Research Interest

• Health Psychology, Mental Health, Social Cognition

  Academic Background

• Ph.D. in Psychology: Central University of Karnataka
• Integrated MSc in Health Psychology: University of Hyderabad

  Professional Experience

• Assistant Professor, Department of Liberal Arts, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bhilai (2023-till date)
• Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Central University of Karnataka, Karnataka, India (2017-2023)
• Affiliate Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, University of Washington, USA (2021-till date)

  Awards

• Gold Medal in M.Sc (5 - year Integrated) Health Psychology from University of Hyderabad
• Recipient of PRIIA Grantathon 2022 by ICMR

  Affiliations In Academic Bodies

• Life member in Association of Health Psychologists

• Member in Indian Academy of Applied Psychology (IAAP) (2019-2020)

  Academic Services

• Reviewer for Journals: Journal of Health Psychology; BMJ Open; Sage Open Nursing; Heliyon; Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved; BMJ Global Health; Emerging Adulthood; Frontiers in Public Health; Health Education Journal; Risk Management and Healthcare Policy; PLOS ONE; PLOS Global Public Health

  Conference Organized

• International Conference on “Health, Well-being, and Technology” (Hybrid mode) at the Department of Psychology, Central University of Karnataka on 27th and 27th January 2023.
• International virtual conference on “Post COVID-19: Enhancing Resilience and Well-being in Health and Education Sectors” at the Department of Psychology, Central University of Karnataka, on 24th and 25th January 2022.

  Research Supervision

• PhD Scholars: 2
• PG Dissertations: 23

  Projects Completed

1. “Exploring the challenges, psychological problems, and mental health needs among frontline health workers of government hospitals: A study in Hyderabad Karnataka Region”. For a duration of 3 months (October 1st to December 31, 2020) with the funding amount Rs 9,72,037/-. Funded by Azim Premji university
2. ICSSR funded project titled “Prevalence, associated risk factors, beliefs and knowledge about hypertension: A study among tribal population of Hyderabad Karnataka Region” for a duration of 24 months with the funding of Rs.18,00,000/- with Dr.Rajkumar, Dr.Jeyavel, &Dr.Vijyendra Pandey as the Co-project Directors.
3. DST-Satyam funded project titled "Alternate nostril breathing and HolotropicBreathwork An Intervention to manage Post COVID-19 Lockdown stress and enhance resilience among students of higher educational Institutions" for a duration of 10 months with the funding amount Rs 12,73,104
4. ICSSR Funded project titled Impact of Services Delivered by Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) under Ayushman Bharat scheme on maternal health care among young mothers of tribal population in South India

