International Perspectives in Psychology, Volume 14, Issue 1, 2025
Abstracts, Implications, and APA Citation
International Psychology – Remembering What Was to Create More Inclusive Futures
Ines Meyer, Stuart C. Carr, and Mendiola Teng-Calleja
Published Online: March 03, 2025
APA Style Citation:
Meyer, I., Carr, S. C., & Teng-Calleja, M. (2025). International psychology – Remembering what was to create more inclusive futures [Editorial]. International Perspectives in Psychology, 14(1), 1-3. https://doi.org/10.1027/2157-3891/a000124
Editorial: We welcome you to 2025, a year which takes us a quarter through the 21st century. Days, months, seasons – life in general – progress in ever-repeating cycles. Still, the start of each new cycle is not just a beginning but also marks a loss of what is no longer. In 2024, Professor Philip Zimbardo was one of the ones we lost. Though he had a long and productive career, he had been among the most well-known social psychologists for long. His Stanford prison experiment dates from the 1970s (Haney et al., 1973). It is known well beyond scholarly circles, consistently sparks new research up to today (e.g. Carnahan & McFarland, 2007; Carr, 1995; Değirmencioğlu, 2024; Reicher et al., 2016) and is still taught to students across the world. International Perspectives in Psychology: Research, Practice, Consultation’s (IPP) home, the American Psychology Association’s (APA) Division 52 (which has just changed its name from International to Society for a Global Psychology) awarded Professor Zimbardo its Presidential Citation for International Achievements in 2023. We are grateful that Professor Zimbardo’s insights live on to inform future generations of psychologists.
A second individual passed on in the latter parts of 2024 who we would like to honor. He contributed fundamentally to placing a more global, international psychology firmly on the map: Emeritus Professor Anthony (Tony) J. Marsella. As someone who not just remembers him as a colleague, but also called him a friend, former IPP editor-in-chief (2017–2021), Professor Stuart C. Carr, prepared this tribute:
Emeritus Professor Anthony J. Marsella (Tony) was the first psychologist to direct a World Health Organization Center, at the University of Hawai’i (UH), in Manoa. Awarded by the APA for Distinguished Contributions to the International Advancement of Psychology in 1997, he continued to make additional field-defining contributions to our discipline and profession over another quarter century. In 2012, for example, Division 17 announced a Lifetime Achievement Award for contributions to internationalizing counseling psychology. Tony also served as the senior editor for the International and Cultural Psychology book series by Springer-Nature Publications (NYC), commissioning, overseeing, and disseminating a series of almost 50 learned and applied volumes.
Tony is known globally as a trailblazer in cultural psychology and psychopathology, in the psychology of social responsibility, and across global community psychology. His 1998 publication in American Psychologist, to give one illustrious example from his quantum, has influenced the field and successive generations of scholars and practitioners in sustainability and poverty eradication worldwide. Indeed, throughout the first quarter of this century, Tony wrote ceaselessly not only on the challenges of war and insecurity in our era but also on achieving peace and sustainability. His contributions to the Sustainability Development Agenda are second to none and first to many – including yours truly.
Above all perhaps, Tony touched and changed the lives and livelihoods of so many other psychologists globally. He has supervised almost 100 doctoral and master’s theses. He ran countless group capacity-sharing workshops at the East-West Center in UH, at which his ability to encourage the capability of others, especially Indigenous early career psychologists from Pacific Island Nations, was a paragon, and a phenomenon, which I had the privilege to see and share. On a personal note, there are so many psychologists out there who will grieve his passing but be consoled to recall his amazing and inspiring legacy. As one of them wrote recently on learning of his passing, “I am thinking of Tony and the UH days. He was sick for a long time but maintained sending messages to his former students and contributing articles to Transcend on themes of social justice. Tony last wrote me in May 2023. He supervised my dissertation and encouraged my cross-cultural research visits with researchers in the United States and Japan. I work with them to this day.”
We must remember him.
As we must remember all that has come before, as without doing so we will not break those ever-repeating cycles which do not serve our humanity. At times, it appears as if such action is futile: Despite psychology’s advancing understanding of human nature and behavior, protracted cycles of wars and the resulting human suffering continued throughout 2024 and into this year. At a global level, we have failed to significantly advance social justice, inequality levels are widening and not closing. We have accelerated the pace at which we destruct our planet. It leaves us but two options: We can hang our heads in shame and let the cycles keep turning, or we can continue working toward a better world. After all, as psychologists we are ideally placed to break cycles. At least in theory, we understand the human sources which create a striving for power, dominance, and fear – and which seem to be the driving forces behind the protracted issues we face.
