Psychology Research Programme
The Psychology Research Programme in the Department of Psychology and Medical Psychology at the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine is dedicated to highlight the important contribution of psychological factors to overall well-being of individuals. The main objective of the Psychology Research Programme is to contribute to the development of researchers through exposure to a wide array of research areas related to health and psychology. Current research projects focus on broad topics: health beliefs, aspects of psychological well-being, issues in catheter patients, parents’ perceptions of child health, impact of lecturer-student rapport and learning management system on student learning, and life enrichment for cancer patients.

Research Competencies
Completed Projects
Study 1: A study on purpose in life and happiness in adults
              Dr. Malathie Dissanayake and the research team, Department of Psychology and Medical Psychology

Study 2: A study on the effect of health beliefs on quality of life in patients
              Dr. Malathie Dissanayake and the research team, Department of Psychology and Medical Psychology

Ongoing Projects
Study 3: A collaborative study on psychosocial, interpersonal and management issues in patients who use long-term urinary catheters
              Collaborative departments: Dept. of Surgery, Dept. of Psychology and Medical Psychology, Dept. of Nursing
              Dr. Nandalal Gunaratne - Dept. of Surgery
              Dr. Malathie Dissanayake - Dept. of Psychology and Medical Psychology
              Mr. Nilanga Abeysinghe – Dept. of Psychology and Medical Psychology
              Mrs. Chandrika Dassanayake – Dept. of Nursing

Study 4: A study on parents’ perception of a healthy child
              Mr. N. Abeysinghe - Dept. of Psychology and Medical Psychology
              Dr. M. Dissanayake - Dept. of Psychology and Medical Psychology
              Ms. Bhagya Ariyaratna - Dept. of Psychology and Medical Psychology

Study 5: A study on essential therapeutic skills for mental health practitioners
              Mr. N. Abeysinghe - Dept. of Psychology and Medical Psychology

Study 6: A study on emotional regulatory self-efficacy and psychological well-being of elderly
              Ms. Bhagya Ariyaratna - Dept. of Psychology and Medical Psychology

Proposed Projects
Study 7: A Study on the impact of lecturer-student rapport on student learning
              Dr. Malathie Dissanayake - Dept. of Psychology and Medical Psychology

Study 8: A study on use of learning management system as a pedagogical tool in SAITM Medical Faculty
              Mr. Nilanga Abeysinghe - Dept. of Psychology and Medical Psychology
              Dr. Malathie Dissanayake - Dept. of Psychology and Medical Psychology
              Ms. Bhagya Ariyaratna - Dept. of Psychology and Medical Psychology

Study 9: A study on the effectiveness of mentoring program at SAITM
              Dr. Malathie Dissanayake - Dept. of Psychology and Medical Psychology
              Mr. Nilanga Abeysinghe - Dept. of Psychology and Medical Psychology

Study 10: A study on life enrichment for people living with a cancer diagnosis
                Ms. Evangeline Ekanayake - Dept. of Psychology and Medical Psychology
                Ms. Bhagya Ariyaratna - Dept. of Psychology and Medical Psychology

Study 11: A study on leader-member exchange and psychological contract fulfillment
                Ms. Bhagya Ariyaratna - Dept. of Psychology and Medical Psychology

Research Presentations
Paper Presentations:
              Dissanayake, M. P. (2015, October).The effect of self-efficacy on patients’ perceptions of general health:
              The mediating role of positive affect. Paper presented at Annual Research Sessions 2015,
              Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

              Dissanayake, M. P., & Rupasinghe, P. D., Samarasinghe H. L., Ellawala A., Jayathungage A. I., Gunawardene N. N.,
              Vidanagamage, M. (2015, August). Mediating effect of self-efficacy and positive affect on the link between
              beliefs about the benefits of health behaviors and life satisfaction.
              Paper presented at International Conference in Applied Psychology, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

              Jayathungage, A. I., Dissanayake, M. P., Rupasinghe, P. D., Samarasinghe, H. L., Ellawala, A., Gunawardene, N. N., &
              Vidanagamage, M. (2015, August). Age-related trends in value of general health, self-efficacy, and life satisfaction.
              Paper presented at International Conference on Social Sciences, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

              Dissanayake, M. P., & Rupasinghe, P. D., Samarasinghe H. L., Ellawala A., Jayathungage A. I., Gunawardene N. N.,
              Vidanagamage, M. (2015, May). Intercorrelations among health beliefs and affect.
              Paper presented at International Conference Public Health, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

              Dissanayake, M. P., & Rupasinghe, P. D. (2014, October). The Effects of Health Beliefs on Life Satisfaction of Patients.
              Paper presented at International Conference in Applied Psychology, BMICH, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Poster Presentations:
              Rupasinghe, P. D., Dissanayake, M. P., Samarasinghe, H. L.,Gunawardana, N. N., Vidanagamage,
              M. R., Jayathungage, A. I., Ellawala, P. A., Peiris, A. C. N., Kamble, S. V. (2014, April).
              Purpose in Life and Happiness. Poster presented at Medical Research Symposium at
              South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine, Malabe, Sri Lanka.

Publications:
              Dissanayake, M. P., & Rupasinghe, P. D. (2016).
              The effect of health beliefs on self-efficacy and life satisfaction.
              SAITM Medical Journal, 1(1), 4-7.