Dr. Ana Uka | Western Balkans University
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Dr. Ana Uka

Head of Department
Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy
Faculty of Technical Medical Sciences
Bio
Education
Publications
Dr. Ana Uka has completed Bachelor Studies and Master of Science in Counseling and Family Psychology from Istanbul University and Leiden University. She completed her doctoral studies in Family and Community Psychology at the Institute of Family and Community Life at Clemson University in South Carolina, USA. She has worked as an expert (psychologist) through the Council of International Programs and Columbus International Programs (CIPUSA & CIP) of the US Department of State in several centers and schools. Since 2012, she has been working as a full – time lecturer at University College "Beder", where she has held several positions as the vice head and head of the Department of Educational Sciences (2012-2020), head of the Department of Education and English Language (2020-2022), head of International Relations Office (2018-2022) and director of Research Center for Sustainable Development and Innovation (2022-2024). Currently, she is appointed as the Head of the Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy at WBU where she is a lecturer of Psychology and Research Methods courses. Dr. Uka has been serving as the editor-in-chief of Beder Journal of Educational Sciences (BJES) (2020 - 2024). She continues to be a collaborator in several national and international projects as well as a co-author in many scientific articles with local and foreign researchers. She also collaborates in several international projects with the leadership of the University of Coimbra, Portugal, the University of Vienna, Austria and the University of Seville, Spain in the field of "Perinatal Depression in Mothers", “Perinatal Maternal Stress”, "Challenges of Youth Education During the Pandemic in Europe" and " Family Support for the Welfare of Children in Europe" within the COST Actions - Horizon 2020 projects.
  • 2002-2006 – Bachelor of Science in Education – Counseling and Guidance Psychology Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
  • 2010-2012 – Master of Science in Family and Child Psychology Studies Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
  • 2013 – 2019 – Doctorate in Family and Community Psychology Studies Clemson University, South Carolina, USA
PUBLISHED ARTICLES IN JOURNALS
1.      Bina, R., Uka, A., Costa, R., & Tuval-Mashiach, R. (2024). Seeking help for perinatal depression and anxiety: a systematic review of systematic reviews from an interdependent perspective. Journal of Public Health, fdae125.  
 
2.      Bernedo, I. M., Almeida, A., Byrne, S., González-Pasarín, L., Pećnik, N., Cruz, O., Uka, A., ... & Šumskaitė, L. (2024). The use of evidence-based programmes in family support across Europe: A comparative survey study. Children and Youth Services Review, 158, 107455. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107455
 
3.      Rodríguez-Muñoz, M. F., Chrzan-Dętkoś, M., Uka, A., García-López, H. S., Krupelnytska, L., Morozova-Larina, O., ... & Le, H. N. (2023). The impact of the war in Ukraine on the perinatal period: Perinatal mental health for refugee women (pmh-rw) protocol. Frontiers in Psychology, Sec. Health Psychology, 14, 1152478.  doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1152478
 
4.      Mesquita, A., Costa, R., Bina, R., Cadarso-Suárez, C., Gude, F., Díaz-Louzao, C., ... Uka, A. & Motrico, E. (2023). A cross-country study on the impact of governmental responses to the COVID-19 pandemic on perinatal mental health. Scientific reports, 13(1), 2805.  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-29300-w
 
5.      Rodríguez-Muñoz, M. F., Radoš, S. N., Uka, A., Marques, M., Maia, B. R., Matos, M., ... & Liakea, I. (2023). Effectiveness of the third wave cognitive behavior therapy for peripartum depression treatment-a systematic review. Midwifery, 103865.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2023.103865
 
6.      Mëhalla, E., & Uka, A. (2023). A Review on the Psychological Well-Being of Workers at Workplace and Its Implications. Beder Journal of Educational Sciences 27(1), 25-36. Doi:10.5281/zenodo.10993714
 
7.      Lleshi, A., & Uka, A. (2023). The Role and the Challenges of Teacher Assistants in Integrating Children with Special Needs in Regular/Mainstream Classes. Beder Journal of Educational Sciences 27(1), 1-13. Doi:10.5281/zenodo.10987060
 
8.      Xhomara, V., & Uka, A. (2022). Creativity in Education: Fostering Creativity in the Classroom Using Creative Teaching Methods Beder Journal of Educational Sciences 26(2), 2-29. Doi:10.5281/zenodo.8068813

