Olga B.A. van den Akker BSc PhD is Professor of Health Psychology at Middlesex University in London. She was an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and a Chartered Health Psychologist.
Since completing her BSc in Psychology at the University of East London, she was awarded an MRC studentship at St George’s Hospital Medical School, University of London to carry out a PhD investigating the Psychophysiology of the menstrual cycle. This was followed by post doctoral research at the Institute of Psychiatry and St. Mary’s hospitals London, and senior academic posts at the University of East London, University of Birmingham and Aston University. In 2007 she became a Professor of health psychology (and Head of Department between 2007-2013) at Middlesex University, London.
Her current and previous advisory and editorial activities include HFEA advisor to the ‘One at a Time’ taskforce; Editor of the Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology and membership of executive committees of the British Infertility Counseling Association, the British Fertility Society and the Society for Reproductive & Infant Psychology. She is currently on the editorial board of a number of journals. Her research focuses on reproductive health psychology; she has authored three books, several book chapters, and numerous scientific journal publications.
van den Akker, O.B.A. (2017) Surrogate Motherhood Families. Palgrave MacMillan.
van den Akker,O.B.A (2012) Reproductive Health Psychology , Wiley-Blackwell, March,. ISBN-10:0470683384(hb) ISBN-13: 9780470683378(pb)
van den Akker,O.B.A (2018 ) Chapter: Assisted reproductive technologies including fertility preservation, surrogate motherhood, gamete donation and IVF. In: International Handbook of Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health. (Eds) Jane Ussher, Joan Chrisler and Janette Perz Routledge.
van den Akker,O.B.A (2018) Chapter: Psychological and ethical issues in third party assisted conception and surrogate motherhood. In: Pathways and barriers to the transition to parenthood –Existential concerns regarding fertility, pregnancy and early parenthood. (Ed) Orit Taubman –Ben-Ari.
van den Akker, O. (2015) 'Emotional and Psychosocial Risk Associated with Fertility Treatment' in Reducing Risk in Fertility Treatment. Mathur, Raj (Ed.) Springer-Verlag, pp79-96. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4471-5257-6_5.
Allan, H., van den Akker, O, Culley, L. Mounce, G. Odelius, A. and Symon, A. (in press) An integrative literature review of psychosocial factors in the transition to parenthood following non-donor assisted reproduction. Human Fertility
Payne, N, Seehan, S., van den Akker, O.B.A. (2019) Experiences and psychological distress of fertility treatment and employment. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology. 40(2) 156-165. ISSN0167-482X, DOI: 10.1080/0167482X.2018.1460351
Onyigbuo, C., Alexis-Garsee, C., and van den Akker, O. (2019) Predicting attitudes towards seeking medical care among Nigerian immigrants in the UK" Mental Health, Religion & Culture. Accepted.
Purewal, S., Chapman, S.C. E. & van den Akker, O.B.A (2019) A systematic review and meta-analysis of lifestyle and body mass index predictors of successful assisted reproductive technologies Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology, 40(1), 2-18. DOI: 10.1080/0167482X.2017.1403418.
Alexis-Garsee, Camille and Meehan, Stephanie and van den Akker, Olga (2018) An interpretative phenomenological analysis of discontinued use of the e-cigarette. Journal of Smoking Cessation . ISSN 1834-2612 (Accepted/In press)
Purewal, S. Chapman; S. van den Akker, O. (2018) Depression and state anxiety scores during assisted reproduction treatment are associated with outcome: a meta-analysis. Reproductive BioMedicine Online.
Purewal, S. Chapman; S. van den Akker, O. (2018) A systematic review and meta-analysis of psychological predictors of successful assisted reproductive technologies. BMC Research Notes. 10:711. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-017-3049-z
Frith, L. Blyth, E, Crawshaw, M and van den Akker, O (2018). Secrets and disclosure in donor conception. Sociology of Health and Illness. 40 (1) 188–203. DOI:10.1111/1467-9566.12633
Whitelock, V. Nouwen, A., van den Akker, O. and Higgs, S. (2018) The role of working memory sub-components in food choice and dieting success. Appetite. 124 . pp. 24-32. ISSN 0195-6663
Purewal, S. Chapman; S. van den Akker, O. (2018) Depression and state anxiety scores during assisted reproduction treatment are associated with outcome: a meta-analysis. Reproductive BioMedicine Online.
Onyson, C., Alexis-Garsee, C., and van den Akker, O. (2018) Adaptation of the Measurement of Acculturation Strategies for People of African Decent (MASPAD) in measuring Acculturation in British Nigerians. Mental Health, Religion and Culture.
Frith, L. Blyth, E, Crawshaw, M and van den Akker, O (2017). Secrets and disclosure in donor conception. Sociology of Health and Illness.