  Publications

Journal Papers

1. Jeyavel, S., Subhasree, G., Pandey, V., Rajkumar, E., Eapen, J. C., & Lakshmana, G. (2023). Does Cultural Intelligence & Emotional Intelligence Differ by Region in India? A Comparative Study. Cultural-Historical Psychology , 19(1), 97-105.
2. Rajkumar, E., Gopi, A., Joshi, A., Thomas, A. E., Arunima, N. M., Ramya, G. S., ... & Abraham, J. (2023). Applications, benefits and challenges of telehealth in India during COVID-19 pandemic and beyond: a systematic review. BMC Health Services Research, 23(1), 1-15 (Springer Nature).
3. Lakshmi, R., Romate, J., Rajkumar, E., George, A. J., & Wajid, M. (2023). Factors influencing tobacco use behaviour initiation–From the perspective of the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) Model. (Elsevier)Heliyon, 9(6).
4. Prakash, C., Abraham, J., Rajkumar, E., Jacob, A. M., & Nathwani, N. (2023). Noise Levels During Laparoscopic Procedures In Operation Theatres: An Observational Study In A Tertiary Care Hospital In Southern India. Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results, 4037-4043.
5. KS, V. M., Rajkumar, E., Lakshmi, R., John, R., Sunny, S. M., Joshua George, A., ... & Abraham, J. (2023). Influence of decision-making styles and affective styles on academic procrastination among students. Cogent Education, (Taylor and Francis) 10(1), 2203598.
6. George, A. J., John, R., Rajkumar, E., Wajid, M., & Lakshmi, R. (2023). Eudaimonia and mindfulness as predictors of alcohol-dependence: a pilot study. Cogent Psychology, 10(1). [Cogent Psychology, Impact factor: 1.35]
7. Rajkumar, E.,Gopi, A., Joshi, A., Thomas, A.E., Arunima, N.M., Ramya, G.S., Kulkarni, P., Rahul, P., George, A.J., Romate, J. and Abraham, J., (2023). Applications, benefits, and challenges of telehealth in India during COVID-19 pandemic and beyond: a systematic review. BMC Health Services Research, 23(1), pp.1-15. [Springer Nature, Impact factor:2.90]
8. Julia, G. J., Rajkumar, E.,&Romate, J. (2022). Prevalence of violent communication within Indian organisations-A systematic review and meta-analysis. Heliyon, e12336. [Elsevier, Impact factor: 3.7]
9. Romate, J., Rajkumar, E., Gopi, A., Abraham, J., Rages, J., Lakshmi, R.,Jesline, J., &&Bhogle, S. (2022). What contributes to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy? A systematic review of the psychological factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Vaccines, 10(11), 1777.(Imapct factor 4.96)
10. Rajkumar, E., Julia, G., Sri Lakshmi K., N.V. et al.(2022). Prevalence of mental health problems among rural adolescents in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep 12, 16573 .[Nature portfolio, Impact factor: 4.99]
11. Romate, J., Rajkumar, E., &Greeshma, R. (2022). Using the integrative model of behavioural prediction to understand COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy behaviour. Scientific Reports, 12(1), [Nature portfolio, Impact factor: 4.99]
12. Romate, J., &Rajkumar, E. (2022). Exploring the experiences, psychological well-being and needs of frontline healthcare workers of government hospitals in India: a qualitative study. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 9(1), 1-21. [Nature portfolio, Impact factor:2.6]
13. Sebastian, A. T., Rajkumar, E., John, R., Daniel, M., George, A. J., Greeshma, R., &James,T. (2022). Emotional self-care: exploring the influencing factors among individuals with cancer. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. [Frontiers, Impact factor:3.9]
14. Rajkumar, E., Rajan, A. M., Daniel, M.,Lakshmi, R., John, R., George, A. J.,Abraham, J., & Varghese, J. (2022, June).The psychological impact of quarantine due toCOVID-19: A systematic review of risk, protective factors and interventions using socio-ecological model frame work. Heliyon, 8(6). [Elsevier, impact factor:3.7]
15. Rajkumar, E., Ardra, A.,Prabhu, G.,Pandey, V., Sundaramoorthy, J.,Manzoor,R.,...&Badiger,T. (2022).Polycystic ovary syndrome: An exploration of unmarried women’s knowledge and attitudes.Heliyon, 8(7),e09835. [Elsevier, impact factor: 4]
16. Daniel, M., John, R., Rajkumar, E., George,A. J., & Abraham, J. (2022). Cognitive style and working memory among adolescents with specific learning disability. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 11. [Wolters Kluwer - Medknow publisher, Impact factor:1.60]
17. Romate, J. Rajkumar, E., Gopi, A. Abraham, J. Rages, J. Lakshmi, R. Jesline, J.Bhogle, S. What Contributes to COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy? A Systematic Review of the Psychological Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy. Vaccines 2022, 10, 1777. https://doi.org/10.3390/ vaccines10111777. [impact factor: 4.96]
18. Wajid, M., Rajkumar, E., & Romate, J.(2022). Exploring the End-of-Life Experiences of Advanced Cancer Patients from India. Health Psychology Research, 10(3). [Scholastica,Impact factor:2.2]
19. Ramachandran, K., Rajkumar, E., John, R., George, A. J., & Daniel, M. (2022). Effect of Carnatic raga-Bilahari based music therapy on anxiety, sleep disturbances and somatic symptoms among caregivers of cancer patients. [Elsevier, impact factor: 3.7]
