Dr Kayonda Hubert Ngamaba

Profile

Areas of expertise

• People with long-term mental health conditions and social interventions within the NHS Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs).
• Behaviour change, quality of life, and subjective well-being across nations and religions.
• Methodology:
  • Quantitative research: correlations, multilevel analyses, random and fixed-effects using Stata software
  • Qualitative research: semi-structured interviews, focus groups, IPA and thematic analysis using NVivo software
  • Systematic review and meta-analysis

Academic biography

Dr Kayonda has a background in health psychology and mental health research. He is working within a team in the School for Business and Society at the University of York to evaluate psychosocial interventions within the NHS Community Mental Health Teams.

Dr Kayonda is a researcher at the International Centre for Mental Health Social Research (ICMHSR); the centre brings together researchers from around the world to undertake a unique research programme applying social science to mental health practice. Dr Kayonda contributes to teaching the Research Design Module and designing research-informed teaching materials. 

• Dr Kayonda is currently working on the SCENE project: A randomised controlled trial of a structured intervention for expanding social networks in Psychosis. Twelve sites are involved in the project including East London, York, Devon, Cornwall, Leeds, Somerset, and Oxford. The study tests the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a psychosocial intervention to improve the social networks of patients with psychosis as compared to an active control condition (from April 2018 to March 2024.) 
• From August 2017 to March 2019, Dr Kayonda was working on Connecting People Implementation study to evaluate social interventions within Community Mental Health Teams in 5 NHS Trusts across England (Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust; Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust; Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust; Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust; and Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust). The project is evidence-based research aiming to improve social connections and the quality of life of people with mental health conditions. 

Before joining the University of York, Dr Kayonda worked for the NHS (Greater Manchester Mental Health) and the University of Manchester on several projects including:

• Prevention of Suicide in Prisons Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) to investigate (a) the feasibility and acceptability of conducting research in prisons and (b) how effective the talking therapy was in preventing self-harm and suicide in prisons.
• Recovery Connect and Community Inclusion Service to enable people with long-term mental health conditions to improve their independence, community engagement, and involvement in social activities.
• Systematic reviews and meta-analyses to investigate the quality of life, determinants of happiness and life satisfaction across nations.

Dr Kayonda has a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and Counselling (University of Bolton), a Masters in International Development: Poverty, Conflict and Reconstruction (University of Manchester), and a PhD in Psychology (University of Manchester). His thesis investigated “the correlates of subjective well-being” to improve people’s quality of life. His research has been published in newspapers such as The Conversation, The Independent, and The Metro. He has been listed by The Conversation as top 11 authors with 91,660 reads for one of his publications.

Dr Kayonda has published high-quality research papers in several academic journals including the European Journal of Public Health; Journal of Mental Health, Religion and Culture; Journal of Psychology in Africa; Journal of Religion and Health; Quality of Life Research; Behavioral and Experimental Economics; British Journal of Social Work; Mental Health and Physical Activity; Journal of African Education, Journal of Public Health in Africa; Journal of Gerontological Nursing, Journal of Happiness and Health, Journal of Recovery in Mental Health; and Annals of General Psychiatry.

Publications

2024

Ngamaba, K.H., Lombo, L.S., Makopa, I.K., Webber, M., Liuta, J. M., Madinga, J. N., Mampunza, S. M., & Heap, C. (2024). Mental health outcomes, literacy and service provision in low- and middle-income settings: a systematic review of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. npj Mental Health Research, 3 (9). 

2023

Ngamaba, Kayonda Hubert & Heap, Cheyann. (2023). How an African church choir made a difference to care home life in Greater Manchester. The Conversation. 23 March.

Ngamaba, K.H., Webber, M., Xanthopoulou, P., Chevalier, A. & Giacco, D. (2023). Participation in leisure activities and quality of life of people with psychosis in England: a multi-site cross-sectional study. Ann Gen Psychiatry 22 (8).

Ngamaba K.H., Lombo L. S., Makopa I. K. (2023). Factors associated with people’s satisfaction with their sex life: a survey conducted in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Public Health in Africa. 14(4), 1-15.

Ngamaba, K. H., Moran, N., & Webber, M. (2023). The recovery process and access to the social capital of people with severe mental health problems: a secondary analysis of a six months follow-up study in five Community Mental Health Teams in England. Journal of Recovery in Mental Health, 6(1), 45–64.

2022

Ngamaba, K. H., Lombo, L. S., Makopa, I. K., and PanzaEkofo, J. (2022). Are COVID-19’s restrictive measures associated with people’s quality of life and the prevalence of anxiety and depression in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Journal of Public Health in Africa, 13(3). 

Ngamaba, K. H., Kandala, N.-B., Ilenda, F. B., and Mupolo, P. K. (2022). Are men’s happiness and life satisfaction linked to why men die earlier than women? A panel study from 1981 to 2020 in 102 countries. Journal of Happiness and Health, 3(1), 14–33.  

Ngamaba, K. H. (2022). Does Religion Make Us Happier? Dharma World. 49, p. 10-13. 820_DW2022_AUTUMN_output_RV2.indd (rk-world.org)

Ngamaba, K. H., & Heap, C. J. (2022). Benefits of Running a Multicultural Singing Project Among Older Adults in a Naturalistic Residential Environment: Case Studies of Four Residential Care Homes in England. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 48(9). 

