Promoting resilience and well-being in Ghana — and across the globe

Editor's note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable fall 2024 graduates.

An international student from Agotime-Kpetoe, Ghana, Nutifafa Dey is set to earn a second master’s degree this December as he pursues a PhD in psychology, specializing in developmental psychology at Arizona State University.

Dey’s journey toward his doctoral degree began in 2019 after completing a clinical psychology program at the University of Ghana. He worked closely with children rescued from labor trafficking, providing essential social, psychological and therapeutic support. The experience raised pressing questions about creating culturally sensitive interventions and policies to combat trafficking and support survivors’ resilience throughout their lives. Collaborating with public health researchers, he developed advanced research skills that solidified his career goals.

Dey shared that a PhD in psychology, focusing on resilience across the lifespan, would allow him to address these and new questions and position him to translate scientific research into interventions that inform local and global policies. 

“I feel very grateful to have found the exact PhD profile, the resources, the laboratory and the right people — including my mentor at ASU — to support my training towards achieving my goals,” he said.

Beyond academics, Dey has been a leader within ASU’s African PhD Network, a student organization advocating for the needs of African graduate students, and a recipient of the Graduate College Enrichment Fellowship for his contributions to ASU’s Inclusive Excellence goals.

Read on to learn more about Dey’s research, his campus experience and vision for the future. 

Question: What advice or insights have you found most impactful during your time at ASU?

Answer: “Don’t suffer alone or in silence” is one thing I heard during orientation that has stuck with me throughout my past two years at ASU. These words represent the sense of community that the Department of Psychology fosters, which was contrary to the mindset I had about the PhD journey — traveling alone with minimal support from peers and faculty — before joining the program.

I value community, and knowing that I was moving to study in a culture that emphasizes an independent self over a sense of community — at least according to the scientific evidence — made the idea of traveling the PhD journey alone very real and scary. I quickly learned that an incredibly supportive community exists at ASU and we are encouraged to use them anytime, especially in our times of need. Not only was my perspective changed on that day, but my fears were also alleviated. I have experienced many moments of generosity and support from staff, faculty and peers that have made my first two years at ASU truly meaningful and enjoyable. I am looking forward to many similar moments as I finish up my PhD.

Q: Can you briefly describe your master’s thesis?

A: I am interested in better understanding how middle-aged and older adults develop in low- and middle-income countries, using lifespan theories and methods to characterize developmental trajectories, identify resilience pathways, and to incorporate these into culturally sensitive interventions and inform policies.

My research examines differences and similarities in health and well-being across generations of middle-aged and older adults in Ghana, using Ghana’s WHO Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health. I found that the recent generations of these adults, compared to their same-aged peers from previous generations, report poorer health and well-being. Interestingly, the recent generation — who were born during one of the most turbulent military rules in Ghana’s history — was more adversely impacted. This is an important finding, as it forms the bedrock for describing how well current generations of adults are fairing. I hope to publish these findings and continue working with data to investigate resilience pathways that could explain these differences.

Q: Were there any professors or faculty mentors who had a significant impact on your ASU experience so far?

A: Professor Frank Infurna, my academic mentor, was instrumental in providing the fundamental theoretical, methodological and analytical support and training to undertake my master’s thesis research project successfully. His unwavering support allowed me to disseminate my research findings at local and international conferences.

I extend gratitude to my thesis committee members, Professor Mary Davis and Associate Professor Connor Sheehan, for their encouragement, time and valuable perspectives in shaping and improving my research and journey as an independent researcher.

Q: What’s next on the academic agenda for you?

A: The next milestones are passing my comprehensive exams and dissertation defense. One of the focuses of my research going ahead is identifying which groups of middle-aged adults are most vulnerable to reporting higher loneliness over time, a topic the Lifespan Development Lab recently published a paper on that showed U.S. middle-aged adults are lonelier than their European peers.

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?

A: Find simple ways to do difficult things, and find your people early. Open up to others you trust, ask for help when needed and get involved in social activities to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of school life.

Q: What was your favorite space on campus, whether for studying, meeting friends or just thinking about life?

A: I enjoy working at the School for the Future of Innovation in Society’s student lounge situated on the second floor in Wrigley Hall. I go there to study and hang out with my friend, who is a graduate student with the school. I just love how open and comfortable the space feels and admire the view from the window to the street.

My mini breaks between focused studying involve just standing and looking from the window into the street, savoring every moment of different cars and people passing by, going about their day.

Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?

A: I would use the money to address problems related to health and well-being among adults, especially those who are most vulnerable targeted through research, intervention development and policy improvement aligning my solutions with the WHO’s Sustainable Development Goals goals. As populations age and people live longer, we are confronted with the challenge and opportunity to clearly understand and characterize the growing complex needs of adults worldwide, not just in high-income countries, where most of the research has been concentrated.

This gap prompts the critical understanding of adults in other countries. The way I see this happening is by first training more researchers from other contexts, equipping them with relevant theoretical and methodological knowledge and skills related to aging and adult development; secondly, building strong collaborations and infrastructures — e.g., nonprofit research organizations, grant mechanisms and longitudinal panel projects; and finally strengthening existing institutions dedicated to addressing the needs of adult in those countries.