Prof. Given Hapunda is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Zambia, specialising in Pediatric and Developmental Psychology. He has over 21 years of experience in child and adolescent research across Southern and East Africa. His research focuses on child and adolescent development, behavioural science, psychosocial aspects of childhood chronic illness, programme evaluation, and implementation research.
Prof. Hapunda currently serves as Head of the Department of Psychology at the University of Zambia. He teaches and supervises undergraduate and postgraduate students and has contributed to the development and delivery of courses in Developmental Psychology, Psychometrics, Research Methods, and contemporary approaches to behavioural research.
His research spans early childhood development, parenting and human capability, psychosocial wellbeing, chronic illness, and the application of behavioural and psychological science to public sector challenges. He has participated in several national and international research initiatives across Africa and beyond, including work on early childhood development, playful parenting, youth resilience, and community driven systems change.
Prof. Hapunda is actively engaged in national, regional, and international scholarly and professional networks. He is President of the Psychology Association of Zambia and co chairs the National Health Research Authority Technical Committee on Knowledge Translation. He is also a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the African Leadership for Measuring Brain Health in Children and Adolescents project and the Global Engagement Committee of the Association for Psychological Science.
He serves as an Associate Editor of Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology and is committed to advancing psychological science, research capacity, and evidence informed practice in Africa.
Wit, M de, Gajewska, KA, Goethals, ER, & ... (2022). ISPAD Clinical Practice Consensus Guidelines 2022: Psychological care of children, adolescents and young adults with diabetes. Pediatric …, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10107478/
Hapunda, G, Abubakar, A, Vijver, F Van de, & ... (2015). Living with type 1 diabetes is challenging for Zambian adolescents: qualitative data on stress, coping with stress and quality of care and life. BMC endocrine …, Springer, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12902-015-0013-6
Hapunda, G (2022). Coping strategies and their association with diabetes specific distress, depression and diabetes self-care among people living with diabetes in Zambia. BMC endocrine disorders, Springer, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12902-022-01131-2
He, J, Vijver, FJR Van de, Fetvadjiev, VH, & ... (2017). On enhancing the cross–cultural comparability of Likert–scale personality and value measures: A comparison of common procedures. European Journal …, journals.sagepub.com, https://doi.org/10.1002/per.2132
Eriksson, K, Strimling, P, Vartanova, I, & ... (2025). Everyday norms have become more permissive over time and vary across cultures. Communications …, nature.com, https://www.nature.com/articles/s44271-025-00324-4
Abubakar, A, Vijver, F van de, & ... (2016). Measurement invariance of the brief multidimensional student's life satisfaction scale among adolescents and emerging adults across 23 cultural contexts. Journal of …, journals.sagepub.com, https://doi.org/10.1177/0734282915611284
Aboud, F, Omoeva, C, Gomez, R Contreras, & ... (2025). Scaling parenting programs for early child development in four low-and middle-income countries. Frontiers in Public …, frontiersin.org, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1604308
Onayemi, OM, & Hapunda, G (2023). Socio-ecological drivers of vulnerabilities of children living within orphan homes and the implications for their nurturance care. Frontiers in Public Health, frontiersin.org, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1203510
Karakulak, A, Tepe, B, Dimitrova, R, & ... (2023). Trust in government moderates the association between fear of COVID-19 as well as empathic concern and preventive behaviour. Communications …, nature.com, https://www.nature.com/articles/s44271-023-00046-5
Adams, BG, Abubakar, A, & ... (2016). Ethnic identity in emerging adults in Sub‐Saharan Africa and the USA, and its associations with psychological well‐Being. … of Community & …, Wiley Online Library, https://doi.org/10.1002/casp.2247
Omoeva, C, Gomez, R Contreras, Hatch, R, Aboud, F, & ... (2025). Do Playful Parenting Programs Implemented at Scale Improve Caregiver Practices and Child Development?. Children, mdpi.com, https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/9/1241
Jovanović, V, Rudnev, M, Abdelrahman, M, & ... (2024). The Coronavirus Anxiety Scale: Cross-national measurement invariance and convergent validity evidence.. Psychological …, psycnet.apa.org, https://psycnet.apa.org/journals/pas/36/1/14/
Hapunda, G (2015). Mental health situation and resilience among orphans and vulnerable children in sub-Saharan Africa: A review. International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and …, academia.edu, https://www.academia.edu/download/41554498/Mental_Health_Situation_and_Resilience_among_Orphans_and.pdf
Mubanga, B, Fwoloshi, S, Lwatula, L, & ... (2023). Effects of the ECHO tele-mentoring program on HIV/TB service delivery in health facilities in Zambia: a mixed-methods, retrospective program evaluation. Human Resources for …, Springer, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-023-00806-8
