Contact information
Mailing Address: Institute for Population and Human Studies – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IPHS-BAS), Department Psychology
1113 Sofia, BULGARIA, “Acad. G. Bonchev” Str., Block 6, Fl. 5
Phone: +359 2 979 30 49; +359 88 898 28 58
E-mail: d.bakalova@iphs.eu, diana_ib@abv.bg
Research Interests
Social and counselling psychology; subjective psychological well-being – life satisfaction, happiness, optimism and their interrelations; sociocultural diversity, vulnerable groups, migration and minority inclusion studies – social identity, intergroup relations and interethnic attitudes; social representations and prevention of aggression, violence and bullying in various settings – school, workplace, family, social media; psychosocial/virtual identity and social media; mixed method approach in social studies
Education
2000-2004 – PhD in Social Psychology, IPHS – BAS, Bulgaria; PhD thesis: „Levels of Sharing Social Representations of Aggression”
1994-1999 – Master in Education & Delinquent Behaviour, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Bulgaria
1997-1999 – Arabic language & literature (Minor subject), Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Bulgaria
1989-1994 – The First English Language School, Sofia (Diploma of secondary education).
Academic Positions
2023-to date – Head of Social and Counselling Psychology, Department of Psychology, IPHS-BAS
2023-to date – Associate professor, Department of Cognitive Science and Psychology, New Bulgarian University (NBU), Sofia
2019-to date – Member of the Scientific Council of IPHS–BAS
2018-2024 – Chair of the Attestation Committee, IPHS-BAS
2016-to date – Associate Professor in Social Psychology, Department of Psychology, Social and Counselling Psychology Section, IPHS-BAS
Research Projects (last 5 Years)
2025–2028 – GA No.10117792 “Identities – Migration – Democracy (We-ID)”, funded by Horizon Europe Programme
2020-2023 – KP-06-KD2/5 “Socio-psychological effects of the crisis caused by COVID-19: perceived stress and dynamics of experiences, Experiences”, funded by Bulgarian National Science Fund (BNSF), Ministry of Education and Science (MES), Bulgaria;
2019-2023 – KP-06-H35/4 “Psychological Determinants of Young People’s Attitudes to Emigration and Life Planning in the Context of Demographic Challenges in Bulgaria”, funded by Bulgarian National Science Fund (BNSF), Ministry of Education and Science (MES), Bulgaria;
2019-2020 – Д01-113/11.06.2019 “Approbation of a Programme for Prevention of Aggression and Bullying in School”, funded by the Ministry of Education and Science, Bulgaria
Teaching and PhD Supervision
2019 – to date – Supervisor of 4 PhD students in Counselling Psychology, Social and Counselling Psychology Section, Department of Psychology, IPHS-BAS
2023-to date – Lecturer in Testology, Psychology of Stress, etc. at New Bulgarian University (NBU), Sofia
2022-2023 – Visiting lecturer in Methods of Psychological Research, „Paisii Hilendarski” University of Plovdiv
2018-2019 – Visiting lecturer in Stress and Adaptation in Sports, Sports Psychology, Sports Ethics at the Faculty of Public health, healthcare and sports, South-West University “Neofit Rilski”, Blagoevgrad
Selected Publications (10 in the last 10 Years)
Books
- Bakalova, D., Bakracheva, M., Mizova, B. (2015). Щастие и удовлетвореност от живота: в търсене на пътя към себе си [Happiness and Life Satisfaction: Searching for Oneself]. Colibri, Sofia, 349 p., ISBN 978-619-7284-02-7.
- Nacheva, I., Bakalova, D., Panchelieva, Ts. (accepted 2024). Социалнопсихологични ефекти на кризата, породена от COVID-19 [Socio-psychological Effects of the Crisis Caused by COVID-19]. Academic Publishing House “Prof. Marin Drinov”.
Papers in indexed journals and volumes
- Bakalova, D., & Panchelieva, T. (2023). Risk propensity as a personality antecedent of emigration attitudes among Bulgarian Millennials and Zoomers. European Journal of Psychology Open, 82(2), 57-68, Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1024/2673-8627/a000037
- Bakalova, D. & E. Dimitrova (2023). Optimistic expectations and life satisfaction as antecedents of emigration attitudes among Bulgarian Millennials and Zoomers. AIMS Geosciences, 9(2): 285-310. https://doi.org/10.3934/geosci.2023016
- Bakalova, D., & Panchelieva, T., Nacheva, I. (2023). The interaction effect of risk-taking propensity and an earlier emigrant experience on emigration attitudes of young Bulgarians: survey evidence from an eastern European country. Proceedings of the 10th SWS International Scientific Conference on Social Sciences, 10(1), https://doi.org/10.35603/sws.iscss.2023/sv05.10
- Bakalova, D., Nacheva, I., Panchelieva, T. (2023) Psychological Predictors of COVID-19-Related Anxiety in Vulnerable Groups. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 13(9): 1815-1830. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe13090132
- Nacheva, I., Panchelieva, T., Bakalova, D. (2023). Emotional Experiences of Vulnerable Groups During COVID-19: A Qualitative Study amongst Parents, Jobless and Chronically Ill People in Bulgaria. European Journal of Psychology Open, Hogrefe Publishing https://doi.org/10.1024/2673-8627/a000038
- Panchelieva, T., Nacheva, I., Bakalova, D. (2023). Socio-economic Aspects of the Crisis Caused by COVID-19: Effects of the Change in the Work Regime. Economic Alternatives, 4, 739-758, https://doi.org/10.37075/EA.2023.4.06
- Panchelieva, Ts., Bakalova, D., Nacheva, I., Dolmova, V. (2023). The COVID-19 crisis: specificity of experiences among people with chronic illnesses. Conference proceedings “Trends And Strategies For Economic And Public System Rebuilding After The Covid-19 Pandemic”, 1, 70-81, UNWE, https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.13537
- Visintin, E. P., Green, E. G. T., Bakalova, D., Zografova, Y. (2016). Identification and ethnic diversity underlie support for multicultural rights: A multilevel analysis in Bulgaria. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 51, 1–13, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2015.12.006 ISSN: 0147-1767