9.      Pelikan, E. R., Korlat, S., Reiter, J., Holzer, J., Mayerhofer, M., Schober, B., ...Uka, A. … & Lüftenegger, M. (2021). Distance learning in higher education during COVID-19: The role of basic psychological needs and intrinsic motivation for persistence and procrastination–a multi-country study. PloS one, 16(10), e0257346. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257346
 
10.  Uka, A., & Prendi, A. (2021). Motivation as an indicator of performance and productivity from the perspective of employees. Management & Marketing, 16(3), 268-285. DOI: 10.2478/mmcks-2021-0016.
 
11.  Kurti, R., & Uka, A. (2021). Teachers’ challenges and effective teaching strategies towards English language learners. Beder Journal of Educational Sciences 25(2), 36-66.
 
12.  Bicaku, J. & Uka, A. (2021). Educational games as means to promote better learning among school-aged children. Beder Journal of Educational Sciences 24(2), 57-93.
 
13.  Uka, A., & Uka, A. (2020). The effect of students’ experience with the transition from primary to secondary school on self-regulated learning and motivation. Sustainability, 12(20), 8519. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12208519
 
14.  Uka, A. (2015). Students’ educational and occupational aspirations predicted by parents’ and adolescents’ characteristics. European Journal of Social Science Education and Research, 2(2), 56-67.
 
15.  Uka, A. (2014). Student satisfaction as an indicator of quality in higher education. Journal of educational and instructional studies in the world, 4(3), 6-10.
 
16.  Uka, A. (2014). The Impact of Risk Behaviors on Violence among High School Students. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 4.

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS PAPERS
1.      Uka, A. (2024). Students’ challenges and experiences with digital teaching and learning during Covid-19 pandemic: A case of Albania. Proceedings of TLECONF - 7th International Academic Conference on Teaching, Learning and Education, 1(1), pp. 103-111, 19-21 April 2024, Athens, Greece. https://doi.org/10.33422/tleconf.v1i1.345
 
2.      Uka, A. (2024). Examining associations between perceived parental support and student’s learning wellbeing during online learning under Covid-19 conditions. Proceedings of INTCESS 2024- 11th International Conference on Education & Social Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey, pp106-112. ISBN: 978-605-72065-5-8. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10475606
 
3.      Uka, A. (2023). The effect of perceived parental support on university student's learning factors in higher education. Proceedings of IECESS – International Euroasian Conference on Educational and Social Studies, pp.160-179. Nov. 30 – Dec. 3, Granada, Spain. E-ISBN: 978-625-94101-3-

4.      Uka, A. (2023). Reintegrating mothers and children returnees from conflict zones. The role of religion and gender. Abstract book of MIGREL International Conference – “Migration, Religion and Intercultural Relations”, June 14-16, 2023, VID, Stavanger, Norway

5.      Uka, A. (2023). Age, gender and urbanicity differences on youth civic engagement. Proceedings of IECSS – International Euroasian Conference on Educational and Social Studies, pp. 520-533, Nov. 30 – Dec. 3, Granada, Spain. E-ISBN: 978-625-94101-3-5

6.      Uka, A. & Lala, B. (2022). Causes and Effects of Bullying in Schools (Age 12-15) and Teachers’ Role on Preventing it. Proceedings of 8th International Conference on Education and Social Sciences – “New Perspectives in Education and Social Sciences”, pp. 14-43, 20 May, 2022, Beder University College, Tirana, Albania. ISBN: 978-9928-4590-8-4

7.       Uka A. & Prendi, A. (2021). Psychological basic needs and gender as predictors of student wellbeing during the global pandemic of Covid-19. Proceedings of ICLEL 2021 - 7th International Conference on Lifelong Education and Leadership for all, August 24-26, 2021, International University of Sarajevo- Bosnia & Herzegovina.

8.      Uka, A. & Lala, B. (2022). Causes and Effects of Bullying in Schools (Age 12-15) and Teachers’ Role on Preventing it. Proceedings of 8th International Conference on Education and Social Sciences – “New Perspectives in Education and Social Sciences”, pp. 14-43, 20 May, 2022, Beder University College, Tirana, Albania. ISBN: 978-9928-4590-8-4