Dr Linda Papadopoulos: I think that what makes Cyprus beautiful is the country’s authenticity

Dr Linda Papadopoulos is one of the best-known and most respected psychologists worldwide, her most recent work – on the impact of social media on mental and cognitive health – having received widespread recognition.

Her work on the effects of sexualisation on young people, which reached the European Parliament and helped form government policy, is arguably one of the highlights of her career. Regularly invited to sit on medical and advisory boards, Dr Linda has also become one of the most recognisable faces in Britain through an array of credits in broadcast, radio and the print media. She has fronted shows for channels and networks including the Discovery Channel, National Geographic and TLC, and has regularly commentated on Sky News. At the same time, her work as a research scientist and practising psychologist has been published in highly regarded academic journals and she has also written several self-help books.

It is tempting to believe that psychology was a subject that she had always wanted to be involved in or that there was some kind of family connection with that particular branch of the profession, so it comes as something of a surprise to learn that her first choice of study was, in fact, journalism.

It was through this that she was introduced to psychology and realised that it was something she wanted to delve deeper into. Helped by “the most amazing mentor”, she took the decision to abandon journalism:

“I changed my major and never looked back!”

Dr Linda was born in Toronto to parents from Limassol and she lived in Cyprus from age 12 to 18. It’s a time that she looks back on with great fondness. “When I think of Cyprus, I always think of bridges of culture: Middle Eastern and European, and the British were here for a long time,” she says. “It’s a really interesting place and we have that kind of openness to others, so I think we’re actually good,” she goes on, before adding, “What we need to maintain more than anything is the sense of taking care of each other. When a lot of money comes into any society, it’s very easy for culture to go, because all the focus is on commerce. I think that what makes Cyprus beautiful is the country’s authenticity. We need to keep that, under whatever guise it is, whether we are talking about policies or about taking care of our physical surroundings in Cyprus.”

She says that she completely understands why so many people and companies want to invest in the island these days. “We have hyper-educated people, which is amazing, so we certainly need to make space for foreign investment. We are going to have a bunch of kids with Master’s degrees, who need to find the right jobs, so we need to ensure that we take advantage of that investment interest.”

Among her many achievements, Papadopoulos has written seminal works on psychodermatology, exploring the link between the skin and the mind. What drew her to this field in particular? “My cousin suffers from vitiligo,” she explains, “and I am super-close to her. I’m an only child and so she’s the closest I have to a sister. I remember the impact that vitiligo had on her and seeing how the way we look affects the way we feel. When I delved deeper into the subject, I realised that our mental state – how sad we are, how anxious we are, etc. – has an effect on our physiological state and this is certainly true with dermatology. So, my interest in it actually comes from a really personal place and I believe that’s why I find that area so fascinating.”

Her research and analyses have also enabled her to advise major brands – including Dior, Speedo, and Renault – on topics such as consumer behaviour. When it comes to conducting their business and marketing their products, there is one key element that they should keep in mind, she says: “As I mentioned earlier, I think authenticity is key and it is going to matter even more as we move forward.”

Where marketing and advertising once suggested that everyone’s life is perfect, social media has changed all that. “People are now much more likely to buy from someone who’s just come out of the shower and says, ‘Oh, I got this stuff and it works’, she explains, before adding: “Today’s consumers are much deeper, much more savvy and they won’t just accept a product because a glossy ad tells them that it’s great. They want to know why it’s great. They’ll ask about ingredients; they’ll ask about experiences. It’s a lot harder to fool them, simply because social media has turned us all into marketers of ourselves, so we understand the strategies. Ultimately, it all boils down to authenticity. We need authenticity and that means consistency, integrity and loyalty.”

Dr Linda is currently working on two new series for Netflix and researching for another book. All this, while sitting on the Advisory Boards of various companies. “Yes, I’m pretty busy but I enjoy it,” she says with a smile.

So, what does she have to say about the elusive work/private life balance?

“I think we must accept that ‘balance’ doesn’t mean 50/50 every day, right?” she suggests. “Some days, balance can be 80/20; it’s an organic thing.” She likens it to eating well, explaining that there’s no point beating yourself up if you eat poorly on one particular day; it is what you eat over the course of the month that’s important. “It’s the same for work. If I’m on a tight deadline or I need to travel, then I have to do that. But when I’m back, whether I’m with my daughter, my parents or my husband, I try my best to be present.”

She recognises that, particularly in the post-pandemic era, “Work is no longer a place that you go to; it’s a thing that you do. And it’s always there, so you have to be firm and say, ‘No, I’m having a conversation right now’ or ‘Yes, I’m ready now’. In any case, that’s how I try and achieve some balance. I don’t always get it right but I try!”

This article was first published in the first edition of MHV Group’s special publication MHV Moments. To view it, click here. To read the entire publication, click here.