Professor Joana Salifu Yendork

Profile

Prof. Joana Salifu Yendork is a clinical/developmental psychologist and Associate Professor at the University of Ghana, specializing in child and adolescent mental health. Her research spans critical areas such as the psychological impacts of orphanhood, child marriage, family structure, religion and spirituality, and gambling harm among youth in Ghana. She has led and collaborated on several national and international research projects with over 65 peer-reviewed publications to her name.

Research

Publications

Pang, F., Datu, J. A. D., Yendork, J. S., & Tan, C. S. (2025). Do interpersonal strengths predict well-being outcomes in Filipino, Malaysian, and Ghanaian adolescents? The Educational and Developmental Psychologist, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/20590776.2025.2510938

Baba, H., Salifu Yendork, J., & Kliewer, W. (2025). Associations between coping, support, and mental health among married adolescent girls in Northern Ghana. International Perspectives in Psychology: Research, Practice, Consultation, 14(1), 41–53. https://doi.org/10.1027/2157-3891/a000119

Salifu Yendork, J., Ayittey, R. E., Oti-Boadi, M., Omari, E. B., & Oppong Asante, K. (2024). Coping within the stepfamily context in Ghana: Exploratory study of the experiences of stepchildren and stepparents. Journal of Child and Family Studies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-024-02956-2

Salifu Yendork, J., Omari, E. B., Andoh-Arthur, J. & Annor, F. Correlates of sexual orientation self-concept ambiguity among Ghanaian adolescents (2024). Sexuality & Culture, 29, 248-273. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-024-10281-5

Salifu Yendork, J., Kliewer, K., & Cyrus, J. (2024). Child marriage and well-being in Central and Western Africa: A scoping review of positive and negative outcomes. Journal of Adolescence. https://doi.org/10.1002/jad.12418

Sarfo, E. A., Salifu Yendork, J., & Naidoo, A. V. (2024) “I married because …”: Motivations to marry early among female spouses in child marriages in northern Ghana. Children & Youth Services Review, 166, 107917. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107917

Wright, A. W., Salifu Yendork, J., Richard, S., Washington-Nortey, P., & Kliewer, W. (2024). Adult perceptions of child adjustment in institutional versus family care in Ghana. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 33, 2799-2813. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-024-02813-2

Sarfo, E. A., Salifu Yendork, J., & Naidoo, A. V. (2023). Examination of the lived experiences of the female spouse in child marriages in northern Ghana: Implications for psychological wellbeing. Ghana Social Science Journal, 20(2), 180-199. https://journals.ug.edu.gh/index.php/gssj/article/view/2662

Acquaye, G. L. N. A, Quarshie, E. N., Salifu Yendork, J., & Oppong Asante, K. (2023). Child sexual abuse in Ghana: A multi-methods exploratory study. Children & Society, 38(5), 1654-1675. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/chso.12830

Oti-Boadi, M., Salifu Yendork, J., Omari Boakye, E., & Oppong, S. (2023). Experiences of siblings of individuals with autism spectrum disorders. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 71(3), 428-441. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20473869.2023.2246764

Glozah, F., Bunn, C., Sichali, J. M., Salifu Yendork, J., Mtema, O., Udedi, M., Reith, G., & McGee, D. (2023). Young people and gambling in sub-Saharan Africa: towards a critical research agenda. Journal of the British Academy, 11(s3), 153-172. https://doi.org/10.5871/jba/011s3.153

Salifu Yendork, J. (2023). The impacts of teachings of a neo-prophetic church on adolescents’ well-being and character development: An explorative qualitative study in Ghana. Journal of Religion in Africa, 53, 486-508. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15700666-12340264

Komesour, J., Nsamenang, S. A., Salifu Yendork, J., Boadu, S. O., Osei-Tutu, A., Worthington, E. L. (2023). Forgiveness among Ghanaian children in the context of peer-to-peer dyad. Journal of Personal Relationships, 30(3), 825-853. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/10.1111/pere.12484

Ade, D., Salifu Yendork, J, & Darkwah, E. (2023). “I always think about tomorrow what I’ll eat” An exploration of the experiences of adolescents in poor urban contexts in Accra, Ghana. Children & Society, 37(6), 1974-1991. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/chso.12698

Osei Owusu, J., Salifu Yendork, J., & Osafo, J. (2022). Home-based sexuality education in Ghana: The perspectives of adolescents and parents. International Journal of Sexual Health, 34(4), 550-566. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19317611.2022.2108532

Ayittey, R.E., Salifu Yendork, J., Oti-Boadi, M. & Oppong Asante, K. (2022). Experiences of adolescent stepchildren in the stepfamily context in Ghana: A qualitative exploratory study. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 63(6), 422-440. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10502556.2018.1466250

Sarfo, E. A, Salifu Yendork, J., & Kpobi, L. (2022). Is the church a place of solace or frustration? An exploration of the impact of contemporary Christianity on congregants of selected Neo-Prophetic churches in Ghana. Journal of Religion in Africa, 52(1-2), 146-169. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15700666-12340219

Salifu Yendork, J., Boadu, S. O, Amankwah-Poku, M., & Osei-Tutu, A. (2022). Forgiveness in children placed in Children’s Homes: Understanding, process and motivation for forgiveness. Child Care in Practice, 28(1), 20-42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13575279.2019.1681362

Sarfo, E. A., Salifu Yendork, J., & Naidoo, A.V. (2022). Understanding child marriage in Ghana: The constructions of gender and sexuality and implications for married girls. Child Care in Practice, 28(2), 228-241. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13575279.2019.1701411

Sarfo, E. A., Salifu Yendork, J., & Naidoo, A. V. (2021). Examining the intersection between marriage, maturity and child marriage: Perspectives of community elders in northern Ghana. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 23(7), 991-1005. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2020.1749934

Salifu Yendork, J., & James, S. (2020). Covid-19 in Ghana: Changes and the way forward. Journal of Comparative Family Studies (SI: Global Perspectives on Family and Covid-19), 51(3-4), 369-384. https://doi.org/10.3138/jcfs.51.3-4.012

Sarfo, E. A., Salifu Yendork, J., & Naidoo, A. V. (2020). Working with married girls: The experiences of professionals on the causes, impact and interventions of child marriage. Journal of Human Right and Social Work, 5(4), 267-279. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41134-020-00130-4

Salifu Yendork, J. (2020). Vulnerabilities in Ghanaian orphans: Using the ecological systems theory as a lens. New Ideas in Psychology, 100811 (SI: Psychology of Orphanhood), 59, 100811. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.newideapsych.2020.100811

Baba, H., Salifu Yendork, J., & Atindanbila, S. (2020). Exploring married girls’ subjective experiences of well-being and challenges. Journal of Adolescence, 79, 193–207. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2020.01.009

Kliewer, W., Washington-Nortey, M., Salifu Yendork, J., Sosnowski, D. W., Wright, A. W., & McGuire, K. (2020). Maternal and family correlates of intrinsic religiosity profiles among low-income urban African American adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 49, 323-334. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10964-019-01095-y

Expertise