About

Joana Salifu Yendork is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Ghana, specializing in developmental and clinical psychology. With a Ph.D. from Stellenbosch University, her research focuses on child and adolescent mental health, gambling harm prevention, orphanhood, the psychological impact of child marriage and the intersection of contemporary religion and mental health. Prof. Yendork has led several funded research projects, including studies on adolescent identity, psychological well-being in institutionalized children, and community-based mental health interventions. She has published widely in peer-reviewed journals and serves as an academic editor and editorial board member for both national and international journals. Her work extends beyond academia, engaging in consultancy, community service, and mental health advocacy. She mentors students and supervises graduate and undergraduate research while contributing to policy discussions on psychological well-being. Passionate about fostering resilience and positive development, Prof. Yendork continues to shape the field through research, teaching, and community engagement.

Research Interest

Child and adolescent mental health

Gambling harm prevention

Orphanhood

Psychological impact of child marriage 

Contemporary religion and mental health

Publications

1. Salifu Yendork, J., Asante, K. O., & Nii-Boye Quarshie, E. (2023), "Football betting among university students in Ghana". In McGee, D. & Bunn, C. (Ed.), Gambling and Sports in a Global Age: Research in the Sociology of Sport (Vol. 18, pp. 89-107). Bingley: Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1476-285420230000018007
2. Salifu Yendork, J. (2023). Breaking the glass ceiling as a female psychologist in Ghana: My past, presence and future. In E. N. Quarshie & C. S. Akotia (Ed.), Women in Psychology in Ghana: An autobiographical collection (Chapter 15, pp. 307-335). Accra: Sub-Saharan Publishers.
3. Salifu Yendork, J., Ayittey, R., & Oppong Asante, K.  (2022). Experiences of stepparents in the stepfamily context in Ghana: An exploratory study in Koforidua. In S. Tonah (Eds.), Family structure and marriage patterns in contemporary Ghana (pp. 428–450). Accra, Ghana: Woeli Publishers.
4. Baba, H., Yendork, J.S., & Atindanbila, S. (2022). Exploring protective resources that facilitate positive outcomes among married girls in the northern region of Ghana. In: L. Schutte, T. Guse, & M.P. Wissing (Eds.), Embracing well-being in diverse African contexts: Research perspectives. Cross-Cultural Advancements in Positive Psychology (vol. 16, pp. 195–218). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85924-4_9
5. Ohenewa, E., Salifu Yendork, J., Amponsah, B., & Owusu-Ansah, F. E. (2025). “After cutting it, things have never remained the same”: A qualitative study of the perspectives of amputees and their caregivers. Health Expectations, 28, e70148. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70148
6. Baba, H., Salifu Yendork, J., & Kliewer, W. (2025). Associations between coping, support, and mental health among married adolescent girls in Northern Ghana. International Perspectives in Psychology: Research, Practice, Consultation, 14(1), 41–53. https://doi.org/10.1027/2157-3891/a000119
7. Ndinyun, T. L., Salifu Yendork, J., & Osei-Tutu, A. (2024). “They are not as strong as we think”: Symptoms of mental illnesses among Ghanaian Pastors in Protestant, Pentecostal, and Charismatic denominations. Mental Health, Religion & Culture. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2024.2378881
8. Salifu Yendork, J., Ayittey, R. E., Oti-Boadi, M., Omari, E. B., & Oppong Asante, K. (2024). Coping within the stepfamily context in Ghana: Exploratory study of the experiences of stepchildren and stepparents. Journal of Child and Family Studies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-024-02956-2
9. Salifu Yendork, J., Omari, E. B., Andoh-Arthur, J. & Annor, F. Correlates of sexual orientation self-concept ambiguity among Ghanaian adolescents (2024). Sexuality & Culture. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-024-10281-5
10. Salifu Yendork, J., Kliewer, K., & Cyrus, J. (2024). Child marriage and well-being in Central and Western Africa: A scoping review of positive and negative outcomes. Journal of Adolescence. https://doi.org/10.1002/jad.12418