Peer-Reviewed Research Publications
Our work has contributed to the growing evidence base on internal stigma, self-worth and Inquiry-Based Stress Reduction.
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Interventions to reduce self-stigma among people living with HIV: A systematic review. Stigma and Health. Advance online publication. Ferris France, N., Lyons, S., Cioringa, A., Mavhu, W., Manas Miramontes, I., & Byrne, E. (2025).
Addressing Gender-Based Self-Stigma in Adolescents Living with HIV: Evidence Gaps and Policy Responses. Policy Brief, Global Health Studies Program, Jackson School of Global Affairs, Yale University. Ospina, A., DeWitt, A., Becerra Sabrera, C., Mihardja, C., White, M., Panter-Brick, C., Fallon, C. K., & Ferris France, N. (2026).
Reported impact of creativity in the Wakakosha (‘You’re Worth It’) internal stigma intervention for young people living with HIV in Harare, Zimbabwe. Heniff L, France NF, Mavhu W, Ramadan M, Nyamwanza O, Willis N, et al. (2024). PLOS Glob Public Health 4(11): e0003909.
Addressing Obesity-Related Self-Stigma Using Inquiry-Based Stress Reduction in the GP Setting. O’Shea, B., MacDonald, S., Wade, G., & France, N. F. (2025, October 23). Addressing obesity-related self-stigma using inquiry-based stress reduction in the GP setting. Irish Medical Journal, 118(9), 151.
Piloting “From the Inside Out” — a toolkit addressing tuberculosis-related self-stigma. Macdonald, S.HF., France, N.F., Hodgson, I. et al. BMC Global Public Health 2, 31 (2024).
Wakakosha “You are Worth it”: reported impact of a community-based, peer-led HIV self-stigma intervention to improve self-worth and wellbeing among young people living with HIV in Zimbabwe. France, N. F., Byrne, E., Nyamwanza, O., Munatsi, V., Willis, N., Conroy, R., Vumbunu, S., Chinembiri, M., Maedziso, S., Katsande, M. A., Dongo, T. A., Crehan, E., & Mavhu, W. (2023). Frontiers in Public Health, 11.
Exploring the beliefs, experiences and impacts of HIV-related self-stigma amongst adolescents and young adults living with HIV in Harare, Zimbabwe: A qualitative study. Rich, C., Mavhu, W., France, N. F., Munatsi, V., Byrne, E., Willis, N., & Nolan, A. (2022). PLoS ONE, 17(5), e0268498. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0268498.
‘We are the change’ - An innovative community-based response to address self-stigma: A pilot study focusing on people living with HIV in Zimbabwe. France, N. F., Macdonald, S. H., Conroy, R. R., Chiroro, P., Cheallaigh, D. N., Nyamucheta, M., Mapanda, B., Shumba, G., Mudede, D., & Byrne, E. (2019). PLoS ONE, 14(2), e0210152.
Exploring beliefs and experiences underlying self-stigma among sex workers in Hanoi, Vietnam. Huber, J., France, N. F., Nguyen, V. A., Nguyen, H. H., Oanh, K. T. H., & Byrne, E. (2019). Culture Health & Sexuality, 21(12), 1425–1438.
Defining the research agenda to measure and reduce tuberculosis stigmas. Macintyre, K., Bakker, M. I., Bergson, S., Bhavaraju, R., Bond, V., Chikovore, J., Colvin, C., Craig, G. M., Cremers, A. L., Daftary, A., Engel, N., France, N. F., Jaramillo, E., Kimerling, M., Kipp, A., Krishnaratne, S., Mergenthaler, C., Ngicho, M., Redwood, L., . . . Mitchell, E. M. H. (2017). The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 21(11), 87–96.
“An unspoken world of unspoken things”: a study identifying and exploring core beliefs underlying self-stigma among people living with HIV and AIDS in Ireland. France, N. F., Mcdonald, S. H., Conroy, R. R., Byrne, E., Mallouris, C., Hodgson, I., & Larkan, F. N. (2015).
2026 Highlight:
Addressing Gender-Based Self-Stigma in Adolescents Living with HIV: Evidence Gaps and Policy Responses.