With its roots in science, psychology has historically created knowledge by building on what already exists. To identify better, more advanced solutions, we need to include different perspectives, though. We stand a greater chance if we combine our global knowledge. This includes building on indigenous wisdoms and the knowledge of marginalized voices. As the IPP editorial team, we seek to amplify these voices through IPP. This is why we publish rigorous and quality work from those geographic regions, indigenous views, and methods which are not often found in international academic publications in psychology. In 2023, this has given rise to a special issue on South-East Asian psychology (issue 2/2023, Sing-Kiat Ting et al., 2023). An issue featuring African work psychology is forthcoming, and going forward, we would like to produce special issues featuring psychology from Latin America – and potentially other regions in the world. An IPP special issue is also a way to collect knowledge from across the globe on a particular topic of relevance, such as in the case of the special issue on environmental psychology which is entering production in the coming months. If you are interested in becoming a special issue guest editor, on Latin American psychology or a different topic of interest to you, please send us a brief one to two-page draft proposal. Aligned with the journal’s ethos we request each special issue guest editor team to include at least one member residing and conducting work outside North America/Central Europe. We equally welcome policy brief and manuscript submissions for our general issues. If the work presented in your manuscript took place in a geographic context in which you do not reside, please ensure that one of your co-authors has current or recent lived experience in this context. In that way, we ensure that the work published in IPP is sensitive to local customs and circumstances.
We are looking forward to receiving your submissions and to working with you so that we can, in this way and step-by-step, contribute to creating a more inclusive future through our discipline. If we should not succeed in stopping destructive cycles let us at least shift them toward a path of greater sustainability.
The four articles in this issue provide great examples. All are in some way associated with the African continent. Through their study conducted in Burundi, Champion et al.’s (2025) show how trauma can be addressed through Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Integrative Group Treatment in regions in which there is great need for trauma treatment but a scarcity of access to mental health services. Remaining with the mental health theme and the question as to the usefulness of global classifications of psychological disorders, Brooks et al. (2025) compared depressive symptoms among university students in the United States and South Africa. Boateng et al. (2025) considered African individuals in the diaspora. Specifically, their study sought insights on the acculturation experiences and interpersonal contact between Africans living in Hong Kong and Chinese residents. Lastly, Baba et al.’s (2025) research is set in Northern Ghana where they worked with married adolescent girls and investigated how coping and support linked with their mental health.
Examining the Effectiveness of the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Integrative Group Treatment Protocol (EMDR Group Protocol) for Hard-To-Reach Populations in Ongoing Traumatic Situations Among Burundi Participants
Kim P. Champion, J. D. Willetts, Judith K. Willetts, Naoyuki Sunami, David Niyonzima, Nicole Simpson, and Noah J. Smith
Published Online: March 03, 2025
APA Style Citation:
Champion, K. P., Willetts, J. D., Willetts J. K.,, Sunami, N., Niyonzima, D., Simpson, N., & Smith, N. J. (2025). Examining the effectiveness of the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Integrative Group Treatment Protocol (EMDR Group Protocol) for hard-to-reach populations in ongoing traumatic situations among Burundi participants. International Perspectives in Psychology, 14(1), 4-17. https://econtent.hogrefe.com/doi/10.1027/2157-3891/a000111
Abstract: Traumatized people in hard-to-reach areas need treatment options that are scalable, efficacious, and easy to administer. The Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing–Integrative Group Treatment Protocol (EMDR group protocol) is a promising scalable trauma intervention. In this study, we tested the effectiveness of the EMDR group protocol (Jarero & Artigas, 2017) among mental health workers who have been exposed to multiple traumatic experiences in Burundi to explore the effectiveness of the EMDR group protocol in a trauma-exposed population. We found that the treatment improved the participants’ post-trauma stress symptoms, but not dissociation symptoms. These results suggest that the EMDR group protocol has potential to be a scalable strategy for trauma intervention, especially among countries with fewer resources.
Impact and Implications: This study suggests that effective treatment of complex trauma symptoms can be extended to people in remote parts of the world where traditional trauma therapies are inaccessible due to geopolitical volatility. A group intervention that is based on Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy was used with trauma survivors in Burundi, Africa, and led to significant and meaningful reductions in symptoms.
