Dr Antonia Ypsilanti BSc, MSc, PhD, PGCert
Associate Professor in Cognitive Psychology and Psychobiology
Summary
Dr Antonia Ypsilanti is an Associate Professor in Cognitive Psychology and Psychobiology at Sheffield Hallam University. Her research spans across the life span with a focus on the psychological and social determinants of well-being. Her world-leading research involves understanding the impact of persistent loneliness on mental health and the benefits of social connectedness. She also works on how self-perception is related to loneliness and adopts a nuanced approach to loneliness highlighting the importance of individual differences and societal factors that determine the ability to connect with others.
Dr Ypsilanti is the co-Director of the Campaign to End Loneliness one of the largest organizations in the UK working on Tackling Loneliness. She also co-leads the Cochrane Global Ageing Thematic Group, which focuses on evidence synthesis on ageing across the globe. Dr Ypsilanti is widely published and actively collaborates with multidisciplinary teams, bridging research and practice to address contemporary challenges in mental health. She is also dedicated to supporting student learning and development, mentoring the next generation of psychologists.
She is the module leader for the elective Level 6 module "Social, Clinical and Affective Neuroscience" and leads modules in the MSc in Clinical/Cognitive Neuroscience and the MSc Psychology of Mental Health and Wellbeing.
About
Dr Ypsilanti is an Associate Professor in Cognitive Psychology/Psychobiology with a research focus on self-conscious emotions, particularly self-disgust, in lonely individuals and other psychological disorders, including anxiety disorders, insomnia, and depression. She works closely with academic and non-academic patterns across the globe to understand persistent loneliness across the life span, including measuring and understanding cognitive biases and life transitions that may act as tipping points to making loneliness from adaptive problematic. Her research on loneliness involves the following main areas:
- Chronic (persistent) loneliness and its links to physical and mental health across the life span
- Reducing the stigma of loneliness and mental health
- Measuring loneliness and understanding cognitive biases in lonely people
- Developing and evaluating interventions on loneliness
- Workplace loneliness
Her unique contribution is applying theories and research methods from cognitive psychology and neuroscience (e.g., lab-based E-prime measures; skin conductance and other physiological measures; EEG/ERPs, eye tracking; virtual reality) to empirically examine the nature, experience, and effects of loneliness. This has allowed her to produce high-quality research outputs, including the development of new measurement methodologies and theoretical advances in loneliness research.
Having a strong commitment to knowledge exchange synergies, she actively participate under various roles and capacities in leading advocacy groups in the UK (e.g., Campaign to End Loneliness) and internationally (e.g., Global Aging Thematic Group, Cochrane Reviews) to facilitate the translation of her research into impactful solutions for communities. To this end, she has led or co-led large-scale national and international research projects bringing together a complementary mix of academics, practitioners, and policymakers.
Dr Ypsilanti is the first appointed College Ethics Lead for Social Sciences and Arts.
Teaching
Sheffield Institute of Social Sciences
College of Social Sciences and Arts
I am the module leader of Social and Affective Neuroscience (Level 6) and I teach Cognitive Neuroscience Methods and Cognitive Neuroscience Dissertations at Masters level.
Psychology
BSc Psychology
MSc Cognitive/Clinical Neuroscience
MSc in Psychology of Mental Health and Wellbeing (online)
MSc Psychology (online)
Social, Clinical and Affective Neuroscience
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Ethics and Research Methods
Research
Funded Research Projects
Evaluating Befriending interventions to tackle loneliness
Funder: Age UK
Status: Ongoing
Role: Principal Investigator (PI)
Tackling Loneliness Hub Digital Platform (2024)
Funder: Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS)
Status: Awarded
Grant Value: £149,000
Role: Co-Investigator (Co-I)
This project focuses on developing a digital platform as part of the Tackling Loneliness Hub, aiming to provide innovative solutions to social isolation challenges.
Systematic Literature Review on Deprivation’s Impact on Older Adults (2024)
Funder: Age UK
Status: Completed
Grant Value: £46,500
Role: Co-Investigator (Co-I)
co-Led a systematic review to explore how deprivation affects older individuals in the UK and mapped interventions addressing these impacts.
The Chrysalis Project Evaluation (2023)
Funder: Youth Endowment Fund
Status: Completed
Grant Value: £115,000
Role: Co-Investigator (Co-I)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the Chrysalis Project in supporting youth development and well-being.
Supporting Connections Workshop (2023)
Funder: British Red Cross
Status: Completed
Grant Value: £1,500
Role: Expert in the Psychology of Loneliness
Facilitated workshops to equip adults with skills to foster meaningful connections.
