Angela U Ekwonye
Biographic Data
| ID | 3075267 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Angela U Ekwonye |
| GIVEN NAMES | Angela U |
| FAMILY NAME | Ekwonye |
| SIGNATURE | EKWONYE A U |
| AFFILIATIONS | St. Catherine University |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-1552-7158 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 11 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 2 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 11 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2018 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Effect of gratitude education and a one-week grateful expression exercise on perceived stress of students at a Nigerian University
Many African youths enter university amid socio-economic and security challenges. Although chronic stress is known to hinder academic achievement and gratitude has been shown to enhance psychological well-being, its impact on perceived stress has not yet been investigated. This mixed-methods pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of gratitude education and a one-week grateful expression exercise in reducing stress. Forty undergraduate students w…
Do Gratitude Expression, Acts of Kindness, Positive Reframing, and Applying Character Strengths Improve Subjective Well-Being? Evidence from University Students
The well-being of university students is deteriorating, highlighting the need for accessible, non-stigmatizing supports beyond clinical care. Positive psychology (PP) interventions have shown strong potential for improving mental well-being, yet they remain largely underutilized in Nigerian universities. This pilot study evaluated the impact of an eight-week education and intervention incorporating acts of kindness, gratitude, positive reframing,…
Examining the Role of Faith in Self-care and Caring for Others
Reducing the Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic Using Meaning-Based Coping Strategies
This study explored how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the Karen, Latinx, and Somali immigrants/refugees in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area and how they searched and made meaning of the situation. In-depth interviews were conducted with 32 adults drawn from community networks. Results show that the pandemic negatively affected various aspects of immigrant/refugee lives. Participants attempted to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by e…
“Aging is beautiful and graceful
Perception of one's own age and the aging process can influence healthy aging and encourage younger adults to be more proactive in taking care of themselves. There is a shortage of literature on college students' self-perceptions of aging and old age. This descriptive qualitative study explored how short-term aging research training and activities influenced college students' perceptions of aging, older adults, and their future older selves. Stud…
Exploring the effectiveness of virtual compassionate presence sessions in reducing loneliness and isolation among assisted-living older adults
This pilot study explored the effectiveness of virtual compassionate presence (CP) sessions in reducing loneliness and isolation among assisted-living older adults. Twenty-two older adults participated in 10-week virtual CP sessions facilitated by college students. We conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with participants post-intervention. Participants reported a decreased feeling of loneliness, improved mood, and increased feeling of s…
Searching and Making Meaning of the Covid-19 Pandemic
African immigrants continue to be disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is unclear how they are searching for and finding meaning in the face of this adversity. This study sought to understand how African immigrants in the United States are searching for and making meaning of the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted in-depth interviews remotely with 20 immigrants from West Africa (Nigeria and Ghana), East Africa (Somali and Rwanda),…
The impact of negative life events (NLEs) on spirituality
Limited studies exist about how negative life events (NLEs) influence spirituality, particularly that of the Nigerian Catholic sisters living in the United States. Twenty sisters were interviewed. Content analysis of transcripts generated four themes. The themes followed a specific pattern of dealing with an adverse life situation, beginning with 1) the basic instant internal reactions to the stressor. 2) Movement from self-absorption toward an e…
Meaning in life and impact of Covid-19 pandemic on African immigrants in the United States
This study explored the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic impact, with its unprecedented isolation norm and social distancing requirements, on African immigrants in the United States. We focused on the sources of meaning in their daily lives, how they navigated their meaning-making process, and cultural proclivities amidst the official and unofficial mandates for social distancing. Additionally, we investigated the role technologies play in the entire proce…
Spirituality
Academic stress causes anxiety, distress, and fear, which are detrimental to students’ psychological well-being. Studies on the kinds of spiritual practices that could help college students manage academic-related stressors are limited. This study examined if and how spirituality helps college students deal with academic stress. A sample of twenty-five students responded to open-ended semi-structured interview questions. Results showed that most …
Effect of a spiritual retreat on perceived stress of Nigerian Catholic immigrant sisters in the United States
Stress among immigrants may be due to loss of familiar environment and experience of discrimination. Spiritual retreats may be one way to manage stressful life situations. The present study examined whether participation in a six-day spiritual retreat results in changes in perceived stress and whether changes in perceived stress depend on participant’s demographic characteristics. A total of 88 Nigerian Catholic immigrant sisters completed the Pe…
Reducing the Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic Using Meaning-Based Coping Strategies
This study explored how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the Karen, Latinx, and Somali immigrants/refugees in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area and how they searched and made meaning of the situation. In-depth interviews were conducted with 32 adults drawn from community networks. Results show that the pandemic negatively affected various aspects of immigrant/refugee lives. Participants attempted to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by e…
