Dr. Nuworza Kugbey is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the Department of General Studies, University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), Somanya, Ghana. Dr. Kugbey obtained his Bachelor of Arts (Psychology with Linguistics) and Master of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology) degrees from the University of Ghana, Legon. He later obtained his Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology) degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. Prior to joining UESD, Dr. Kugbey served as a Clinical Psychologist and Lecturer in the Department of Family and Community Health at the School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Ho. He has served as a part-time lecturer in Mental Health in the School of Public Health, UHAS for more than one year before joining full-time. In the School of Public Health, in addition to teaching and research, he supervised both undergraduate and graduate (MPH) students in his research areas. He taught a range of courses across different levels including: Research Methods, Introduction to Psychology, Mental Health as a Public Health Issue, Forensic, Legal, Human Rights and Ethical Issues in Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Addiction: Individual, Family, and Community Wellbeing and Psychopathology.
Dr Kugbey was a practicing clinical psychologist at the University of Ghana Careers and Counselling Centre for over 2years before joining UHAS on full-time basis. He served as a Teaching & Research assistant in the Department of Psychology, University of Ghana for over 3years. He was a Part-time Clinical Psychologist at the Progressive Life Centre where he was involved in providing psychotherapy and training of Clinical Psychology interns. He was also an adjunct faculty member in Psychology at the Regent University College of Science and Technology, Ghana.
He has been involved in several collaborative projects which have resulted in over 40 publications in national and international peer-reviewed journals and over 10 national and international conference presentations. He is currently an Associate Editor of the Mental Health section of BMC Public Health. He has also served as a peer reviewer for several reputable international journals.
Dr Kugbey is a 2019 Queen Elizabeth Advanced Scholar (Queen University- Ontario, Canada) with focus on maternal mental health
1. Physical health and mental health nexus (psycho-oncology).
2. Maternal and child mental health
3. Adolescents health and wellbeing
4. Academic performance
5. Healthy ageing.
1. Obo, H., Kugbey, N., & Atefoe, E. (2021). Social support, depression, anxiety, and quality of life among persons living with type 2 diabetes: a path analysis. South African Journal of Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1177/0081246320984285
2. Tetteh, J., Ekem-Ferguson, G., Swaray, S. M., Kugbey, N., Quarshie, E. N., & Yawson, A. E. (2020). Marijuana use and repeated attempted suicide among senior high school students in Ghana: Evidence from the WHO Global School-Based Student Health Survey, 2012. General Psychiatry, 33(6), e100311-e100311.
3. James, S. L., Castle, C. D., Dingels, Z. V., Fox, J. T., Hamilton, E. B., Liu, Z., Roberts, N., Sylte, D. O., Bertolacci, G. J., Cunningham, M., Henry, N. J., LeGrand, K. E., Abdelalim, A., Abdollahpour, I., Abdulkader, R. S., Abedi, A., Abegaz, K. H., Abosetugn, A. E., Abushouk, A. I., Adebayo, O. M., Kugbey, N., Vos, T. (2020). Estimating global injuries morbidity and mortality: methods and data used in the Global Burden of Disease 2017 study. Injury Prevention. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1136/injuryprev-2019-043531
4. Local Burden of Disease WaSH Collaborators. (2020). Mapping geographical inequalities in access to drinking water and sanitation facilities in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000-17. The Lancet. Global Health, 8(9), e11621185. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(20)30278-3
5. Ayanore, M. A., Adjuik, M., Ameko, A., Kugbey, N., Asampong, R., Mensah, D., Alhassan, R. K., Afaya, A., Aviisah, M., Manu, E., & Zotor, F. (2020). Self-reported breast and cervical cancer screening practices among women in Ghana: predictive factors and reproductive health policy implications from the WHO study on global AGEing and adult health. BMC Women’s Health, 20(1), 158. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-020-01022-5
6. Local Burden of Disease Diarrhoea Collaborators. (2020). Mapping geographic inequalities in oral rehydration therapy coverage in low- and middle-income countries, 2017. The Lancet Global Health. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(20)30230-8.
7. Kugbey, N., Oppong Asante, K., & Meyer-Weitz, A. (2020). Illness perception and coping among women living with breast cancer in Ghana: an exploratory qualitative study. BMJ open, 10(7), e033019. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033019
8. Onyeaka, H., Kugbey, N., Ayanore, M., & Oppong Asante, K. (2020). Prevalence and correlates of truancy among school-going adolescents in three West African countries. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/10911359.2020.1774459 .
9. Kugbey, N., Oppong, A. K., & Meyer-Weitz, A. (2020). Depression, anxiety and quality of life among women living with breast cancer in Ghana: mediating roles of social support and religiosity. Supportive Care in Cancer, 28(6), 25812588.
