-ended questions analysed by AI methods and comparing this with conventional rating scales. He has applied these methods in different areas in psychology with a focus on mental health.

Claudia Chiarolanza

PhD

Claudia Chiarolanza.

Dr. Chiarolanza is an Assistant Professor in Dynamic Psychology, with a focus on Couple and Family Psychology at Sapienza - University of Rome. She is the Responsible of the Family Mediation Laboratory and promotes school interventions in the schools about conflict management and negotiation. Her research interests are marital conflict, dyadic coping, marital satisfaction and maintenance of close relationships over the time. She has over 100 publications including scientific articles, book chapters, conference presentations, and books.


Researchers

Elisabetta Sagone

PhD

Elisabetta Saagone.
Dr. Sagone is Associate Professor in Developmental and Educational Psychology at University of Catania, Italy. She is an Affiliate Member of SIPP-Italian Society of Positive Psychology and of ONSBI - National Observatory Health and Welfare of Teachers. Her interests of research are focused on psychological well-being, coping strategies in family, self-efficacy in life skills, and resilience in adolescence. She has over 130 scientific publications including articles, conference proceedings, and books.

Nobuhiko Kijima

PhD

Nobuhiko Kijima

Dr. Kijima is an Associate Professor at Keio University in Japan. He is interested in Cloninger's work on personality theory and spent a year studying abroad in Sweden to collaborate with Dr. Garcia. For his research on wellbeing, he has been working on spiritual work in recent years. As for empirical research, he is one of the members of the Keio Twin Study (Keio Twin Study) and is involved in genes related to personality, cognitive function, etc.


Um i Lela

PhD

Um I Lela.

Dr. Lela is an Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Psychology at the School of Art & Social Sciences at GIFT University, Pakistan. She holds a position of Founding Head of the Humanities & Social Sciences Department, as well as serving as the Director of the Wellness Center, Career Development Center, and Rehabilitation Center at GIFT University. Dr. Lela's research interests include Psychometrics, Well-being, Personality, Health Psychology, Mental Health, Parenting, Educational Psychology, and Organizational Psychology. She has published numerous articles and authored book chapters in the aforementioned areas.


Researchers

Ricardo Sanmartín

PhD

Ricardo Sanmartín.

Dr. Sanmartín is an Associate Professor at the University of Alicante in the Developmental Psychology and Didactics Department. He has been collaborating with the International Network for Well-Being since 2020. Some of the research he has conducted comprises affect, perfectionism, social anxiety, school attendance problems, among other psychoeducational variables, and he has studied their influence among children and adolescents. He has more than 60 scientific articles indexed in JCR, more than 10 chapters, more than 100 contributions to scientific congresses and has collaborated in more than 20 projects.


JohnBosco Chika Chukwuorji

PhD

 

JohnBosco Chika Chukwuorji.

 

JohnBosco Chika Chukwuorji is a postdoc research associate at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, USA; and was a visiting Fulbright scholar at Cleveland State University Cleveland, Ohio USA (2019-2020). He also holds a senior lecturer position in psychology and a senior research fellow at the Center for Translation and Implementation Research (CTAIR), University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nigeria. He was a recipient of the Developing Country Fellowship Award (2022) of the ISSBD for his research on school bullying. In addition to being guest editor of a special issue on Aging in sub-Saharan Africa for Innovation in Aging, and Editor of the Nigerian Journal of Psychological Research, he hold editorial positions in five other journals. As a member of the academic council of Child & Family Blog he helps to make research on how family influences child development more widely understandble to non-professional readers. He has authored (or co-authored) over 100 ressearch publications focusing on how individual-level and social-level cultural processes and pathways influence mental well-being across the life course.

Niloufar Jalali-Moghadam

PhD

Niloufar Jalali-Moghadam.

Dr. Jalali-Moghadam is a specialist in clinical psychology and works at the district psychiatric center Østfold Hospital, in Norway. She also has independent private practice and conducts research. She has a background as a researcher, psychotherapist, counsellor and group therapist. Her research field includes multilingualism, language difficulties and pedagogical aspects of education for children with minority backgrounds. Dr. Jalali-Moghadam contributes to several national and international research, and treatment development projects on multilingualism and multiculturalism. She has been connected to the network since 2018.

Researchers

Kevin M. Cloninger

PhD

Kevin. M Cloninger.

Dr. Kevin M. Cloninger holds a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Denver. He has conducted quantitative and qualitative research in different fields of psychology, psychiatry, and pedagogy including Personality Theory, Identity and Moral Development, Curriculum Theory, Development and Evaluation, Coaching Theory, Moral Education, Teacher beliefs, and Gifted Education. He is the Executive Director of Anthropedia, a non-profit foundation that promotes well-being through health and education initiatives. Anthropedia is led by an institute of experts from the fields of medicine, psychology, art, education, and public health. Based on the findings of the Institute, Dr. Cloninger has created personal development resources and well-being education programs, both digital and face-to-face, using innovative multimedia resources (e.g., the psycho-educative interactive video series “know Yourself”) for individuals, professionals, and organizations seeking an effective approach to achieving and sustaining physical, mental, and social health.

