Current Projects
Valuing Natural Capital in Communities for Health
Funded by the Science Foundation Ireland
Project Duration
18 Months
This project aims to provide a range of psychological and physiological evidence for the impact of nature on health and wellbeing. Working with a Ballymun community in Dublin (Ireland), we explore ways in which we could encourage the community to engage more actively in nature-based interventions to improve their health and maximise their psychological and emotional wellbeing to flourish. Our outcome is to create a system modelling framework that will allow other communities to design and engage in nature to achieve optimal human functioning.
This research is a collaboration between Dr Jimmy O’Keeffe (STEM researcher) from Geography Department, Dublin City University, and Dr Jolanta Burke (Social Sciences researcher) from the Centre for Positive Health Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Bee Well
Funded by the Irish Research Council and Community Foundation Ireland
Project Duration
12 Months
This project assesses the impact of the ‘Let It Bee’ biodiversity project which trained farmers as beekeepers and created awareness of the damage that pesticides do to local water sources and biodiversity.
Participants from the ‘Let it Bee’ project are interviewed with the aim of producing important knowledge capturing the impact the training had on their personal, family and community wellbeing. The findings from the study will inform the wellbeing and environmental policies.
Flourishing Alumni
Funded by Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland and University of East London.
Project Duration
12 Months
This research is conducted with the alumni of positive psychology courses worldwide. It explores sustainable wellbeing by examining the mechanisms that contribute to long-term wellbeing and in particular, it reviews a range of new wellbeing arts interventions that improve wellbeing. The findings from the study will generate new interventions and assist in understanding a range of processes that sustain wellbeing.
Exploring new wellbeing interventions for school
Funded by Hibernia College and Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Project Duration
12 Months
The aim of this research is to explore alternative wellbeing interventions in post-primary schools. They include research-informed interventions ranging from Lifestyle Medicine, Positive Psychology and Environmental. The findings from this study will inform the wellbeing curriculum in schools.
Research Publications
Lianov, L., & Burke, J. (in press). Lifestyle medicine inside and out: A guide on how to apply positive psychology in person-centred medicine. Routledge.
Burke, J., Corrigan, S., Clarke, D., & O’Keeffe, J. (in press). Positive Psychology and Biodiversity Conservation: Health, Well-Being and Pro-Environmental Actions. Routledge.
Giraldez-Hayes, A., Meehan, T., Seligman, M., & Burke, J. (in press). Routledge International Handbook of Wellbeing Arts. Routledge
Burke, J. & Corrigan, S. (in press). “There is something about the bees”: A positive psychological impact of a pro-environmental intervention on beekeepers’ and their families’ wellbeing. Frontiers in Environmental Science.
Burke, J., Clarke, D., O’Keeffe, J. (in press). Greening the mind: The power of integrating positive and environmental education for improving wellbeing. In G. Arslan & M. Yildirim (Eds) Handbook of Positive School Psychology Interventions: Evidence-Based Practice for Promoting Youth Mental Health. Springer Publishing.
Burke, J. & Dunne, P.J. (in press). Mind Meets Body: Lifestyle Medicine and Positive Psychology Interventions for School. In G. Arslan & M. Yildirim (Eds) Handbook of Positive School Psychology Interventions: Evidence-Based Practice for Promoting Youth Mental Health. Springer Publishing.
Loughnane, C., O’Donovan, R., Laiti, J., Donnelly, J., Scott, C., Burke, J., & Dunne, P. (under review). The role of Positive Health Sciences in Positive Cyberpsychology.
Burke, J., Collins, M., & Dempsey, M. (under review). Break time: Exploring the impact of taking short and lunch breaks during work.
Burke, J., Boniwell, I. Frates, B., Lianov, L., & O’Boyle, C.A. (2024). The Routledge International Handbook of Positive Health. Routledge.
Burke, J., Dunne, P.J., & Byrne, E. (2024). Positive Health Interventions: An emerging concept. In J. Burke, I. Boniwell, B. Frates, L. Lianov, & C.A. O’Boyle (Eds.) The Routledge international handbook of Positive Health (pp.191-207). Routledge.
O’Boyle, C.A., Lianov, L., Burke, J., Frates, B., & Boniwell, I. (2024). Positive Health: An emerging new construct. In J. Burke, I. Boniwell, B. Frates, L. Lianov, & C.A. O’Boyle (Eds.) The Routledge international handbook of Positive Health (pp.2-23). Routledge.
Doran, A., Burke, J., & Healy, C. (2023). The domino effect: The impact of school leadership on teachers’ wellbeing. Irish Teachers’ Journal, 11, 61-71.
Lianov, L., & Burke, J. (2023). Positive psychology approaches to mental health and health behaviour interventions. In G. Merlo & C.P.P. Fagundes (Eds.). Lifestyle Psychiatry: Through the lens of behavioural medicine (Lifestyle Medicine). CRC Press.
Egan, D., Forde, U., Galligan, O., & Burke, J. (2023). Leadership matters: An investigation into the leadership behaviours that predict teachers’ morale. Irish Teachers’ Journal, 11, 41-60.
