Dr Maria Efstratopoulou

Dr. Maria is a Senior Lecturer in Social Sciences. She teaches Research Methodologies in the EdD Program and supervises Doctoral Thesis. She joined BGU in September 2015 and teaches on the Special Education and Inclusion program. She holds a Doctoral Degree in Biomedical Sciences from the Faculty of Kinisiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, and also an European Master in Psychomotor Therapy for Children (KULeuven, Belgium) and a Master in Human Performance and Health for Special Populations (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece). Maria’s research interests are in Motor Behavior and Assessment and Diagnostical Procedures for children with emotional, behavioral and developmental disorders. She has many years of experience working with children in both educational and clinical settings and she is experienced also in the education of teachers and Special Education professionals. She is also an Academic Associate of the Department of Education and Inclusion of Metropolitan College in Thessaloniki, in co-operation with East London University, supervising Master Dissertations in Education. Before joining BGU, Dr. Efstratopoulou was a researcher at the Research Unit for Psychomotor Therapy for children at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, working with children with autism, ADHD, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorders and children with other motor, emotional, behavioural and developmental difficulties. She has written two books and published many research articles and she is a regular peer reviewer for several journals.

Related Courses

Areas of research

  • Motor Development and motor Behaviour in Children
  • Motor Coordination Disorders
  • Emotional and Behavioral Disorders in Children
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder and Educational Approaches
  • Critical Approaches to Inclusive Education
  • Exploring behaviour/ emotions: Theory and perspectives for practice
  • Supporting students with ADHD/ ASD/ CD/ dyslexia
  • Psychological assessments/ Intervention programs for children
  • Research Methods and Statistical Analysis in Social Sciences

Books

Maria A. Efstratopoulou (2017). The Enigma of Autism: Genius, Disability or just Different? Nova Publishers, NY Inc.

Mary A. Efstratopoulou (2014). Working with Challenging Children: From theory to practice in Education. Nova Publishers, NY Inc.

Maria A. Efstratopoulou (2012). Motor Behavior Checklist for Children: Development and Psychometric Properties in Elementary Education. Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. Andy’s Publishers.

Chapters in Books

Maria A. Efstratopoulou (2015). Assessment instruments of children’s externalizing and internalizing behavior: A review of their psychometric properties, functioning and applications ,in Simons, J. Themata uit de psychomotorich therapie, Book 23, Garant.

Maria A. Efstratopoulou & Maria Sofology (2015). Working Memory in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, in Simons, J. Themata uit de psychomotorich therapie, Book 23, Garant.

International Publications-Scientific Articles

Efstratopoulou A. M. “Assessment instruments on children‘s internalizing behaviour: A review of their psychometric properties, functioning and applications,” PANR Journal, July 16, 2016, https://www.panr.com.cy/article/assessment-instruments-on-childrens-internalizing-behaviour-a-review-of-their-psychometric-properties-functioning-and-applications/

Efstratopoulou, M. & Sofologi, M. (2016). Empathy Ability in children with Motor Coordination Disorder. Journal of Physical Activity Nutrition and Rehabilitation. On-line article available in https://www.panr.com.cy/?s=efstratopoulou&lang=

Efstratopoulou, M., Miltsakaki, S. & Pliogou, V. (2016). Psychological Health in families in families with children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. Journal of Psychology, 21, (2), 218-232.

Efstratopoulou, M., Miltsakaki, S. & Pliogou, V. (expected in 2016). Sings of depression and interpersonal relationships in families with children with autism. Journal of Psychology, (in press)

Efstratopoulou, M., Janssen, R., & Simons, J. (2013). Assessing children at Risk: psychometric properties of the Motor Behavior Checklist. Journal of Attention Disorders, XX(X), 1-10.

Εfstratopoulou, M., Janssen, R., & Simons, J. (2012). Differentiating children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Learning Disabilities and Autistic Spectrum Disorders by means of their motor behaviour characteristic Research in Developmental Disabilities, 33 ,196–204 doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2011.08.033.

Εfstratopoulou, M., Simons, J., & Janssen, R. (2012). Concordance among physical educators’, teachers’, and parents’ perceptions of attention problems in children. Journal of Attention Disorders, xx(x), 1–7. doi: 10.1177/1087054711431698.

Efstratopoulou, M., Janssen, R., & Simons, J. (2012). Agreement among physical educators, teachers and parents on children’s behaviors: A Multitrait-Multimethod design approach. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 33 (5), 1343-1351. doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2012.03.015.

Εfstratopoulou, M., Janssen, R., & Simons, J. (2012). Children’s deviant behavior in primary education: Comparing Physical educator’s implicit theory with diagnostic criteria. Journal of Attention Disorders. doi:10.1177/1087054712449479.

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