Chen Li Frontiers in Psychological Science Lecture Series | Academic Report by Professor Angela Nickerson Successfully Held

On the afternoon of April 19th, Professor Angela Nickerson from the School of Psychology at the University of New South Wales, Australia, was invited to participate in the Chen Li Frontiers in Psychological Science Lecture Series hosted by the Department of Psychology and Behavioral Science. She delivered an academic presentation on the theme Coping with uncertainty: Understanding the impact of external and internal factors on refugee mental health, sharing her research findings with faculty and students of the department.

Before the lecture began, Dr. Nathan Thomas Han introduced Professor Nickerson's research background to the attending faculty and students. Her work primarily focuses on understanding the psychological mechanisms underlying the mental health of refugees and post-conflict individuals, as well as developing effective interventions to address trauma responses in refugees. She also pays attention to the impact of refugee mental health policies and is interested in cross-cultural psychological processes. She has worked extensively with refugee and post-conflict populations in Australia, Switzerland, the United States, East Timor, and other regions. Prior to joining the University of New South Wales, Professor Nickerson conducted postdoctoral research at Harvard University and Boston University. Her key research findings have been published in high-impact journals such as Clinical Psychological Science and Psychiatry Research.

During the lecture, Professor Nickerson provided an in-depth analysis of the current global situation where over 110 million people are forcibly displaced. She emphasized the urgent need for research evidence to inform both structural changes and evidence-based psychological interventions to improve the mental health of refugees living with prolonged uncertainty. Professor Nickerson presented findings from longitudinal studies conducted by her team in Australia and Indonesia, elucidating how external and internal factors impact the psychological well-being of refugees facing prolonged uncertainty. She demonstrated how research evidence can guide structural policy reforms and support refugees in recovering from the psychological effects of trauma and displacement.

This lecture provided faculty and students with profound insights into refugee mental health issues, offering important theoretical foundations and practical guidance for understanding and addressing the psychological challenges faced by refugees globally.