The Psychology International Conference [PSYCIC ] 2025
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Publication Open Access Assessment of Judgmental Validity of the Sinhala Physical Abuse Subscale (SPAS) of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire–Short Form (CTQ-SF)(School of Psychology. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Nayanathara, V; Selvaratnam, N. DChildhood physical abuse (CPA) remains a critical public health issue in Sri Lanka, yet there is a notable absence of culturally validated assessment tools in the Sinhala language. This study aimed to translate and assess the content validity of the 5-item Physical Abuse subscale from the Child Trauma Questionnaire–Short Form (CTQ-SF) using the Delphi method. A single round of Delphi was conducted with five subject matter experts (SMEs) selected based on extensive experience in trauma, psychology, and scale validation.Publication Open Access Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Mental Health: Innovations, Challenges, and Ethical Imperatives(School of Psychology. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Jayalath, J.GArtificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly viewed as a promising tool for improving access to and scalability of mental health services, particularly thrrough application such as Chatbot, predictive modeling and emotion recognition technology.However, its integration raises significant ethical and psychological concerns, including algorithmic bias, privacy violations, and the potential erosion of human empathy. This qualitative integrative review aimed to critically examine the dual role of AI in mental health, synthesizing evidence on its efficacy and ethical challenges. The study systematically searched Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed, and PsycINFO databases, employing a structured search strategy. From an initial pool of 70 papers, 10 high-impact studies were selected based on rigorous inclusion criteria (peer-reviewed, focus on AI applications, ethical/psychological implications).Publication Open Access Beneath the Sentence: A Deep Dive into Post-Homicidal Mentality and Coping Strategies on Sri Lanka’s Death Row Inmates(School of Psychology. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Madanayake, C; Perera, H; Samarakoon, C; Athapaththu, T; Attanayaka, A; Weeramanthrie, Y; Sandupama, T; Selvaratnam, N.D; Ponnamperuma, LThis study explores the post-homicidal mentality and coping strategies of individuals convicted of homicide and sentenced to capital punishment in Sri Lanka, a context marked by stressful conditions of incarceration and cultural stigma. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), in-depth interviews were conducted with six male inmates at Welikada Prison to understand how they perceive and manage their acts (i.e., homicide) and extended detention under the threat of the death penalty. The results showed a variety of signs of psychological distress after a homicide, such as guilt, anxiety, disorientation, and emotional numbness. In order to deal with guilt, control intrusive memories, and adapt to prison life, participants used coping strategies, particularly religious surrender, creative engagement, and moral reframing. According to these findings, death row inmates face significant psychological difficulties, and the correctional system in Sri Lanka urgently needs culturally competent mental health services and rehabilitative frameworks. The study contributes to the limited qualitative literature on the inner experiences of death row prisoners, offering insights for policy development and clinical practices aimed at supporting psychological adaptation in highly punitive environments.Publication Open Access Exploring the Role of Parental Communication Patterns in Academic Stress: A Qualitative Study of Sri Lankan University Students(School of Psychology. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Kodagoda, P; Abeysinghe, NAcademic stress is a prevalent issue among university students, with parental communication playing a crucial role in shaping their stress experiences. While extensive research has examined academic stressors, there remains a gap in understanding how specific parental communication patterns influence students' ability to manage stress, particularly within the Sri Lankan context. This study explored how Sri Lankan university students perceived and experienced parental communication in relation to academic stress, focusing on the role of verbal encouragement, emotional understanding, and parental expectations in shaping students' stress experiences and coping mechanisms. A qualitative phenomenological approach was adopted, with six undergraduates (aged 19–25) purposively sampled. Data were collected throughsemi-structured interviews and analysed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis. Findings revealed that supportive parental communication, characterized by emotional validation and encouragement, mitigated academic stress, whereas critical or dismissive communication exacerbated stress levels. Parental expectations emerged as a significant factor influencing students’ stress. The study highlights the crucial role of parental communication in academic stress among Sri Lankan undergraduates and underscores the need for parental awareness and interventions to foster healthier communication patterns. These findings provide valuable insights for educators, policymakers, and mental health professionals in developing support mechanisms to enhance students’ academic well-being.Publication Open Access How Do Psychologists in Sri Lanka Navigate Work-Life Balance? A Qualitative Exploration of Their Experiences(School of Psychology. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Herath, K; Fernando, TIn the presence of an imbalance between work and life, individuals are highly likely to have mental distress, which can result in adverse professional, personal, and health-related consequences. Despite the fact that every profession comes with its own demanding responsibilities. Providing therapy on a regular basis, bearing the emotional weight of their clients, and dealing with vicarious trauma while bearing personalresponsibilities without any institutional support can make it difficult for psychologists to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Without sufficient tools for self-soothing, such close proximity to psychological trauma and human suffering can result in severe emotional anguish, burnout, and, worst of all, attrition from the field. In order to avoid such consequences, this research examines how psychologists balance theirlives between work and life, the key challenges they face and the strategies they utilize to achieve balance. Using purposive sampling, psychologists with over two years of experience working with clients in Sri Lanka were recruited as the sample. Data saturation determined the sample size, which concluded with seven participants. A qualitative design was adopted, and semi-structured interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to determine the main themes within the interview responses. Three major themes emerged from the study: psychologists manage many responsibilities, deal with issues including emotional exhaustion, time management, and boundary setting, and cope by using coping mechanisms like self-care, peer and family support, and psychological techniques. The study concluded that psychologists find it difficult to maintain a balance between their personal and professional lives.Nevertheless, due to the techniques individuals have utilized and supported by their loved ones, they are dealing with it healthily.Publication Open Access Mindscapes of the Gamer: A Phenomenological Study of Internet Gaming Disorder among Sri Lankan Adolescents(School of Psychology. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Rupasinghe, S; Ponnamperuma, LInternet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has emerged as a significant mental health concern among adolescents, undermining psychological well-being, academic performance, and interpersonal relationships. In Sri Lanka, stringent cultural values, such as strict familial hierarchies and high expectations for academic excellence, and intense educational pressures, shape gaming experiences. This study examined adolescentgamers’ lived experiences through in-depth semi-structured interviews with seven participants recruited via snowball sampling from online gaming communities. Participants were active gamers who reported significant daily-life disruptions. Interviews (30–40 minutes) were transcribed verbatim and analysed iteratively to ensure thematic credibility. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis guided thematic exploration. Four superordinate themes emerged: Mindscapes of the Gamer; Connected Yet Fragmented; When Escape Becomes the Only Escape; and The Real Cost of Virtual Victories. This paper focuses on the Mindscapes of the Gamer theme, comprising two subthemes, Escaping Real-Life Stress and Gaming’s Effects on Thoughts and Actions, to illustrate gaming’s dual role as a refuge and a cognitive intruder. Participants described gaming as providing immediate emotional relief from academic and familial stress, yet their accounts revealed lingering mental preoccupations that disrupted concentration, decision-making, academic engagement, and self-care. Excessive gaming was also associated with academic neglect anddeterioration in self-care practices, compounding its adverse effects on mental health. Some adolescents reported enhanced self-worth and social validation, reflecting literature on digital belonging. These findings uncover a paradox in which brief relief may lead to enduring cognitive and emotional challenges. The paper underscores the need for culturally tailored interventions combining emotion-regulation training with strategies to interrupt gaming-related rumination. Focusing solely on Mindscapes of theGamer delivers in-depth psychological insights and actionable guidance for fostering resilience among adolescents in pressured environments.Publication 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, NAdolescent 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.Publication Open Access Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Coping in End-Stage Renal Failure: A Wilgamuwa, Sri Lanka IPA Study(School of Psychology. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Nanayakkara, S. A; Kumarage, A. T; Jayaweera, S; Mendis, D; Kodithuwakku, V; Jayasooriya, D; Sansani, T; Ponnamperuma, LEnd-stage renal failure (ESRF) profoundly disrupts patients’ physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. This paper presents a concentrated analysis of these responses, drawn from an initial study conducted in 2024 that consisted of three-themes recruiting the ESFR patients living in Wilgamuwa Divisional Secretariat, Mathale. An interpretative phenomenological analysis of semi-structured interviews with five purposively sampled ESRF patients, identified several key themes. Analysis demonstrated how severefatigue and treatment side effects impede daily life and undermine work identity. It also revealed how guilt and fear of burdening family exacerbate emotional distress. And thirdly the study found that reframing illness in spiritual lens can foster acceptance and resilience among the participants. These findings highlight the urgent need for culturally sensitive palliative interventions in rural Sri Lanka, combining symptom management, family-centred psychosocial support, and spiritual counselling, to address the multifaceted challenges of ESRF.Publication Open Access Exploring the Psychological Impact of Socially Prescribed Perfectionism among Sri Lankan Adolescents: An Interpretative Phenomenological Study(School of Psychology. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Ekanayake, R; Ponnamperuma, LSocially prescribed perfectionism (SPP) is defined as the belief that others demand perfection from them. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to SPP due to their heightened sensitivity to external evaluations. Existing literature has consistently identified SPP as the most harmful form of perfectionism. However, there is a notable lack of research focusing specifically on SPP, both globally and in Sri Lanka. This studyaimed to explore the lived experiences of Sri Lankan adolescents with SPP by focusing on how they make sense of external expectations and the resulting psychological impact. The sample included seven adolescents aged 17 to 19 who self-identified as perfectionists experiencing unrealistic expectations from others. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling via a social media post. Data was collected through semi-structured online interviews, each lasting between 30 and 50 minutes. The interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The superordinate theme, ‘the price of never feeling enough’, and its three subthemes illustrated the psychological impact of SPP, highlighting participants’ experiences of self-doubt, strained relationships, and identity loss. This study supports global literature by identifying SPP as predominantly maladaptive, with only limited adaptive aspects. Sri Lankan adolescents appear to experience intense psychological pressure, largely driven by unrealistic expectations from significant adult figures.Publication Open Access The Psychological Impact of Perceived Gender-Based Discrimination against Female Police Officers of Sri Lanka(School of Psychology. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Areluwagoda, A.G.G.U.K.; Ponnamperuma, LGender-based discrimination (GBD) challenges female police officers globally, yet its psychological impact, especially in Sri Lanka, has not been thoroughly researched. This study explored perceived GBD's lived experiences and psychological consequences for Sri Lankan female officers, informed by socialist feminism and Schein's organizational culture model. The primary objective was to understand GBD's psychological impact on female officers' self-identity and job satisfaction. A purposeful sample of six female police officers with 5+ years of service, perceiving GBD, was recruited from regional stations. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed with Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore subjective meaning-making. Analysis revealed prevalent experiences of perceived incompetence, devaluation, and blocked career progression, attributed to deeply embedded patriarchal attitudes. These led to significant emotional distress, including numbness, pain, embarrassment, disappointment, hopelessness, and exhaustion, as well as lower self-esteem and work identity conflict. Findings highlight how embedded patriarchy and societal gender norms have a significant negative impact on female officers'psychological well-being. Discrimination causes substantial emotional distress and challenges to identity and job satisfaction, emphasizing the urgent need for interventions against systemic gender bias in law enforcement.