2021

Ngamaba, K. H., Lombo, L. S., LOMBO, G., and EKIRA VIVIAR, N. (2021). Causes and Consequences of School Dropout in Kinshasa: Students’ Perspectives before and after Dropping out. Journal of African Education, 2(3), 175-192. 

Jade Donaghy, Kurt Buhagiar, Penny Xanthopoulou, Kayonda Ngamaba, Stefan Priebe, Domenico Giacco. Routine participation in sports and fitness activities among out-patients with psychotic disorders: A multi-site cross-sectional survey in England. Mental Health and Physical Activity, Volume 20, 2021, 100402

2020

Webber M, Ngamaba K, Moran N, Pinfold V, Boehnke J R, Knapp M, Henderson C, Rehill A, Morris D. The Implementation of Connecting People in Community Mental Health Teams in England: A Quasi-Experimental Study. The British Journal of Social Work, BCAA159 

Moran, N. E., Webber, M. P., Dosanjh Kaur, H., Morris, D., Ngamaba, K. H., Nunn, V., ... Thompson, K. (2020). Co-producing practice research - The Connecting People Implementation Study. In L. Joubert, & M. Webber (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Social Work Practice Research (pp. 353-367). Routledge.

Ngamaba, K.H., Panagioti, M., Armitage, C.J., and Hodkinson, A (2020). How closely related are Financial Satisfaction and Subjective Wellbeing? Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics. Available online 15 February 2020. 

2018

Ngamaba, K.H. and Soni, D. (2018). Are Happiness and Life Satisfaction Different Across Religious Groups? Exploring Determinants of Happiness and Life Satisfaction. Journal of Religion and Health.  57(6), 2118-2139. 

Ngamaba, K.H., Panagioti, M. and Armitage, C.J. (2018). Income inequality and subjective wellbeing: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Quality of Life Research, 27(3), 577-596. 

Newspapers: Ngamaba, K. H. (2018). Happiness and God. The Independent 12 March. 

Newspapers: Ngamaba, K. H. (2018). Are religious people happier than non-religious people? The Conversation, 21 February.  

2017

Ngamaba, K. H., Panagioti, M., and Armitage, C. J. (2017). How strongly related are Health Status and Subjective Wellbeing: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. European Journal of Public Health, 27(5), 879-885

Ngamaba, K. H. (2017). Can Social Protection Work in Fragile States? Case study: Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Somalia. LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing. Available from Amazon

Ngamaba, K. H. (2017). Determinants of subjective wellbeing in representative samples of nations. European Journal of Public Health, 27 (2): 377-382. 

2016

Kayonda Hubert Ngamaba (2016) Happiness and life satisfaction in Rwanda. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 26:5, 407-414, 

2014

Kayonda Hubert Ngamaba (2014) Religious leaders' perceptions of their emotional and psychological needs. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 17:1, 62-78.

Conference papers

Nicola Moran, Martin Webber, and Kayonda Ngamaba (2019). The Implementation of Connecting People in Community Mental Health Teams in England: A Quasi-Experimental Study at the 9th International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health, York; 23 July 2019.

Ngamaba, K. H., Panagioti, M., and Armitage, C. J. (2018). The best determinants of subjective wellbeing. Conference Paper Presented at the BPS (British Psychological Society) Annual Conference. East Midlands Conference Centre (EMCC), Nottingham, 2-4 May 2018. Link: 

Kayonda Hubert Ngamaba (2017). 'From asylum to citizenship'. Public Talk to celebrate the Black History Month, the annual Staff Race Equality Forum at the University of York. 25th October 2017.

Ngamaba, K. H., Panagioti, M., and Armitage, C. J. (2016). Are Health Status and Subjective Wellbeing: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Conference Paper Presented at the PGR Conference 2016, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK, 18th May 2016

Ngamaba, K. H. (2015). Is Life Satisfaction/Happiness Different Across Religious Denomination Groups? A Cross National Study Exploring Some Key Determinants of Life Satisfaction/Happiness. Conference Paper Presented at the International Convention of International Convention of Psychological Science (ICPS), Amsterdam, Netherlands, 12-14 March 2015

Ngamaba, K. H. (2014). What are the best predictors of happiness and life satisfaction for the elderly? A worldwide study across 8 regions. Conference Paper Presented at the Chicago International Conference on Geriatrics & Gerontology: Improving Health and Health Care Services for the Elderly. 181st OMICS Group Conference, Chicago, USA, 8 to 10 July 2014. DOI: 10.4172/2167-7182.S1.002

Ngamaba, K. H. (2012). Is financial satisfaction a better predictor of happiness than national pride? Conference Paper Presented at the British Psychological Society: Back to the Future: Reflections and Implications Following the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Manchester, UK, 16 Nov 2012.

Research

Research team members for Psychosocial interventions in Mental Health

Professor Martin Webber, Professor Chris Armitage, Dr Maria Panagioti, Dr Nicola Moran, Beth Casey, Cheyann Heap.