Browsing by Author "Goonetilleke, N"

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Open Access
A Participatory Approach to Developing Adolescent Support Groups Focusing on Social Emotional Wellbeing: Lessons from a Community-Based Intervention Conducted in Gothamipura, Sri Lanka
(School of Psychology. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Jayatilake, P; Gunawardana, R; Goonetilleke, N
Adolescent mental health remains a growing concern in underserved urban communities in Sri Lanka. This study aimed to develop a culturally relevant support group model for adolescents in Gothamipura using a participatory approach. The objectives were to create a replicable context-sensitive intervention, enhancesocial-emotional wellbeing of participating adolescents, and offer a replicable framework for developing community-based psychosocial interventions in similar settings. The methodology involved two phases. The first phase involved focused group discussions and consultations with adolescents to understand social emotional focus areas. The second phase included designing sessions, pilot testing, and multiple feedbackand impact assessment sessions. A total of 26 sessions were conducted over 12 months, leading to the development of a support group model with 12 sessions. The model focused on three core areas: emotional awareness, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. Session content was refined iteratively basedon facilitator observations and participant feedback. Impact assessments showed improved understanding of emotions, greater awareness of distress tolerance strategies, and increased engagement in interpersonal skills, though comprehension levels varied among participants. The structured yet adaptable framework that emerged to develop the model highlights the importance of grounding psychosocial interventions inthe lived experiences of adolescents and incorporating continuous feedback throughout the development process. While the model showed promise, limitations included the absence of pre-post quantitative evaluation and challenges in sustaining the intervention beyond facilitator-led sessions. This study contributes to existing knowledge by demonstrating how participatory methods can support the design oflocally meaningful psychosocial programs for adolescents in low-resource, and marginalized settings.
Open Access
Challenges and Coping Strategies of Sri Lankan Undergraduates in Non-English- Speaking Countries: A Qualitative Exploration Using Schlossberg’s Transition Theory
(School of Psychology. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Fahumudeen, H; Goonetilleke, N
International students pursuing higher education in foreign countries are vulnerable to numerous challenges diminishing their experience. Presently, research is dominated by the perspectives of Western students and English-speaking countries; neglecting the perspectives of international students in non-English speaking countries. Through Schlossberg’s transition theory, this qualitative study explored the perspectives of South Asian, specifically Sri Lankan, students in the challenges faced and the coping strategies used – to ultimately develop recommendations improving student experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted on eight undergraduates consisting of six women and two men studying in non-English-speaking countries varying from Eastern Europe to Middle Eastern nations. During Thematic Analysis three themes emerged: the role of host country language, discrimination experienced, and how challenges were navigated. Role of language emerged as a significant theme that influenced students’ daily experiences and quality of support provided. Additionally, Sri Lankan students demonstrated agency by developing and maintaining strong socialsupport systems. However, institutions must ensure that international students are provided adequate resources to navigate the challenges they face and encourage intercultural interactions.
Open Access
Unpacking how the Living Arrangements of Undergraduates Influence Quality of Life
(School of Psychology. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Bandara, K; Abeysekara, M; Vihangi, S; Perera, S; Jayasekara, S; Samaratunge, T; Goonetilleke, N
This study examined the connection between undergraduate students' living arrangements (private vs rented accommodation) and their Quality of Life (QoL) at the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT). All four domains of quality of life, psychological well-being, physical health, environmental factors, and social relationships were measured using an adapted version of the World Health Organisation Quality of Life: Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF). The cross-sectional studyincluded a sample of 64 individuals obtained from the campus premises between the ages of 18-25. Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) revealed no statistically significant differences in QoL dimensions based on accommodation type. However, the effect sizes indicate living arrangements to be a better predictor of the environmental factors as opposed to other domains of QoL. Furthermore, a chi-square test yielded a strong association between the year of study and living arrangements among students, suggesting that the year of study may have an impact on students’ choice of accommodation. These results further demonstrate the diversity of QoL and imply that, although environmental influences are worthy of consideration, living arrangements might not be a strong factor to explain students’ well-being. While the nature of the sample (i.e., small and convenient) may have hindered the statistical significance of the study, the present findings highlight the necessity for subsequent studies to accurately uncover the impact of student life, accommodation, and other related factors onthe quality of life.