Mindful Muscles Project (2023)
Funder: European Commission, Erasmus+ Collaborative Partnerships
Status: Completed
Grant Value: £336,685
Role: Co-Investigator/Acting Principal Investigator
Developed and tested interventions to discourage the use of performance-enhancing drugs in grassroots and recreational sports.
VIRAL: Virtual Reality Learning about Anti-Doping (2023)
Funder: European Commission, Erasmus+ Collaborative Partnerships
Status: Completed
Grant Value: £347,039
Role: Co-Investigator/Acting Principal Investigator
Implemented virtual reality approaches to educate athletes and coaches on anti-doping practices.
Biofeedback for Insomniacs through AI (2019)
Funder: Innovate UK, Biomedical Catalyst
Status: Completed
Grant Value: £234,340
Role: Co-Investigator
Pioneered AI-driven biofeedback systems to enhance sleep quality for individuals suffering from insomnia.
GAME: Mitigating Performance Enhancement Culture in Youth (2018)
Funder: European Commission, Erasmus+ Collaborative Partnerships
Status: Completed
Grant Value: £335,901
Role: Co-Investigator
Explored gamified approaches to mitigate the use of performance-enhancing substances among young athletes.
Differential Outcome Effects in Older Patients with Cognitive Impairment (2012)
Funder: Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness
Status: Completed
Grant Value: £44,468
Role: Co-Investigator/National Coordinator
Investigated the differential impacts of interventions on patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s dementia.
SILVER: Intergenerational Learning through Validation, Education & Research (2011)
Funder: European Commission, Grundtvig Learning Programme
Status: Completed
Grant Value: £245,900
Role: Co-Investigator/National Coordinator
Promoted successful intergenerational learning initiatives and evaluated their long-term impacts.
Publications
Journal articles
Robson, A., Ypsilanti, A., Lazuras, L., Powell, P.A., Overton, P.G., & Reidy, J. (2025). Is self-disgust an implicit or explicit emotional schema? Journal of Affective Disorders, 369, 1256-1266. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.08.047
Lazuras, L., Ypsilanti, A., & Mullings, E. (2024). The emotional burden of loneliness and its association with mental health outcomes. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 31 (3), 372-379. http://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-023-10255-1
Lazuras, L., Rowe, R., Ypsilanti, A., Smythe, I., Poulter, D., & Reidy, J. (2022). Driving self-regulation and risky driving outcomes. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 91, 461-471. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2022.10.027
Ypsilanti, A., & Lazuras, L. (2022). Loneliness is not a homogeneous experience: An empirical analysis of adaptive and maladaptive forms of loneliness in the UK. Psychiatry Research, 312. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114571
Akram, U., Allen, S., Stevenson, J., Lazarus, L., Ypsilanti, A., Ackroyd, M., ... Irvine, K. (2022). Self-Disgust as a Potential Mechanism Underlying the Association Between Body Image Disturbance and Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours. Journal of Affective Disorders, 297, 634-640. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.10.063
Ypsilanti, A., Mullings, E., Hawkins, O., & Lazuras, L. (2021). Feelings of Fear, Sadness, and Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from two studies in the UK. Journal of Affective Disorders, 295, 1012-1023. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.031
Ypsilanti, A., Gettings, R., Lazuras, L., Robson, A., Powell, P.A., & Overton, P.G. (2020). Self-Disgust Is Associated With Loneliness, Mental Health Difficulties, and Eye-Gaze Avoidance in War Veterans With PTSD. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 559883. http://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.559883
Akram, U., Ypsilanti, A., Gardani, M., Irvine, K., Allen, S., Akram, A., ... Lazuras, L. (2020). Prevalence and psychiatric correlates of suicidal ideation in UK university students. Journal of Affective Disorders, 272, 191-197. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.03.185
Akram, U., Gardani, M., Irvine, K., Allen, S., Ypsilanti, A., Lazuras, L., ... Akram, A. (2020). Emotion dysregulation mediates the relationship between nightmares and psychotic experiences: Results from a student population. npj Schizophrenia, 6, 15. http://doi.org/10.1038/s41537-020-0103-y
Taroyan, N.A., Butnicu, B., Ypsilanti, A., & Overton, P.G. (2020). Individual Differences in Performance Speed Are Associated With a Positivity/Negativity Bias. An ERP and Behavioral Study. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 14, 7. http://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2020.00007
Ypsilanti, A., Robson, A., Lazuras, L., Powell, P.A., & Overton, P.G. (2020). Self-disgust, loneliness and mental health outcomes in older adults: An eye-tracking study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 266, 646-654. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.01.166