Maryam Kazemitabar

PhD

Maryam Kazemitabar.

Dr. Kazemitabar is a Postdoctoral Associate at Yale University's Department of Internal Medicine, leveraging her expertise in Psychometrics, acquired from the University of Tehran in 2020. With a broad spectrum of research interests spanning pain management, opioid therapy, substance abuse, mental health, and personality, she has made significant contributions to the academic landscape through numerous publications in esteemed scholarly journals. Dr. Kazemitabar research aims to understand the complexities surrounding prescription opioid use and overdose risk among participants enrolled in Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs. By employing innovative methodologies, Maryam is dedicated to advancing knowledge in the field and forging collaborative partnerships to address pressing issues related to opioid misuse and overdose prevention.

Thiago Daniele

PhD

Thiago Daniele,

Dr. Daniele is an Assistant Professor in the Postgraduate Program in Public Health (PPGSC) at University of Fortaleza (UNIFOR). He is the leader of the Study and Research Group of Aging, Health and Society (GEPESS). Some of the research he has conducted comprises a comprehensive understanding of promoting health behaviors, investigating the complexities of aging processes, cognitive mechanisms, racism, physical activity and societal and cultural influences on health. He conducts both qualitative and quantitative studies. Dr. Daniele is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Promotion of Health and Innovation (PHI) Lab within the International Network for Well-being at Linköping University.

Researchers

Matheus van Tol

MA

Matheus van Tol

Matheus works a manager at BearingPoint and has over 15 years of experience public in health and health promotion. Matheus has been actively involved in public health initiatives in universities, private and public sectors in Brazil, United States, India, and Europe. Matheus has worked as a consultant for multinational organizations such as the World Health Organization, Doctors Without Borders and Save the children. In addition, Matheus is currently pursuing a doctoral degree at the Karolinska Institute researching the effects of physical activity in vulnerable populations’ physical and psychological health and well-being.


Paulo A. S. Moreira

PhD

Paulo A S Moreira.
Dr. Moreira is a clinical psychologist and teaches at the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Portugal. He develops research at The Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), Portugal. Dr. Moreira’s main research interests include the processes underlying positive development, with an emphasis on multidisciplinary informed integrative theoretical frameworks, such as the psychobiological model of personality. His ongoing research includes studies that aim to better understand the interactions between the individual (e.g. personality, subjective well-being) and societal challenges (e.g. engagement with sustainable development).

Daniela Morato Parada

Educator and psychologist

Daniela Morato Parada.
Daniela has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the Private University of Santa Cruz de la Sierra in 2006, supplemented with a solid background in clinical psychology and health psychology. Currently, she serves as a professor in the master’s program in Cognitive Psychotherapy at the Gabriel René Moreno University, where she develops and offers specialized courses in cognitive therapy. Additionally, she has worked as a university lecturer at the Private University of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Throughout her career, Daniela has gained extensive experience as a therapist working with patients in various clinical settings. Her commitment extends beyond the university classrooms and the consulting room; she has played a significant role as a coordinator in an NGO, working with vulnerable populations, especially people migrating within the country and from rural areas. In this role, she has provided psychological and social support, helping these individuals adapt to new circumstances and cope with the challenges associated with migration. Daniela has training and certifications in neurobehavioral assessment, emotional regulation, brief therapy for depression, and clinical strategies for borderline personality disorder.

Researchers

Thomas Westberg

PhD student

Thomas Westerberg
Thomas is currently pursuing a PhD at the Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg. In addition to his doctoral studies, he is actively engaged as a member in various Swedish Regional Process Teams (RPT) and National Working Groups, addressing ADHD and Autism as well as RPT of Substance Abuse and Dependency. Thomas is also valued member of the research group specializing in addiction psychology and alcohol research (Addiction Psychology: Experimental and Clinical Research - APEC), Center for Education and Research on Addiction (CERA), and Swedish Society for Alcohol and Drug Research (SAD). His areas of research specialization lie within the realm of substance use, harmful behaviors, and addiction, aiming to enhance understanding of the interplay between psychological mechanisms, mental health, and the progression of gambling addiction, as well as treatment outcomes.