Garvey, A., & Burke, J. (2023). From risk to resilience: Impact of solution focused coaching on teacher efficacy in supporting children with speech, language and communication needs. International Coaching Psychology Review, 18(2), 56–69. doi: 10.53841/bpsicpr.2023.18.2.56
Burke, J., Clarke, D., O’Keeffe, J., & Meehan, T. (2023). The impact of blue and green spaces on wellbeing: A review of reviews through a Positive Psychology lens. Journal of Happiness and Health, 3(2), 93-108. https://doi.org/10.47602/johah.v3i2.48
Burke, J. & O’Donovan, R. (2023). Gratitude as a protective factor
against burnout in healthcare professionals: a systematic
review. British Journal of Healthcare Management. https://doi.
org/10.12968/bjhc.2021.0163.
Burke, J. & Meehan, T. (2023). Childlessness as a springboard for post-traumatic growth. Irish Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, 23(1), 4-9.
Kronsbein, K., Belovski, M., & Burke, J. (2023). Retired High-Flyers: Exploring the Impact of Accomplishment on Well-being in Retired Female CEOs, Work, Aging and Retirement. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/workar/waab032
O’Donovan, R., & Burke, J. (2022). Factors Associated with Post-Traumatic Growth in Healthcare Professionals: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 10(12), 2524. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10122524
Arslan, G., Burke, J., & Majercakova Albertova, S. (2022). Strength-based parenting and social-emotional wellbeing in Turkish young people: does school belonging matter?, Educational and Developmental Psychologist, 39(2), 161-170, DOI: 10.1080/20590776.2021.2023494
Burke, J. (2022). Positive psychology and school bullying. In A. Giraldez-Hayes & J. Burke (eds.) Applied Positive School Psychology (pp.173-179). Routledge.
Burke, J. (2022). Positive relationships. In A. Giraldez-Hayes & J. Burke (eds.) Applied Positive School Psychology (pp.23-28). Routledge.
Burke, J. & Dempsey, M. (2022). Doing a cryptic crossword without clues: Exploring the factors that protected the wellbeing of school leaders during the Covid-19 pandemic uncertainty. In H. Aker & M. Aiken (Eds.) Cyberchondria, health literacy and the role of media on society’s perception of medical information. Washington: IGI Global.
Burke, J. & Dempsey, M. (2022). Capstone projects and final-Year projects in Psychology. Routledge.
Burke, J. & Dempsey, M. (2022). Undertaking capstone projects in Education: A practical guide for students. Routledge.
Burke, J., & Dunne, P. J. (2022). Lifestyle medicine pillars as predictors of psychological flourishing. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 963806. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.963806
Burke, J., Dunne, P., Meehan, T. O’Boyle, C. & van Nieuwerburgh, C. (2022). Positive Health: 100+ research-based positive psychology and lifestyle medicine tools for enhancing wellbeing. Routledge.
Burke, J., Kinnarney, P., & Salokangas, M. (2022). “Split in all directions”: An exploration of the impac of wellbeing and daily responsibilities on post primary school leaders’ perceived stress. Journal of School Leadership and Management, 42(2), 110-125, DOI: 10.1080/13632434.2021.2016683
Burke, J., & Mc Guckin, C. (2022). Bullying and character development: An examination of character strengths associated with bullying and cyberbullying in post-primary schools in Ireland. Journal of Character Education, 18(1), 51 – 67.
Dempsey, M. & Burke, J. (2022). Pedagogy for wellbeing: A new model for organic development of wellbeing in schools. In A. Giraldez-Hayes & J. Burke (eds.) Applied Positive School Psychology (pp.212-219). Routledge.
Giraldez-Hayes, A. & Burke, J. (2022). Applied Positive School Psychology. Routledge.
Lucey, C. & Burke, J. (2022). Positive Leadership in practice: A model for our future. Routledge.
Sanders, C., Burke, J., & Muzyk, A. (2022). Contributing to a Healthier World: Exploring the Impact of Wellbeing on Nursing Burnout. Journal of Happiness and Health, 2(2), 70–86. https://doi.org/10.47602/johah.v2i2.14
O’Brien, S.E. & Burke, J. (2021). Heliotropic Leadership: An examination of the role that PsyCap plays in enhancing teachers’ morale. Journal of School and Educational Psychology, 1(1), 17–25. Retrieved from https://www.journalofschoolpsychology.com/index.php/josep/article/view/7
Dempsey, M. & Burke, J. (2021). Flourishing during Covid-19: Exploration of the factors that impacted the wellbeing of school leaders during the pandemic in Ireland. Journal of School and Educational Psychology, 1(1), 28-39.
Lyons, M. & Burke, J. (2021). “When everyone is rowing the boat together”: Exploring teachers’ perspectives on Distributed Leadership using an Appreciative Inquiry (AI) approach.
Arslan, G. & Burke, J. (2021). Positive education to promote flourishing in students returning to school after Covid-19 closure. Journal of School and Educational Psychology, 1, 1-5.
