Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Levita is a registered Counselling Psychologist and Lecturer within the Faculty of Education at Monash University.
Levita has worked in public and private settings before commencing a career in academia. Levita's doctoral research looked at the experience of women who engage in NSSI (non-suicidal self-injury) and seek internet support.
Her research interests are in the area of perinatal psychology, early childhood experiences and its impact on attachment and neurobiology, adverse childhood experiences (ACE), transgenerational trauma and attachment patterns and its subsequent effect on parenting styles.
Her recent research projects are looking at psychological factors affecting first-time fathers as they transition to fatherhood.
Levita will take on research supervision of honours, masters and PhD students (as an associate supervisor) within the areas of early parenting experiences, infant mental health, attachment and bonding, psychological aspects of parenting, child and adult trauma, program/therapy evaluation, adoption, children in out-of-home care, impact of intergenerational trauma.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Research area keywords
- Mental health across the lifespan
- Attachment and bonding
- Trauma
- Perinatal psychology
- child trauma
- adverse childhood experiences
- NSSI
- Parenting
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Improving access to culturally responsive information on perinatal mental wellbeing for women from refugee and migrant backgrounds
Boyle, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Reupert, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), D'Souza, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ratnam, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Oxlad, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Younan, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Skouteris, H. (Associate Investigator (AI)) & Hine, R. (Associate Investigator (AI))
Women's Health Research and Translation Network (WHRTN)
1/07/23 → 30/06/25
Project: Research
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Engagement with infant safe-sleep education and perceived impact on mental health in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) and non-CALD women that share sleep
D'Souza, L. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI))
Women's Health Research and Translation Network (WHRTN)
1/09/23 → 31/08/24
Project: Research
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High Performance Mindfulness Program Review
Morris, Z. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Berger, E. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Reupert, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & D'Souza, L. (Chief Investigator (CI))
25/03/21 → 1/11/21
Project: Research
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Parent-Child Co-sleeping: understanding motivations and impact on parent and child sleep quality, and attachment
D'Souza, L. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)) & Morris, Z. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/03/21 → 31/12/22
Project: Research
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Fathers experiences of pregnancy and birth during COVID-19
D'Souza, L. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)) & Borgkvist, A. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/11/20 → 30/11/21
Project: Research
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Effectiveness of father-focused interventions to prevent or reduce intimate partner violence during pregnancy and early parenthood: a systematic review
Wynter, K., Francis, L. M., Borgkvist, A., Dixson, B., D’Souza, L., Duursma, E., May, C., Sher, L. & George, J. S., Jan 2025, In: Trauma, Violence & Abuse. 26, 1, p. 167-182 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus) -
‘An invisible injury’: intrapersonal experiences of adults discovering misattributed paternity
Cerfontyne, A., D'Souza, L. & Patlamazoglou, L., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Journal of Family Studies. 22 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Co-sleeping fathers’ perceptions of sleep quality with intentional and unintentional co-sleeping
D'Souza, L., Kruse, S., Makela, E. & Barry, E. S., 2024, In: Australian Psychologist. 59, 5, p. 474-485 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Educational experiences and needs of students in out-of-home care: a Delphi study
Berger, E., Baidawi, S., D'Souza, L., Mendes, P., Morris, S., Bollinger, J. & Purtell, J., 2024, In: European Journal of Psychology of Education. 39, p. 689-710 22 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Maternal depressive symptoms and mother-infant co-sleeping (including room sharing and bedsharing): a systematic review
Barry, E. S. & D'Souza, L., 1 Sept 2024, In: Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 20, 9, p. 1517-1533 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
Prizes
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Advancing Women's Success Grant
D'Souza, L. (Recipient), Apr 2023
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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'A Systematic Review of Same Gender Couple’s Transition to First Time Parenthood: The perspectives and approaches of fathers
D'Souza, L. (Speaker) & Borgkvist, A. (Speaker)
5 May 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Advances in Mental Health (Journal)
D'Souza, L. (Peer reviewer)
27 May 2021Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Peer review responsibility
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Chair - Australian Fatherhood Research Consortium - Intervention Group
D'Souza, L. (Chair/ Co-Chair)
Aug 2021 → …Activity: External Academic Engagement › Committees and working groups
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The Birth of a Father: Understanding the fatherhood Constellation in Australian Men
D'Souza, L. (Speaker)
4 May 2019Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
Press/Media
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What are the experiences and beliefs of fathers who identify as attachment parents?
24/03/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Blogs, Podcasts and Social Media › Podcasts
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How can we balance our infants biological sleep with a parents need for sleep.
5/08/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Blogs, Podcasts and Social Media › Podcasts
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Lost connection: The impact of COVID-19 restrictions on antenatal appointments
7/07/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Walk with a mate sparked study of fatherhood and bonding under COVID
7/06/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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What is the association of parenting styles with emotional regulation in infancy
D'Souza, L. & Cassels, T.
23/05/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Blogs, Podcasts and Social Media › Podcasts