Dr. Ana Uka

[email protected]

Head of Department
Department of Medicine
Faculty of Technical Medical Sciences

Bio

Education

Publications

Ana Uka, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Health and Counseling Psychology, a licensed psychologist, and an EMDR Europe–licensed psychotherapist, with extensive experience in academic leadership, clinical practice, and international research. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Counseling and Family Psychology from Istanbul University and Leiden University, and completed her PhD in Family and Community Psychology at the Institute of Family and Community Life, Clemson University (USA). Her professional experience also includes service as a psychological expert within programs of the U.S. Department of State (CIPUSA & CIP), working in mental health centers and educational institutions in Michigan, Ohio, and Texas.

Since 2012, Dr. Uka has been a full-time academic, holding senior leadership roles as Vice Head and Head of Department, and she currently serves as Head of the Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy at Western Balkans University (WBU), where she teaches Behavioral and Mental Health and Psychology courses. She served as Editor-in-Chief of the Beder Journal of Educational Sciences (2020–2024) and is actively involved in high-impact research and international collaboration. Dr. Uka is the Coordinator of the Erasmus+ CBHE project M3DTech (Technological Transformation in Medical Health Sciences through Virtual Reality for Innovations in Higher Education) and Country Coordinator for Albania of the INTERSECT project, focusing on childbirth-related trauma. Her research collaborations include leading European universities within COST Actions (Horizon 2020), addressing perinatal mental health, youth education during the COVID-19 pandemic, and family support for child welfare in Europe.

2002-2006 – Bachelor of Science in Education – Counseling and Guidance Psychology Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
2010-2012 – Master of Science in Family and Child Psychology Studies Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
2013 – 2019 – Doctorate in Family and Community Psychology Studies Clemson University, South Carolina, USA

PUBLISHED ARTICLES IN JOURNALS

1. Bina, R., Uka, A., Costa, R., & Tuval-Mashiach, R. (2024). Seeking help for perinatal depression and anxiety: a systematic review of systematic reviews from an interdependent perspective. Journal of Public Health, fdae125.

https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdae125

2. Bernedo, I. M., Almeida, A., Byrne, S., González-Pasarín, L., Pećnik, N., Cruz, O., Uka, A., ... & Šumskaitė, L. (2024). The use of evidence-based programmes in family support across Europe: A comparative survey study. Children and Youth Services Review, 158, 107455. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107455

3. Rodríguez-Muñoz, M. F., Chrzan-Dętkoś, M., Uka, A., García-López, H. S., Krupelnytska, L., Morozova-Larina, O., ... & Le, H. N. (2023). The impact of the war in Ukraine on the perinatal period: Perinatal mental health for refugee women (pmh-rw) protocol. Frontiers in Psychology, Sec. Health Psychology, 14, 1152478. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1152478

4. Mesquita, A., Costa, R., Bina, R., Cadarso-Suárez, C., Gude, F., Díaz-Louzao, C., ... Uka, A. & Motrico, E. (2023). A cross-country study on the impact of governmental responses to the COVID-19 pandemic on perinatal mental health. Scientific reports, 13(1), 2805. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-29300-w

5. Rodríguez-Muñoz, M. F., Radoš, S. N., Uka, A., Marques, M., Maia, B. R., Matos, M., ... & Liakea, I. (2023). Effectiveness of the third wave cognitive behavior therapy for peripartum depression treatment-a systematic review. Midwifery, 103865. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2023.103865

6. Mëhalla, E., & Uka, A. (2023). A Review on the Psychological Well-Being of Workers at Workplace and Its Implications. Beder Journal of Educational Sciences 27(1), 25-36. Doi:10.5281/zenodo.10993714

7. Lleshi, A., & Uka, A. (2023). The Role and the Challenges of Teacher Assistants in Integrating Children with Special Needs in Regular/Mainstream Classes. Beder Journal of Educational Sciences 27(1), 1-13. Doi:10.5281/zenodo.10987060

8. Xhomara, V., & Uka, A. (2022). Creativity in Education: Fostering Creativity in the Classroom Using Creative Teaching Methods Beder Journal of Educational Sciences 26(2), 2-29. Doi:10.5281/zenodo.8068813

9. Pelikan, E. R., Korlat, S., Reiter, J., Holzer, J., Mayerhofer, M., Schober, B., ...Uka, A. … & Lüftenegger, M. (2021). Distance learning in higher education during COVID-19: The role of basic psychological needs and intrinsic motivation for persistence and procrastination–a multi-country study. PloS one, 16(10), e0257346. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257346

10. Uka, A., & Prendi, A. (2021). Motivation as an indicator of performance and productivity from the perspective of employees. Management & Marketing, 16(3), 268-285. DOI: 10.2478/mmcks-2021-0016.

11. Kurti, R., & Uka, A. (2021). Teachers’ challenges and effective teaching strategies towards English language learners. Beder Journal of Educational Sciences 25(2), 36-66.

12. Bicaku, J. & Uka, A. (2021). Educational games as means to promote better learning among school-aged children. Beder Journal of Educational Sciences 24(2), 57-93.

13. Uka, A., & Uka, A. (2020). The effect of students’ experience with the transition from primary to secondary school on self-regulated learning and motivation. Sustainability, 12(20), 8519. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12208519

14. Uka, A. (2015). Students’ educational and occupational aspirations predicted by parents’ and adolescents’ characteristics. European Journal of Social Science Education and Research, 2(2), 56-67.

15. Uka, A. (2014). Student satisfaction as an indicator of quality in higher education. Journal of educational and instructional studies in the world, 4(3), 6-10.

16. Uka, A. (2014). The Impact of Risk Behaviors on Violence among High School Students. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 4.

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS PAPERS

1. Uka, A. (2024). Students’ challenges and experiences with digital teaching and learning during Covid-19 pandemic: A case of Albania. Proceedings of TLECONF - 7th International Academic Conference on Teaching, Learning and Education, 1(1), pp. 103-111, 19-21 April 2024, Athens, Greece. https://doi.org/10.33422/tleconf.v1i1.345

2. Uka, A. (2024). Examining associations between perceived parental support and student’s learning wellbeing during online learning under Covid-19 conditions. Proceedings of INTCESS 2024- 11th International Conference on Education & Social Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey, pp106-112. ISBN: 978-605-72065-5-8. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10475606

3. Uka, A. (2023). The effect of perceived parental support on university student's learning factors in higher education. Proceedings of IECESS – International Euroasian Conference on Educational and Social Studies, pp.160-179. Nov. 30 – Dec. 3, Granada, Spain. E-ISBN: 978-625-94101-3-

4. Uka, A. (2023). Reintegrating mothers and children returnees from conflict zones. The role of religion and gender. Abstract book of MIGREL International Conference – “Migration, Religion and Intercultural Relations”, June 14-16, 2023, VID, Stavanger, Norway

5. Uka, A. (2023). Age, gender and urbanicity differences on youth civic engagement. Proceedings of IECSS – International Euroasian Conference on Educational and Social Studies, pp. 520-533, Nov. 30 – Dec. 3, Granada, Spain. E-ISBN: 978-625-94101-3-5

6. Uka, A. & Lala, B. (2022). Causes and Effects of Bullying in Schools (Age 12-15) and Teachers’ Role on Preventing it. Proceedings of 8th International Conference on Education and Social Sciences – “New Perspectives in Education and Social Sciences”, pp. 14-43, 20 May, 2022, Beder University College, Tirana, Albania. ISBN: 978-9928-4590-8-4

7. Uka A. & Prendi, A. (2021). Psychological basic needs and gender as predictors of student wellbeing during the global pandemic of Covid-19. Proceedings of ICLEL 2021 - 7th International Conference on Lifelong Education and Leadership for all, August 24-26, 2021, International University of Sarajevo- Bosnia & Herzegovina.

8. Uka, A. & Lala, B. (2022). Causes and Effects of Bullying in Schools (Age 12-15) and Teachers’ Role on Preventing it. Proceedings of 8th International Conference on Education and Social Sciences – “New Perspectives in Education and Social Sciences”, pp. 14-43, 20 May, 2022, Beder University College, Tirana, Albania. ISBN: 978-9928-4590-8-4