Pavlidis, G., Downs, C., Kalinowski, B., Zwiatek-Barylska, I., Lazuras, L., Ypsilanti, A., & Tsatali, M. (2020). A survey on the training needs of caregivers in five European countries. Journal Of Nursing Management. http://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12940
Akram, U., Akram, A., Gardani, M., Ypsilanti, A., McCarty, K., Allen, S., & Lazuras, L. (2019). The relationship between depression and insomnia symptoms amongst a sample of UK university students. Sleep medicine research, 10 (1), 49-53. http://doi.org/10.17241/smr.2019.00332
Lazuras, L., Rowe, R., Poulter, D.R., Powell, P.A., & Ypsilanti, A. (2019). Impulsive and Self-Regulatory Processes in Risky Driving Among Young People: A Dual Process Model. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. http://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01170
Akram, U., Ypsilanti, A., Drabble, J., & Lazuras, L. (2019). The role of physical and behavioural self-disgust in relation to insomnia and suicidal ideation. Journal of clinical sleep medicine, 15 (3), 525-527. http://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.7698
Ypsilanti, A., Lazuras, L., Powell, P., & Overton, P. (2019). Self-disgust as a potential mechanism explaining the association between loneliness and depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 243, 108-115. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.09.056
Ypsilanti, A. (2018). Lonely but avoidant—the unfortunate juxtaposition of loneliness and self-disgust. Palgrave Communications, 4 (1). http://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-018-0198-1
Vivas, A., Ypsilanti, A., Ladas, A., Estévez, A.F., Kounti, F., & Magda Tsolaki, M. (2018). Enhancement of visuospatial working memory by the differential outcomes procedure in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 10, 364. http://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2018.00364
Akram, U., Milkins, B., Ypsilanti, A., Reidy, J., Lazuras, L., Stevenson, J., ... Barclay, N.L. (2018). The therapeutic potential of attentionalbias modification training for insomnia: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials, 19. http://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-018-2937-4
Lazuras, L., Ypsilanti, A., Powell, P., & Overton, P. (2018). The roles of impulsivity, self-regulation, and emotion regulation in the experience of self-disgust. Motivation and Emotion, 1-14. http://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-018-9722-2
Ypsilanti, A., Lazuras, L., Robson, A., & Akram, U. (2018). Anxiety and depression mediate the relationship between self-disgust and insomnia disorder. Sleep Health, 4 (4), 349-351. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2018.06.001
Akram, U., Robson, A., & Ypsilanti, A. (2018). Sleep-related attentional bias for faces depicting tiredness in insomnia: evidence from an eye-tracking study. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 14 (06), 959-965. http://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.7160
Akram, U., Beattie, L., Ypsilanti, A., Reidy, J., Robson, A., Chapman, A.J., & Barclay, N.L. (2018). Sleep-related attentional bias for tired faces in insomnia: Evidence from a dot-probe paradigm. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 103, 18-23. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2018.01.007
Lazuras, L., Ypsilanti, A., Lamprou, E., & Kontogiorgis, C. (2017). Pharmaceutical cognitive enhancement in Greek university students: differences between users and non-users in social cognitive variables, burnout and engagement. Substance Use and Misuse, 52 (7), 950-958. http://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2016.1267223
Räisänen, T., Ypsilanti, A., Ropes, D., Vivas, A.B., Viitala, M., & Ijäs, T. (2014). Examining the requirements for an intergenerational learning game. Education and Information Technologies, 19 (3), 531-547. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-014-9324-x
Ypsilanti, A., Vivas, A.B., Räisänen, T., Viitala, M., Ijäs, T., & Ropes, D. (2014). Are serious video games something more than a game? A review on the effectiveness of serious games to facilitate intergenerational learning. Education and Information Technologies, 19 (3), 515-529. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-014-9325-9
Ypsilanti, A., Hatzitaki, V., & Grouios, G. (2009). Lateralized effects of hand and eye on anticipatory postural adjustments in visually guided aiming movements. Neuroscience letters, 462 (2), 121-124. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2009.06.044
Ypsilanti, A., Ganou, M., Koidou, I., & Grouios, G. (2008). Digit ratio (2D:4D) in individuals with intellectual disability: investigating the role of testosterone in the establishment of cerebral lateralisation. Laterality, 13 (6), 527-544. http://doi.org/10.1080/13576500802117164
