He has gone and returned. He explains Cyprus and celebrates it—this majestic island in the Mediterranean that welcomed him back, where today his twins are growing up. Dr. Angelos Kassianos is a health psychologist with a specialization in public health and behavioral medicine. He is currently a Lecturer in Health Psychology at the Cyprus University of Technology and the Director of the Behavioral Science in Health – BSiH Laboratory.
He has also coordinated several significant research projects and is also an FTHub’s partner in the GreenTouch Project, which seeks to develop resources that help bring students and university staff closer to nature. Angelos takes part in the III Global Summit Science, Nature, and Health.
Roots
“I grew up in Cyprus, a small island in the Mediterranean Sea in Europe. I grew up in the 80s, so that means that the environment, the building environment, everything that has to do with how the cities looked, was very different from what it is now.”
“Growing up on an island and having the opportunity to grow up also in my mother’s village—because I was born in the city, but at the same time, when I was a kid I spent a lot of time with my grandparents in a small village—I have very fond memories of that period because everything looked more simple.”
“We had the opportunity to explore nature in a way that, unfortunately, kids nowadays don’t have. We were able to go to the fields. My grandparents grew vegetables. It was a time when I learned to appreciate simplicity and the calmness that comes with growing up in this environment.”
“We were growing up in a time where the Mediterranean diet was something natural. It wasn’t something that medical professionals were suggesting people follow. It was something that was in our culture.”
Early Interests and Shift to Psychology
“When I was growing up, I wanted to be a film director and a theater director. I was always very curious about how people think, how people behave. I still do that, actually— I try to absorb things that are happening around me.”
“Together with my appreciation for art, led me to have that dream. But in the process, I changed my direction and went into the psychology field. I think psychology has a lot of similarities to being an artist or a film director because you’re still interested in how people think and behave, just in a different way.”
“During my bachelor’s studies, I realized that the clinical side of Psychology was not for me. I recognized my skills—I was one of the very few students who liked statistics and research methods. So I followed that path, went into research, and chose health psychology, which is my specialty.”
“My interest in health psychology was based on personal experiences. I wanted to study health conditions because of my father, it was a personal decision. I wanted to contribute—just a small contribution—to enabling societies and people to live healthier lives, prevent diseases, and promote healthier behaviors and lifestyles. That’s how I ended up where I am now.”
Research Focus in Health Psychology
“After a person is diagnosed with a condition, we focus on improving quality of life, promoting healthier lifestyles after diagnosis. Having a healthy lifestyle is very much interrelated with health outcomes—both physical and mental health outcomes.”
“But also, a very broad part of my research is prevention, before diagnosis in the first place. There’s a lot of international interest in prevention now. The relationship between psychology and prevention is quite simple. Anything we do in life relates to a behavior—a certain behavior. For example, with HPV vaccination, people have to decide to get vaccinated. They have to accept vaccines and actually go and get them.”
“Being physically active, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake, having a healthier diet—these are all behaviors. They sound simple, but they’re not. There are complex determinants of how and why we behave in one way or another. That’s where psychology, and health psychology in particular, come in—trying to understand why people make decisions and how they make them.”
“This helps healthcare professionals, policymakers, and stakeholders design interventions, programs, or policies in a way that makes sense in the field of behavior change.”
Evaluating research: Academic Path in the UK
“As with any researcher, the first step was to do a PhD—to start getting the skills and knowledge needed to become a researcher. I did my PhD in the UK and then stayed there for almost 12 or 13 years. I worked on several projects related to early cancer diagnosis, cancer prevention, and medical education. I was involved in different projects, and I developed an interest in methodology.”
“One of my personal goals was to develop my methodological skills. I’m not saying that I have reached the level I wanted to, but I wanted to develop my ability to recognize and filter the research that I am exposed to.”
“As a teacher and an academic, I also want to transfer that critical thinking to my students, especially those who want to pursue a PhD. It’s important not to take everything for granted. We’ve seen research being retracted due to false data. We need to filter and critically assess research”.
“I’ve been lucky in the last three years of my life to be based in a university city, at the Cyprus University of Technology in Cyprus. I returned to my home country, bringing all the experience I gained abroad.”
Time to pause
“I’m reflecting on my schedule and realizing that I wish I had more time to focus on things I’ve left behind, things that are important to me. Life often demands so much from us that we end up neglecting what truly matters. For example, I enjoy running, particularly in the park near my home in Nicosia (Athalassa Forest). We have a lovely forest area, the Aalasa Forest, which is a great place to run and is very close to where I live. However, it’s been some time since I last went there for a run.
“Those activities are crucial to me. I have two lovely twins and I try to take them on trips during the weekends. Weekends should be dedicated to family and quality of life. It helps me consider the importance of finding balance”.
“Work will always be there, and it will keep increasing, but we need to carve out time for the things that truly improve our quality of life. We must make time and stop using lack of time as an excuse. Sometimes, it’s our responsibility to say no to certain things and prioritize those that enhance our well-being”.
Ph: Courtesy Angelos Kassianos
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