Network Analysis of Depression Symptoms in United States and South African University Students: A Cross-National Comparison
Jasmin R. Brooks, Malose Makhubela, Ijeoma Madubata, and Rheeda L. Walker
Published Online: March 03, 2025
APA Style Citation:
Brooks, J. R., Makhubela, M., Madubata, I., and Walker, R. L. (2025). Network analysis of depression symptoms in United States and South African university students: A cross-national comparison. International Perspectives in Psychology, 14(1), 18-29. https://doi.org/10.1027/2157-3891/a000116
Abstract: Epidemiological data show cross-national variations in the prevalence rates of depression. Whether these variations in prevalence reflect actual differences in symptomatology or differential importance of depression symptoms across nations is unknown. Unlike more commonly applied methods, the network approach offers a viable framework for examining symptomatology across populations. We used regularized partial correlation network models to compare the structure and connectivity of depression symptoms between the United States (US; N = 1,169; Mage = 22.20 years, SD = 5.02; 66% = female) and South African (RSA; N = 917; Mage = 21.23 years, SD = 3.02; 64% = female) university students. The Network Comparison Test (NCT) revealed statistically significant differences in the depressive symptom network structure between US and RSA students. Our findings demonstrate how network analysis may inform the understanding and treatment of psychological disturbance across populations and cultural groups. These findings provide insight for researchers and interventionists to create individualized and culturally-adapted diagnostic assessments and evidence-based interventions to accurately treat depression for culturally-diverse populations.
Impact and Implications: Epidemiological data show cross-national variations in the prevalence rates of depression. However, limited studies have investigated whether these variations in prevalence reflect actual differences in symptomatology or differential importance of depression symptoms across nations. In the current study, analyses revealed statistically significant differences in the depressive symptom network structure between US and RSA students. These findings provide insight for researchers and interventionists to create individualized and culturally-adapted diagnostic assessments and evidence-based interventions to accurately treat depression for culturally-diverse populations, thereby realizing the aims of SDG goal 3, target 3.4.
Cultural Encounters – Examining Acculturation and Intercultural Contact Between Africans and Chinese in Hong Kong
Raymond Agyenim Boateng, Vivian Miu Chi Lun, and David Lackland Sam
Published Online: March 03, 2025
APA Style Citation:
Boateng, R. A., Lun, V. M. C., & Sam, D. L. (2025). Cultural encounters – Examining acculturation and intercultural contact between Africans and Chinese in Hong Kong. International Perspectives in Psychology, 14(1), 30-40. https://doi.org/10.1027/2157-3891/a000118
Abstract: This study examined the relationship between acculturation orientations, positive and negative contact experiences, and perception of threat among Africans (N = 215) and Hong Kong Chinese (N = 467). Path analysis revealed that while African minorities who integrate into the local culture experience positive interactions, those who separate or assimilate often face negative experiences. For the Hong Kong Chinese majorities, exclusion was related to negative contact and perceived threat. Assimilation was related to perceived threat. Individualism was related to positive contact and negatively related to perceived threat. The results reveal asymmetrical acculturation preferences and distinct intergroup contact experiences among Africans and Hong Kong Chinese. Moreover, the findings underscore how varying acculturation strategies influence interactions between minorities and majorities. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings within the sociocultural context of Hong Kong are discussed.
Impact and Implications: This study highlights how different cultural adaptation strategies affect interactions between minorities and majorities. It found that while minorities who integrate into the local culture experience positive interactions, those who separate or assimilate often face negative experiences. For majority groups, exclusion and assimilation can induce feelings of threat. These findings are crucial for fostering understanding and cooperation among diverse communities, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in reducing inequalities and fostering inclusive societies.
Associations Between Coping, Support, and Mental Health Among Married Adolescent Girls in Northern Ghana
Hajara Baba, Joana Salifu Yendork, and Wendy Kliewer
Published Online: March 03, 2025
APA Style Citation:
Baba H., Yendork, J. S., & Kliewer, W. (2025). Associations between coping, support, and mental health among married adolescent girls in northern Ghana. International Perspectives in Psychology, 14(1), 41-53. https://doi.org/10.1027/2157-3891/a000119
Abstract: Adolescent girls in child marriage experience mental health problems. However, there are few studies that examined the mental health challenges of married adolescent girls, their ways of coping, and the factors that promote their mental health. This study explored the association of participants’ demographic characteristics, coping, and perceived social support in relation to mental health problems (i.e., symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress) among married adolescent girls in Northern Ghana. Married adolescent girls (N = 80), aged 13–19 years, completed a demographic questionnaire, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales 21, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Brief Cope Inventory. Hierarchical linear regression analysis that accounted for associations of age at marriage, number of children, and educational level found that mental health problems were associated with lower levels of social support and with higher levels of negative coping. Further, girls who were less well-educated reported higher levels of mental health problems. These data suggest that opportunities to improve married girls’ mental health could focus on altering coping strategies, particularly negative coping, facilitating support networks, and encouraging education.
Impact and Implications: The present study explored the associations of coping, support, sociodemographic variables, and mental health problems among married adolescent girls. This study addresses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages and eliminating all harmful practices by showing the harmful effects of early marriage on adolescent girls and variables that are needed to inform interventions aimed at promoting married adolescent girls’ well-being. This study shows that married adolescent girls’ educational level and their perception of available support are promotive against mental health problems, while negative coping strategies were a risk factor for mental health problems.