10. Kugbey, N., Ohene-Oti, N., & Vanderpuye, V. (2020). COVID-19 and its ramifications for cancer patients in low-resource settings: Ghana as a case study. Ecancermedicalscience, 14, ed99.
11. Reiner, R. C., Wiens, K. E., Deshpande, A., Baumann, M. M., Lindstedt, P. A., Blacker, B. F., Kugbey, N., … & Abbastabar, H. (2020). Mapping geographical inequalities in childhood diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality in low-income and middle-income countries, 2017: analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. The Lancet, 395(10239), 1779-1801.
12. James, S. L., Castle, C. D., Dingels, Z. V., Fox, J. T., Hamilton, E. B., Liu, Z., Kugbey, N., … & Abdelalim, A. (2020). Global injury morbidity and mortality from 1990 to 2017: Results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Injury Prevention, 2019-043494.
13. LBD Double Burden of Malnutrition Collaborators. (2020). Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low-and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017. Nature Medicine, 26(5), 750-759.
14. Kweku, M., Amu, H., Awolu, A., Adjuik, M., Ayanore, M. A., Manu, E., Kugbey, N., & Gyapong, J. O. (2020). Community-Based Health Planning and Services Plus programme in Ghana: A qualitative study with stakeholders in two Systems Learning Districts on improving the implementation of primary health care. PloS one, 15(1), e0226808. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0226808
15. Ayanore, M. A., Pavlova, M., Kugbey, N., Fusheini, A., Tetteh, J., Ayanore, A. A., … & Groot, W. (2019). Health insurance coverage, type of payment for health insurance, and reasons for not being insured under the National Health Insurance Scheme in Ghana. Health Economics Review, 9(1), 39.
16. Bonsu, K., Kugbey, N., Ayanore, M.A., & Atefoe, E. A. (2019). Mediation effects of depression and anxiety on social support and quality of life among caregivers of persons with severe burns injury. BMC Research Notes,12, 772.doi:10.1186/s13104-019-4761-7
17. Burstein, R., Henry, N. J., Collison, M. L., Marczak, L. B., Sligar, A., Watson, S., …, Kugbey, N & Abdoli, A. (2019). Mapping 123 million neonatal, infant and child deaths between 2000 and 2017. Nature, 574(7778), 353-358.
18. Global Burden of Disease Cancer Collaboration (2019). Global, Regional, and National Cancer Incidence, Mortality, Years of Life Lost, Years Lived with Disability, and Disability-Adjusted Life-Years for 29 Cancer Groups, 1990 to 2017: A Systematic Analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study. JAMA Oncology. https://doi.org/(…)/jamaoncol.2019.2996
19. Annan, F. M., Asante, K. O., & Kugbey, N. (2019). Perceived seriousness mediates the influence of cervical cancer knowledge on screening practices among female university students in Ghana. BMC Women’s Health, 19(1), 1-8.
20. Kugbey, N., Meyer-Weitz, A., & Oppong Asante, K. (2019). Access to health information, health literacy and health-related quality of life among women living with breast cancer: Depression and anxiety as mediators. Patient Education and Counseling, 102(7), 1357-1363.
21. Kugbey, N., Oppong Asante, K., & Meyer-Weitz, A. (2019). Doctor patient relationship mediates the effects of shared decision making on health-related quality of life among women living with breast cancer. South African Journal of Psychology, 49(3), 364375.
22. Anum, A., Adjorlolo, S., & Kugbey, N. (2019). Depressive symptomatology in adolescents in Ghana: Examination of psychometric properties of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Journal of Affective Disorders, 256, 213-218.
23. Kugbey, N., Meyer-Weitz, A., & Oppong Asante, K. (2019). Mental adjustment to cancer and quality of life among women living with breast cancer in Ghana. The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 54(3), 217-230.
24. Ayanore, M. A., Amuna, N., Aviisah, M., Awolu, A., Kipo-Sunyehzi, D. D., Mogre, V., Kugbey, N., & Gyapong, M. (2019). Towards Resilient Health Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review of the English Language Literature on Health Workforce, Surveillance, and Health Governance Issues for Health Systems Strengthening. Annals of Global Health, 85(1).
25. Arhin, D. K., Oppong Asante, K., Kugbey, N., & Oti-Boadi, M. (2019). The relationship between psychological distress and bullying victimization among school-going adolescents in Ghana: a cross-sectional study. BMC Research Notes, 12(1), 264.
26. Oppong Asante, K., & Kugbey, N. (2019). Alcohol use by school-going adolescents in Ghana: Prevalence and correlates. Mental Health & Prevention, 13, 75-81.
