Lecturer in Psychology

Qualifications

PhD in Clinical Psychology, University of Cyprus (2023)

MSc in Psychological Research Methods, University of Nottingham (2015)

BSc in Psychology, University of Cyprus (2013)

Specialization

Clinical Psychology, Research Methods in Psychology, Digital interventions addressing a variety for chronic and mental health problems, Reviews and Meta-analyses, Psychophysiological data analysis

Employment Track

• Lecturer, UCLan Cyprus (February 2026-present)
• Post-doctoral Researcher, University of Cyprus (January 2026-present)
• Post-doctoral Researcher, Cyprus University of Technology (January 2026-present)
• Special Teaching Staff, UCLan Cyprus (September 2023 – January 2026)
• Project Manager, Cyprus University of Technology (September 2024-January 2026)
• Research Assistant, UCLan Cyprus (September 2024-February 2025)
• Research Assistant, University of Cyprus (2019-2024)
• Special Scientist, University of Cyprus (2019-2020)
• Teaching Assistant, University of Cyprus (2017-2018)

Memberships (Academic/Professional)

• Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM)
• European Health Psychology Society (EHPS)
• Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS)
• Cyprus Psychological Association

Research Interests

Clinical and Health Psychology with specialization on using innovative digital methodologies for developing and delivering psychological interventions

Roles and Responsibilities (including past roles and responsibilities)

Teaching and Course Leadership 

• PS1010: Methods and Practice of Psychological Inquiry
• PS1720: Understanding Behavior
• PS2010: Psychological Research 1: Design and Quantitative Analysis
• PS4001: Research Methods in Psychology

