Dr Kyriaki Giannou

Kyriaki (Kiki) Giannou is examining the impact of meditative and non-meditative mindfulness practices on cognition and wellbeing. Kiki is currently a Lecturer in Applied Psychology, further engaging with research that explores the potential for mindfulness practices to enhance learning in academic settings and sustainable behaviours. Kiki’s PhD investigated the impact of mindfulness on face identification, through behavioral and neuroimaging (i.e., EEG/ERP) techniques, inclusive of eyewitness identifications, through embedding mindfulness in the face-composite construction process (employing the EvoFIT face composite system).

Institute for Psychological Sciences

Giannou, K. & Mantzios. M. (2023). Meditative and non-meditative mindfulness-based interventions for mind and body (Editorial). BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 23, 235. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-023-04069-7

Mantzios, M., Zervos, K., Koletsi, M. & Giannou, K. (2023). Mindful Eating and eating behaviours in Greece: Exploring the validity and reliability of two mindful eating scales and other eating behaviours for Greek-speaking populations. Eating and Weight Disorders, 28, 85. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-023-01615-7

Giannou, K., Lander, K., & Taylor, J. R. (2022). Attentional Features of Mindfulness are Better Predictors of Face Recognition than Empathy and Compassion-Based Constructs. Psychological Reports, 126(3), 1481–1515. https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941211061698

Giannou, K., Frowd, C. D., Taylor, J. R. & Lander, K. (2021). Mindfulness in Face Recognition: Embedding mindfulness instructions in the face-composite construction process. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 35(4), 999-1010. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.3829

Mantzios, M. Tariq, A., Altaf, M., & Giannou, K. (2021). Loving-Kindness Colouring and Loving-Kindness Meditation: Exploring the effectiveness of non-meditative and meditative practices on state Mindfulness and Anxiety. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 17(3), 305-312. https://doi.org/10.1080/15401383.2021.1884159

Giannou, K., Taylor, J. R., & Lander, K. (2020). Exploring the Relationship between Mindfulness, Compassion and Unfamiliar Face Identification. Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 32(3), 298-322. https://doi.org/10.1080/20445911.2020.1739693

Mantzios, M., & Giannou, K. (2019). A Real-World Application of Short Mindfulness-Based Practices: A Review and Reflection of the Literature and a Practical Proposition for an Effortless Mindful Lifestyle. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 1559827618772036. https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827618772036

Mantzios, M., & Giannou, K. (2018). When did colouring books become mindful? Exploring the effectiveness of a novel method of mindfulness-guided instructions for colouring books to increase mindfulness and decrease anxiety. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 56. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00056

Mantzios, M., Wilson, J. C., & Giannou, K. (2015). Psychometric properties of the Greek versions of the self-compassion and mindful attention and awareness scales. Mindfulness, 6(1), 123-132. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-013-0237-3

Mantzios, M., & Giannou, K. (2014). Group vs. single mindfulness meditation: exploring avoidance, impulsivity, and weight management in two separate mindfulness meditation settings. Applied Psychology: Health and Well‐Being, 6(2), 173-191. https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.12023

Published Abstracts

Mantzios, M., & Giannou, K. (2017). Mindfulness and colouring books: a randomised control investigation on state anxiety and mindfulness. European Health Psychologist, 19, 627.

Lander, K., Poyarekar, S., Clark, M., & Giannou, K. (2016). Exploring the relationship between social skill and face/object recognition. International Journal of Psychology, 51, 174.

• Mindfulness/ Compassion
• Wellbeing
• Face Recognition
• Eyewitness Identifications
• Sustainability

• Research Methods
• Applied Psychology (Positive and Forensic Psychology)
• Wellbeing

• PhD Psychology (University of Manchester)
• MSc Forensic Investigation (Teesside University)
• MSc Criminology and Criminal Justice (Edinburgh University)
• BA Psychology (State University of New York)

• Professional Development
• Further Research Methods for Psychologists
• Applied Psychology
• Approaches to Psychological Problems (MSc)

‘I Love My Staff’ award nomination (April 2023)

Nomination student quote: ‘Always willing to spend extra time to explain something that not understood. Genuinely interested in hearing what people have to say.’

Chartered Psychologist, British Psychological Society

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PR160625)
• British Academy Early Career Researcher (ECRN ID: 0349766)
• Mental Health First Aider

Lander, K., Wood, S., Frowd, C., Taylor, J., & Giannou, K. (July 2023). Exploring the relationship between mindfulness and composite identification. Annual Conference of the European Association of Psychology and Law, Cluj-Napoka, Romania.

Giannou, K. & Negoita, A. (Invited Talk, November 2022). Mindfulness through Art in the Community. British Psychological Society (BPS) West Midlands Hub conference on “How psychologists can engage with the community”, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Giannou, K., Frowd, C. D., Taylor, J. R., & Lander, K. (July 2021). Mindfulness in Face Recognition: Embedding mindfulness instructions in the face-composite construction process. 4^th International Conference on Mindfulness, The Danish Center for Mindfulness, Aarhus University, Denmark.

Mantzios, M., & Giannou, K. (August/September 2017). Mindfulness and colouring books: a randomised control investigation on state anxiety and mindfulness. European Health Psychology Conference, Padova, Italy.

Giannou, K., Taylor, J. R. & Lander, K. (July 2017). The Influence of Mindfulness and Compassion on Unfamiliar Face Recognition. Conference of the International Society for the Study of Individual Differences, Warsaw, Poland.

Giannou, K. & Lander, K. (July 2016). Individual Differences in Unfamiliar Face Recognition:  The role of Compassion and Mindfulness. 6th International Conference on Memory, Budapest, Hungary.

Ms. Alexandra Negoita, PhD Candidate at Birmingham City University (External Supervisor)

Giannou, K. & Mantzios, M. (2023). Colouring as an adult, mindfully and compassionately, may help lower anxiety. The Conversation.

Media

• Psychology Today (USA)
• Yahoo (Latin America)
• Thrive Global (USA)
• MINDFOOD (New Zealand & Australia)
• Όλο Υγεία (Greece)

0000-0001-9951-5052

Body Up: Current trends and future directions in embodiment and social interaction (June 2019). Co-organised a conference on embodied cognition, bringing together researchers who examine how the way we perceive and use our own body influences our ability to communicate with another person and understand their inner world (supported by the British Academy and Experimental Psychology Society).

‘Changing the face of criminal identification’. Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester, ESRC Social Science Week (November 2017). Designed and executed a ‘live’ 5-minute experiment, while engaging the public in discussions on the issues surrounding face recognition and empathy, compassion, and mindfulness.

‘It’s written all over your face: The Science of Face Perception’, Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester, ESRC Festival of Social Science (November 2016). Designed and executed a ‘live’ 5-minute experiment, while engaging the public in discussions on the issues surrounding face recognition and empathy, compassion, and mindfulness.

University of Manchester and Coventry University Open Days (March 2015 – July 2023). Delivered keynote lectures, and designed and executed, with the help of student research assistants, experiments on individual differences in face recognition, while also discussing the BSc Psychology programme with prospective students and their families. 

Editorial Contribution:

• Guest Editor for Mind-body interventions: mindfulness and meditation collection, BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
• Review Editor for Mindfulness section, Frontiers in Psychology
• Associate Editor for Humanities & Social Sciences Communications, Springer Nature (until December 2023)

Expert reviewer:

• Journal of Cognitive Enhancement
• Current Issues in Personality Psychology
• Health Psychology Report
• Imagination, Cognition and Personality
• Scientific Reports