20. Agnus Tom, A., Rajkumar, E., John, R., & Joshua George, A. (2022). Determinants of quality of life in individuals with chronic low backpain: a systematic review. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 10(1), 124-144. [Routledge, Impact factor: 2.1]
21. Rajkumar, E., G T, Krutika., Padiri, R. A., R, Lakshmi.,Daniel, M., John, R., & Abraham, J. (2022). Understanding Self-Care Behaviours among Type II Diabetes Patients: A Behaviour Change Models' Perspective. Current diabetes reviews, 10.2174/1573399818666220519142118. [Bentham Science,Impact factor:3.8]
22. JK, Reshma., M Pillai, P., Rajeevi, P., C R, S., Rajkumar, E., Joshua George, A., &Greeshma, R. (2022).Socio-cultural and psychological aspects of rape: Perspectives of young men from Kerala. Cogent Social Sciences, 8(1), 2064589. [Taylor and Francis, Impact factor:2.0]
23. Jeyavel, S., Pandey, V., Rajkumar, E., & Lakshmana, G. (2022, March). Neuromyths in Education: Prevalence Among South Indian School Teachers. In Frontiers in Education (Vol. 7,p. 781735). Frontiers Media SA. [Frontiers, Impact factor:2.0]
24. Sebastian, A. T., Rajkumar, E.,Tejaswini, P., Lakshmi, R., &Romate, J. (2021). Applying social cognitive theory to predict physical activity and dietary behavior among patients with type-2 diabetes. Health Psychology Research, 9(1). [Scholastica, Impact factor: 2.2]
25. Pandey, V., Astha, A., Mishra, N., Greeshma, R., Lakshmana, G., Jeyavel, S., Rajkumar, E., & Prabhu, G. (2021). Do social connections and digital technologies act as social cure During COVID-19?.Frontiers in psychology, 12, 634621. [Frontiers, Impact factor:3.9]
26. Reshma, P., Rajkumar, E., John, R., & George, A. J. (2021). Factors influencing self-care behavior of socio-economically disadvantaged diabetic patients: A systematic review. Health Psychology Open, 8(2), 205510292110414. https://doi.org/10.1177/20551029211041427 [Sage Publishers, Impact Factor:3.0]
27. Wajid, M., Rajkumar, E., Romate, J., George, A.J.,& R. Lakshmi.(2021). Exploring the problems faced by patients living with advanced cancer in Bengaluru, India. Heliyon 7(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06686 [Elsevier, Impact factor:3.7]
28. Wajid, M., Rajkumar, E., Romate, J., George, A.J., R. Lakshmi, &Simha, S. (2021). Why is hospice care important? An exploration of its benefits for patients with terminal cancer. BMC Palliative Care. 20(70). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-021-00757-8 [Springer Nature, Impact factor: 2.54].
29. Pandey, V., Misra, N., Greeshma, R., Astha, A., Jeyavel, S., Lakshmana, G., Rajkumar, E., & Prabhu, G. (2021). Techno trend awareness and its attitude towards social connectedness and mitigating factors of COVID-19. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.637395 [Frontiers in Psychology, Impact factor:3.9].
30. Jesline, J., Romate, J., Rajkumar, E., & George, A.J. (2021). The plight of migrants during COVID-19 and the impact of circular migration in India: A systematic review. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 8(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-021-00915-6 [Nature Publishers Impact factor2.7]
31. Rajkumar, E., & Romate, J. (2020). Application of a health belief model to hypertension within Rural India. Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, 11(1), 782. https://doi.org/10.37506/v11/i1/2020/ijphrd/193923 [Impact factor: 0.26].
32. Wajid, M., Rajkumar, E., Romate, J., Lakshmi, R., & Srinagesh (2021). Terminal Cancer: Hospice Care. Current Science Reports,(News)120(12).
33. Tresa Sebastian, A., Lal, B., Anupama, J., Varghese, J., Agnus Tom, A., Rajkumar, E., Joshua George, A., Jeyavel, S., Pandey, V., Wajid, M., & John, R. (2021). Exploring the opinions of the YouTube visitors towards advertisements and its influence on purchase intention among viewers. Cogent Business & Management, 8(1), 1876545. [Taylor and Francis, Impact factor: 2.02].
34. Ramachandran, K., Rajkumar, E., George, A. J., & John, R. (2021). Predictors of Anxiety, Sleep Disturbances and Somatic Symptoms among Caregivers of Cancer Patients-A Systematic Review. Indian Journal of Health Studies, 3(1).
35. Allen, J. G., Romate, J., & Rajkumar, E. (2021). Mindfulness-based positive psychology interventions: A systematic review. BMC Psychology, 9(1), 116. [Springer Nature, Impact factor: 2.54].
36. George, A. J., Rajkumar, E., John, R., Lakshmi, R., & Wajid, M. (2021). Mindfulness-based Eudaimonic enhancement for well-being of individuals with alcohol-dependence: A pilot randomized controlled study. The Open Psychology Journal, 14(1), 167–178. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874350102114010167 [Bentham Science Publishers, Impact factor:1.02].
37. Rajkumar , E., Kishore, M. T., & Madhira, P. (2020). Role of Intrinsic Motivation in Eating Habits and Physical Activity in Adults with Primary Hypertension. Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, 11(3).[Impact factor: 0.26].
38. Rajkumar, E.,&Romate, J. (2020). Behavioural risk factors, hypertension knowledge, and hypertension in rural India. International Journal of Hypertension, 2020, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8108202 [Hindawi Wiley, Impact factor: 2.420]

