Research Publications
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Publication Embargo Toward minority resilience – an integrated qualitative analysis with trans and gender non-conforming interviewees in Sri Lanka(Emerald Publishing, 2025-04-08) De Silva, R; Henrich, S; de Silva, B.G. R; Maycock, M; Edirisooriya, C; Nagahawatta, K; Medawatta, WPurpose – This study aims to explore minority resilience of trans and gender non-confirming individuals within a non-Western, collectivist society in Sri Lanka. Design/methodology/approach – In total, 15 interviews were analyzed with the multi-method qualitative text and discourse analysis framework; by incorporating the depth of discourse analysis with the breadth of thematic analysis. Findings – Four narratives emerged (jealousy and competition; authentic expression; othered or shunned; and conditional acceptance), located at the convergence of the two interview foci, “group membership” and “level of support”. Study findings strengthen the Transgender Resilience Intervention Model with evidence from a non-Western context, highlighting unique findings from Sri Lanka. Research limitations/implications – The sample size, focus on one nationality, exclusion of minors and recruitment of participants with access to digital devices may limit generalizability of study findings. Some responses on autobiographical data required prompting by the researcher, and retrospective recollections may not be reliable. Originality/value – To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is one of the first studies in South Asia to explore minority resilience with trans and gender non-conforming individuals. The findings add to the growing body of South Asian scholarship and further expand the predominantly Global North literature by providing a collectivist perspective.Publication Open Access Global nexus of smoking prevalence, healthcare quality and respiratory cancer mortality: a cross-continental study(Springer Nature, 2025-10-06) Piumika, L; Silva, D; De Silva, R; Jayathilaka, R; Wickramaarachchi, C; Rajamanthri, LBackground Smoking causes Trachea, Bronchus, and Lung Cancer (TBLC) mortality, depicting a strong correlation,while the quality of healthcare access in countries considerably impacts health outcomes. This study evaluates the differential effect in the interplay between Smoking Prevalence (SP) and health care, employing the Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ) index towards the TBLC mortality rates across diverse continents and globally. Methods The data covering a 30-year period for 204 countries globally was categorised based on the level of SP (Low, Moderate, High, Critical) and the quality of healthcare access (Poor, Limited, Adequate, Optimal). A two-way ANOVA was utilised to analyse the patterns and variations in TBLC mortality rates across these categories, exploring the interactions between SP and the HAQ Index. Results Distinct patterns were observed in each continent, highlighting the complex interactions between the HAQ Index and SP, which lead to varying health outcomes. The results indicate that regions with an optimal HAQ Index and low SP have lower TBLC death rates, whereas those with a poor HAQ Index and critical SP exhibit higher death rates. Conclusion The findings emphasise the need to address both smoking prevalence and healthcare facilities globally. By improving healthcare access and reducing smoking rates, governments can significantly lower TBLC mortality rates. This study underlines the importance of integrating public health policies that limit smoking prevalence with enhancements in healthcare systems to promote better health and well-being.Publication Open Access Exploration of Gender Identity as Experienced by the Transgender Community of Sri Lanka(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Edirisooriya, C; De Silva, R; De Silva, RaneeshaAmidst the socioeconomic advancements, the transgender community continues to endure marginalization, stigma, and discrimination. This persistent social reality underscores the urgent need to delve into the coping strategies employed by transgenders in navigating identity-related challenges and to assess the available psychosocial support systems. This study investigates perceptions of gender identity within the community and broader society, and the lived experiences of transgender individuals and their coping mechanisms. Employing a qualitative methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten transgender individuals, analyzing the data through thematic analysis. The data was obtained from a larger study that explored the Post-COVID Minority Distress and Resilience in Sri Lanka’s LGBTQIA+ Community. Findings illuminate the challenges faced, ranging from familial rejection to societal discrimination, including encounters with legal authorities. The perception of gender identity among transgender individuals is influenced by factors, including individual personality traits, available support networks, cultural context, awareness levels, and interactions within the community. While there has been a positive shift in societal attitudes in recent years, significant barriers persist, hindering full acceptance and integration of transgender identities. Despite the lack of formalized psychosocial support mechanisms, transgender individuals employ diverse coping strategies, including engagement with music, relaxation techniques, following religious practices, and withdrawing from social interactions to manage distress. In conclusion, while the existing community organizations offer vital support, the study findings underscore the need for comprehensive interventions spanning individual-level psychological support and systemic changes at the policy and legal levels. By addressing these multifaceted challenges and bolstering support