aPPLY
Assistant Professor of Psychology

Asatsa Stephen, PhD.

Dr. Stephen Asatsa is an assistant professor in Department of Psychology at the United States International University-Africa with extensive experience in academic strategy and research. He is a Consultant Psychologist registered and licensed by the Kenya Counselors and Psychologists Board. He serves on the governing Council, Society for Research in Child Development-SRCD. He is the Africa regional representative for European Association of Personality Psychology- EAPP. He is the e-newsletter editor for International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development- ISSBD and a Consulting Editor for Child Development . His research interests span from Indigenous knowledge systems, Thanatology, Human development and Cultural evolution. He is a strong advocate for indigenization of psychological practice. He is the director of The Collective Intelligence Research Lab (CIR-Lab), a research hub that promotes understanding the human and society from a multidisciplinary world view.
Email Address

sasatsa@usiu.ac.ke

Phone Number

+257 730 116 635

EXTERNAL PROFILES

AREAS OF INTEREST / SPECIALIZATION

  • Thanatology
  • Indigenous Psychology
  • Environmental Psychology
  • Human Development

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

  • PhD in Counseling Psychology (2018)
  • MA in Counseling Psychology (2014)
  • Higher Diploma in Psychological Counseling (2011)
  • Bachelor of Education (2003)

TEACHING

  • Qualitative Research Designs and Analysis
  • Grief and Trauma
  • Research Methods
  • Statistics
  • Human Sexuality

PUBLICATIONS

Selected Journal Articles:

  1. Asatsa S, Lew-Levy S, Makunda J, Wangari Gichimu E, Mwende S, Kapitany R. (2025).  Cultural transmission during Luhya mourning rituals. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 380: 20240271. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2024.0271
  2. Asatsa S, Ringen E, Kapitany R,Ngaari SM, Makunda J, Wangari Gichimu E, Lew-Levy S. (2025). Mourning ritual participation, subjective well-being and prosocial behaviour among the Luhya people of Kenya. Proc. R. Soc. B 292: 20250213.https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2025.0213
  3. Kendal RL, Miltiadis E, Asatsa S, Boyette AH, Chimento M, Mathew S, Reichard B, Winship L, Wright S. (2025). Introduction: diversifying cultural evolution research and application to global futures. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 380: 20240256. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2024.0256
  4. Boyette AH …. Asatsa, S, et al. (2025). Advancing equity in collaborative research: reflections from the Cultural Evolution Society Transformation Fund. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 380: 20240269. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2024.0269
  5. Asatsa, S., Lew-Levy, S., Mbugua, S. N., Ntaragwe, M., Shanyisa, W., Gichimu, E., Nambiri, J., & Omuchesi, J. (2025). Regulating community well-being through traditional mourning rituals: Insights from the Luhya People of Kenya. Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health, 13(1), 140–150. https://doi.org/10.1093/emph/eoaf012
  6. Hofmann, D. V., Hopwood, C. J., Laher, S., Asatsa, S., Florence, M., Shino, E. N., Naudé, L., & Thalmayer, A. G. (2025). The structure of psychopathology among young adults in Kenya, Namibia, and South Africa. Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/abn0001045
  7. Haehner, P., Naudé, L., Hopwood, C. J., Shirima, C. M., Laher, S., Shino, E. N., Asatsa, S., Florence, M., Adonis, T.-A., Bleidorn, W., & Thalmayer, A. G. (2025). Personality trait change in three sub-Saharan countries: Normative development and life events. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000582
  8. Charzyńska, E., Buźniak, A., Czerwiński, S. K., Woropay-Hordziejewicz, N., Schneider, Z., Aavik, T., Adamowic, M., Adams, B. G., Al-Mahjoob, S. M., Almoshawah, S. A. S., Arrowsmith, J., Asatsa, S., ……….Atroszko, P. A. (2025). The International Work Addiction Scale (IWAS): A screening tool for clinical and organizational applications validated in 85 cultures from six continents. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, Accepted Manuscript / Online First. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2025.00005
  9. Asatsa, S. (2024). COVID-19 pandemic-related impacts and addiction severity among service users in selected substance use treatment facilities in Nairobi, Kenya. Journal of Substance Use, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/14659891.2024.2332788
  10. Asatsa S. (2020) “Death Attitudes as Possible Predictors of Death Preparedness across Lifespan among Nonclinical Populations in Nairobi County, Kenya,” Indian J Palliat Care; 26:287-94. 10.4103/IJPC.IJPC_127_19.
  11. Agwu, U. K., Asatsa, S., & Egunjobi, J. P. (2025). Prevalence of online social comparison among undergraduate university students in Abia State, Nigeria. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), 9(17), 563-568. https://doi.org/https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.917PSY0051
  12. Agwu, U. K., Asatsa, S., & Egunjobi, J. P. (2025). Relationship between online social comparison and self-concept among undergraduate university students in Abia State, Nigeria. East African Scholars Journal of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, 7(4). https://doi.org/10.36349/easjpbs.2025.v07i04.004
  13. Thalmayer, A. G., Asatsa, S., Shino, E. N., Naudé, L., Laher, S., Hassem, T., Florence, M., Adonis, T.-A., Uugwanga, S. N., Rotzinger, J. S., Hofmann, D., Makunda, J., Botha, C., Murangi, A., & Shirima, C. M. (2024). Lifespan research in Kenya, Namibia, and South Africa: Cohort profile of the Africa long life study. Personality Science, 5. https://doi.org/10.1177/27000710241264492
  14. Asatsa, S., Agwu, U. K.,Nkoma, C., Cordeiro, B. S.,Machogu, L. R., Koffi, T. F.,Nyangoya, D. (2024), Dreams and Grief Process in Selected Communities in Africa. African Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Research 7(2), 252-264. DOI:10.52589/AJSSHR-FUTKAJ29
  15. Wairimu, A, Asatsa, S & Njiru, L (2022). The Role of Conformity to Masculinity Norms on Alcohol Use among Male Teachers in Public Secondary Schools in Murang’a County, Kenya. African Journal of Alcohol & Drug Abuse : Volume 8
  16. Kerebi, E. & Asatsa, S, (2022). The Role of African Traditional Marriage Rites on Marital Stability: A Case of The Abagusii People, Kenya. Journal of African Studies and Sustainable Development, 5 (3) DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.23939.78889