Purewal, S., Chapman, S.C. E. & van den Akker, O.B.A (2017) A systematic review and meta-analysis of lifestyle predictors of successful assisted reproductive technologies Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Whitelock, V. Nouwen, A., van den Akker, O. and Higgs, S. (2017) The role of working memory sub-components in food choice and dieting success. Appetite.
van den Akker, Olga and Payne, Nicola and Lewis, Suzan (2017) Catch 22? Disclosing assisted conception treatment at work. International Journal of Workplace Health Management . ISSN 1753-8351 (Published online first)
Frith, L., Crawshaw, M., van den Akker, O. and Blyth, E. (2017) Searching for 'relations' using a DNA linking register: Constructions of identity, relatedness and kinship by adults conceived following sperm donation. BioSocieties. doi:10.1057/s41292-017-0063-2
Onyigbuo, C., Alexis-Garsee, C, and van den Akker, O. (2017) Nigerian clergy and healthcare professionals’ perceptions of health-seeking behaviours among Nigerian immigrants in the UK Mental Health, Religion and Culture. 19:10, 1043-1055, DOI: 10.1080/13674676.2017.1312320
Alexis-Garsee, C., Gilbert, H. and van den Akker, O.B.A. (2017) Difficulties quitting for smokers with and without a respiratory disease and use of a tailored intervention for smoking cessation – A qualitative study. Journal of Smoking Cessation. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/jsc.2017.5 Published online: 27 March 2017, pp. 1-9.
Blyth, E., Crawshaw, M., Frith, L. and van den Akker, C. (2017) Gamete donors’ reasons for, and expectations and experiences of, registration with a voluntary donor linking register. Human Fertility 21:268-278. DOI: 10.1080/14647273.2017.1292005.
Dyson, S., Liang, L., van den Akker, O. and Mike O'Driscoll (2017) The extent, variability, and attitudes towards volunteering among undergraduate nursing students: Implications for pedagogy in nurse education. Nurse Education in Practice, 23,15–22.
Recent other invitations:
Invited symposium: Psychological and ethical issues in third party assisted conception and surrogate motherhood. Israeli Science Foundation (ISF) Tel Aviv, Israel (2018).
keynote address: The Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology Annual Conference (2016).
Framing International Surrogacy workshop: ‘Accepting ‘difference’ thereby allowing for accurate genetic and gestational (birth) information for all’ University of Sussex, 25/ July/ 2016.
BPS Seminar Series, New frontiers of family: The psychological implications of emerging family forms Beyond the non-nuclear family: Non-nuclear family planning Wednesday 20th April 2016 Birkbeck, University of London (Room: CLO B01) Keynote Speaker: Third party reproduction and the family.
The Brocher Foundation Summer Academy. ‘Ethical, legal and social issues in assisted reproductive technologies. Geneva, Switzerland, 1-5 June 2015.
The Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society (CFAS) Annual Meeting in Toronto on Thursday, September 22, 2011, Invited lecture: Surrogacy outcomes from the perspectives of the surrogates and intended parents.
1st World Congress of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Androlofy, (WCOGA) 20-23 March 2011. Psychosomatic and Biological Perspectives in Clinical Controversies. Invited symposium chair ‘International Symposium: Alcohol and substance misuse’ and Invited Presentation ‘Alcohol in Reproductive Health’
2nd National Conference: Reproductive Medicine 2010, 9th and 10th September, Institute of Physics, London, W1B 1NT Invited Lecture: Psycho-social factors in infertility
One day Multidisciplinary Workshop on Surrogacy: A Special Case, Invited Lecture 30th July 2010 Medical Law, University of Glasgow
van den Akker, O., Payne,N., and Seenan, S. (2017) Infertility and treatment experiences: results of a survey 20 years on. 37th Annual Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology Conference. York, 12th and 13th September 2017.
Jalmbrant, M., Jones, B., Saso, S., van den Akker, O., Smith, R. (2017) Developing a psychological screening protocol for the UK uterine transplant trial. RCOG 2017 Congress in Cape Town. 20-22 March.
Whitelock V, Nouwen A, Houben K, van den Akker O, Rosenthal M, Higgs S. (2017) The effect of working memory training on food intake and diabetes control in people with Type 2 diabetes: a double blind randomised controlled trial. Diabetic Medicine. Mar;34:168-168.