Book Chapters

1. Rajkumar, E.,Romate, J.,& Lakshmi, R. (2021). Application of Health Belief Model to Consumer Behaviour in the context of COVID-19.In M, Gulmez (Eds), Understanding The Consumer Behaviour During COVID-19 Pandemic (pp37-50). ISBN: 978-625-7679-33-6.AkademisyenKitabevi.
2. Rajkumar, E.,Romate, J., Lakshmi, R. KrutikaG T (2022). Smoking and Alcohol Consumption among Type 2 Diabetics. In Meena Hariharn et al (Eds), Health Psychology, Taylor and Francis,10.4324/97810033608589

Papers Presented

1. “Changes In Self-Medication Among Family Members Of Covid-19 Patients” at International Conference on Health, Wellbeing, And Technology, organized by the Department of Psychology, Central University of Karnataka, from 27th to 28th January, 2023
2. “Cardiovascular Correlates of Forgiveness: A Systematic Review” at International Conference on Health, Wellbeing, And Technology, organized by the Department of Psychology, Central University of Karnataka, from 27th to 28th January, 2023
3. Attended the four days Grantathon (empowering mental health researchers) as a participant and contributed to the discussions, organized by Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, in collaboration with Psychiatric Research Infrastructure for Intervention and Implementation in India & National Institute of Health & Family Welfare, New Delhi from 08th August -11th August 2022
4. "Team level positivity: a scoping review of positive psychological capacities and team level outcomes" at 57th National & 26th International Conference of Indian Academy of Applied Psychology (IAAP) organized jointly by the Department of Psychology, Mizoram University, from 27th January to 29th January 2022.
5. "Risk and Protective factors of Tobacco use among South Indian Adults: A Systematic Review on Socio-ecological framework" at 57th National & 26thInternational Conference of IAAP organized jointly by the Department of Psychology, Mizoram University , from 27thJanuary to 29thJanuary 2022.
6. "Prevalence of Organizational Violence in India- A Scoping Review" at 57th National and 26th International Conference of Indian Academy of Applied Psychology (IAAP; RCI accredited), organized by Department of Clinical Psychology and Department of Psychology, Mizoram University, India, from 27th – 29th January,2022.
7. "Bouncing back together: a systematic review on team resilience resources at work" at Post-COVID 19 enhancing resilience and well-being in health and education sectors” organized by the Department of Psychology, Central University of Karnataka on 24-25 January, 2022
8. "A Systematic review on factors influencing tobacco-use behaviour among health-care professionals" at "Post COVID 19 - Enhancing Resilience and Wellbeing in Health and Education sectors" on 24-25 January 2022 organized by the Department of Psychology, Central University of Karnataka.
9. Team Resilience at work: A systematic review of Antecedents, Mediators and moderators " at Happiness meet 2022 IIM Ranchi and Kharagpur.
10. "Impact of Empathetic communication on employee wellbeing: A Scoping review " at Happiness meet 2022 IIM Ranchi and IIT Kharagpur.
11. "Investigating end of life experience in patients with advanced cancer" at 3rd International conference on Healthcare and Wellbeing: Current trends and Challenges, Organized by Indian Mental Health and Research Centre and Shia PG College 30-31 October, 2021
12. “Interventions to Enhance Healthy Behaviors among Hypertensive Patients: A Systematic Review” at International conference on innovations in social sciences: Interventions, Challenges and Future trends organized by MES College of Arts and Commerce, Goa 29th -30 October 2021.
13. “Cognitive Style And Working Memory Among Adolescents With Specific Learning Disability” at 7th international and 9th Psychological Science congress, organized by National association of Psychological Science-India, 28th -29th November, 2020
14. “An application of Social Cognitive theory to Glucose level among diabetic patient” AT online International Webinar on, “Psychosocial Factor in Sustainable Health and Well Being” organized by Faculty of Behaviour and Cognitive Sciences on June 17-18, 2020
15. Participated in a national seminar on Health Psychology: Contributions to Health and Wellbeing organized by Centre for Health Psychology, University of Hyderabad on 6-7th.August, 2016. Hyderabad.
16. ‘Anger as a predictor of heart diseases: Revisited” at the International Conference on Community Mental Health: Trends and Challenges, St.Joseph College, Bangalore, India, 11& 12th December 2015
17. Participated in an introductory workshop on clinical hypnosis and neuro linguistic programming from 12th to 14th March 2015 at the Department of Psychology, Central University of Karnataka
18. “Role of intrinsic motivation in eating habits and physical activity in adults with primary hypertension at the International Conference on Women Empowerment and Social Sciences, Madurai, India, 5-7 March, 2015.
19. “Achievement motivation and self-regulation in hypertensive patients a comparative study at the International Conference on Women Empowerment and Social Sciences, Madurai, India, 5-7 March, 2015
20. “Coping strategies among the care takers of terminally ill patients” at the 50th National and International Conference of the Indian Academy of applied Psychology, Tirupati, India, 23- 25 January 2015.
21. “Validity of coping strategies screen for parents of children with intellectual disability” at the 50th National and International Conference of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology, Tirupati, India, 23- 25 January 2015.
22. “Teachers’ perceptions of behavioural problems in primary class children and need for psychological services” at the National Academy of Psychology Conference, Rourkela, India, 13-15 December, 2013.
23. Participated in a conference “Obesity: Contemporary Issues and Challenges” organized by the Centre for Health Psychology, University of Hyderabad on 6-7th August 2013.