Dr Madelyn Geldenhuys

Associate Professor and Discipline Group Lead: Research
PhD, MA (OrgPsych), B.A Hons (OrgPsych), B.A (Psych)(HR) 

Email: madelyn.geldenhuys@nd.edu.au

  • Biography

    Madelyn Geldenhuys is an Associate Professor of psychological sciences and brings national and international experience as an academic. She joined Notre Dame in 2021, where she co-led the development of a suite of new Australian Psychology Accreditation Counsil (APAC) accredited psychology programs and held the role of Discipline Lead for psychology. Prior to this, she worked at the Australian College of Applied Professions (ACAP), as an Associate Professor and Discipline Lead for psychological sciences on the Sydney campus. At ACAP, she was also the Postgraduate Psychology Programs Director.

    Madelyn is a recognised researcher with a well-established program of psychology research and has attracted several grants and funding, is published in high-ranking academic journals, and part of national and international research collaborations. She also brings expertise in advanced research designs, such as multilevel analysis (assessing variability over time) and questionnaire development and validation.

    Madelyn currently holds a senior research associate role at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, acts as peer reviewer for journals and supervises HDR/PhD students nationally and internationally. She is a registered psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and primarily teaches into the Honours in Psychology and Master of Professional Psychology programs.

  • Research expertise and supervision

    Madelyn has a well-established program of research that centres around psychological wellbeing in work and life. She is interested in understanding the antecedents of psychological wellbeing in work and life, specifically, she is working on funded research in the domains of psychosocial risks and hazards in the workplace, burnout, self-regulation and determination behaviour, wellbeing, personality and tolerance of uncertainty in psychology careers.

    Now, she is supervising PhD students in the area of psychology practice and tolerance of uncertainty as well as psychological well-being in work and life.

    Madelyn has expertise in advanced quantitative methodology, specifically multilevel and longitudinal designs, but her research also spans across qualitative and conceptual reviews.

    PhD supervision:

    Current:

    Madelyn is currently supervising PhD students on the following topics:

    • Psychological Factors Associated with Successful Performance in the field of Professional Scuba Diving, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
    • Supporting and promoting school staff wellbeing in the Kimberley region of Western Australia: an exploration of the work and role of school psychologists. University of Notre Dame, Australia
    • A training intervention for early career psychologists, University of Notre Dame.
    • The perspectives of secondary school counsellors working with students who experience social, emotional and behavioural difficulties, University of Notre Dame
    • Exploring student perceptions of counselling received at a university counselling service. University of Notre Dame, Australia
    • A multidisciplinary investigation of environmental apathy: How environmental apathy can be conceptually defined, phenomenologically understood in an Australian context and implemented into conversation, policy and procedure, University of Notre Dame.

    Completed:

    Madelyn has supervised 5 PhD students (2 has principal supervisor and 3 as co-supervisor) to completions around the following topics:

    • Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment and job performance: The mediating effects of leadership styles and psychological availability. Mixed method design. University of Johannesburg, South Africa, 2023.
    • Evaluating job crafting in Higher Education Institutions. Multilevel design. University of Johannesburg, 2020.
    • Antecedents of job crafting and self-undermining behaviour: Implications for person-job fit and job performance. Quantitative method utilising cross-sectional and multilevel analysis of panel data. University of Johannesburg, South Africa, 2019.
    • The impact of servant leadership intervention on work engagement and burnout. Thesis by article format. A Mixed Method design, utilising SEM, longitudinal analysis, interventions, focus groups and qualitative interviews. University of Johannesburg, South Africa, 2018.
    • A model of work engagement among women in the workplace. University of Johannesburg, 2016.

    HDR supervision:

    Madelyn has further supervised over 20 HDR students research on various topics, such as:

    • Psychological health and wellbeing
    • Personality and emotional intelligence
    • Workplace wellbeing, job crafting
    • Self-regulation, self-determination, and motivation
    • Organisational psychology and behaviour
    • Job performance, work engagement and job satisfaction
    • Meaning in life and work
    • Experiences of parents diagnosed with cancer whilst parenting minor-aged kids

    Masters and Honours supervision:

    Madelyn has also supervised professional master’s projects in the Master of Professional Psychology, Master of Clinical Psychology and Master of Organisational Psychology programs, while having supervised around 50 honours projects prior to joining Australian institutions. Some recent honours in psychology topics include:

    • Understanding student interaction with campus green space, student engagement and academic motivation, University of Notre Dame, 2023.
    • Volunteer work and psychological well-being, Australian College of Applied Psychology (ACAP), 2022.
    • The Role of Neuroticism and Conscientiousness on Academic Motivation, Australian College of Applied Psychology (ACAP), 2021.
    • Flexible workplace practices and workplace creativity, Australian College of Applied Psychology (ACAP), 2020.

    Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology supervision:

    Madelyn is a supervisor in the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology program, with her focus areas as follows:

    Workplace Wellbeing:

    • Burnout in the Workplace
    • Personality and Workplace Wellbeing
    • Wellbeing in Psychology Trainees

    Training & Assessment in Psychology:

    • Tolerance of Uncertainty in Psychology Practice

    Performance & Psychology:

    • Sport Psychology and Performance
    • Workplace Performance

    If you are interested in studying Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology and would like Madelyn as your supervisor, please contact Dr Raquel Peel at raquel.peel@nd.edu.au. Alternatively, you can explore other supervisors available for this program.

  • Teaching areas

    • Personality Psychology
    • Honours and Masters research project/thesis
    • Psychopathology
    • Organisational Psychology
    • Ethics, Legal, Professional practice in Psychology
    • Psychology placement supervisor

  • Research interests and current projects

    Research interests and expertise include:

    • Psychological health and wellbeing in work and life
    • Stress and burnout in work and life
    • Organisational and Personality psychology
    • Self-regulation and self-determination behaviour
    • Tolerance of uncertainty in clinical practice

  • Book chapters

    Book chapters:

    • Łaba, K., Bosch, A., & Geldenhuys, M. (2023). A predictive model of women’s work engagement. In Mayer, C., Vanderheiden, E., Braun-Lewehnsohn, O., Chen, G., Sueda, K., & Matholoti, B. et al. Women’s Empowerment for A Sustainable Future World - Transcultural and Positive Psychology Perspectives). Springer, Cham.
    • Geldenhuys, M . (2016). Motivation concepts. In S. Robbins, T. Judge, A. Odendaal, & G. Roodt, Global and Southern African perspectives: Organisational behaviour (3ed.) (pp. 246-279). Pearson, Cape Town: South Africa.

    Report chapters:

    • Geldenhuys, M.  (2013). A statistical update on women in the South African workplace. SABPP Women's Report, 31-40.
    • Geldenhuys, M . (2011). Demographics of women in the workplace: A South African perspective. SABPP Women's Report, 12-23.

