Dr Maria Petridou
Σύντομο βιογραφικό σημείωμα
Στοιχεία επικοινωνίας
Limassol Campus 1: 92, Agias Fylaxeos
Προσωπική ιστοσελίδα
Dr Maria Petridou
ΕΜΠΕΙΡΙΑ
Dr Petridou specializes in youth delinquency, trauma, Cluster B personality disorders, and psychodermatology. She works across a variety of community and clinical settings, providing assessment and individual and group interventions for children, adults, and their families. Her primary research interests focus on the neurophysiological and environmental factors that contribute to the development of anxiety, antisocial behavior, callous-unemotional traits, and empathy from childhood through adulthood. She also examines the psychological impact of dermatological conditions and their relationship with psychopathology. In addition, Dr. Petridou has expertise in designing prevention and intervention programs that integrate innovative technologies, such as Biofeedback and Virtual Reality, for marginalized populations in community and school settings. She also has significant experience in prison education, with a focus on supporting inmates’ rehabilitation and reintegration into the community.
ΣΥΝΤΟΜΟ ΒΙΟΓΡΑΦΙΚΟ ΣΗΜΕΙΩΜΑ
Dr Maria Petridou is a Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at the University of Limassol and Director of the PhD in Psychology program. She is also a registered Clinical Psychologist. She obtained her BA in Psychology and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Cyprus and earned an MSc in Psychology with a specialization in Clinical Psychology from Leiden University.
Dr Petridou has held postdoctoral research positions at Ghent University, where she investigated youth delinquency, and at the University of Cyprus, focusing on school violence. She has extensive teaching experience in both local and European universities. She is currently involved in several European projects aimed at improving mental health services for young people and marginalized populations. She has also collaborated extensively with the Cyprus Prison Department to enhance detainees’ skills and reduce stigma through the development of psychoeducational programs. Two of her projects, RECOMMIT and Golden Thread, were recognized as best practices for inmate reintegration within prison settings.
She has received professional training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT). She currently serves as Secretary of the Cyprus Psychology Association and as an expert in the Clinical Psychology Division of the Cyprus General Health System (GeSY).
In addition, she serves on both local and scientific committees for the organization of the 18th Conference of the European Association for Research on Adolescence (EARA) and the 9th Conference of the European Association for Forensic Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychology and Other Involved Professions (EFCAP). Her research, leadership and community work has received awards from the University of Cyprus (EY award) and the European Association for Forensic Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychology and Other Involved Professions (EFCAP). Her goal is to promote rehabilitation and provide second opportunities for reintegration to juvenile offenders and other vulnerable populations.
Ενδεικτικές Δημοσιεύσεις
Peer-Reviewed
- Petridou, M., Fanti, K.A., (under review). The effectiveness of HRV Biofeedback training with video game on externalizing and internalizing problems. Journal of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback.
- Petridou, M., Kountouri-Solomontos, O., Andreou, M., (under review). ViSC Prevention Program for the Development of Social, Emotional, and Intellectual skills to reduce bullying in catechetical schools. Journal of Identity.
- Christodoulou, V., Andreou, S., Petridou, M., Kountouri-Solomontos, O., Bora, C., (under review). Worksite reintegration post- incarceration: A thematic synthesis of qualitative studies. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation.
- Cassart, T., Delamillieure, E., Colins, O., Fanti, K., Kyranides, M.N., Petridou, M., Sikki, M., Meens, P., (under review). Conduct Disorder with Limited Prosocial Emotions: a Multimethod Study in Criminal Justice-Involved Boys. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
- Colins, O. F., Cassart, T., Delamillieure, E., Fanti, K. A., Kyranides, M. N., Sikki, M., Petridou, M., & Meens, P. H. (2026). Conduct disorder with limited prosocial emotions: a multimethod study in criminal justice‐involved boys. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.
- Costeris, C., & Petridou, M. (2026). Psychopathology in acne, psoriasis, and eczema patients: Pre-and post-treatment. Journal of Health Psychology, 13591053261438310.
- Costeris, C., & Petridou, M. (2025). The mediating role of appearance satisfaction and social support in the relationship between dermatological disorders and patients’ overall psychological distress. Psychology International, 7(3), 62.
- Fanti, K. A., Demetriou, C. A., Petridou, M., Mavrommatis, I., Sikki, M., & Kimonis, E. (2024). Correctly identifying and reacting to others’ sadness: Investigating three parent-child interventions for limited prosocial emotions. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 21(2), 258-274.
- Fanti, K.A., Konikkou., Georgiou, G., Petridou, M., Demetriou, C.A., Soursou., G., Kyranides, M.N. Physiological reactivity to fear Moderates the relationship between Parenting Distress and Antisocial Behaviors. (2023). Child Development, 363-379.
- Kyranides M.N., Petridou, M., Gokani, H.A. Him, S., & Fanti, K. A. (2023). Reading and reacting to faces, the effect of facial mimicry in improving facial emotion recognition in individuals with antisocial behavior and psychopathic traits. Current Psychology, 1-14.
English (UK) 
Ελληνικά 