Simpson, B, Eriksson, K, Vartanova, I, & ... (2026). How norms depend on the presence and status of observers: the relational contingency of everyday behaviors in 90 societies. American …, journals.sagepub.com, https://doi.org/10.1177/00031224261464586
Hapunda, G, & Sichimba, F (2026). Understanding Barriers to Police Reporting of Sexual Violence in Zambia: Service Providers' Perspectives on Sociocultural, Economic, Psychological, and Structural …. Women &Criminal Justice, Taylor &Francis, https://doi.org/10.1080/08974454.2026.2650371
Aboud, F, Choden, K, Hapunda, G, Sichimba, F, & ... (2024). Using implementation research to inform scaling of parenting programs: independently conducted case studies from Zambia and Bhutan. Children, mdpi.com, https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/4/477
Oppong, S, Appiah, R, Hapunda, G, & ... (2023). Contextualizing psychological assessment in Africa: COVID-19 and beyond. Frontiers in …, frontiersin.org, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1150387
Sibulwa, S, Chansa-Kabali, T, & ... (2019). “Every part of me has changed”—shared lived experiences of adolescents living with cancer in Zambia. Health Psychology …, journals.sagepub.com, https://doi.org/10.1177/2055102919833537
Hapunda, G, Mahama, S, Mesurado, B, & ... (2019). Cultural variability and consistency in adolescents' emotional regulation and relationship with their parents: data from Argentina, Ghana, India and Zambia. … of Adolescence and …, Taylor &Francis, https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2018.1544083
Hapunda, G, Abubakar, A, Pouwer, F, & ... (2020). Correlates of fear of hypoglycemia among patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus in outpatient hospitals in Zambia. International Journal of …, Springer, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13410-020-00835-2
Katte, JC, Sibomana, L, Hapunda, G, & ... (2022). Diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa: what are the next steps?. The Lancet Diabetes & …, thelancet.com, https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(22)00274-1/abstract
Hapunda, G (2023). Caregiving roles of female guardians, older siblings, and time spent on child activities. Family Relations, Wiley Online Library, https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12762
Hapunda, G, Abubakar, A, Pouwer, F, & ... (2015). Diabetes mellitus and comorbid depression in Zambia. Diabetic …, Wiley Online Library, https://doi.org/10.1111/dme.12645
Hapunda, G, Abubakar, A, & ... (2017). Applying the bioecological model to understand factors contributing to psychosocial well-being and healthcare of children and adolescents with diabetes mellitus. South African Journal of …, journals.co.za, https://doi.org/10.10520/ejc-94d31a9cf
Katema, R, & Hapunda, G (2024). Factors affecting utilization of employee assistance program: A case study of ABSA Bank Zambia. African Journal of Commercial Studies, ideas.repec.org, https://ideas.repec.org/a/cwk/ajocsk/2024-24.html
Hapunda, G, Abubakar, A, Pouwer, F, & ... (2017). Depressive symptoms are negatively associated with glucose testing and eating meals on time among individuals with diabetes in Zambia. … & metabolism journal, synapse.koreamed.org, https://synapse.koreamed.org/articles/1084987
Hapunda, G, Kimambo, R, & Obura, K (2026). Everyone wins: Stakeholders' perceived benefits of community-driven ECD initiative to improve the well-being of children, families, and communities in Malawi …. Gulf Education and Social …, researchgate.net, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Given-Hapunda/publication/405060111_Everyone_Wins_Stakeholders'_Perceived_Benefits_of_Community-driven_ECD_Initiative_to_Improve_the_Well-being_of_Children_Families_and_Communities_in_Malawi_Tanzania_and_Zambia/links/6a0dbdfce93d461915968daf/Everyone-Wins-Stakeholders-Perceived-Benefits-of-Community-driven-ECD-Initiative-to-Improve-the-Well-being-of-Children-Families-and-Communities-in-Malawi-Tanzania-and-Zambia.pdf
Hapunda, G (2021). The association between emotional symptoms and daily life stressors is not moderated by intergroup behaviours among school-going adolescents in Zambia. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, Taylor &Francis, https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2021.1886128
Hapunda, G (2018). Background: Are We There Yet?. Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation for Projects …, researchgate.net, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Given-Hapunda/publication/325961684_Participatory_Monitoring_and_Evaluation_for_Projects_Programmes_or_Policies/links/5fa26028299bf1b53e611052/Participatory-Monitoring-and-Evaluation-for-Projects-Programmes-or-Policies.pdf#page=15
Hapunda, G, Abubakar, A, Pouwer, F, & ... (2017). Beneficial effects of aerobic exercise training combined with rosiglitazone on glucose metabolism in otsuka long evans tokushima fatty rats. Diabetes & …, synapse.koreamed.org, https://synapse.koreamed.org/upload/synapsedata/pdfdata/2004dmj/dmj-41-440.pdf
Hapunda, G, Abubakar, A, Pouwer, F, & ... (2016). Validity and reliability of the Zambian version of the Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID) scale: a triangulation with cognitive interviews. South African Journal of …, journals.co.za, https://doi.org/10.10520/EJC192168