Payne, N., Lewis, S., and van den Akker, O. Beyond work-family conflict: The experience of combining work and fertility treatment. Equality, Diversity ad Inclusion Conference, London 28-30 June 2017
Jalmbrant, M., Bacarese-Hamilton, T., Jones, B., Saso, S., van den Akker, O., Smith, R. (2017) A survey of the psychological attributes of women waiting for Uterus Transplants: general and fertility specific quality of life and psychological distress. RCOG 2017 Congress in Cape Town. 20-22 March.
van den Akker, O. Postavaru, G. and Purewal. S. (2016) Paper presentation "A meta-analysis of Maternal psychosocial effects of twins and multiple births following assisted conception or natural conception/ART singleton births”. The European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) 32nd Annual Meeting, Helsinki, Finland, 3 to 6 July. Human Reproduction, 31, 1, i33.
Payne, N. van den Akker, O., & Lewis, S. (2016) Women’s Experiences of combining Work and IVF: Sense of Entitlement to Support (DOP Symposium: Women, work and wellbeing: support during challenging times). Conference of the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology, 11-13 April, Athens, Greece.
Camara,I, Hunt,B & van den Akker, O (2015) British media constructions of surrogate motherhood in the United Kingdom. Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology, Nottingham, 14-15 Steptember.
van den Akker, O. Blyth,E. Frith,L. Fronek, P (2015) Social changes in family building: British media constructions of cross border surrogacy. EHPS, 1-5 September.
Alexis-Garsee, C. van den Akker,O. Meehan S. (2015) E-cigarettes are a replacement, not an aid to quit’: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of vaping experiences. EHPS, 1-5 September.
Payne, N., and van den Akker, O. (2016) Fertility Network UK Survey on the Impact of Fertility Problems. Report commissioned by and produced for INUK May 2016.
Cosmopolitan (2013) Interviewed for feature about women who have babies with private sperm donors they meet online.
Love it! Interviewed on Teenage pregancy. 2-9 February 2010
Blyth E, Hunt J and van den Akker (2011) Evidence and models of best practice should guide recruitment of gamete donors. Bionews 629. 10 Oct. http://www.bionews.org.uk/page_109712.asp
Fluent English and Dutch
Subject area: Health Psychology
Methodology: Quantitative, qualitative, experimental, systematic reviewing, meta analysis
Applications for PhD research, or research assistant schemes in reproductive health psychology are welcomed. PhD students will also be considered in any other area of health psychology as applied to specific issues and specific health concerns.
Allan, Helen T. and Mounce, Ginny and Culley, Lorraine and van den Akker, Olga and Hudson, Ruth (2019) Transition to parenthood after successful non-donor in vitro fertilisation: The effects of infertility and in vitro fertilisation on previously infertile couples' experiences of early parenthood. Health: An Interdisciplinary Journal for the Social Study of Health, Illness and Medicine . ISSN 1363-4593 (Published online first)
Payne, Nicola and Seenan, Susan and van den Akker, Olga (2019) Experiences of involuntary childlessness and treatment in the UK: what has changed in 20 years? Human Fertility . ISSN 1464-7273 (Published online first)
van den Akker, Olga (2019) Assisted conception: fertility preservation, surrogate motherhood, gamete / embryo donation, and in vitro fertilization. In: Routledge International Handbook of Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health. Ussher, Jane and Chrisler, Joan and Perz, Janette , eds. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, London and New York, pp. 237-250. ISBN 9781138490260
van den Akker, Olga (2019) Psychological and ethical issues in third party assisted conception and surrogate motherhood. In: Pathways and Barriers to Parenthood: Existential Concerns Regarding Fertility, Pregnancy, and Early Parenthood. Taubman u2013Ben-Ari, Orit , ed. Springer Nature, Cham, Switzerland, pp. 113-125. ISBN 9783030248635
Allan, Helen T. and van den Akker, Olga and Culley, Lorraine and Mounce, Ginny and Odelius, Anki and Symon, Andrew (2019) An integrative literature review of psychosocial factors in the transition to parenthood following non-donor-assisted reproduction compared with spontaneously conceiving couples. Human Fertility . pp. 1-18. ISSN 1464-7273 (Published online first)
PI van den Akker, O.B.A. Payne, et al (2019). The intersection of contemporary reproduction, work, and working life: Towards an agenda for research and practice. £1,500. Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology Developmental grant application.
PI: Chatrakul Na Ayudhya Uracha, Payne, N. van den Akker, O and Lewis, S. (2019) internal research grant from the School of Business, Economics, and Informatics at Birkbeck University ‘A survey with HR managers and line managers in the UK to look at policies and support for employees who use ART’. The application was successful -received £4500.
PI: Dyson, S. &van den Akker, O. (2018) Stimulating compassion and empathy for patient benefit through structured volunteering in nurse education. Research incentives £3,111
PI: Dyson, S, van den Akker, Oet al (2018) Building social capital through volunteering.Res & knowl exchange £4,000.