  • Journal articles and proceedings

    • Grisdale, K., & Geldenhuys, M. (2024). Workplace Antecedents that affect Mental Health of LGBTQIA+ people. Australian Community Psychologist. In Press.
    • Mabitsela, T., Geldenhuys, M., & Łaba, K. (2024). The development and validation of the BBBEE Fairness Perception Questionnaire. South African Journal of Human Resource Management, 22, a2357.
    • Mabitsela, T., Geldenhuys, M., & Łaba, K. (2024). Assessing the predictive validity of the BBBEE fairness perception questionnaire. South African Journal of Industrial Psychology, 50, a2116
    • Dhanpat, N., Geldenhuys, M., & Ruggunan, S. (2023). Psychological Experiences and Responses in the Global South Amidst and Ahead of the Covid-19 Pandemic: Editorial. Frontiers in Organisational Psychology – Special Edition.
    • Dekel, C., Geldenhuys, M., & Harris, J. (2022). Exploring the Value of Organisational Support, Engagement, and Psychological Wellbeing in the Volunteer Context. Frontiers in Organisational Psychology, Special Edition. 13, 915572.
    • Apostolov, N., & Geldenhuys, M. (2022). The role of neuroticism and conscientious facets in academic motivation. Brain and Behaviour, e2673 online print.
    • Sloan, M., & Geldenhuys, M. (2021). Regulating emotions at work: The role of EQ on the process of conflict, job crafting and performance. South African Journal of Industrial Psychology, 47, a1875.
    • Geldenhuys, M., Bakker, A. B., & Demerouti, E. (2021). How task, relational and cognitive crafting relate to job performance: a weekly diary study on the role of meaningfulness. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 30:1, 83-94.
    • Peral, S. L., & Geldenhuys, M. (2020). The indirect relationship between personality and performance through job crafting behaviour. South African Journal of Industrial Psychology, 46, a1715.
    • Geyser, I., & Geldenhuys, M. (2019). Profiling Work-related Signature Strengths of Born Free South Africans:  A gender perspective. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 29:4, p. 366-374.
    • Dhanpat, N., de Braine, R., & Geldenhuys, M. (2019). Preliminary development of the Higher Education Hindrance Demands Scale (HEHDS) amongst academics in the South African context. South African Journal of Industrial Psychology, 45(0), a1595.
    • Geldenhuys, M., Bosch, A., Jeewa, S., & Kourtis, I. (2019). Gender traits in relation to work versus career salience. South African Journal of Industrial Psychology, 45, a1588.
    • Geldenhuys, M., & Bosch, A. (2019). A Rasch adapted version of the 30-item Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI). Journal of Personality Assessment, online print.
    • Dhanpat, N., de Braine, R., & Geldenhuys, M. (2019). Weekly job crafting and weekly meaningful work: A diary study. European Academy of Management: Exploring the future of management, 2019, 26 – 28 June 2019. Full text paper was published in the conference proceedings. (ISBN 978-2-9602195-1-7).
    • Łaba, K., & Geldenhuys, M. (2018). Positive interaction between work and home, and psychological availability on women’s work engagement: A “shortitudinal” study. South African Journal of Industrial Psychology, 44(0), a1538.
    • Peral, S. L., & Geldenhuys, M. (2018). A Rasch Analysis of the Tims, Bakker, and Derks (2012) Job Crafting Scale. Journal of Career Assessment, online, 1-15.
    • Bosch, A., Geldenhuys, M., & Bezuidenhout, L. (2018). Validation of the Life Role Salience Scale in a South African Setting. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 28(1), 41-45.
    • Coetzer, M. F., Bussin, M., & Geldenhuys, M. (2017a). Servant leadership and work-related well-being in a construction company. South African Journal of Industrial Psychology, 43(0), a1478.
    • Geldenhuys, M., & Henn, C. M. (2017). The relationship between demographic variables and well-being of women in South African workplaces. South African Journal of Human Resource Management, 15, 1 – 15.
    • Coetzer, M. F., Bussin, M., & Geldenhuys, M. (2017b). The functions of a servant leader. Administrative Science, 7, 1 – 32. doi:10.3390/admsci7010005. (Special issue on servant leadership) – Best paper award
    • Łaba, K., & Geldenhuys, M. (2016). Psychological availability and work engagement: the moderating role of sex and race. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 26 (2), 107 - 112.
    • Karam, C. A., Sekaja, L., & Geldenhuys, M. (2016). Validation of the Impression Management Scale in the South African Context. South African Journal of Psychology, 530 - 541.
    • Geyser, I., Crous, F., & Geldenhuys, M., (2016). Mise en Place: time management behaviour and flow within the hospitality training environment. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 5, 1 – 16.
    • Peral, S., & Geldenhuys, M. (2016). The effects of job crafting on subjective well-being amongst South African high school teachers. South African Journal of Industrial Psychology, 42(1), 1 – 13.
    • Geyser, I., & Geldenhuys, M., & Crous, F. (2015). The Dimensionality of the Work-Related Flow Inventory in South Africa. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 25(4), 282-287.
    • Williamson, J.C., & Geldenhuys, M. (2014). Positive work experiences and life satisfaction: the moderating role of gender. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 24(4), 325-320.
    • Geldenhuys, M., Łaba, K., & Venter, C. M. (2014). Meaningful work, work engagement and organisational commitment. South African Journal of Industrial psychology, 40(1), 1-10.
    • Leo, L., Reid, R., Geldenhuys, M., & Gobind, J. (2014). The inferences of gender in workplace bullying. Gender & Behaviour, 12(1), 6059-6069.
    • Johnston, C., De Bruin, G., Gyorkos, C., Geldenhuys, M., Rosier, J., & Massoudi, K. (2013). Sense of Coherence and job characteristics in the prediction of burnout in South Africa. South African Journal of Industrial Psychology, 39(1), p. 1-9.
    • Geyser, I., Crous, F., & Geldenhuys, M. (2013). Optimal experiences and time management behaviour in a South African culinary training environment. 30th Pan Pacific Business Conference, 3 - 6 June 2013. Full text paper was published in the conference proceedings. (ISBN 1-931649-27-3).
    • Rothmann, S., Mostert, K., & Strydom, M. (2006). A Psychometric evaluation of the job demands-resources scale in South Africa. South African Journal of Industrial Psychology, 32 (4), 76-86.

