About
Associate Professor Ahmet Rıfat Kayiş is a faculty member at Kastamonu University, Faculty of Education, Department of Guidance and Psychological Counseling, serving full-time since 2021. Previously he held positions as Doctoral Instructor (2018-2021) and Research Assistant (2010-2017) at Kastamonu and Anadolu Universities.
Education
- PhD in Guidance and Psychological Counseling, Anadolu University (2013-2017)
- MSc in Guidance and Psychological Counseling, Anadolu University (2011-2013)
- BSc in Educational Sciences, Sakarya University (2006-2010)
Research Interests
Dr Kayiş’s scholarship centers on Psychological Counseling Education and School Psychological Counseling. His empirical work spans the psychosocial impacts of digital technologies—particularly smartphone and social-media addiction—on youth, families, and romantic relationships. Additional foci include resilience, mindfulness, multicultural competence, and the psychological sequelae of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Publication Trends
Across 48 publications, a clear trajectory emerges: early meta-analytic and scale-adaptation studies on personality and internet addiction (2013-2016) evolved into sophisticated mediation analyses examining smartphone addiction, loneliness, and mental health during the pandemic (2020-2023). Recent work increasingly incorporates resilience, hope, and positive-psychology constructs to inform prevention-oriented counseling interventions.
Scientific Awards
- TÜBİTAK Article Performance Award (2022)
- Multiple Article Performance Awards (2021, 2016, 2015)
Projects & Leadership
Principal or senior researcher in six funded projects (UN/World-Bank/UNESCO, TÜBİTAK, BAP) on themes ranging from multicultural teacher competencies to university-student mental-health promotion. He has coordinated international students (2020-) and served as Department Chair (2020-2021).
Laboratory & Professional Networks
Dr Kayiş collaborates extensively with colleagues at Yıldız Technical, Sakarya, and Anadolu Universities, and maintains active membership in the American Counseling Association and the Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Association.
