A woman with shoulder-length dark hair, wearing glasses, a red beaded necklace, and a patterned top, smiling in front of a decorative red tapestry.
Champika K Soysa
Professor of Psychology
(508)929-8703 csoysa@worcester.edu
Faculty Member's Office
Sullivan 241G
Office Hours:
Please email for this information.
Areas of Expertise
Mental HealthPedagogyRace and EthnicitySocial Media

Bio

My research investigates individual and social predictors of mental distress and psychological well-being in college students. I examine how social identities (e.g., race, class, gender, first-generation college student status) shape psychological outcomes like depression, anxiety, stress, psychological well-being, and/or pro-environmental behavior, both pre-COVID19 and during COVID-19. Some of my international research addresses PTSD in relation to war and natural disaster in women and children in Sri Lanka. I also study ethnopolitical conflict and prejudice in both Sri Lanka and the United States. My pedagogical research examines the effectiveness of course assignments and other aspects of teaching and learning.

Education
2002
Clark University, Worcester, MA
PhD
Clinical Psychology
1998
Clark University, Worcester, MA
MA
Clinical Psychology
1988
Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA
BA Psychology
Phi Beta Kappa

Honors

Dean's Lecture Award (2021)

鶹ý, School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Faculty Extraordinary Dedication Award (2019)

鶹ý

Commencement Speaker (2006)

Worcester State College

Grants

Publications

Conference Presentations

Research at a Glance

A research poster titled "Correlates of Juvenile Firesetting Behavior" presents study objectives, methods, findings in table and diagram formats, statistical results, and conclusions.
Collaborations with Community Partners

Predictors of Juvenile Firesetting Behavior

Academic poster titled “Dispositional Mindfulness Mediates the Dispositional Serenity–Stress/Well-Being Relationships” with text, diagrams, and statistical results presented.
Collaboration with Assumption University

Mindfulness and Serenity

Research poster titled "Authoritarian Parenting and Perfectionism in International Vietnamese and White American Undergraduate Women," showing text, charts, tables, and institutional logos.
Vietnamese and White American Women

Authoritarian Parenting and Perfectionism in Vietnamese International Students and White American Women in the USA

Academic research poster titled "Ethnic Identity and Prejudice Towards Ethnic and Religious Outgroups in Sri Lanka," featuring charts, graphs, and text discussing study results and analysis.
Ethnic Identity and Religious Prejudice in Sri Lanka

Ethnic Identity and Prejudice Towards Religious Outgroups

Academic research poster displaying a study on the relationship between mothers’ post-traumatic stress, social support, and PTSS in war-affected Sri Lankan children, with charts and text summaries.
PTSD in Sri Lanka in Response to War

Types of Social Support (Inversely) Associated with PTSD in Sri Lankan Children

A scientific research poster summarizing hypotheses, methods, results, and conclusions about threat and generational status in relation to negative thinking before and during COVID-19.
Impact of COVID19 on Positive and Negative Coping in College Students

Positive and Negative Coping in College Students Pre-COVID19 and During COVID19

A research poster with text, diagrams, and flowcharts showing how intrapersonal and social contexts predict psychological outcomes through negative coping.
Predictors of Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Well-Being

Neuroticism and Negative Coping Predict Mental Distress (Positively) and Well-Being (Negatively)

Sample Courses

PS 101: General Psychology

Introduction to history of psychology, scientific method, brain/nervous system, development, learning, motivation, sensation/perception, personality, psychopathology, psychotherapy, cognitive processes, social behavior.

Fall and Spring and every year. 3 Credits

PS 240/PS 335: Introduction to Abnormal Psychology

LASC Categories: HBS

Prerequisites: . Psychology majors must pass with a C- or above.

Etiology, dynamics and treatment of psychopathology and their relation to normal personality are considered from traditional and contemporary perspectives.

Fall and Spring and every year. 3 Credits

PS 297: Independent Study Research in Psychology

Prerequisites: , and  or . Psychology majors must pass with a C- or above.

Lab and/or field based research on a specific research topic under the supervision of a faculty member. May include assisting faculty with ongoing research. Written report required.

Permission of Instructor. 1-3 Credits

PS 330: Theories of Personality

Prerequisites:  with a grade of C- or above.

A survey of major theories of personality. Why people behave as they do is explored through the different theories.

Other or on demand and every year. 3 Credits

PS 407: Advanced Research in Psychology

Prerequisites:   and . Take PS-205 or .