Hapunda, G (2018). Developing a Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation System. Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation for Projects …, researchgate.net, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Given-Hapunda/publication/325961684_Participatory_Monitoring_and_Evaluation_for_Projects_Programmes_or_Policies/links/5fa25d87458515b7cfba5ebf/Participatory-Monitoring-and-Evaluation-for-Projects-Programmes-or-Policies.pdf#page=287
Hapunda, G (2015). Psychosocial functioning in individuals living with Diabetes Mellitus in Zambia., research.tilburguniversity.edu, https://research.tilburguniversity.edu/files/8914677/Hapunda_Psyhosocial_24_11_2015.pdf
Hapunda, G, & Pouwer, F (2017). Diabetes in sub-saharan african children: risks, Care, and Challenges. Handbook of Applied Developmental Science in …, Springer, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7328-6_9
Butts, SA, Langlie, J, Rodriguez, VJ, Weiss, SM, Menon, A, & ... (2020). Development, implementation and dissemination: Couples and Parent–Child Communication Workshops in Zambia. AIDS care, Taylor &Francis, https://doi.org/10.1080/09540121.2019.1695730
Hapunda, G Contextualizing psychological assessment in Africa: COVID-19 and beyond. Frontiers in Psychology, academia.edu, https://www.academia.edu/download/103572092/pdf.pdf
Hapunda, G (2012). Caregiver-child attachment and Drug adherence among HIV positive children: The effect of behavioral and emotional proclivities on adherence., dspace.unza.zm, https://dspace.unza.zm/items/d9187c9f-86fd-4f2f-b4e1-3795aa8c76f1
Hapunda, G On Enhancing the Cross-Cultural Comparability of Likert-Scale Personality and Value Measures: A Comparison of Common Procedures. European Journal of Personality, academia.edu, https://www.academia.edu/download/76052186/viewcontent.pdf
Hapunda, G (2018). Basis for Comparison and Elements of the Monitoring and Evaluation. Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation for Projects …, researchgate.net, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Given-Hapunda/publication/325961684_Participatory_Monitoring_and_Evaluation_for_Projects_Programmes_or_Policies/links/5fa25d87458515b7cfba5ebf/Participatory-Monitoring-and-Evaluation-for-Projects-Programmes-or-Policies.pdf#page=65
Kaliba-Hapunda, M, & Hapunda, G (2018). Ethics, Principles and Politics in Monitoring and Evaluation. Participatory Monitoring and …, researchgate.net, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Given-Hapunda/publication/325961684_Participatory_Monitoring_and_Evaluation_for_Projects_Programmes_or_Policies/links/5fa25d87458515b7cfba5ebf/Participatory-Monitoring-and-Evaluation-for-Projects-Programmes-or-Policies.pdf#page=135
Hapunda, G, & Chansa-Kabali, T Peer Reviewed Articles. Celebrating Our Past and Engaging Our Future: A …, div52.net, https://div52.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/ipb_2017-21-3-summer.pdf#page=19
Mwango, M, & Hapunda, G (2018). Project Shared Vision, Theory of Change and Managing for Impact. Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation …, researchgate.net, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Given-Hapunda/publication/325961684_Participatory_Monitoring_and_Evaluation_for_Projects_Programmes_or_Policies/links/5fa25d87458515b7cfba5ebf/Participatory-Monitoring-and-Evaluation-for-Projects-Programmes-or-Policies.pdf#page=45
Mooya, H, & Hapunda, G (2018). Translating Evaluation Findings into Advocacy Plans and Policy. Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation …, researchgate.net, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Given-Hapunda/publication/325961684_Participatory_Monitoring_and_Evaluation_for_Projects_Programmes_or_Policies/links/5fa26028299bf1b53e611052/Participatory-Monitoring-and-Evaluation-for-Projects-Programmes-or-Policies.pdf#page=255
Abdi, KA, Ad, N, Aldashev, A, Ali, HM, Alì, M, Aliyev, K, & ... (2025). Everyday norms have become more permissive over time and vary across cultures., dspace.auk.edu.kw, https://dspace.auk.edu.kw/items/91359edc-f5aa-48bb-befe-fe0a7608a24a
Wit, M de, Gajewska, KA, Goethals, ER, & ... (2022). Prise en charge psychologique de l'enfant, de l'adolescent et du jeune adulte diabétique. International Society for …, ispad.org, https://www.ispad.org/static/c1f7b90c-2c40-4aa6-a0ff0bcd74ce51b3/PrefinalISPADChapter15FR.pdf
Hapunda, G (2012). 'Less is more': The effect of information brochures on students' attitudes and perceptions towards e-learning in Zambia. International Journal of Psychology
Hapunda, G, Abubakar, A, Vijver, F Van De, & Pouwer, F (2016). Evaluating psychometric properties of the Zambian version of the Problem Areas in Diabetes scale: A triangulation with cognitive interviews: P2354. International Journal of …
Hapunda, G (2012). Caregiver-child attachment classification styles as correlates of treatment compliance among HIV-positive children. International Journal of Psychology
Given, H (2022). Coping strategies and their association with diabetes specific distress, depression and diabetes self-care among people living with diabetes in Zambia. BMC Endocrine Disorders (Web), jglobal.jst.go.jp, https://jglobal.jst.go.jp/en/detail?JGLOBAL_ID=202302261545628063
- Developmental psychology
- Paediatric psychology
- Research methodologies
- Social-behavioural intervention design
- Programme evaluation and monitoring
- Health psychology
- Psychometrics
- Technology-assisted research methods