Ypsilanti, A., & Grouios, G. (2008). Linguistic profile of individuals with Down syndrome: comparing the linguistic performance of three developmental disorders. Child neuropsychology : a journal on normal and abnormal development in childhood and adolescence, 14 (2), 148-170. http://doi.org/10.1080/09297040701632209
Ypsilanti, A., Grouios, G., Zikouli, A., & Hatzinikolaou, K. (2006). Speed of naming in children with Williams and Down syndromes. Journal of intellectual & developmental disability, 31 (2), 87-94. http://doi.org/10.1080/13668250600710872
Ypsilanti, A., Grouios, G., Alevriadou, A., & Tsapkini, K. (2005). Expressive and receptive vocabulary in children with Williams and Down syndromes. Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR, 49 (Pt 5), 353-364. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.2005.00654.x
Fotiadis, F., Grouios, G., Ypsilanti, A., & Hatzinikolaou, K. (2005). Hemiplegic shoulder syndrome: possible underlying neurophysiological mechanisms. Physical Therapy Reviews, 10 (1), 51-58. http://doi.org/10.1179/108331905x43445
Conference papers
Barikoukis, V., Tsiatsos, T., Politopoulos, N., Stylianidis, P., Ziagkas, E., Loukovitis, A., ... Antonia, Y. (2020). A Serious Game Approach in Mitigating Performance Enhancement Culture in Youth (GAME Project). In Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, (pp. 733-742). Springer International Publishing: http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11932-4_68
Lazuras, L., Ypsilanti, A., Barkoukis, V., Stylianidis, P., Politopoulos, N., & Tsiatsos, T. (2020). Developing Communities of Practice to Maximize the Usability and Impact of Clean Sport Education in Europe: IMPACT Project. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, 1058-1064. http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49932-7_99
Barkoukis, V., Tsiatsos, T., Politopoulos, N., Stylianidis, P., Ziagkas, E., Lazuras, L., & Ypsilanti, A. (2019). A Serious Game Approach in Anti-Doping Education: the Game Project. Proceedings of the 15th International Scientific Conference "eLearning and Software for Education" : New technology and redesigning learning spaces, 3, 451-455. http://doi.org/10.12753/2066-026X-19-200
Griva, E., Chostelidou, D., Ypsilanti, A., & Iliadou, S. (2014). Students Attending a Bilingual Primary School: A Record of a Language Biography. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 116, 1319-1323. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.01.390
Book chapters
Ropes, D., & Ypsilanti, A. (2016). A conceptual framework for managing intergenerational relations in the workplace. In Antoniou, A.-.S., Burke, R.J., & Cooper, C.L. (Eds.) The aging workforce handbook: individual, organizational and societal challenges. (pp. 299-322). Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing Limited: http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/books/notable/page.htm?id=9781786354488
Theses / Dissertations
Hawkins, O.J. (2024). Distinguishing Disgust – Behavioural and Physiological Markers of Moral and Physical Disgust. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Ypsilanti, A. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00661
Robson, A.C. (2022). The disgusting self: developing and validating an implicit measure of self-disgust. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Ypsilanti, A., Lazuras, L., Reidy, J., Overton, P., & Powell, P. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00507
Presentations
Ypsilanti, A., Weston, A., & Lazouras, L. (2019). Self-disgust and self-compassion mediate the relationship between loneliness and mental health outcomes. Presented at: Emotions Conference, Tilburg, Netherlands
Ypsilanti, A., Donaldson, L., & Lazouras, L. (2019). Self-disgust mediates the relationship between stigmatization and mental health in individuals with cleft lip and palate.
Ypsilanti, A., Shaban, U., Darbishire, B., Serby, M., & Taroyan, N. (2018). Choosing your battles: Investigating positivity bias in older adults using a lexical decision task. Presented at: International Federation on Ageing 14th Global Conference, Toronto, Canada
Ypsilanti, A. (2018). Self-disgust mediates the relationship between loneliness and depression in adults. Presented at: British Psychological Society Annual Conference, East Midlands Conference Centre
Other activities
Member of the European Society of Cognitive Psychology (ESCOP).
Certified Neurofeedback Therapist (Atlantis Software) by the Institute of EEG Neurofeedback (IFEN), Germany.
Member of the editorial board and a reviewer of the Multilingual Academic Journal of Education and Social Sciences.
Organizing committee of the Conference by the Society of Applied Neurosciences in 2012
Organising and Scientific committee of the Student Spring Symposium of the International Faculty of the University of Sheffield.
RT3 Leader, 8th Annual South East European Doctoral Student Conference, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Postgraduate supervision
I welcome PhD supervision on loneliness projects
Media
Psychology