Advanced lab and/or field based research on a specific research topic under the supervision of a faculty member. Written report required.

Permission of Instructor. 1-3 Credits

PS 409: Honors Thesis Research

Prerequisites:  and  and  with a C- or above.

As part of the Psychology Department Honors program, students design and carry out advanced, independent lab and/or field based research on a specific research topic under the supervision of a faculty member. Written report required.

Permission of Instructor. 3 Credits

PS 492: Capstone Seminar in Mental Health Services

LASC Categories: CAP

Prerequisites: Completed Mental Health Concentration Required  and  and  and  Take  or  or  with a C- or above.

A capstone course dealing with recent and emerging topics, issues, and methods in mental health.

Spring only and every year. 3 Credits

Students at Conferences
Four people stand in front of a research poster at a conference, posing for a group photo in a large indoor venue with patterned carpet.
Presenting at the Association for Psychological Science (2022, May), Chicago, IL: L-R Wendy Fernandes, Sarah Stewart '22, Ethan Guertin, '22, & Benjamin Morin '22
A woman stands in front of a display titled "Firsts: Women of Color Changemakers" at an event, holding a tote bag labeled "APA 2019.
Presenting at the American Psychological Association annual convention (2019, August), Chicago, IL. Ngoc Nguyen '19 Psychology Honors Research Student
A student presents a research poster with graphs and text to another attendee at an indoor academic conference or poster session.
Presenting at the New England Psychological Association conference (2018, November), Worcester, MA.
Three women stand side by side, smiling in front of a scientific research poster titled "Correlates of Firesetting Behavior.
Presenting at the New England Psychological Association conference (2018, November), Worcester, MA. L-R: Ngoc Nguyen '19, Michelle Henry '19, & Alison Zeena, '18
Three people pose in front of an APS Psychological Science backdrop, holding props and wearing conference name badges.
Presenting at the Association for Psychological Science conference (2019, May), New York, NY. L-R: Ngoc Nguyen, '19, Robert Salvucci '18, & Meagan Ciesluk, '17
Four people stand in front of a research poster displaying pie charts and graphs at an academic event.
Presenting at the New England Psychological Association conference (2017, October), Waltham, MA. L-R: Meagan Ciesluk, '17, Robert Salvucci, '18, Alaza Merrill, '18, & Kaitlin Mann, '18
A man wearing a white shirt and conference badge stands beside a scientific research poster displayed on a board at an academic event.
Presenting at the International Convention on Psychological Science (2017 March), Vienna, Austria: Samuel Lapoint '13 Psychology Honors Research Student
Three people stand in front of a scientific poster about self-esteem and generational status, smiling at the camera.
Presenting at the Eastern Psychological Association conference (2017, March), Boston, MA. L-R: George Dilling, '18, Stephen McElroy, '17, & Jenna Cears, '17
Four people stand in front of a scientific poster at a conference, wearing name tags and business attire, with more posters visible in the background.
Presenting at the Association for Psychological Science (2015, May), New York, NY. L-R: Robyn Lilly, '14, David Erikson, '15 Alison Khan, '15 & Katelyn Dupont, '15
Woman standing in front of a research poster presentation with charts, tables, and text visible in the background.
Presenting at the Eastern Psychological Association Conference (2015, March), Philadelphia, PA: Alison Khan '15 Psychology Honors Research Student
Four people stand in front of a scientific research poster about perfectionism and college adjustment, all wearing conference badges and smiling at the camera.
Presenting at the Association for Psychological Science (2014, May), San Francisco, CA: Alison Kahn, '15, Champika Soysa, Carolyn Halfpenny, '14, & Samuel Lapoint, '13
A woman stands beside a research poster titled "Mindfulness and Self-Compassion, but not Self-Efficacy, Predict Depression and Anxiety: Gendered Patterns" at a conference.
Presenting at the Association for Psychological Science (2013, May), Washington, D.C.: Carolyn Wilcomb '12 Psychology Honors Research Student
Three people stand in front of a scientific poster presentation, wearing business attire and name tags, in an indoor setting.
Presenting at the New England Psychological Association Conference (2012, October), Worcester, MA: Ashley Kabasinsky, '13, Elizabeth Contreras, '13, & Samuel Lapoint '13
A woman stands smiling in front of a research poster displaying text and tables with statistical data.
Presenting at the Association for Psychological Science (2011, May), Washington, D.C.: Andrea Weiss '11, Psychology Honors Research Student
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