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1. The Work of Byron Katie: The effect of applying principles of inquiry on the reduction of perceived stress. Nye FA. Dissertation Institute of Transpersonal Psychology. 2011.
2. Effects of “The Work” Meditation on Psychopathologic Symptoms: A Pilot Study. Leufke R, Zilcha-Mano S, Feld A, Lev-Ari S. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Therapies. 2013; 147-152. (doi: 10.1089/act.2013.19303).
3. A prospective pilot clinical trial of "The Work" meditation technique for survivors of breast cancer. Lev-ari S, Zilcha-Mano S, Rivo L, Geva R, Ron I. European Journal of Integrative Medicine. 2013; 5(6): 487-494. [doi:10.1016/j.eujim.2013.07.003).
4. Randomised controlled trial of Inquiry-Based Stress Reduction (IBSR) technique for BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. Landau C, Lev-Ari S, Cohen-Mansfield J, Tillinger E, Geva R, Tarrasch R, Mitnik I, Friedman E. Psychooncology. 2014 Oct 18. (doi: 10.1002/pon.3703).
5. The Effects of "The Work" Meditation (Byron Katie) on Psychological Symptoms and Quality of Life-A Pilot Clinical Study. Smernoff E, Mitnik I, Kolodner K, Lev-Ari S. Explore (NY). 2014 Oct 22. pii: S1550-8307(14)00206-7. (doi: 10.1016/j).
6. The Effects of The Work meditation technique on psychological scales among a non-clinical sample. Mitnik I, Lev-Ari S. Harefuah. January 2015.
8. Leren relativeren: Geef een positieve wending aan je gedachten—Praktische handleiding voor cognitieve mindfulness priming therapie. Gaanderse, J. (2013). Amsterdam: Swp, Uitgeverij B.V.
9. Effects of an IBSR—inquiry-based stress reduction intervention on contingencies of self-worth. (Unpublished thesis). Jundt, T. (2017). University of Mannheim, Germany.
10. Effects of an inquiry-based short intervention on test anxiety in comparison to alternate coping strategies. Krispenz, A. & Dickhauser, O. (2018). Frontiers in Psychology, 9(201).
11. Reduction of chronic stress and trait anxiety by inquiry of cognitive appraisals with the inquiry-based stress reduction (IBSR) method. Krispenz, A. & Dickhauser, O. (2019). Open Psychology, 1, 185-199.
12. That’s stressful—"Is it true?”—Lasting reduction of chronic stress and trait anxiety through questioning of stressful cognitions. Krispenz, A. & Dickhauser, O. (2016). Paper presented at the 50th Congress of the German Psychological Society, Leipzig, Germany.
13. How to reduce text anxiety and academic procrastination through inquiry of cognitive appraisals: A pilot study investigating the role of academic self-efficacy. Krispenz, A., Gort, C., Schultke, L., & Dickhauser, O. (2019). Frontiers in Psychology, 10(1917).
14. Randomized controlled trial of inquiry-based stress reduction (IBSR) technique for BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. Landau, C., Lev-Ari, S., Cohen-Mansfield, J., Tillinger, E., Geva, R., Tarrasch, R., Mitnik, I, & Friedman, E. (2015). Psycho-oncology, 24, 726-731.
15. Exploring inquiry-based stress reduction (IBSR) as a counselling intervention. Luff, J. & Ledingham, M. (2017). International Conference on Education, Psychology, and Social Sciences (ICEPS).
16. Inquiry-based stress reduction meditation technique for teacher burnout: A qualitative study. Schnaider-Levi, L., Mitnik, I., Zafrani, K., Goldman, Z., & Lev-ari, S. (2017). Mind, Brain, and Education, 11(2), 75-84.
17. Controlled trial of the inquiry-based stress reduction (IBSR) meditation technique for teachers’ burnout. Schnaider-Levi, L., Zafrani, K., Goldman, Z., Mitnik, I., & Lev-ari, S. (under review). Tel Aviv University.
18. The effects of inquiry-based stress reduction (IBSR) on mental health and well-being among a non-clinical sample. Smernoff, E., Mitnik, I., & Lev-ari, S. (2019). Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 34, 30-34.