2023-date

Advancing the conceptualization and measurement of emotional well-being through psychological network analysis

Funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH) & University of Connecticut, USA

Role: Principal Investigator

$30,000

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The importance of emotional well-being (EWB) in public health is increasingly recognized. However, research has been delayed due to the lack of consensus on the fundamental components of EWB, effective ways to measure them, and mechanisms to inform intervention theory. The present study aims to advance the conceptualization and measurement of EWB by applying a psychological network modeling approach to estimate and visualize the network structure of experiential and reflective features of EWB in an incidental sample of young adults in Kazakhstan. The results will extend previous studies relying on latent variable approaches (e.g., CFA), enriching the understanding of the complex relationships between the different facets of EWB and better explaining how individuals feel generally and about life overall. Moreover, the study will identify the most essential EWB components that are optimal target indicators to inform intervention theory and practice that promotes positive states of mind.

2020-2023

Mental health and help-seeking behaviors of university students in Kazakhstan

Funded by Nazarbayev University, Faculty Competitive Development Grant Program, KZ

Role: Principal Investigator

$72,620

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The entrance to the university marks a period of transition for young people. Through this transition, students face new challenges such as making independent decisions about their lives and studies, adjusting to the academic demands of an ill-structured learning environment, and interacting with a diverse range of new people. In addition, many students must, often for the first time, leave their homes and distance themselves from their support networks. These challenges can have negative consequences on their mental health. In addition, the probabilities of experiencing common mental problems, such as depression and anxiety, increase throughout adolescence and reach a peak in early adulthood around age 25, which makes university students a particularly vulnerable population. The purpose of this project is to profile the mental health of higher education students in Kazakhstan, as well as to elucidate their help-seeking behaviors and forms of support available to them to address psychological distress in university settings. In addition, the project will examine the personal and contextual factors promoting and undermining the mental health and help-seeking of university students in Kazakhstan.