27. Kugbey, N., Atefoe, E. A., Nyarko, K., & Anakwah, N. (2018). Subjective happiness mediates the relationship between emotional intelligence and psychological distress among students: a path analysis. Gender and Behaviour, 16(3), 11885-11893.
28. Kugbey, N., Atefoe, E. A., Anakwah, N., Nyarko, K., & Atindanbila, S. (2018). Emotional intelligence and personal growth initiative effects on subjective happiness among university students. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 28(4), 261-266.
29. Nyarko, K., Kugbey, N., Kofi, C. C. Cole, Y. A., & Adentwi, K. I. (2018). English Reading Proficiency and Academic Performance among Lower Primary School Children in Ghana. Sage Open, 8(3), 1-10. doi.org/10.1177/2158244018797019.
30. Kugbey, N., Ayanore, M. A., Amu, H., Oppong Asante, K., & Adam, A. (2018). International note: Analysis of risk and protective factors for risky sexual behaviours among school-aged adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 68, 66-69.
31. Kugbey, N., Nortu, T. A., Akpalu, B., Ayanore, M. A., & Zotor, F. B. (2018). Prevalence of geriatric depression in a community sample in Ghana: Analysis of associated risk and protective factors. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 78, 171-176.
32. Glozah, F. N., Oppong Asante, K., & Kugbey, N. (2018). Parental involvement could mitigate the effects of physical activity and dietary habits on mental distress in Ghanaian youth. PLoS ONE, 13(5), e0197551. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0197551.
33. Atefoe, E. A., & Kugbey, N. (2018). Psychological functioning and well-being among Ghanaian women: A brief report. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 28(1), 73-76.
34. Nyarko, K., Kugbey, N., Amissah, C. M., Ansah-Nyarko, M., & Boateng, F. (2017). Teacher identified giftedness qualities in a Ghanaian school setting: A brief report. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 27(6), 545-548.
35. Kugbey, N., Asante, K. O., & Adulai, K. (2017). Illness perception, diabetes knowledge and self-care practices among type-2 diabetes patients: a cross-sectional study. BMC Research Notes, 10(1), 381. doi.org/10.1186/s13104-017-2707-5.
36. Oppong Asante, K., Kugbey, N., Osafo, J., Quarshie, E. N. B., & Sarfo, J. O. (2017). The prevalence and correlates of suicidal behaviours (ideation, plan and attempt) among adolescents in senior high schools in Ghana. SSM – Population Health, 3,427-434.
37. Ananga, M. K., Kugbey, N., Akporlu, J. M., & Oppong Asante K. (2017). Knowledge, acceptance and utilisation of the female condom among women of reproductive age in Ghana. Contraception and Reproductive Medicine. 2:15. doi 10.1186/s40834-017-0042-9.
38. Nyarko, K., Kugbey, N., Amissah, C. M., Ansah-Nyarko, M., & Dedzo, B. Q. (2016). The influence of the big five personality and motivation on academic achievement among university students in Ghana. Journal of Education, Society and Behavioural Science, 1-7.
39. Kugbey, N., & Acharibasam, J. W. (2016). The role of parenting styles and sex differences in adolescents depression. Journal of Education, Society and Behavioural Science, 1-8.
40. Kugbey, N., Mawulikem, E. K., & Atefoe, E. A. (2015). Adolescents self-esteem and academic achievement in Ghana: The role of parenting styles and sex differences. Journal of Education, Society and Behavioural Science, 194-201.
41. Dziwornu, E., & Kugbey, N. (2015). Mental health problems and coping among flood victims in Ghana: A comparative study of victims and non-victims. Current Research in Psychology, 6(1), 15.
42. Kugbey, N., Osei-Boadi, S., & Atefoe, E. A. (2015). The Influence of Social Support on the Levels of Depression, Anxiety and Stress among Students in Ghana. Journal of Education and Practice, 6(25), 135-140.
43. Kugbey, N., Atindanbila, S., Nyarko, K., & Atefoe, E. A. (2015). T2DM Patients Demographic Characteristics as Moderators of the Relationship between Diabetes Perception and Psychological Distress. International Journal of Applied, 5(3), 59-63.
44. Nyarko, K., Kugbey, N., & Atindanbila, S. (2014). Illness perception, religiosity and mental health of diabetic patients in Ghana. American Journal of Applied Psychology, 3(1), 12-20.
National & International Conference Papers
1. Kugbey, N., Oppong Asante, K., & Meyer-Weitz (November 5-8, 2019). Shared-decision making and health outcomes among breast cancer patients in Ghana: Implications for communication in oncology practice. A paper presented at the 12th AORTIC International Conference on Cancer in Africa, Maputo, Mozambique.