PI van den Akker, O. (2018) Enhancing student research to presentation level. CAPE funded £3.487.
PI: Helen Allan; Olga van den Akker; Ginny Mounce (2018) Experiences of couples in early parenthood following successful IVF. Department of adult, child and midwifery small research and knowledge exchange/transfer grants Research/Incentives £3,111
PI: Dyson, S, van den Akker, O et al (2018) Building social capital through volunteering.Res & knowl exchange £4,000.
PI van den Akker, O. Allen, H., Culley, L, Symon, A and de Lacey, S. £1,500. Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology Developmental grant application ‘A multidisciplinary research, theory and practice workshop on the early parenthood experiences of non-donor infertile couples after successful fertility treatment’ (2016)
PI Payne, N. & van den Akker, O. £6,900. INUK. Survey on the impact of fertility problems (2015)
PI van den Akker O with Purewal S £9486 The British Academy. A systematic review and meta analysis of the psychosocial consequences of twins and multiple births following medically assisted reproduction. (2014)
PI. van den Akker with Crawshaw (University of York) BASW / PROGAR. £1,500 SRIP Workshop funding 'A research, policy and practice informed roundtable discussion of current challenges in surrogacy arrangements nationally and internationally' (2014)
PI Dyson S, with van den Akker,O and Cunningham S £6,625 funded by Middlesex University School of Health and Education:'Volunteering in health and social care: building social capital through volunteerism: a pilot project' (2013)
PI. Jarrett P with van den Akker, O £5,440 funded by Middlesex University School of Health and Education: 'Women's experience of Gestational Diabetes and Depression: A Phenomenological Study' (2013)
PI Payne N with van den Akker, O and Lewis S £4,944 Middlesex University Psychology research funding 'Employment and Medically Assisted Reproduction (MAR): The needs and experiences of employed MAR users' (2013)
PI van den Akker,O with Payne N and Lewis S £3,598 Middlesex University Psychology research funding 'Workplace policies and practices to support users of Assisted Reproductive Technology' (2013)
PI. van den Akker with Crawshaw (University of York) BASW / PROGAR. £1,500 SRIP Workshop funding 'A research and practice informed approach to family building through donor conception' at the Nuffield foundation / BMA. (2012)
PI. Purewal with van den Akker £7,400. British Academy 'A meta analysis on the psychological and behavioural variables predicting In Vitro Fertilization treatment outcome: A path analytic investigation'. (2010)
PI. van den Akker with Purewal. £5,000 Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority for a study assessing attitudes to Single Embryo Transfer. (2010)
PI. Alexis-Garsee with Gilbert (University of London) & van den Akker £22,771. UK Respiratory Research Foundation of the IPCRG Smokers with chronic illness: A qualitative analysis of barriers, motivation to quit and tailored interventions for smoking cessation in COPD smokers. (2009)
van den Akker Consultancy £9000 for Editorial work Taylor & Francis Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology (2007-2009)
van den Akker £4000 NHS Consultancy, Stage 2 BPS Health Psychology Student (2008)
PI. van den Akker with Baluch £1000 Matched funding Middlesex University School of Health & Social Sciences Business development (2008)
PI. van den Akker with Baluch £1000 Match funding Middlesex University School of Health & Social Sciences Research (2008)
PI. van den Akker with Baluch £1000 SRIP Workshop The future of infertility (2008)
Editorial Activities
Editorial board member Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology 2008-present
Editorial board member: Biomed Central RBM Online 2008-present
Editorial board member: Expert review of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2008-present
Editor in Chief Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology 2003- 2008
Newsletter Editor SRIP 1999-2002
Member of Editorial board: British J. Midwifery 1998-2001
Book review editor: J. Infant & Reproductive Psychology 1998-2002
Consulting editor: Nursing Research 1995-1999
Committee / Advisory activities
Committee member Society for Infant & Reproductive Psychology 1997-2019
Member Project Group on Assisted Reproduction (PROGAR) 2009-Present
Advisory group HFEA eSET taskforce 2009-2010
Committee member BFS (BICA representative) 2007- 2009
External Advisor DIPex, Oxford University 2007-2009
Executive Committee Member BICA 2007-2009
Member of Birmingham Women's Hospital ACU Ethics Committee 2001-2007
Committee member British Menstrual Cycle Research Group 1997- 1999
Committee member the British Psychophysiology Society 1985 - 1995
Treasurer Psychophysiology Society 1987-1989
Membership Secretary Psychophysiology Society 1985-1987
Membership of Professional Societies
Practitioner Psychologist Health and Care Professions Council 2011-2017
Associate Fellow; Chartered Health Psychologist, British Psychological Society (previous)