Publications

Dr Counted’s scholarly work and scientific publications examine various aspects of psychosocial and psychospiritual processes that shape health and wellbeing across cultures. They are summarized below in no particular order:  

  1. Counted, V, Ramkissoon, H., Captari, L., & Cowden, R.G. (eds.) (forthcoming, 2022). Place, Spirituality, and Wellbeing: A multidisciplinary handbook. Springer
  2. Counted, V, Cowden, R.G., & Ramkissoon, H. (2021). Place and Post-Pandemic Flourishing: Disruption, Adjustment, and Healthy Behaviors. Springer
  3. Counted, V. (2021). The Roots of Radicalization: Disrupted Attachment Systems and Displacement. Lexington Books/Rowman & Littlefield
  4. Counted, V. & Watts, F. eds. (2019). The Psychology of Religion and Place: Emerging Perspectives. Palgrave MacMillan.
  5. Counted, V. (2019). Experiencing God in a foreign land: Theoretical and empirical explorations on the psychological links between religion and place among dispersed people. University of Groningen
  6. Counted, V. (2015). From A Weakspot To A Hotshot: Life-changing insights on how to lead and live a complete life. Cape Town: Hubb Publishing
 
  1. Shiba, K., Cowden, R.G., Counted, V., VanderWeele, T.J., & Fancourt, D. (2022). Associations of home confinement during COVID-19 lockdown with subsequent health and well-being among UK adults. Current Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03001-5
  2. Captari, L. E., Cowden, R. G., Sandage, S. J., Davis, E. B., Bechara, A. O., Joynt, S., & Counted, V. (2022). Religious/spiritual struggles and depression during COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in the Global South: Evidence of moderation by positive religious coping and hope. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000474 
  3. Neff, M.A., Masilela, L., Cowden, R.G., & Counted, V. (2022). Religion, Migration, and the New African Diaspora: A Psychological Perspective. Journal for the Academic Study of Religion 34(3), 267–288. https://doi.org/10.1558/jasr.21032
  4. Counted, V. & Abraham, I. (2022). Introduction to the Special Issue on Religion, Spirituality, and the New African Diaspora. Journal for the Academic Study of Religion 34(3), 239–241. https://doi.org/10.1558/jasr.21071
  5. Cowden, R.G., Davis, E.B., Counted, V., Chen, Y., Rueger, S.Y., VanderWeele, T.J., Lemke, A.W., Glowiak, K.J., Worthington Jr., E.L. (2021). Suffering, Mental Health, and Psychological Well-being During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study of U.S. Adults with Chronic Health Conditions. Wellbeing, Space, and Society 2, 100048. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wss.2021.100048
  6. Cowden, R. G., Rueger, S. Y., Davis, E. B., Counted, V., Kent, B. V., Chen, Y., VanderWeele, T. J., Rim, M., Lemke, A. W., & Worthington, E. L., Jr. (2021). Resource loss, positive religious coping, and suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic: A prospective cohort study of U.S. adults with chronic illness. Mental Health, Religion, & Culture. Advance online publication: https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2021.1948000
  7. Counted, V, Neff, M., Captari, L., Cowden, R. (2021). Transcending place attachment disruptions during a public health crisis: Spiritual struggles, resilience, and transformation. Journal of Psychology and Christianity 39(4), 276-286.
  8. Possamai, A., Long, G., & Counted, V. (2021). An Analysis of Australian Research Council’s Grants in Religion. Journal for the Academic Study of Religion 34 (1), 74-95 https://doi.org/10.1558/jasr.20133
  9. Renzaho, A., Counted, V., Mansouri, F., Polonsky, M. (2021). The influence region of origin, area of residence prior to migration, religion, and perceived discrimination on acculturation strategies among sub-Saharan African migrants in Australia. Journal of International Migration and Integration 23 (1), 141-160 http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12134-021-00829-x
  10. Counted, V., Pargament, K., Bechara, A.O., Joynt, S., & Cowden, R.G. (2020). Hope and well-being in vulnerable contexts during COVID-19 pandemic: Does religious coping matter? The Journal of Positive Psychology 17 (1), 70-81 https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2020.1832247
  11. Possamai, A., Jinks, T., & Counted, V. (2020). Conventional and unconventional forms of religiosity: identifying predictive factors and wellbeing outcomes. Journal for the Study of Spirituality 10(2), 155-170. https://doi.org/10.1080/20440243.2020.1817249
  12. Counted, V., Possamai, A., McAuliffe, C., & Meade, T. (2020). Attachment to Australia, Attachment to God, and Quality of Life Outcomes in African Christian Diaspora. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health 22(1), 65-95. https://doi.org/10.1080/19349637.2018.1499165
  13. Counted, V. (2019). The Role of Spirituality in Promoting Sense of Place among Foreigners of African Background in the Netherlands. Ecopsychology 11(2), 101–109. http://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2018.0070
  14. Counted, V. (2019). Domains of Religious Coping Behaviour among African Christians in New South Wales, Australia: An exploratory qualitative study. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health 21(3), 215-236. https://doi.org/10.1080/19349637.2018.1476948
  15. Counted, V. & Zock, H.T. (2019). Place Spirituality: an attachment perspective. Archive for the Psychology of Religion 41(1), 12–25. https://doi.org/10.1177/0084672419833448
  16. Counted, V. & Watts, F. A Space of Transition and Transaction: A rejoinder to selected commentaries on place spirituality. Archive for the Psychology of Religion 41(1), 43–52. https://doi.org/10.1177/0084672419832673
  17. Counted, V. (2019). Sense of Place Attitudes and Quality of Life Outcomes among African Residents in a Multicultural Australian Society. Journal of Community Psychology 47(2), 338-355. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22124
  18. Counted, V., Moustafa, A.A., & Renzaho, A. (2019). Migration and socio-demographic factors associated with the sense of place attitudes of sub-Saharan Africans in northern and western Netherlands. Journal of Community Psychology 47(2), 238-253. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22118
  19. Counted, V. (2019). African Christian Diaspora Religion and/or spirituality: A concept analysis and re-interpretation. Critical Research in Religion 7(1), 58-79. https://doi.org/10.1177/2050303218823258
  20. Counted, V. (2018). The Circle of Place Spirituality: Toward a motivational systems theory in the psychology of religion. Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion 29, 149-178. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/9789004382640_009
  21. Counted, V. (2018). Global avoidant attachment predicts indicators of caregiving faith in Australian-based African Christians in New South Wales. Journal for the Academic Study of Religion 30(1), 55-74. https://doi.org/10.1558/jasr.36551
  22. Counted, V., Possamai, A., & Meade, T. (2018). Relational Spirituality and Quality of Life 2007 to 2017: An integrative research review. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 16:75. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-018-0895-x
  23. Counted, V. & Miller, J.R. (2018). Pastoral Juxtaposition in Spiritual Care: Toward a caregiving faith theology in an evangelical Christian context. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 74(2), a4630. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v74i2.4630
  24. Counted, V. (2017). Attachment Theory and Religious Violence: Theorizing Adult Religious Psychopathology. Journal for the Study of Religion 30(1), 78-109. http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2413-3027/2017/v30n1a4
  25. Counted, V. & Watts, F. (2017). Place Attachment in the Bible: The role of attachment to sacred places in religious life. Journal of Psychology and Theology 45(3), 218-232. https://doi.org/10.1177/009164711704500305
  26. Counted, V. & Moustafa, A.A. (2017). Between God and Self: Exploring the attachment to God and authenticity/inauthenticity tendencies of South African Christian youths. Mental Health, Religion & Culture 20(2), 109-127. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2017.1326476
  27. Counted, V. (2016). Making Sense of Place Attachment: Towards a Holistic Understanding of People-place Relationships and Experiences. Environment, Space, & Place 8(1), 7-32. https://doi.org/10.5840/esplace2016811   
  28. Counted, V. (2016). Being Authentic is the New Image: A study of authenticity and selfhood among south African Christian millennials. Mental Health, Religion and Culture 19(3), 268–294. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2016.1168388
  29. Counted, V. (2016). The Psychology of Youth Faith Formation: A Care-giving Faith? Journal of Youth and Theology 15 (2), 146 – 172. http://doi.org/10.1163/24055093-01502004
  30. Counted, V. Missionizing Youth Identity Crisis: Towards a missional hermeneutic of care in youth ministry practice. Missionalia: Southern African Journal of Missiology, 41(1), 82-102. https://doi.org/10.7832/44-1-141
  31. Counted, V. & Arawole, J. ‘We Are Connected, But Constrained’: Internet Inequality and the Challenges of Millennials in Africa as Actors in Innovation. Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship 5(3), 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13731-015-0029-1
  32. Counted, V. (2016). God as an Attachment Figure: A Case Study of the God Attachment Language and God Concepts of Anxiously Attached Christian Youths in South Africa. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health 18(4), 316-346. http://doi.org/10.1080/19349637.2016.1176757
  33. Counted, V. (2015). God Images and God Concepts: Towards a pastoral hermeneutic of the God attachment experience. Verbum et Ecclesia 36(1), a1389. https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v36i1.1389
  34. Counted, V. (2015). African Women, Religion, and Health: Essays in Honour of Mercy Amba Ewudziwa Oduyoye. Journal of Religion and Health 54(6), 350–354. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10943-015-0153-z
  1. Cowden, R.G., Counted, V., & Ho, M.Y. (2022). Positive Psychology and Religion/Spirituality Across Cultures in Africa, Asia, and Oceania. In: E. B. Davis, E. L. Worthington, Jr., & S. A. Schnitker (eds.), Handbook of positive psychology, religion, and spirituality. Springer.
  2. Counted V., Cowden R.G., Ramkissoon H. (2021) Protest, Despair, and Detachment: Reparative Responses to Place Attachment Disruptions During a Pandemic. In: Place and Post-Pandemic Flourishing, pp 55-67.  Springer https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-82580-5_5
  3. Cowden R.G., Counted V., Ramkissoon H. (2021). Transcending Place Attachment Disruption: Strengthening Character During a Pandemic. In: Place and Post-Pandemic Flourishing, pp 81-92.  Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-82580-5_7
  4. Cowden R.G., Counted V., Ramkissoon H. (2021). Adapting to Place Attachment Disruption During a Pandemic: From Resource Loss to Resilience. In: Place and Post-Pandemic Flourishing, pp 71-80. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-82580-5_6
  5. Cowden R.G., Counted V., Ramkissoon H. (2021). Place Attachment and Suffering During a Pandemic. In: Place and Post-Pandemic Flourishing, pp 45-54. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-82580-5_4
  6. Counted V., Cowden R.G., Ramkissoon H. (2021). Place Attachment and Resource Loss During a Pandemic: An Ecological Systems Perspective. In: Place and Post-Pandemic Flourishing, pp 33-44. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-82580-5_3
  7. Counted V., Cowden R.G., Ramkissoon H. (2021). Place Attachment During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review. In: Place and Post-Pandemic Flourishing, pp 15-32. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-82580-5_2
  8. Counted V., Cowden R.G., Ramkissoon H. (2021). Place Attachment During a Pandemic: An Introduction. In: Place and Post-Pandemic Flourishing, pp 1-11. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-82580-5_1
  9. Counted V., Cowden R.G., Ramkissoon H. (2021). Pro-environmental Behavior, Place Attachment, and Human Flourishing: Implications for Post-pandemic Research, Theory, Practice, and Policy. In: Place and Post-Pandemic Flourishing, pp 93-108. Springer https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-82580-5_8
  10. El-Essawy, M.H.I., Solimana, A.M.A., Morris, A., Counted, V., Eissaa, A.M., Valikhanic, A., & Moustafa, A. A. (2021). Religious delusions in psychotic patients: Prevalence, possible origin, and effects. In: Moustafa, A.A. (ed.), Cognitive and Behavioral Dysfunction in Schizophrenia (pp. 87-113). Academic Press https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-820005-6.00001-3
  11. Counted, V. & Possamai, A. (2020). Confidence in the Australian Society, Belief in Demons, and Practice of Exorcism: The mediating and moderating role of spirituality. In: A. Possamai & G. Giordan (eds.), The Social Scientific Study of Exorcism in Christianity, (pp 217-236). Springer. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-43173-0_12
  12. Counted, V. (2020). Attachment Theory and the Study of Religion. In: Adam Possamai and Joseph Blasi (Eds.), SAGE Encyclopedia for the Sociology of Religion. SAGE. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781529714401
  13. Counted, V. (2020). Quantitative Data Research Software. In: Adam Possamai and Joseph Blasi (Eds.), SAGE Encyclopedia for the Sociology of Religion. SAGE. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781529714401   
  14. Counted, V. & Watts, F. (2019). Defining the psychology of religion and place: a concept analysis. In: V. Counted & F. Watts (eds.), The Psychology of Religion and Place: Emerging Perspectives. Springer/Palgrave MacMillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28848-8_16
  15. Counted, V. (2019). The Psychology of Place Spirituality: A Cascade of Parallel Processes. In: V. Counted & F. Watts (eds.), The Psychology of Religion and Place: Emerging Perspectives. Springer/Palgrave MacMillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28848-8_9
  16. Counted, V. & Watts, F. (2019). An Introduction to the Psychology of Religion and Place. In: V. Counted & F. Watts (eds.), The Psychology of Religion and Place: Emerging Perspectives. Springer/Palgrave MacMillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28848-8_1   
  17. Counted, V. & Meade, T. (2019). Why and How Environmental and Religious Attachments Matter for Health Promotion. In: V. Counted & F. Watts (eds.), The Psychology of Religion and Place: Emerging Perspectives. Springer/Palgrave MacMillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28848-8_15   
  18. Counted, V. (2019). Religion, Place, and Attachment: An Evaluation of Conceptual Frameworks. In: V. Counted & F. Watts (eds.), The Psychology of Religion and Place: Emerging Perspectives. Springer/Palgrave MacMillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28848-8_3
  1. Counted, V. (2022). Consider the Least of These: Sternberg’s Three Principles of Love and COVID-19. Christianity Today
  2. Counted, V., Cowden, R., & Kaftanski, W. (2022). Remembering our lost ties to place. ABC Religion & Ethics. 
  3. Counted, V. (2021). Can radicalisation be defeated? Yes, if we understand that it happens when people’s bonds are broken. The Conversation 
  4. Counted, V. & Cowden, R.G. (2021). Sustaining Well-being in the Absence of Hope. Psychology Today!   
  5. Counted, V. (2020). Migrants and the bond with God: attachment and survival are linked. The Conversation 
  6. Counted, V., Pargament, K.I., Cowden, R.G. (2020). Hope and religion in a time of crisis: evidence from Colombia and South Africa. The Conversation 
  7. Counted, V. (2020). Can religious coping help bushfire survivors? Psychology Today! 
  8. Counted, V. (2020). The Security of Place and Resilience. Psychology Today! 
  9. Counted, V. (2019). Experiencing God in a Foreign Land. University of Groningen News 
  10. Counted, V. (2013). The Thin Line Between Abnormality and Normality. Big Think
These publications were made possible through generous support from the following organisations/institutions
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