  • Conference papers

    • Geldenhuys., M (2023). Invited Symposium Chair. Australian Psychology Learning and Teaching Conference (AusPlat.com). Symposium: Helping students embrace the shades of grey: the need to develop tolerance of uncertainty in postgraduate psychology education. Hobart, Tasmania, 8-10 September 2023
    • Shekar, A, Geldenhuys, M., & Vicary, S. (2022). Flexing your creative muscle: Exploring the Relationship between Flexible Work Practices and Creativity. Paper presented at the Australian Psychological Society Conference, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, 7 – 9 July 2022.
    • Sloan, M., & Geldenhuys, M. (2019). The moderating role of emotional intelligence on the process of workplace conflict, job crafting and job performance. Paper presented at the Society for Industrial and Organisational Psychology in South Africa Conference, Pretoria, South Africa, 22 – 24 July 2019,
    • Hoole, C., & Geldenhuys, M. (2019). The weekly relationship between Psychological Conditions, Strength’s use, and Flow. Paper presented at the XVI European Conference of Psychology, Moscow, Russia, 2 – 5 July 2019.
    • Peral, S. L., & Geldenhuys, M. (2019). The Indirect Relationship between the Big Five and Job Performance through Job Crafting Behaviour. Paper presented at the 19th European Association of Work and Organisational Psychology Conference, Turin, Italy, 29 May – 1 June 2019.
    • Bosch, A., & Geldenhuys, M., (2018). Do children matter? The impact on women’s workplace wellbeing. Paper co-presented at the Gender, Work and Organisation Conference, Sydney, Australia, 13 – 16 June 2018.
    • Geyser, I., & Geldenhuys, M., (2018). VIA character strengths of Black “born free” male and female service sector trainees in South Africa. Paper co-presented at the Gender, Work and Organisation Conference, Sydney, Australia, 13 – 16 June 2018.
    • Geldenhuys, M., & Bakker, A. B. (2017). The role of personality in the weekly process of job crafting, work engagement and performance. Paper presented at the 18th European Association of Work and Organisational Psychology Conference, Dublin, Ireland, 19 - 22 May 2017. Invited symposium on work engagement.
    • Laba, K., Bosch, A., & Geldenhuys, M. (2017). Psychological Availability: The confidence game. Paper presented at the European Conference of Work and Organisational Psychology, Dublin, Ireland, 19 – 22 May 2017. (Day level study on psychological availability and work engagement of women).
    • Coetzer, M., Bussin, M., & Geldenhuys, M. (2016). A conceptual framework to operationalise servant leadership within an organisation. Global Servant Leadership Research Roundtable Conference, Iceland, September 2016
    • Geldenhuys, M., & Geyser, I. (2015). Work role fit, psychological meaningfulness and work engagement among men and women. Paper presentation at the 14th European Congress of Psychology, Milan, Italy, 7 - 10 July 2015
    • Geldenhuys, M., & Henn, C. (2013). Demographic differences in the experience of well-being of women in the South African workplace. Paper presentation at the 13th European Congress of Psychology, Stockholm, Sweden, 9 - 12 July 2013. Invited Chairperson on the Women in the Workplace Symposia
    • Geyser, I., Crous, F., & Geldenhuys, M. (2013). Time management behaviour in the hospitality training environment: The roles of flow, happiness and life satisfaction. Paper presentation at the 13th European Congress of Psychology, Stockholm, Sweden 9 - 12 July 2013.
    • Geldenhuys, M. (2012). The importance of meaningfulness and engagement for women. Women in human resources conferences, Johannesburg, South Africa 26 - 27 November. (Invited speaker)
    • Geldenhuys, M., & Łaba, K. (2012). Antecedents of work engagement among women in the South African workplace. Poster presentation at the 30th International Congress of Psychology, Cape Town, South Africa, 22 - 28 July 2012.
    • Łaba, K., & Geldenhuys, M (2012). The effects of happiness and psychological meaningfulness on support and engagement in the workplace. Paper presentation at the 30th International Congress of Psychology, Cape Town, South Africa, 22 - 28 July.
    • Williamson, J.C., & Geldenhuys, M. (2012). Engagement and meaningfulness at work: the moderating roles of life satisfaction and gender. Poster presentation at the 30th International Congress of Psychology, Cape Town, South Africa, 22 - 28 July 2012.
    • Geyser, I., Crous, F., & Geldenhuys, M. (2012). Time management behaviour in the hospitality training environment: The roles of flow, happiness and life satisfaction. Poster presentation at the 30th International Congress of Psychology, Cape Town, South Africa, 22 - 28 July 2012.
    • Johnston, C., De Bruin, G., & Geldenhuys, M. (2011). The role of Sense of Coherence in the relationship between job characteristics and burnout. Poster presented at the 12th European Congress of Psychology, Istanbul, Turkey, 4 - 8 July 2011.
    • Dzepina, M., Henn, C., & Geldenhuys, M. (2011). Job characteristics and work engagement: The moderating effect of sense of coherence. Paper presented at the 14th annual SIOPSA 2011 conference, Pretoria, South Africa, 27 - 28 July 2011. Presenting author.
    • Johnston, C., De Bruin, G., & Geldenhuys, M. (2011). The role of Sense of Coherence in the relationship between job characteristics and burnout. Paper presented at the Third International Conference on Coping with Stress: Resilience and Engagement, Pretoria, South Africa, 18 - 20 September 2011.

