Prof. Kwaku Oppong Asante
PROFILE
Kwaku Oppong Asante, PhD. is an experienced researcher in the Department of Psychology, University of Ghana. His vision is to become a leading global researcher and an academic whose works influence policy and improve child and adolescent mental health. His research interests focus on adolescent and young adults health and well-being, adolescents in adversity and health promotion. He also has interest in other areas of health psychology and public health and interested in international collaboration. Dr. Oppong Asante has published extensively with over 90 peer reviewed articles and acts as an ad-hoc reviewer for over 60 journals over the past decade. He is currently an Associate Editor for the International Journal of Mental Health & Addiction, BMC Public Health, an Academic Editor for PLoS One and Co-Editor for the Ghana Social Science Journal. He is an Honorary Research Fellow in the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
EDUCATION:
Postdoctoral Research Fellow (University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa)
PhD in Psychology (University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa)
MPhil in Developmental Psychology (Norwegian University of Science & Technology, Norway)
BA (Hons) in Psychology with Information Studies (University of Ghana, Ghana)
TEACHING
Teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses including Introduction to General Psychology, Research Methods, Psychology of Adolescence, Advances Statistics and Research Methods, etc.
AREA OF SPECIALIZATION
Adolescent health and wellbeing
Youth homelessness and other vulnerable populations (i.e. OVC)
Suicidal behaviour among adolescents and young adults
SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS (SELECTED). FULL LIST OF PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
Chapter in edited book
Oppong, S., Oppong Asante, K., & Kumako, S. (2014). History, development, and current status of psychology in Ghana. In C. S. Akotia & C. C. Mate-Kole (Eds.), Contemporary Psychology: Readings from Ghana (pp.1–17). Accra, Ghana: Digibooks.
Osafo, J., Oppong Asante, K., & Akotia, C.S. (2020). Suicide prevention in African region. In E. Arensman, D. De Leo & J. Pirkis (Eds.), Suicide and suicide prevention from a globap perspective (pp. s53-s71). Gottingen, Germany: Hogrefe/ International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP). https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000668
Yendork, J. S., Ayittey, R., & Oppong Asante, K. (in press). 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.xx-yy). Accra, Ghana: Sub-Saharan Publishers.
Oppong, S., Oppong Asante, K., & Anum, A. (in press). Psychological Assessment in West Africa. In S. Laher (Eds.), Histories of psychological assessment (pp. xx-yy). London, UK: Oxford Universities Press
Peer reviewed journal articles
Quarshie, E.N.B., Oppong Asante, K., Andoh-Arthur, J., Akotia, C.S., Osafo, J. (2021). To keep the law or to repeal it: views of parliamentarians on the call to decriminalise attempted suicide in Ghana. OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying, doi: 10.1177/00302228211066683
Quarshie, E.N.B., Oppong Asante, K., Andoh-Arthur, J. (2021). Self-harm and suicidal behaviour in Ghana: A systematic review protocol. BMJ Open, 11, e053144. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053144
Kugbey, N., Meyer-Weitz, A., Oppong Asante, K., Yarney, J., & Vanderpuye, V. (2021). Lived experiences of women receiving medical treatments for breast cancer in Ghana: A qualitative study. Sage Open, 11(3), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211045077
Oppong Asante, K., Quarshie, E.N.B., & Onyeaka, H. (2021). Epidemiology of suicidal behaviours among school-going adolescents in post-conflict Sierra Leone. Journal of Affective Disorders, 295, 989-996. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.147
Oppong Asante, K., Asiama-Sampong, E., & Appiah, R. (2021). A qualitative exploration of the role of NGOs in the recovery support of persons with substance use disorders in a low-income African setting. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 16, 62. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-021-00400-y
Tetteh, J., Ekem-Furguson, G., Quarshie, E.N.B., Swaray, S.M., Ayanore, M.A., Seneadza, N.A.H., Oppong Asante, K., & Yawson, A. E. (2021). Marijuana use and suicidal behaviours among school-going adolescents in Africa: assessments of prevalence and risk factors from the Global School-Based Student Health Survey. General Psychiatry, e100558. https://doi:10.1136/gpsych-2021-100558
Khumalo, I.P., Ejoke, U.P., Oppong Asante, K., & Rugira, J. (2021). Measuring social well-being in Africa: An exploratory structural equation modelling study. African Journal of Psychological Assessment, 3(1), a37. https://doi.org/10.4102/ajopa.v3i0.37
Klutsey, D. A., Amankwah‑Poku, M., & Oppong Asante, K. (2021). To disclose or not to disclose? Caregivers experiences of disclosure of HIV status of children living with HIV in Accra, Ghana. Lifestyle Medicine, 2(3), e40. http://doi.org/10.1002/lim2.40
Onyeaka, H., & Oppong Asante, K. (2021). Prevalence and determinants of alcohol use among adolescents in post-conflict Liberia. The Journal of Human Behaviour in the Social Environment. https://doi.org/10.1080/10911359.2021.1941478
