Prof. Annabella Osei-Tutu

Annabella Osei-Tutu is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Psychology, University of Ghana. She is a Volkswagen senior postdoctoral fellow, affiliated with the Centre of Interdisciplinary African Studies (ZIAF) of the Goethe University Frankfurt/Main, Germany. She received her PhD in Counselling Psychology from the Virginia Commonwealth University, USA, and a Master of Philosophy degree in Health Promotion from the University of Bergen, Norway. Her research interest lies in the intersections of psychology and culture, particularly focusing on mental health, well-being, forgiveness, and relationality. Some of her recent works have examined engagement with religious healers and lay helpers, mental illness explanatory models, and cultural adaptation of psychosocial interventions and psychotherapies. She has investigated conceptions and experiences of forgiveness across different Ghanaian samples — children,  couples, married individuals, and incarcerated adults.

Research Area(s) (including ongoing research)

Dr. Osei-Tutu’s current research focuses on three thematic areas: (1) Mental health in Ghana; (2) Ghanaian models of well-being and relationality; and (3) Forgiveness.

 Ongoing Research Grants

Principal investigator:  ‘Is it well with my soul?’ Effects of contemporary African religious practices on well-being. Volkswagen Foundation, Germany.

Co-Investigator (Ghana Lead): The impact of COVID-19 on people with psychosocial disabilities in rural and urban settings in Ghana and Indonesia and priorities for inclusive recovery. UKRI/AHRC Global  Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), UK.

Co-Investigator: Community integration and mental illness in Palestine and Ghana.  ESRC Impact Acceleration Account, International Impact Fund, UK.

Teaching

Previous courses taught    

•      PSYC 101    Elements of Psychology

•      PSYC 222    Motivation and Emotion
•      PSYC 661    The Nature of Contemporary Social Psychology
•      PSYC 702    Ethics & Professional Skills

Current courses being taught

•      PSYC 451    Guidance and Counselling
•      PSYC 614    Principles and Ethics of Clinical/Counselling Psychology
•      PSYC 621    Introduction to Counselling Psychology
•      PSYC 623    Theory and Practice of Counselling and Psychotherap
•      PSYC 624    Career Development and Counselling
•      PSYC 714    Advanced Topics in Psychology

Scientific Publications (Journal Articles, Book Chapters, Books )

Adams, G., Osei-Tutu, A., & Affram, A. (2020). Decolonial perspectives on psychology and development. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Psychology. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190236557.013.514

Affram, A. A., & Osei-Tutu, A. (2021). Intimacy and self-disclosure in Ghanaian in-law relationships. Journal of Family Studies, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/13229400.2021.2006751

Dzokoto, V., Anum, A., Affram, A. A., Agbavitoh, J. K. M., Dadzie, H. A., Mintah, R. K., Norman, Q. A., Owusu-Prempeh, C., Tawam, L. N., Turkson, S. M., & Osei-Tutu, A. (2021). “A lot of Ghanaians really don't understand the work we do”—Cultural adaptations and barriers in Ghanaian psychotherapy practice. International Perspectives in Psychology: Research, Practice, Consultation. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1027/2157-3891/a000015

Osei-Tutu, A., Affram, A. A., & Dzokoto, A. (2021). “I reported my wife to her mother…” An analysis of transgressions within child- and parent-in-law relationships in Ghana.  Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 52, 1, 94-116. https://doi.org/10.3138/jcfs.52.1.007

Osei-Tutu, A., Worthington Jr, E. L., Chen, Z. J., McElroy-Heltzel, S., Davis, D. E., & Washington-Nortey, M. (2021). Religious homogamy affects the connections of personality and marriage qualities to unforgiving motives: Implications for couple therapy. Religions 12. Article 917. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel12110917

Osei-Tutu, A., Adams, G., Esiaka, D., Dzokoto, V. A., & Affram, A. A. (2021). The modernity/coloniality of love: Individualist lifeways and charismatic Christianity in Ghanaian worlds. Journal of Social Issues.1–26. https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12432

Osei-Tutu, A., Affram, A. A., Mensah, C., Dzokoto, V. A., & Adams, G., (2021). The impact of COVID-19 and religious restrictions on the well-being of Ghanaian Christians: The perspectives of religious leaders. Journal of Religion and Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-021-01285-8

Osei-Tutu, A., Cowden, R. G., Kwakye-Nuako, C. O., Gadze, J., Oppong, S., Worthington, Jr. E. L. (2021). Self-forgiveness among incarcerated individuals in Ghana: Relations with shame- and guilt-proneness. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 65, 558–570. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X20914496

Osei-Tutu, A., Dzokoto, V.A.A., Affram, A. A., Adams, G., Norberg, J. & Doosje, B. (2020). Cultural models of wellbeing implicit in four Ghanaian languages. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, Article 1798. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01798

Osei-Tutu, A., Kenin, A., Affram, A. A., Kusi, A. A., Adams, G., & Dzokoto, V. A. (2021). Ban on religious gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic: Impact on Christian church leaders’ well-being in Ghana. Pastoral Psychology, 70, 335–347. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-021-00954-5

Osei-Tutu, A., Osafo, J., Anum, A., Appiah-Danquah, R., Worthington, Jr., E., Chen, Z. J., Cowden, R. G., & Nonterah, C. (2020). Is cultural adaptation needed beyond using Christian-accommodated reach forgiveness psychoeducational group intervention in Ghana? An efficacy study comparing a Christian-accommodated version against a version accommodated by Christian and cultural adaptations. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 7(2), 73–88. https://doi.org/10.1037/scp0000215 

Osei-Tutu, A., Oti-Boadi, M., Affram, A. Dzokoto, V., Asante, P. Y., Agyei, F., & Kenin, A. (2020). Premarital counseling practices among Christian and Muslim lay counselors in Ghana. Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling, 74(3): 203-211. https://doi.org/10.1177/1542305020916721