  • Grants

    Madelyn’s research has received various grants and funding, nationally and internationally. These include:

    • Geldenhuys, M., Quinlan, E., Chan, J., & Fewings, E. (2024). The measurement of Tolerance of Uncertainty in the psychology profession. Faculty of Arts, Sciences, Law and Business, Team Development Grant.
    • Geldenhuys, M., & Quinlan, E (2024). The development of a Tolerance of Uncertainty Measure for Psychology. Research Funding Schemes (RFS), UNDA – Research Development Grant.
    • Geldenhuys, M. (2023). Psychology Maintenance Funding. University of Notre Dame, Australia,
    • Geldenhuys, M (2023). Professional Development fund 2023 for learning and teaching or research initiatives. Faculty of Arts, Sciences, Law, and Business (University of Notre Dame).
    • Geldenhuys, M., Hoole, C., Dhanpat, N., de Braine, R. (2017 – 2019). Positive organisational behaviour, meaningful work, and performance project. Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).
    • Crous, F., Chrysler-Fox, P., de Braine, R, Geldenhuys, M., Dhanpat, N., & van Wyk, R. (2015). Research sustainability initiative and collaboration with international colleagues in Brazil (BRICS country research grant) (2015). Global Excellence Stature (GES) | University of Johannesburg.
    • Geldenhuys, M. (2015 – 2016). Organisational psychology research grant. Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).
    • The Ethics Institute (consulting team: Van Vuuren, L., Rossouw, D., Dobie, C., & Geldenhuys, M. (2015). Ethical Risk behaviour. Massmart holdings.
    • Geldenhuys, M. Funding received from the University of Johannesburg Faculty Research Committee: European Conference of Work and Organisational Psychology, Italy (2019); Gender, Work and Organisation, Australia (2018); European Conference of Work and Organisational Psychology, Ireland (2017); Global Servant Leadership Research Roundtable Conference, Iceland (2016); European Conference of Psychology Conference, Italy (2015); European Conference of Psychology Conference, Sweden (2013); International Conference of Psychology Conference, South Africa (2012).
    • Geldenhuys, M., & Rothmann, S. (2006-2009). Work-related well-being research project grant. National Research Foundation, South Africa, PhD grant funding received.

  • In the media

    • Article interview (3 July 2023). New courses to help meet skyrocketing demand for psychologists. CathNews
    • Channel 7 News Perth (30 July 2023). Appearance on shortage of psychology staff.
    • Interview (20 March 2023). How task, relational and cognitive crafting relate to performance. Faculti
    • Article, (November 2021). The rise of the Doona Day. Who Magazine.
    • Article, (October 2021). The long-haul work from home guide. Who Magazine
    • Article Interview, (2021). Chucking the sickie: no-questions-asked ‘doona days’ give workers a break. The Guardian Australia

  • Professional affiliations

    • Registered with Psychology Board of Australia in Australian Health Professions Regulatory Authority, (AHPRA)
    • Registered Organisational Psychologist - Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)
    • Member of European Society of Work and Organisational Psychology