Selected Publications 

• Heffner, J. L., Baker, K., Georgiou, K., Graham, A. L., Kelly, M. M., Konstantinou, P., Lamprou, E., Lele, C., Lok, K. Z., Orzechowski, M., Ruiz, R. A., Serfozo, E., & Karekla, M. (2025). ACT on Vaping: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Novel Digital Health App with Text Messaging for Young Adult Vaping Cessation. Nicotine & tobacco research. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntaf112
• Konstantinou, P., Kyprianidou, M., Christodoulou, A., McHugh, L., Constantinou, M., Epiphaniou, E., … & Kassianos, A. P. (2024). Behavioral, cognitive and emotional determinants of getting vaccinated for COVID-19 and the mediating role of institutional trust among young adults in Cyprus. BMC Public Health, 24, 2336. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19859-y
• Konstantinou, P., Trigeorgi, A., Georgiou, C., Michaelides, M., Gloster, A. T., McHugh, L., Panayiotou, G., & Karekla, M. (2024). Coping with Emotional Pain: An Experimental Comparison of Acceptance vs. Avoidance Coping. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 100820. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2024.100820
• Konstantinou, P., Theofanous, V., Karekla, M., & Kassianos, A. P. (2024). Mapping the needs of healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients using the socio-ecological framework: A rapid scoping review. Human Resources for Health, 22(1), 29. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-024-00919-8
• Morroni, D., Konstantinou, P., Gkleka, C., Kassianos, A. P., & Karekla, M. (2024). Examining Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Interventions for Unaccompanied Minors: A Systematic Review and Qualitative Research Synthesis. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
• Karashiali, C., Konstantinou, P., Kasinopoulos, O., Michael, C., Papageorgiou, A., Kadianaki, I., … & Kassianos, A. P. (2024). Tensions in caring for chronic patients’ medication adherence: A qualitative study in Cyprus. Journal of Health Psychology, 13591053241227003. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053241227003
• Konstantinou, P., Trigeorgi, A., Georgiou, C., Michaelides, M., Gloster, A. T., Georgiou, E., Panayiotou, G., & Karekla, M. (2023). Functional versus Dysfunctional Coping with Physical Pain: An Experimental Comparison of Acceptance vs. Avoidance Coping. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 16, 104339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2023.104339
• Konstantinou, P., Ioannou, M., Melanthiou, D., Georgiou, K., Almas, I., Gloster, A. T., … & Karekla, M. (2023). The impact of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on quality of life and symptom improvement among chronic health conditions: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 29, 240-253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2023.08.004
• Kyprianidou, M.*, Konstantinou, P.*, Alvarez-Galvez, J., Ceccarelli, L., Gruszczyńska, E., Mierzejewska-Floreani, D., … & Kassianos, A. P. (2023). Profiling hesitancy to COVID-19 vaccinations in six European countries: behavioral, attitudinal and demographic determinants. Behavioral Medicine, 49(4), 362-373. https://doi.org/10.1080/08964289.2022.2071198 *joint first authors
• Karashiali, C., Konstantinou, P., Christodoulou, A., Kyprianidou, M., Nicolaou, C., Karekla, M., Middleton, N. & Kassianos, A. P. (2023). A qualitative study exploring the social contagion of attitudes and uptake of COVID-19 vaccinations. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics.
• Konstantinou, P., Kasinopoulos, O., Karashiali, C., Georgiou, G., Panayides, A., Papageorgiou, A., … & Karekla, M. (2022). A Scoping Review of Methods Used to Assess Medication Adherence in Patients with Chronic Conditions. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 56(12), 1201-1217. https://doi.org/10.1093/abm/kaab080
• Christodoulou, A., Konstantinou, P., Antoniou, Z., Boda, Z., Iasonides, M., Kyprianidou, M., McHugh, L., Michaelides, M. P., Karekla, M., & Kassianos, A. P. (2022). A Protocol of a Pilot Experimental Study Using Social Network Interventions to Examine the Social Contagion of Attitudes Towards Childhood Vaccination in Parental Social Networks. Health Psychology Bulletin, 6(1), pp. 13–25. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/hpb.37
• Karekla, M., Demosthenous, G., Georgiou, C., Konstantinou, P., Trigiorgi, A., Koushiou, M., … & Gloster, A. T. (2022). Machine learning advances the classification and prediction of responding from psychophysiological reactions. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 26, 36-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2022.07.006
• Konstantinou, P., Georgiou, K., Kumar, N., Kyprianidou, M., Nicolaides, C., Karekla, M., & Kassianos, A. P. (2021). Transmission of Vaccination Attitudes and Uptake Based on Social Contagion Theory: A Scoping Review. Vaccines, 9(6), 607. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9060607  
• Konstantinou, P., Kassianos, A. P., Georgiou, G., Panayides, A., Papageorgiou, A., Almas, I., … & Karekla, M. (2020). Barriers, facilitators, and interventions for medication adherence across chronic conditions with the highest non-adherence rates: a scoping review with recommendations for intervention development. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 10(6), 1390-1398. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibaa118
• Konstantinou, P., Trigeorgi, A., Georgiou, C., Gloster, A. T., Panayiotou, G., & Karekla, M. (2020). Comparing apples and oranges or different types of citrus fruits? Using wearable versus stationary devices to analyze psychophysiological data. Psychophysiology, e13551. https://doi.org/10.1111/psyp.13551  
• Karekla, M., Konstantinou, P., Ioannou, M., Kareklas, I., & Gloster, A. T. (2019). The Phenomenon of Treatment Dropout, Reasons and Moderators in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Other Active Treatments. Clinical Psychology in Europe, 1(3), 1-36. https://doi.org/10.32872/cpe.v1i3.33058