Books:

  1. Lew-Levy, S., & Asatsa, S. (Eds.). (2025). A field guide to cross-cultural research on childhood learning: Theoretical, methodological, practical, and ethical considerations for an interdisciplinary field. Open Book Publishers. https://doi.org/10.11647/OBP.0440
  2. Asatsa, S., Kahuthia, N & Karanu, N.D (2021). It’s Okay not to be Okay: Scripture Union Manual on Mental Health and Wellness. Scripture Union. Nairobi.

Edited Special Edition:

  1. Boyette, A. H., Mathew, S., Asatsa, S., Chimento, M., & Kendal, R. L. (2025). Transforming cultural evolution research and its application to global futures. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 380(1940), 0962-8436. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rstb/issue/380/1940

Research projects and grants

Projects:

  1. Africa Long Life Study– Led by Prof. Amber Gayle (University of Zurich); Collaborators- Dr. Stephen Asatsa (USIU-A, Kenya), Dr. Elizabeth Shino (University of Namibia); Dr. Luzelle Naude ((University of the Free State, South Africa)- https://www.africalonglifestudy.org/team
  2. Virtue at scale: Cultural evolution and expansion of moral communities Led by Prof Sarah Mathew (Arizona State University). Collaborators- Dr. Stephen Asatsa (USIU-A, Kenya)
  3. Ritual, Warfare and Adolescent Adversity among the Turkana Led by Michael Baumgarten and Prof Sarah Mathew (Arizona State University) and Dr. Stephen Asatsa (USIU-A)
  4. Building body image resilience in populations undergoing rapid economic development Led by Prof Lynda Boothroyd (Durham University, UK) and Dr. Stephen Asatsa (USIU- A)
  5. Parenting by Lying Led by Prof. Laura Visu- Petra (Babes-Bolyai University, Romania) Collaborators: Dr. Stephen Asatsa (USIU-A)
  6. Environmental Connectedness and Mental Health Outcomes Led by Dr. Stephen Asatsa (USIU-A), Dr. Elizabeth Wangari Gichimu; Collaborators (Outspan Global University, Kenya)

Grants:

  1. March 2026: Durham University Grant for Building Body Image Resilience Project (GBP 19,497)
  2. Jan 2025: European Association of Personality Psychology Focus Meeting Grant (Euro 10 000)
  3. April 2023: Cultural Evolution Society ACE grant for scholar mobility (USD 6000)
  4. August 2022: Cultural Evolution Society Cultural Transformation Grant (GBP 89 200)
  5. May 2022: SRA Covid-19 Network Early Career Scholars Fellowship ($ 8500)
  6. Feb 2022: National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) Small Grant ($ 5000)

Professional Memberships

  • Kenya Counselling and Psychological Association (KCPA)
  • Cultural Evolution Society (CES)
  • International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD)
  • Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD)
  • Society for Psychotherapy Research (SPR)
  • European Association of Personality Psychology (EAPP)
  • International Society for Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP)