Publications & Outputs

Abbott, P. (2022), "Can mindfulness training in primary schools promote mental wellbeing in Sub-Saharan Africa?", Open Access Government, January 2023, pp.158-159. Available here.

Abbott, P., Nixon, G., and Shanks, R. (2023) "School of Education Staff Involved in Major Global Health Project" in Learning Strands, University of Aberdeen School of Education, February 2023, Issue 8, p.2. Learning Strands Issue 8.

1. Abbott, P., Nixon, G., Stanley, I., and D'Ambruoso, L. (2024) A protocol for a critical realist synthesis of school mindfulness interventions designed to promote pupils' mental wellbeing, Frontiers in Public Health, vol 11-2023. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1309649 (Accessed 15th February 2024).
2. Abbott, P., Shanks, R., Stanley, I, and D'Ambruoso, L. (2024) A protocol for a critical realist systematic synthesis of interventions to promote pupils' wellbeing by improving the school climate in low- and middle-income countries, PLOS One, 19(5). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286489 (Accessed 28th May 2024).
3. Engdawork, K., D'Ambruoso, L., Hailu, T., Yared, M., Geletu, G.M., Baraki, S.G., Sebsibe, E. and Abbott, P. (2025) '"Space to see the future"? A political economy analysis of child and adolescent mental health and well-being in Ethiopia including routes for change', Frontiers in Sociology (9). DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2024.1488619
4. Wubshet, I., Engdawork, K., Gebremariam, S., Kanazayire, C., & Abbott, P. (2026). The social determinants of depression among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review. Journal of Child & Adolescent Mental Health, 37(1), 68–90. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2026.2646171
5. Rachel Shanks, Stephanie Thomson, Charlaine Simpson and Pamela Abbott. (2026). Developing a School-based Mindfulness Intervention for Delivery in Rwanda and Ethiopia: Cultural Adaptation through Knotworking, 13 July 2026, PREPRINT (Version 1) available at Research Square DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-10308535/v1

NIHR GHRG on Promoting Children's and Adolescent's Mental Wellbeing in Sub-Saharan Project (2024) 'NIHR Global Health Research Group on Promoting Children's and Adolescent's Mental Wellbeing in Sub-Saharan Project', UK Policy Brief 1, University of Aberdeen. Available here.

1. Peer review journal article - Engdawork, K., D'Ambruoso, L., Hailu, T., Yared, M., Geletu, G.M., Baraki, S.G., Sebsibe, E. and Abbott, P. (2025) '"Space to see the future"? A political economy analysis of child and adolescent mental health and well-being in Ethiopia including routes for change', Frontiers in Sociology (9). DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2024.1488619
2. Seminar recording - 'Space to see the future?' A Political Economy Analysis of Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing in Ethiopia. 29th November 2024. 

1. Project Launch, 3rd October 2022: Project Launch Presentation and Project Launch Minutes

2. Presentation to the School of Education Research & Scholarship Seminar Series: Abbott, P., Nixon, G. and Shanks, R. (2023) Overview of the Project - NIHR GHRG on Promoting Children's and Adolescent's Mental Wellbeing in sub-Saharan Africa, [Presentation] 31st May 2023.

3. Presentation by Professor Wenceslas Nzabalirwa on Mindfulness in Schools to the International Advisory Board, 1st June 2023: PowerPoint Slides - PAR Training Exchange - Mindfulness in schools.

1. PowerPoint for Professor Pamela Abbott's seminar at Addis Ababa University, Department of Sociology, on Thursday 13th February 2025, entitled 'Critical Realism in Evaluating Complex Social and Health Interventions':  PowerPoint on Critical Realism and Health & Social Interventions NIHR CAMW
2. PowerPoint from PhD student Isayas Wubshet  entitled "Social Structure, Stress, and Depressive Symptoms among Early Adolescents:  A Case Study of Primary School Pupils in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia".  Isayas Wubshet BSA Conference PPT

Study protocol for a Critical Realist pilot cluster-randomised controlled trial of a whole-school-based mindfulness intervention (SMBI) promoting child and adolescent mental wellbeing in Rwanda and Ethiopia

The pre-print is available at: Abbott, P., D'Ambruoso, L., Yared, M., McNamee, P., Hailu, T. and Nzabalirwa, W. (2023) Study protocol for a Critical Realist pilot cluster-randomised controlled trial of a whole-school-based mindfulness intervention (SMBI) promoting child and adolescent mental wellbeing in Rwanda and Ethiopia, medRxiv. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.05.10.23289769 (Accessed 07th June 2023).

A protocol for a systematic critical realist synthesis of school mindfulness interventions designed to promote pupils' mental wellbeing

The protocol for our first systematic literature review has been registered with PROSPERO. The registration is available at: Abbott, P., Stanley, I., Nixon G., and D'Ambruoso, L. (2023) A protocol for a systematic critical realist synthesis of school mindfulness interventions designed to promote pupils' mental wellbeing, PROSPERO 2023 CRD42023410484. Available at: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023410484 (Accessed 03rd April 2023).

The pre-print is available at: Abbott, P., Stanley, I., Nixon G., and D'Ambruoso, L. (2023) A protocol for a systematic critical realist synthesis of school mindfulness interventions designed to promote pupils' mental wellbeing, medRxiv. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.04.06.23288255 (Accessed 25th April 2023).

A protocol for a critical realist systematic synethesis of school climate change interventions designed to promote pupils' wellbeing in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

The protocol for our second systematic literature review has been registered with PROSPERO. The registration is available at: Abbott, P., Shanks, R,, Stanley, I., and D'Ambruoso, L. (2023). A protocol for a critical realist systematic synethesis of school climate change interventions designed to promote pupils' wellbeing in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, PROSPERO 2023 CRD42023417735. Available at: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023417735 (Accessed 25th April 2023).

The pre-print is available at: Abbott, P., Shanks, R,, Stanley, I., and D'Ambruoso, L. (2023). A protocol for a critical realist systematic synethesis of school climate change interventions designed to promote pupils' wellbeing in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, medRxiv. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.05.18.23290176 (Accessed 07th June 2023).

A review of scientific theories used to justify the delivery of school-based mindfulness programmes. A protocol for a scoping review.

The pre-print is available at: Abbott, P., Nixon, G., Stanley, I., and D'Ambruoso, L. (2023) A review of scientific theories used to justify the delivery of school-based mindfulness programmes. A protocol for a scoping review, medRxiv. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.06.19.23291616 (Accessed 04th July 2023).

The Social Determinants of Depression among Adolescents in Low and Middle Income Countries: A Scoping Review Protocol

The pre-print is avaialble at: Wubshet, I., Engdawork, K., Gebremariam, S., Kanazayire, C., and Abbott, P. (2024) The Social Determinants of Depression among Adolescents in Low and Middle Income Countries: A Scoping Review Protocol, medRxiv. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.10.04.24314891 (Accessed 15th October 2024).

Scoping Review of Mental Distress among Caregivers of Children and Adolescents with Behavioral Problems in Low and Middle Income Countries

The pre-print is available at: Gahima, I., D'Ambruoso, L., Nyirazinyoye, L., Simbi, C., Temam, M., Mihretu A. Scoping Review of Mental Distress among Caregivers of Children and Adolescents with Behavioral Problems in Low and Middle Income Countries. Research Square. Available at: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7934244/v1 (Accessed 02nd March 2026).

NIHR GHRG on Promoting Children's and Adolescent's Mental Wellbeing in Sub-Saharan Project (2026) 'NIHR Global Health Research Group on Promoting Children's and Adolescent's Mental Wellbeing in Sub-Saharan Project', UK Policy Briefs: The Neural Bridge: Reclaiming School Climate for Human Capital Development, University of Aberdeen. Policy brief for for Rwanda Policy Event May 2026

General Assembly and Scientific Conference

PowerPoint for Dr Mahlet Yared and Dr Tsion Hailu to present at General Assembly and Scientific Conference that occurred on Sept 19 & 20, 2025.

Presentation for EPA Sept 2025

2025 Interdisciplinary Research and Education Symposium

Poster Presentation for Dr Lucia D'Ambruoso and Professor Pamela Abbott to present at 2025 IRES that occurred on Oct 08, 2025.

Interdisciplinary Research and Education Symposium 2025 | Research | The University of Aberdeen

Poster for IRES

British Sociological Association Annual Conference 2025

PowerPoint for PhD student Isayas Wubshet to present at BSA Conference 2025.

ac2025_abstract_book_24april25.pdf

PowerPoint for BSA 2025

Scientific, Research and Innovation 2026 Africa Regional Conference

PowerPoint for PhD student Isayas Wubshet to present at the SRI rican Regional Conference tool place from 22-26 Jun, 2026 in South Africa and online.

PowerPoint for SRI 2026

2nd International Health Reserach Conference

Poster Presentation for PhD student Isayas Wubshet to present

Poster for Conference

Inaugural Policy Actor Event, Kigali, Rwanda, September 2023

Project team members were joined by policy actors at local, national, and international levels, and from governmental organisations, development agencies, and NGOs, to discuss the project.

Resources

The agenda is available here.

Attendees recieved the project brief, here.

The collated slides are available here.

Media outputs

Bahizi, H. (2023) 'Unlocking the potential of mindfulness; A Sub-Saharan initiative to enhance child, adolescent mental wellbeing', The New Times, 13 September. Available at: www.newtimes.co.rw/article/10738/news/featured/unlocking-the-potential-of-mindfulness-a-sub-saharan-initiative-to-enhance-child-adolescent-mental-wellbeing (Accessed 15th February 2024).

University of Aberdeen (2023) 'Sub-Saharan wellbeing project takes another leap forward', 13 September. Available at: www.abdn.ac.uk/education/research/cgd/news/22271/ (Accessed 15th February 2024).

Photos © University of Aberdeen, 2023

Policy Actor Launch Event, 26th September 2023, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Written resources

The event agenda is available here.

The event report is available to read here.

Photo © University of Aberdeen, 2023.

Slide decks

Overview of the NIHR GHRG on Promoting Children's and Adolescent's Mental Wellbeing in Sub-Saharan Africa Project (Dr Tsion Hailu)

Contextual Analysis Slides (Dr Kibur Engdawork)

Mindfulness and Developing a Mindfulness Intervention in Schools Slides (Dr Elias Sebsibe)

Impact of a Whole-School Mindfulness Intervention on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Wellbeing and its Relevance for Policy Actors Slides (Professor Pamela Abbott)

Policy Event, Kigali, Rwanda, May 2026

Project team members were joined by policy actors at local, national, and international levels, and from governmental organisations, development agencies, and NGOs, to discuss the project and participate in discussion.

Resources

The agenda is available: Agenda

The policy brief is available: Policy brief for for Rwanda Policy Event May 2026

The collated slides are available: Policy Event May 2026

Media outputs

University of Rwanda (2026) 'NIHR Project Endline Policy Event', 15 May. Available at here and here (Accessed 24th June 2026)

Photos © University of Aberdeen, 2026

4nd International Educational Conference on Re-shaping Education for Sustainable Development Conference, Kigali, Rwanda, June 2026

Reimagining Sustainable Futures through Pedagogical innovation, Inclusion and Resilience.

The 21st century education era has created prospects but also faced with various challenges. This realization requires realigning education and research practices to respond to the rapidly changing 21^st century development context. Against this background, University of Rwanda, College of Education (UR-CE) invites educational practitioners, academicians, education development partners, and graduate students to submit papers for presentation in this international conference.

Drawing from the lessons from learned three international conferences previously hosted by UR-CE, participants will explore innovative STEM and social science pedagogies. Participants will also reflect on topical issues like Artificial intelligence for education transformation, research dissemination for impact and other related topics.

Resources

The collated slides are available:

Professor Pamela Abbott 

• Transforming Pupils’ Wellbeing through a Whole School Mindfulness Intervention. Available here.
• A Critical Realist Explanatory Analysis of the SBMI Literature: Re‑grounding Programme Theory as an Educational Intervention Key Contributions. Available here.
  

Dr. Kibur Engdawork 

• Identifying structures and mechanisms that may promote or constrain school-based mindfulness interventions (SBMIs) designed to enhance pupils’ mental well-being in Ethiopia. Available here.

Ali Kaleeba and Niamh Bruce

• Developing and Delivering a School-based Mindfulness Intervention (SBMI) for Schools in Sub-Saharan Africa. Available here.

Dr Jean Paul Bikorimana and Professor Paul McNamee

• Preliminary Findings from a Trial of a School-based Mindfulness intervention in Rwanda. Available here.

Dr Ivan Gahima and Dr Lucia D'Ambruoso

• Child and Adolescent Mental Health in Rwanda: A Political Economy Analysis of Priority-Setting, Institutions, and Implementation. Available here.