Searching and Making Meaning of the Covid-19 Pandemic
African immigrants continue to be disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is unclear how they are searching for and finding meaning in the face of this adversity. This study sought to understand how African immigrants in the United States are searching for and making meaning of the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted in-depth interviews remotely with 20 immigrants from West Africa (Nigeria and Ghana), East Africa (Somali and Rwanda),…
Effect of a spiritual retreat on perceived stress of Nigerian Catholic immigrant sisters in the United States
Stress among immigrants may be due to loss of familiar environment and experience of discrimination. Spiritual retreats may be one way to manage stressful life situations. The present study examined whether participation in a six-day spiritual retreat results in changes in perceived stress and whether changes in perceived stress depend on participant’s demographic characteristics. A total of 88 Nigerian Catholic immigrant sisters completed the Pe…
Spirituality
Academic stress causes anxiety, distress, and fear, which are detrimental to students’ psychological well-being. Studies on the kinds of spiritual practices that could help college students manage academic-related stressors are limited. This study examined if and how spirituality helps college students deal with academic stress. A sample of twenty-five students responded to open-ended semi-structured interview questions. Results showed that most …
The impact of negative life events (NLEs) on spirituality
Limited studies exist about how negative life events (NLEs) influence spirituality, particularly that of the Nigerian Catholic sisters living in the United States. Twenty sisters were interviewed. Content analysis of transcripts generated four themes. The themes followed a specific pattern of dealing with an adverse life situation, beginning with 1) the basic instant internal reactions to the stressor. 2) Movement from self-absorption toward an e…
Meaning in life and impact of Covid-19 pandemic on African immigrants in the United States
This study explored the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic impact, with its unprecedented isolation norm and social distancing requirements, on African immigrants in the United States. We focused on the sources of meaning in their daily lives, how they navigated their meaning-making process, and cultural proclivities amidst the official and unofficial mandates for social distancing. Additionally, we investigated the role technologies play in the entire proce…
Exploring the effectiveness of virtual compassionate presence sessions in reducing loneliness and isolation among assisted-living older adults
This pilot study explored the effectiveness of virtual compassionate presence (CP) sessions in reducing loneliness and isolation among assisted-living older adults. Twenty-two older adults participated in 10-week virtual CP sessions facilitated by college students. We conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with participants post-intervention. Participants reported a decreased feeling of loneliness, improved mood, and increased feeling of s…
Searching and Making Meaning of the Covid-19 Pandemic
African immigrants continue to be disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is unclear how they are searching for and finding meaning in the face of this adversity. This study sought to understand how African immigrants in the United States are searching for and making meaning of the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted in-depth interviews remotely with 20 immigrants from West Africa (Nigeria and Ghana), East Africa (Somali and Rwanda),…
“Aging is beautiful and graceful
Perception of one's own age and the aging process can influence healthy aging and encourage younger adults to be more proactive in taking care of themselves. There is a shortage of literature on college students' self-perceptions of aging and old age. This descriptive qualitative study explored how short-term aging research training and activities influenced college students' perceptions of aging, older adults, and their future older selves. Stud…
Reducing the Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic Using Meaning-Based Coping Strategies
This study explored how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the Karen, Latinx, and Somali immigrants/refugees in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area and how they searched and made meaning of the situation. In-depth interviews were conducted with 32 adults drawn from community networks. Results show that the pandemic negatively affected various aspects of immigrant/refugee lives. Participants attempted to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by e…
Examining the Role of Faith in Self-care and Caring for Others
Effect of gratitude education and a one-week grateful expression exercise on perceived stress of students at a Nigerian University
Many African youths enter university amid socio-economic and security challenges. Although chronic stress is known to hinder academic achievement and gratitude has been shown to enhance psychological well-being, its impact on perceived stress has not yet been investigated. This mixed-methods pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of gratitude education and a one-week grateful expression exercise in reducing stress. Forty undergraduate students w…
Do Gratitude Expression, Acts of Kindness, Positive Reframing, and Applying Character Strengths Improve Subjective Well-Being? Evidence from University Students
The well-being of university students is deteriorating, highlighting the need for accessible, non-stigmatizing supports beyond clinical care. Positive psychology (PP) interventions have shown strong potential for improving mental well-being, yet they remain largely underutilized in Nigerian universities. This pilot study evaluated the impact of an eight-week education and intervention incorporating acts of kindness, gratitude, positive reframing,…
Psychology (8 works) · Medicine (7 works) · Social Psychology (5 works) · Clinical Psychology (4 works) · Immigration (4 works) · Migration, Health and Trauma (4 works) · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology (4 works) · Sociology (4 works) · Disease (3 works) · Law (3 works)