Psychology: Tools, Interventions and Practices for Health

Thesis Proposals

Researchers

Research Group

Psychology, health and the internet

How do we improve social support and increase quality of life through information and communication technologies (ICT)? How do we reduce the impact of chronic disease on daily life? Are smartphones really that bad for teenagers? Can we enhance the adoption of assistive technologies for ageing people? Is family context a key factor in the frequency of ICT use? How do we develop psychological intervention for improving the perceived quality of life? Our starting point is that psychology has a crucial role in health promotion and in improving quality of life through information and communication technologies (ICT). Our lines of work aim to analyse how ICTs are used for health development among different populations (rare diseases, children, teenagers or the elderly) both by professionals and citizens (e-patient). 
 

Research topics:

• Children, adolescents and ICT: problematic use and protective factors.
• Ageing and assistive technologies for autonomy and well-being.
• Cognition and ICT: how multitasking impacts on learning outcomes.
• The impact of chronic diseases on daily life, investigating psychological variables such as self-efficacy or coping strategies for empowerment.

Dr Manuel Armayones

Dr Mercè Boixadós

Dr Beni Gómez-Zúñiga

Dr Eulàlia Hernández

Dr Modesta Pousada

PSiNET

Behavioural change in health

How do we help people change their behaviour or daily routines? How do we design behavioural solutions for controlling diabetes, getting back in shape or any other need or interest? How do we help facilitate the move to online intervention? How do we increase engagement in health programmes? In sum, how do we develop effective behavioural changes?

Behavioural change refers to the specific strategies used in interventions and its aim is to:

• Understand how the mind makes decisions;
• Describe the key factors that must converge in order for action to be taken; and
• Develop strategies for changing behaviour.

Behavioural change techniques are one of the most important factors in determining the success or failure of online interventions (e-health).

Research topics:

• The design of devices and mobile technologies to help change behaviour.
• Sustaining changes in behaviour by promoting healthy habits.
• Personal motivation and decision-making processes and their role in starting and sustaining changes in behaviour.
• E-literacy, self-efficacy and empowerment and engagement as key factors in behavioural changes.
• Persuasive systems design for online interventions aimed at disease prevention or health promotion.

Dr Armayones Ruiz

Dr Beni Gómez- Zúñiga 

Dr Eulàlia Hernández 

Dr Modesta Pousada 

Interpersonal relationships and psychotherapy

Our research seeks to contribute to enhancing the quality of psychological interventions in both individual, couple and family therapy from an integrative perspective. Within this field, we pay special attention to the following topics: self-identity and change; relational welfare; narrative change; systemic therapy; grief therapy; couple and sexual therapy; and patterns of interpersonal interaction.

We aim to carry out applied research projects focused on improving the socio-sanitary response to participants with different health problems, as well as promoting psychological and relational welfare in the community. 

Research topics:

• Focused on developing innovative methodologies for the constructivist assessment of change, relational dynamics or personal identity, especially through the use of ICT (virtual/mixed reality).
• Focused on studying the role of relational welfare in psychological and physical health.
• Focused on the effectiveness of individual, family and couple psychotherapy, from a practitioner-oriented approach.