Burke, J. (2021). Positive cyberpsychology: A conceptual framework of an emerging field. In A. Kostic & D. Chadee (Eds.) Positive Psychology: An international perspective (pp.85-101). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Quinn, P., McGilloway, S., & Burke, J. (2021). Covid-19 and the class of 2020: A national study of the mental health and wellbeing of Leaving Certificate students in Ireland. Journal of Irish Educational Studies, DOI: 10.1080/03323315.2021.1916564.
Burke, J. & Arslan, G. (2021). A new forum for sharing happiness and health research. Journal of Happiness and Health, 1, 1-3.
Burke, J. & Dempsey, M. (2021). One month before Covid-19 and one year after: An assessment of wellbeing of post-primary school leaders in Ireland. Maynooth: Maynooth University.
Burke, J. & Dempsey, M. (2021). Wellbeing in post-Covid schools: Primary school leaders’ reimagining of the future. Maynooth: Maynooth University.
Burke, J. (2021). “It means a lot to us”: Heeding the voices of the BOM chairpersons in schools in Ireland. Maynooth: CPSMA.
Trom, G. & Burke, J. (2021). Positive Psychology Intervention (PPI) coaching: An experimental application of coaching to improve the effectiveness of gratitude intervention. Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research & Practice, 1-12.
Burke, J. & Arslan, G. (2020). Positive education and school psychology during Covid-19 pandemic. Journal of Positive School Psychology, 4(2), 137-139, DOI: 10.1080/17521882.2021.1936585.
Dempsey, J. & Burke, J. (2020). Covid-19 in Primary Schools in Ireland – A Follow-up Report. Maynooth: Maynooth University.
Burke, J. & Dempsey, M. (2020). Covid-19 in Primary Schools in Ireland Report. Maynooth: Maynooth University.
Quinn, P., McGilloway, S., & Burke, J. (2020). The class of 2020: The experience of of Leaving Certificate students during Covid-19 in Ireland. Maynooth: Maynooth University.
Dunleavy, G. & Burke, J. (2019). Fostering a sense of belonging at an international school in France: An experimental study. Journal of Educational and Child Psychology, 36(4), 34-45.
Burke, J. & Minton, S.J. (2019). Wellbeing in post-primary schools in Ireland: The assessment and contribution of character strengths. Journal of Irish Educational Studies, 37(3)177-192.
Burke, J. & Passmore, J. (2019). Strengths based coaching: A positive psychology intervention. In L.E. van Zyl & S. Rothmann (Eds.) Positive psychological interventions: Approaches to capacity development within multi-cultural context (vol 1). Springer.
Hughes, N. & Burke, J. (2018). Sleeping with the frenemy: How restricting “bedroom use” of smartphones impacts happiness and wellbeing. Computers in Human Behaviour, 85, 236-244.
Burke, J. & Stephens, E. (2018). Applying positive psychology to sex addition. In T. Birchard & J. Benfield (Eds.) The Routledge international handbook of sexual addiction. London/New York: Routledge.
Burke, J. (2018). Conceptual framework for a positive psychology coaching practice. Coaching Psychologists, 14(1), 16-25.
Burke, J (2018). The languishing limbo: Coaching for wellbeing. Coaching Today, 26, 12-17.
Burke, J. (2018). The clinical practice of well-being. The Healthcare Counselling and Psychotherapy Journal, 17(4), 14-17.
Van Nieuwerburgh, C., Lomas, & Burke, J. (2018). Editorial. Integrating coaching and positive psychology: Concepts and practice. Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice, 11(2), 99-101.
Audin, K., Burke, J., & Ivtzan, I. (2018). Compassion Fatigue, compassion satisfaction and work engagement in residential childcare. The Scottish Journal of Residential Childcare, 17(3).
Round, J. & Burke, J. (2018). A dream of retirement: The longitudinal experiences and perceived retirement wellbeing of recent retirees following a tailored positive psychology intervention linking Best Possible Self expressive writing with goal-setting. International Coaching Psychology Review, 13(2), 28-46.
Zhu, J.J., Lomas, T., Burke, J. Ivtzan, I. (2017). Exploring the role of purpose in the lives of career changers: A qualitative inquiry. Journal of Positive Psychology and Well-being, 1(2), 109-128.
Burke, J. & Hackett, M. (2017). When Irish eyes are smiling: Irish therapists’ well-being and their passion for the work of counselling & psychotherapy. Irish Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, 17 (3), 20-26.
Burke, J. (2016). Posttraumatic Growth: Examining an increase of optimism amongst targets of bullying in Ireland. The Irish Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy 16(2), 11-15.
Burke, J. & Minton, S.J. (2016). Rethinking well-being: Deficit vs strength approach in measuring the impact of bullying and cyberbullying in schools. In C. Mc Guckin & L. Corcoran (Eds.) Bullying and Cyberbullying: Prevalence, Psychological Impacts and Intervention Strategies. New York: Nova.
Dr Jolanta Burke 