2. Kugbey, N., Meyer-Weitz, A., & Oppong Asante, K. (October 10, 2019). Access to health information, health literacy and health-related quality of life among women living with breast cancer: Depression and anxiety as mediators. A paper presented at the Maiden UHAS Research Dissemination Day, Ho.
3. Atangongo, B., & Kugbey, N. (October, 2018). Prevalence of pathological gambling in the Hohoe municipality of Ghana. A paper presented at the 4th Mental Health and Well-Being Conference, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi Ghana.
4. Amekpewu, E. A., & Kugbey, N. (October, 2018). Prevalence and associated factors of eating disorders among senior high school students in the Hohoe municipality. A paper presented at the 4th Mental Health and Well-Being Conference, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi Ghana.
5. Lebene, M., Kugbey, N., & Akpalu, B. (October, 2018). Prevalence of depression and its associated factors among adolescent school girls. A paper presented at the 4th Mental Health and Well-Being Conference, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi Ghana.
6. Kugbey, N., Nortu, T. A., & Nyarko, K. (October, 2017). Depression and Coping strategies among the elderly in the Volta Region. A paper presented at the 1st Annual Ageing Conference. University of Ghana, Legon.
7. Kugbey, N., & Obo, H. (October, 2016). Prevalence and Associated Factors of Depression, Anxiety and Stress among Type-2 Diabetes Patients: A Study among Older Patients. A paper presented at the 6th Annual Joint Psychology/Psychiatry International Research Conference. University of Ghana, Legon.
8. Nyarko, K., Kugbey, N., Amissah, C. M., & Nyarko, M. (2016). Teachers Perspectives of Giftedness among Ghanaian Basic School Pupils in the Accra Metropolis. A paper presented at the 3rd Annual Ghana Psychological Association Conference, University of Ghana, Legon.
9. Kugbey, N., Nyarko, K., Kokoroko, E., & Appiah-Danquah, R. (2015). If am not mentally stable, how do I care for people Analysis of Nurses Psychological Wellbeing at selected Health Facilities in Accra. A paper presented at the 2nd Annual Ghana Psychological Association Conference, University of Ghana, Legon.
10. Nyarko, K., Kugbey, N., & Woode, I. N. A. (2015). The influence of Teacher-Child Relationship on Academic Performance and Self-Esteem among Elementary Students in Accra. A paper presented at the 2nd Annual Ghana Psychological Association Conference, University of Ghana, Legon.
11. Kugbey, N., Atefoe, E. A., Nkansah, A., & Nyarko, K. (2015). Personal Growth Initiative among Undergraduate University Students: Analysis of Psychological Correlates. A paper presented at the 2nd Annual Ghana Psychological Association Conference, University of Ghana, Legon.
12. Kugbey, N., Nyarko, K., & Bassaw, E. F. (2015). Love your Neighbour as Thyself: Does Religiosity influence Mental Health Nurses Attitudes towards the Mentally Ill in Society? A poster presented at the 2nd Annual Ghana Psychological Association Conference, University of Ghana, Legon.
13. Kugbey, N., Atefoe, E. A., & Anakwah, N. (2015). Emotional Intelligence among Students: Analysis of Personality Factors and Sex Differences. A poster presented at the 2nd Annual Ghana Psychological Association Conference, University of Ghana, Legon.
14. Kugbey, N., & Bonsu, K. (2015). Caring for persons with severe burns injury: Analysis of caregivers coping strategies and quality of life. A paper presented at the 1st Annual School of Social Sciences Colloquium, University of Ghana, Legon.
15. Nyarko, K., Kugbey, N., Amissah, C., Ansah-Nyarko, M., & Dedzoe, B. Q. (2015). Academic Achievement among University Students in Ghana: The Role of Personality and Motivational Factors. A paper presented at the 1st School of Social Sciences Colloquium, University of Ghana, Legon.
16. Kugbey, N., & Nyarko, K. (2014). Mental Health of Persons Living with Diabetes: Does Illness perception Matter? A poster presented at the 1st Annual Ghana Psychological Association Conference, University of Ghana, Legon.
17. Kugbey, N., & Atefoe, E. A. (2014). Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety and Stress among University of Ghana Students. A Poster Presented at the 3rd Annual Mental Health Conference, University of Ghana, Legon.
18. Nyarko, K., Kugbey, N., Amissah, C., Ansah-Nyarko, M., & Dedzoe, B. Q. (2014). Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation among University Students: The Role of Personality and Sex Differences. A Paper Presented at the 3rd Annual Mental Health Conference, University of Ghana, Legon.
1. African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC)
Ghana Psychological Association.