structures, a more inclusive society can be fostered that affirms and supports the diverse identities within the transgender community.Publication Open Access Impact of global smoking prevalence on mortality: a study across income groups(Springer link, 2024-07-04) De Silva, R; Silva, D; Piumika, L; Abeysekera, I; Jayathilaka, R; Rajamanthri, L; Wickramaarachchi, CBackground Smoking significantly contributes to the mortality rates worldwide, particularly in non-communicable and preventable diseases such as cardiovascular ailments, respiratory conditions, stroke, and lung cancer. This study aims to analyse the impact of smoking on global deaths, and its association with mortality across the main income groups. Methods The comprehensive analysis spans 199 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019. The study categorises countries into four income groups: high income, upper middle income, lower middle income, and low income. Results The findings underscore the profound impact of global tobacco smoking on mortality. Notably, cardiovascular disease mortality is notably affected in both upper-middle-income and high-income groups. Chronic respiratory disease mortality rates show a significant impact across all income groups. Moreover, stroke-related mortality is observed in the lower-middle, upper-middle, and high-income groups. These results highlight the pervasive influence of smoking prevalence on global mortality, affecting individuals across various socioeconomic levels. Conclusion The study underscores the critical implications of smoking on mortality rates, particularly in high-income countries. It emphasises the urgency of targeted interventions in these regions to address the specific challenges posed by tobacco smoking on public health. Policy recommendations include implementing prohibitive measures extending to indoor public areas such as workplaces and public transportation services. Furthermore, allocating funds for research on tobacco and health, is imperative to ensure policymakers are consistently informed about emerging facts and trends in this complex domain.Publication Open Access Examining the influence of global smoking prevalence on stroke mortality: insights from 27 countries across income strata(Springer link, 2024-03-19) Abeysekera, I; De Silva, R; Silva, D; Piumika, L; Jayathilaka, R; Rajamanthri, LBackground This study investigates the influence of Global Smoking Prevalence (GSP) on Stroke Death Rates (SDR) across 27 countries categorized into High-Income Countries (HIC), Upper Middle-Income Countries (UMIC), Lower Middle-Income Countries (LMIC), and Low-Income Countries (LIC). Methods Analysing data from two distinct periods (1990–1999 and 2010–2019), countries exhibiting an increased SDR were selected. The study uses a polynomial regression model, treating income groups as cross-sectional and years as time series data. Results Results from the regression model reveal that 17 countries observed a significant impact of GSP on SDR, with only Turkey, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste resulting in negative values. However, the study emphasises that out of all 27 countries, the highest occurrence of the impact of GSP on SDR has been reported in the LMIC stratum for the period under review. Conclusion It is evident that GSP affects the risk of incidence of stroke death, specifically in the LMIC stratum. Furthermore, it has been identified that GSP is a major preventable risk factor affecting global mortality. To mitigate the risk of stroke death attributable to smoking prevalence, necessary preventive steps should be adopted to encourage smoking cessation, and essential policies should be implemented to reduce the burden of SDR.Publication Embargo Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Primary Caregivers of Children with Invisible Disabilities in Sri Lanka(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2022-09-15) Mohamed, W; De Silva, RChildren with invisible disabilities such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, speech impairments, and learning difficulties require special support and a diligent caregiving environment to thrive. Primary caregivers have to take on additional roles to provide extra support for children with invisible disabilities while accommodating their professional and personal lives through the process. This research analyzed depression, anxiety, and stress between primary caregivers of children with invisible disabilities and primary caregivers of typically-developing children in Sri Lanka. Data was gathered through an online survey. The sample consisted of 75 primary caregivers between the ages of 23 years to 56 years, which included 38 primary caregivers of children with invisible disabilities and 37 primary caregivers of typicallydeveloping children. The DASS-21 (Lovibond and Lovibond, 1995) was administered to measure depression, anxiety, and stress. The Independent sample t-test was used to compare the mean difference between the two groups of caregivers. The findings did not reveal a significant difference in the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress between primary caregivers of children with invisible disabilities and primary caregivers of typicallydeveloping children. However, regression analysis revealed that parental age had a significant impact on the levels of anxiety among caregivers of children with invisible disabilities. This implies that experience gained with age may reduce anxiety in primary caregivers of children with invisible disabilitiesPublication Open Access A Meta-Analysis of Childhood Maltreatment in Relation to Psychopathic Traits(PsyArXiv, 2021-12-17) de Ruiter, C; Burghart, M; De Silva, R; Garcia, S. G; Mian, U; Walshe, E; Zouharova, VPsychopathy is a personality disorder characterized by a mix of traits belonging