Blachnio, A., Cudo, A., Kot, P., Toroj, M., Oppong Asante, K., Enea, V., Ben-Erza, M., ……. Wright, M.F. (2021). Cultural and psychological variables predicting academic dishonesty: A cross-sectional study in nine countries. Ethics & Behaviour, 1-47. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508422.2021.1910826
Quarshie, E.N.B., Fobi, D., Acheampong, E.K., Honu-Mensah, C., Fobi, J.., Appau, O., Andoh-Arthur, J., & Oppong Asante, K. (2021). Suicidal behaviours among deaf adolescents in Ghana: a cross-sectional study. Journal of Public Health,1-10. Online First https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdab076
Atorkey, P., & Oppong Asante, K. (2021).Clustering of multiple health risk factors among a sample of adolescents in Liberia: A latent class analysis. Journal of Public Health, Online First 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-020-01465-y
Quarshie, E. N. B., Andoh-Arthur, J., Oppong Asante, K., & Asare-Doku, W. (2021). Online media reporting of suicidal behaviour in Ghana: Analysis of adherence to the WHO guidelines. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 67(3), 251-259. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764020919787
Sodi, T., Modipane, M., Oppong Asante, K., Quarshie, E.N.B., Asatsa, S., Mumtambara, J., & Kombo, S. (2021). Mental health policy and system preparedness to respond to COVID-19 and other health emergencies: a case study of four African countries. South African Journal of Psychology, 51(2), 279-292. https://doi.org/10.1177/00812463211012177
Oppong Asante, K., & Onyeaka, H. (2021). The mediating role of social support in the relationship between stigma and emotional distress among homeless adolescents in Ghana. Psychology, Health & Medicine. Online First, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2021.1887501
Amankwah‑Poku, M., Klutsey, D. A., & Oppong Asante, K. (2021). Disclosure and health-related outcomes among children living with HIV and their caregivers. AIDS Research and Therapy 18(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12981-021-00337-z
Pinto, A. A., Oppong Asante, K., Barbosa, R. M. S. P., Nahas, M. V., Dias, D. T., & Pelegrini, A. (2021). Association between loneliness, physical activity, and participation in physical education among adolescents in Amazonas, Brazil. Journal of Health Psychology, 26(5), 650-658. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105319833741
Odame, S. K., Quarshie, E. N. B.,Oti-Boadi, M., Andoh-Arthur, J., & Oppong Asante, K. (2021). Adolescent problem gambling in rural Ghana: prevalence and gender differentiation. Journal of Gambling Studies, 37, 83-105. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-020-09987-6
Oppong Asante, K., & Nefale, M.T. (2021).Substance use among street-connected children and adolescents in Ghana and South Africa: A cross-country comparison study. Behavioral Sciences, 11(3), 28. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs11030028
Osafo, J., Oppong Asante, K., Ampomah, C. A., & Osei-Tutu, A. (2021). Factors contributing to divorce in Ghana: An exploratory analysis of evidence from court suits. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 62(4), 312-326. https://doi.org/10.1080/10502556.2021.1871839
Quarshie, E. N. B., Oppong Asante, K., Andoh-Arthur, J., Asare-Doku, W., & Navelle, P. L. (2021). Suicide attempts and deaths in older persons in Ghana: A media surveillance approach. Current Psychology, 40(1), 292–305. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-018-9932-5
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS (SELECTED)
Dwumfour Williams, B. Quarshie, E. N-B., Oppong Asante, K., & Osafo, J. (03-04 Nov. 2021). Self-reported suicidal behaviours among first-year undergraduates during the covid-19 pandemic in Ghana. A paper presented at the 7th (Virtual) School of Social Sciences International Conference. University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Klutsey, D. A., Amankwah-Poku, M, & Oppong Asante, K. (03-04 Nov. 2021). The mediating role of duration of disclosure in the relationship between disclosure and psychological wellbeing among children living with HIV in Accra Ghana. A paper presented at the 7th (Virtual) School of Social Sciences International Conference. University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Quarshie, E. N. B., & Oppong Asante, K. (21-24 Sept, 2021). “One cannot commit a crime against himself”: the views of parliamentarians on the call to decriminalise attempted suicide in Ghana. A paper to be presented at the 31st World Congress of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP). Hybrid Event, Gold Coast, Australia.
Oppong Asante, K. (27-29 July, 2021). Prevalence and determinants of sexual violence victimisation among homeless adolescents in Ghana. A paper presented at the South African Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions Virtual Congress 2021. Online Conference organised by SA-ACAPAP, South Africa.
Oppong Asante, K. (May 25-27 2021). Delegate. TRIPLE i in Suicidology 2021. Virtual Conference organised by Slovene Centre for Suicide Research (SCSR), De Leo Fund and the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP). Slovenia.
Oppong Asante, K. (May 12-13 2021). Delegate. MQ’s Mental Health Science Summit. Online Conference organised by MQ Mental Health Research in collaboration with Welcome Trust
Oppong Asante, K. (April 5-7, 2021). Participant. The 11th Global Mental Health Research without Borders Conference. Online Conference organised by the National Institute of Mental Health and Grand Challenges Canada.