Mohammad Taghi Kheirkhah

PhD

Mohammad Taghi Kheirkhaj.
Dr. Kheirkhah is a postdoctoral researcher at the Promotion of Health and Innovation (PHI) Lab within the International Network for Well-being at Linköping University. He earned his PhD in Cognitive Psychology from Shahid Beheshti University in 2024. His research covers diverse areas, including addictive behaviors, pain, cognitive aging, and neuropsychological interventions. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, he explores innovative approaches for monitoring and treating neuropsychological issues. He collaborates actively with researchers from various disciplines, and his work contributes to promoting health and well-being

Erica Schütz

PhD

Erica Schütz.
Dr. Schütz is assistant professor in psychology with a specialization in health psychology at Linnaeus University in Kalmar. Her research interest is personality, health and well-being from a biopsychosocial perspective.

Researchers

Maede S. Etesami

PhD student

Maede S Etesami.
Maede is a clinical psychologist pursuing a PhD in neuropsychology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and as a researcher at The Vascular Diseases Research Group (VaDi). Her research focuses on cognitive and psychiatric recovery after stroke and its predictors. She has extensive experience in cognitive rehabilitation for individuals with HIV. Maede is a member of the Promotion of Health and Innovation (PHI) at Linköping University and the Health Promotion Research Center at the Iran University of Medical Sciences. She also collaborates with the Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS (IRCHA).

Maryam Moghadasin

PhD

Maryam Moghadasin.
Dr. Moghadasin is an Associate Professor in Psychometric at the Kharazmi University. She a faculty member of at the Department of Clinical Psychology. Dr. Moghadasin does research in abnormal psychology, personality psychology and assessment, and behavior and cognitive assessment in children and adolescents. She is the head of Kharazmi University’s Counseling Center and the director of the Cognitive Laboratory of the Faculty of Psychology. Some of the research she has conducted comprises assessment of genetics and epigenetics of personality, well-being, sexual well-being in females, and effects of social media on psychological well-being. She has over 120 publications including scientific articles and books.

André Coelho Haviaras

Psychiatrist

Andre Coelho Haviaras.
André is a psychiatrist, with a specialization in general psychiatry from the Institute of Psychiatry of Santa Catarina (Brazil) and in child and adolescent psychiatry from the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA). He has a postgraduate degree in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Currently, he works in private medical practice and as a researcher at the International Network for Well-being. André has a special interest in studying the mental health of children and adolescents. He has two years of work experience as a psychiatrist at the Socio-Educational Foundation of Rio Grande do Sul, attending to juvenile offenders, as well as two years in the psychiatry department at the Joana de Gusmão Children's Hospital and one year and four months at the Center for Psychosocial Attention for Children and Adolescents in the municipality of São José (Santa Catarina/Brazil).

Researchers

Nafiseh Kananifar

PhD

Nafiseh Kananifar.
Dr. Kananifar is a Post Doctoral Researcher at the Lab for Biopsychosocial Personality Research (BPS-PR) at the University of Stavanger, Norway. She obtained her master’s degree in counselling and PhD degree in personality & mental health psychology respectively from University of Malaya, Malaysia. She is also Certified Licensed Counsellor and a member in the Board of Counsellors in Malaysia since 2020. She became a member in the International Network for Well-Being in May 2024.

Dr. Kananifar has extensive research, academic and counselling experience. She has also worked as postdoc research associate and a tutor for undergraduate students in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology, University of Malaya, Malaysia and as researcher in a collaboration project with University of Darwin, Australia. During her work, Dr. Kananifar has passed over 1500hrs of training in various psychotherapy methods and theories. Her research area includes personality, well-being and mental health. More recently, her research involves personality and work performance. She has many published articles in academic journals and international conferences. Her skills have been recognized over the years through various personal and team awards.

Han Chae

MD, PhD

Han Chae.
Dr. Han Chae is a Professor at Pusan National University in Korea. His research spans diverse fields, including well-being, personality (temperament and character), traditional East Asian medicine, medical education, and multidisciplinary studies that integrate these areas for practical application. Dr. Chae explores the biopsychosocial perspective of Eum-Yang (Yin-Yang), a fundamental concept in Eastern philosophy and science. A significant focus of his research is the Sasang typology, a personalized form of traditional Korean medicine that restructures traditional East Asian medicine through a biopsychosocial lens of Confucianism, emphasizing character development.

Soo Jin Lee

PhD

Soo Jin Lee.
Dr. Soo Jin Lee is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Kyungsung University and a licensed clinical psychologist and cognitive behavioral therapist in South Korea. She runs the Adaptation, Character development, and Emotion regulation (ACE) Laboratory. Her research interests include developmental psychopathology, parenting coaching, and Sasang personality (a Korean traditional personality theory). She has over 100 publications, including scientific articles, book chapters, conference presentations, and books. She recently opened the Calmtree Counseling Center to provide psychological evaluations, psychotherapies, and psychoeducation.

Researchers

Ismail Secer

PhD

Ismail Secer.
Dr. Seçer is a professor at the Department of Psychological Counseling and Guidance at Atatürk University. Dr. Seçer works on school attendance problems, emotional and behavioral problems, autism spectrum disorder, parent and child therapies, and prevention approaches. Dr. Seçer has more than 20 scientific articles indexed in JCR, more than 30 books and book chapters, and more than 50 contributions to scientific congresses. He has also taken part in numerous projects carried out at national and international levels.

