Nuwan Jayawickreme, PHD

Education

PHD, University of Pennsylvania
MA, University of Pennsylvania
BA, Gettysburg College

Research

My research interests include post-traumatic stress disorder, cultural variations in the experience and expression of psychopathology, and psychological well-being in populations affected by war.

Publications & Professional Activities

Publications

Jayawickreme, N., Jayawickreme, E., & Foa, E. B. (in press). Trauma and culture: Using the individualism-collectivism construct to understand cultural differences in posttraumatic stress disorder. In K. M. Gow and M. J. Celinski (Eds.), Wayfinding through life's challenges: Coping and survival. New York: Nova Science Publishers.

Jayawickreme, E., Jayawickreme, N., & Seligman, M.E.P. (in press). From victims to survivors: The positive psychology of refugee mental health. In K. M. Gow and M. J. Celinski (Eds.), Mass trauma: Impact and recovery issues. New York: Nova Science Publishers.

Jayawickreme, N., Jayawickreme, E., & Lacasse, J.J. (2012).  Psychopathology, psychosocial problems and post-traumatic growth in North-Eastern Sri Lanka: A quantitative analysis.  In D. Herath and K.T. Silva (Eds.), Healing the wounds: Rebuilding Sri Lanka after the war (pp. 130-166).  Colombo and Kandy, Sri Lanka: International Centre for Ethnic Studies.

Jayawickreme, N., Jayawickreme, E., Atanasov, P., Goonasekera, M. A., & Foa, E. B. (2012). Are Culturally Specific Measures of Trauma-Related Anxiety and Depression Needed? The Case of Sri Lanka. Psychological Assessment, 24, 791-800.

Jayawickreme, E., Jayawickreme, N., & Goonasekera, M.A. (2012). Using focus group methodology to adapt measurement scales and explore questions of well-being and mental health: The case of Sri Lanka. Intervention: International Journal of Mental Health, Psychosocial Work and Counselling in Areas of Armed Conflict, 10, 156-167.

Williams, M., Jayawickreme, N., Sposato, R., & Foa, E. B. (2012). Race-specific associations between trauma cognitions and symptoms of alcohol dependence in individuals with comorbid PTSD and alcohol dependence. Addictive Behaviors, 37, 47-52.

Jayawickreme, N., Yasinski, C., Williams, M., & Foa, E. B. (2012). Gender-specific associations between trauma cognitions, alcohol cravings, and alcohol-related consequences in individuals with comorbid PTSD and alcohol dependence. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 26, 13-19.

Jayawickreme, E., Jayawickreme, N., & Miller, E. (2010). Triumphalism, fear and humiliation: The psychological legacy of Sri Lanka’s civil war. Dynamics of Asymmetric Conflict, 3, 208-222.

Jayawickreme, N., Jayawickreme, E., Goonesekara, M., & Foa, E. B. (2009). Distress, well-being and war: Qualitative analyses of civilian interviews from north-eastern Sri Lanka and validation of culturally- sensitive measures of well-being and distress. Intervention: International Journal of Mental Health, Psychosocial Work and Counselling in Areas of Armed Conflict, 7, 204-222.

Jayawickreme, N., Jayawickreme, E., & Goonasekera, M. (2009). Distress, well-being and war: Qualitative analysis of civilian interviews from north-eastern Sri Lanka and validation of culturally-sensitive measures of well-being and distress. Well-Being and Development. Colombo, Sri Lanka: University of Colombo/ SPARC.

Blank, M., & Jayawickreme, N. (2009). Fear circuitry disorders reconsidered: Review of “Stress-induced and fear circuitry disorders: Advancing the research agenda for DSM-V” by Dennis S. Charney, Paul. J. Sirovatka, Darrel A. Regier, & Gavin Andrews. PsycCritiques – Contemporary Psychology: APA Review of Books, 54.

Golec de Zavala, A., Cichocka , A., Eidelson, R. J., & Jayawickreme, N. (2009). Collective narcissism as an individual difference variable and its social consequences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 97, 1074-1096.

Conference Paper Presentations

Jayawickreme, N., Jayawickreme, E., & Lacasse, J.J.  (2012, July).  Psychopathology, Psychosocial Problems and Post-traumatic Growth in North-Eastern Sri Lanka: A Quantitative Analysis. Paper session presented at “Healing the Wounds: Rebuilding Sri Lanka After the War,” a Conference organized by the International Centre for Ethnic Studies, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Jayawickreme, N., Jayawickreme, E., Atanasov, P., Goonesekara, M., & Foa, E. B.  (2011, November). Do Measures of Distress Need to be Culturally Specific? The Example of Sri Lanka. Paper session presented at the Annual Conference of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Baltimore, MD.

Jayawickreme, E., Jayawickreme, N., & Miller, E. (2010, March).  Triumphalism, fear and  humiliation: The psychological legacy of Sri Lanka’s civil war.  Paper session presented at the Penn Program on Democracy, Citizenship, and Constitutionalism Graduate Workshop, Philadelphia, PA.

Jayawickreme, E., Jayawickreme, N., & Goonesekara, M. (2009, September).  Well Being and War:Assessing Valued Capabilities Among War-Affected Populations in Sri Lanka.  Paper session presented at the Annual Meeting of the Human Development and Capability Association, Lima, Peru.

Jayawickreme, N., Jayawickreme, E., Foa, E. B., Seligman, M. E. P., & Goonesekara, M.  (2009, April).  Culturally Valid Assessment Tools of Mental Health and Well-Being: Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Methodologies. Paper session presented at “Wellbeing and Development in Sri Lanka,” a Conference organized by the Psychosocial Assessment of Development and Humanitarian Interventions (PADHI) Project, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Jayawickreme, N., Jayawickreme, E., Foa, E. B., Seligman, M. E. P., & Goonesekara, M.  (2008, November).  Distress, Well-Being and War: Qualitative Analysis of Civilian Interviews from North-East Sri Lanka. Paper session presented at the Annual Conference of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Chicago, IL.

Grants

2013;

Summer Research Grant, Manhattan College, Riverdale, NY, $3000.00

2008:

APA Dissertation Research Award, Science Directorate, American Psychological Association, Washington, DC, $3000.00

2007-2008:

Research Grant, The Asia Foundation’s “Reducing Incidences and Effects of Torture” (RESIST) program and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) (Principal Investigator with Dr. Eranda Jayawickreme), $10, 750.00

Courses Taught/Teaching

PSYC 205      Statistics
PSYC 302      Psychological Testing
PSYC 327      Interviewing and Counseling

PSYC 347      Theories of Personality