Selected Conference and Seminar Presentations 

• Konstantinou, P., Trigeorgi, A., Georgiou, C., Michaelides, M., Gloster, A. T., Georgiou, E., Panayiotou, G., & Karekla, M. (2023). Functional versus Dysfunctional Coping with Physical Pain: An Experimental Comparison of Acceptance vs. Avoidance Coping. ACBS World Conference (24-28 July 2023).
• Konstantinou, P., Trigeorgi, A., Georgiou, C., Gloster, A.T., Panayiotou, G., & Karekla, M. (June 2022). An experimental comparison of acceptance vs. avoidance in managing acute pain. ACBS World Conference (14-19 June 2022).
• Konstantinou, P., Trigeorgi, A., Georgiou, C., Gloster, A.T., Panayiotou, G., & Karekla, M. (May 2022). Functional versus dysfunctional coping with physical and emotional pain: Utilizing machine learning for their ambulatory assessment, experimental evaluation, and prediction. 3^rd Multidisciplinary Forum of the University of Cyprus (9-10 May 2022).
• Konstantinou, P., Georgiou, G., Panayides, A., Papageorgiou, A., Wozniak, G. E., Kassianos, A. P., & Karekla, M. (August 2021). Medication adherence in chronic conditions: A scoping review of barriers, facilitators and interventions. 35th Annual Conference of the EHPS (23-27 August 2021).
• Konstantinou, P., Kasinopoulos O., Karashiali, C., Georgiou, G., Panayides, A., Papageorgiou, A., Wozniak, G. E., Kassianos, A. P., & Karekla, M. (August 2021). A Scoping Review of Methods used to assess Medication Adherence in Patients with Chronic Conditions. 35th Annual Conference of the EHPS (23-27 August 2021).
• Konstantinou, P., Trigeorgi, A., Georgiou, C., Gloster, A.T., & Karekla, M. (June 2021). The new era of digital-based research: Lessons learned with recommendations provided. ACBS Virtual World Conference (24-27 June 2021).
• Konstantinou, P., Trigeorgi, A., Georgiou, C., Gloster, A.T., Panayiotou, G., & Karekla, M. (June 2019). Comparing apples and oranges or different types of citrus fruits? Using wearable vs. stationary devices to analyze psychophysiological data ACBS World Conference 17, Dublin, Ireland (25-30 June 2019).
• Konstantinou, P., Vasiliou, V., Karekla, M., Karademas, C. M., Papacostas, S. & Christou, Y. (August 2018). Mediating Role of Psychological Flexibility Parameters between Head Pain Interference and Headache-Related Disability. EHPS, Galway, Ireland (21-25 August 2018).
• Konstantinou, P., Kasinopoulos, O. & Karekla, M. (June 2017). Best Practices and Guidelines for Utilizing Digital Interventions to Improve Engagement and Adherence in Chronic Illness Sufferers: An evidence-based review prepared in association with the European Federation of Psychologists’ Association. ACBS World Conference 15, Seville, Spain (20-25 June 2017).
• Konstantinou, P., Nikolaou, P. & Karekla, M. (July 2013). Treatment drop out in third wave cognitive-behavioral therapies: A systematic review and meta-analysis. ACBS World Conference 11, Sydney, Australia.

Selected Research Funding/Grant Capture

• Funding related to Award as “Best Researcher of the Year 2025 in Social Sciences”, Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF), Cyprus, €60,000, 2026-2028  
• Project Coordinator and Investigator at PROACT project (January 2026-present)
• Project Manager at DESIPOC project, Cyprus University of Technology (September 2024-January 2026)

• Internal Grant at University of Cyprus, “Functional versus dysfunctional coping with physical and emotional pain: Utilizing machine learning for their ambulatory assessment, experimental evaluation, and prediction” (acronym PAIN), Primary researcher, €50,000, 2021-2023
• ACBS Student World Conference scholarship, “The new era of digital-based research: Lessons learned with recommendations provided”, €300, 2021
• Student scholarship, University of Cyprus, €8000, 2018-2019

Supervision of the final project in BSc (Hons) Psychology

• C.A. (2024)
• S.A. (2024)
• C.E. (2024)
• D.N. (2024)
• P.M. (2024)
• C.E. (2023)
• L.E. (2023)
• M.E. (2023)
• K.E. (2021)
• P.T. (2021)
• A.K. (2019)

Scholarships/Awards

• Award as “Best Researcher of the Year 2025 in Social Sciences”, Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF), Cyprus
• ACBS Student World Conference scholarship, “The new era of digital-based research: Lessons learned with recommendations provided”, 2021

Student scholarship, University of Cyprus, 2018-2019