to four facets: affective (e.g., callous/lack of empathy), interpersonal (e.g., grandiosity), behavioral instability (e.g., impulsivity, poor behavioral controls), and social deviance (e.g., juvenile delinquency, criminal versatility). Several scholars have argued that early childhood maltreatment impacts the development of psychopathy, although views regarding its role in the four facets differ. We conducted a meta-analysis including 47 studies comprising a total of 349 effect sizes and 12,737 participants, to investigate the association between the four psychopathy facets and four types of child maltreatment: physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse. We found support for a moderate link between overall psychopathy and childhood physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect, as well as overall childhood maltreatment. The link between psychopathy and childhood sexual abuse was small, but still significant. These associations were stronger for the behavioral and antisocial facets than for the affective and interpersonal facets of psychopathy, but nearly all associations were significant. Our findings are consistent with recently developed theories on the role of complex trauma in the development of severe personality disorders. Trauma-focused preventive and therapeutic interventions can provide further tests of the trauma-psychopathy hypothesis.Publication Embargo A heuristic study of the similarities and differences in offender characteristics across potential and successful serial sexual homicide offenders(researchgate.net, 2021-08) Yaksic, E; Harrison, M; Konikoff, D; Mooney, R; Allely, C; De Silva, R; Matykiewicz, B; Inglis, M; Giannangelo, S. J; Daniels, S; Sarteschi, C. MThis heuristic study examined potential serial sexual homicide offenders (SSHOs), an unacknowledged offender group comprised of aspiring and probable SSHOs, and compared them with successful SSHOs. Data were collected on six aspiring SSHOs who each failed a single homicide attempt, 16 probable SSHOs who committed 17 homicides in separate events, and 13 successful SSHOs who killed 90 victims in separate events. The study results indicate that while potential SSHOs share more in common with successful SSHOs than they do with single-victim nonsexual homicide offenders, and that there is an overlap between potential SSHOs and successful SSHOs, there is currently insufficient evidence to suggest that there are discreet transitions among categories. While few potential SSHOs strive to become successful SSHOs, this may be due to weak or nonexistent emotional triggers. Being a potential SSHO does not appear to be a predictable first step on a pathway towards becoming a successful SSHO, as potential SSHOs cannot reliably be thought of as prospective SSHOs if all things were equal. The present study could not foresee all potential SSHOs becoming successful ones. An as yet unidentified number of factors still appear to separate potential SSHOs from successful SSHOs.Publication Open Access Exploring the Similarities and Differences in Offender Characteristics Across Aspiring, Probable, and Successful Serial Homicide Offenders: The Importance of an Inclusive …(SocArXiv, 2019-01) Yaksic, E; Konikoff, D; Gordon, D; Mooney, R; Allely, C; De Silva, R; Matykiewicz, B; Smith-Inglis, M; Giannangelo, S. J; Daniels, S; Sarteschi, C. MThe current study examines potential serial homicide offenders (SHOs), a previously unacknowledged offender group comprised of aspiring and probable SHOs, and compares them to successful SHOs. Data on 17 aspiring, 46 probable, and 16 successful SHOs were collected. The study results indicate that potential serial killers share more in common with successful SHOs than they do with one-off homicide offenders. While there is overlap among these groups, there is insufficient evidence to suggest discreet transitions among categories or that being a potential SHO is the final step on a pathway towards becoming a successful SHO. Potential SHOs cannot reliably be thought of as prospective SHOs if all things were equal. An as yet identified factor, such as resiliency, still separates potential SHOs from successful SHOs. Early identification and timely intervention is important to interrupt impending murders by potential SHOs and halt them at this pivotal point in their developmental trajectory.Publication Embargo How much damage do serial homicide offenders wrought while the innocent rot in prison? A tabulation of preventable deaths as outcomes of sentinel events(Routledge, 2021-01-02) Yaksic, E; Allred, T. B; Drakulic, C; Mooney, R; De Silva, R; Geyer, P; Wills, A; Comerford, C; Ranger, RThe criminal justice system has allowed serial homicide offenders (SHOs) to commit additional homicides by failing to identify them after their initial homicide. Recidivism has been possible in instances where the SHO benefited from the wrongful incarceration of an innocent person for one of their homicides. Data from the National Registry of Exonerations was utilized to tabulate the full extent of these sentinel events, defined as the number of deaths that could have been prevented. Additional research was conducted to identify where victims fell in the offender’s killing sequence. This ancillary data revealed the number of victims whose deaths could have been prevented had the offender been apprehended earlier in their series of homicides. Sixty-two SHOs were responsible for 249 deaths, 114 of which were committed after an innocent person was incarcerated for the SHO’s initial homicide. To prevent further loss of life, law enforcement must: act upon accurate information; lower the SHO evidentiary threshold; prevent personal bias from influencing investigative steps; obtain training in the behavior of SHOs; admit mistakes; and re-examine convictions if wrongdoing is suspected.