In 2022, he worked as a postdoc researcher at the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Würzburg, Germany, to conduct advanced research on Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). In this clinic, he worked with Med. Dr. Wolfgang Briegel, a global PCIT therapist and trainer. Dr. Seçer and Dr. Briegel developed therapy applications and carried out project processes for traumatized children affected by the great earthquake in Turkey in 2023, which affected approximately 20 million people and caused the death of 50 thousand people. Dr. Seçer currently conducts therapy processes for children with autism and their parents and works to disseminate PCIT in Turkey. PCIT has an important function in increasing the psychological well-being of children and parents.

Dr. Seçer has established national and international collaborations and contributes to the advancement of scientific knowledge with the International Network for Well-Being.

Milgen Sánchez-Villegas

MA

Milgen Sanchez-Villegas.
Milgen is a psychologist, lecturer, and researcher at the Universidad Simón Bolivar in Barranquilla, Colombia. He is also a cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist and other evidence-based therapies. He is a researcher and peer evaluator recognized by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Colombia.His research interest focuses on the study of mental health associated with social phenomena such as political violence and poverty, health psychology, psychological well-being, suicide, violence in relationships and recently parasocial relationships. He works close to research groups and students interested in becoming researchers in order to contribute to the development of science and innovation in Colombia.

Marko Mihailovic

MA

Marko Mihailovic.
Marko Mihailovic is a licensed clinical counselor with over 15 years of clinical experience. He conducts clinical research and runs his own private practice Chicago Center for Wellbeing in Chicago, IL USA. Marko’s research interests are in the fields of health psychology, organizational psychology, clinical psychology, and behavioral interventions such as psychotherapy and coaching. He has a particular interest for innovation and intervention aimed to increase health and wellbeing in individuals diagnosed with a mental illness as well as healthy individuals.

As a trained psychotherapist, wellbeing coach, nurse and passionate researcher, Marko is especially interested in finding answers of how to improve overall healthcare and well-being by helping those who provide care (e.g. medical professionals, behavioral providers, etc.) to others. This includes helping individuals to improve their health, resilience, overall functioning, and to reduce burnout in their personal and professional lives. Marko has been an active member of the network since 2018.

Researchers

Erik Monasterio

MD

Erik Monasterio.
Dr. Monasterio is an specialist in Forensic Psychiatry with 25 years’ experience in the public health system from 1992 to 2021. He was the Clinical Director and Director of Area Mental Health Services for the Canterbury District Health Board’s Regional Forensic Service between 2014 and 2021. Dr. Monasterio is a Senior Clinical Lecturer with the Christchurch School of Medicine, Otago, New Zealand.

His main research interests include legal and ethical implications of the incarceration of mentally disordered people, assessment and impact of personality factors and stress responses in extreme athletes and criminal offenders, performance under extreme stress, appropriate and inappropriate use of psychiatric medications, transcultural psychiatry and the effects of trade agreements on health. In his work as a forensic psychiatrist he is involved in the medico-legal assessment and treatment of some of the country’s highest profile offenders.

Dr. Monasterio is originally from Bolivia and moved to New Zealand in 1980. He is particularly interested in the provision of mental health care and promoting mental wellness and resilience for disadvantaged communities. In this context, he has conducted studies with acutely mentally disordered populations in Bolivia and in India. Dr. Monasterio is also involved with Project Suma in Bolivia, which provides assistance and support to women and their children who suffer severe (often trans generational) trauma.

Pedro Lopez-Merino

PhD

Young people reading books.
Pedro Lopez-Merino is a postdoctoral fellow at Université Côte d’Azur (GREDEG/CNRS) in Southeast France, where he also teaches courses at a masters’ level. An economist by training, Pedro has worked in interdisciplinary projects throughout his academic career, using participatory and modelling tools. His research and teaching areas are territorial food systems, agricultural transitions, recycling of plastic waste and circular economics.

Pedro is interested in wellbeing as both a lever for and an outcome of sustainability, as well as the link between wellbeing, personality and economic outcomes. Ongoing work seeks to explore how farmers’ wellbeing or lack thereof has an impact on the type of agricultural practices they favour, and how character items such as self-transcendence and cooperativeness determine and are influenced by individuals’ attitudes towards sustainability.

Organisation

Division of Psychology (PSY)

Research at the division covers many aspects of psychology. We also educate psychologists and psychotherapists to meet the challenges of work life and future clients in the best possible way.
University park behind house I.

Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning (IBL)

Human behaviour and learning is the focus for education and research at the department. We educate students and scientists that are well equipped to meet future challenges in society and working life.

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