Within this line of research, we are working on psychological interventions for the prevention and promotion of health and well-being in different contexts (face-to-face vs. online environments, schools, organizations, etc) and conditions (health, illness, disabilities, psychological disorders, stages and vital moments, interpersonal relationships, etc). We also investigate psychological aspects related to the use of ICT for health.
Specific thesis projects offered inside of this line of research include the following:
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Thesis Proposals |
Researchers |
Research Group |
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Artificial Intelligence and Persuasive Design
This This research line looks at how Artificial Intelligence (AI), generative models, persuasive design, and behavioral design can work together to improve health outcomes. Our main goal is to explore how generative AI technologies can be used in persuasive design to influence human behavior, help people make better decisions, and promote health and well-being.
Harnessing the Octalysis Framework for Health Gamification
In the fields of psychology and behavioral design, our research explores how the Octalysis framework can be applied to create engaging and motivating health interventions. By understanding the core drives that influence human behavior, we aim to design systems that not only promote healthy habits but also sustain user engagement over time. We will also address potential ethical concerns, ensuring that gamification techniques are used responsibly to avoid manipulation and misinformation, fostering a positive impact on health behaviors across diverse populations
Influencing Large Groups of People: In psychology and behavioral sciences, our research carefully examines how persuasive design in AI can shape people’s attitudes and beliefs about health in society. We also want to address issues related to mass manipulation and misinformation in health communication, ensuring that our approaches are ethical and responsible.
We are interested in facilitating the participation of PhD students in the Industrial PhD program of the Generalitat de Catalunya (setting a MOU with a company), and the application for additional funding.
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Dr Manuel Armayones Ruiz
marmayones@uoc.edu
bgomezz@uoc.edu
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Behavioural Design Lab |
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Behavioural Design in Public Health
A central challenge in public health is determining how to effectively support individuals in modifying their behaviours and daily routines. How can behavioural solutions be designed to assist people in managing chronic conditions, improving physical fitness or achieving other personal health goals? Similarly, how can engagement and adherence to clinical guidelines among health professionals be increased? Ultimately, the question is how to develop, implement and evaluate behavioural design strategies that enable public health administrations to deliver effective health promotion interventions.
Behavioural design encompasses the theoretical models and applied strategies that underpin interventions aiming to influence human behaviour. Its objectives are threefold:
• To understand the cognitive and affective mechanisms underlying decision-making processes;
• To identify and describe the key determinants – barriers and facilitators – that must interact for behavioural action to occur; and
• To develop, test and apply evidence-based strategies that support and sustain behaviour change.
Behaviour change techniques constitute a central determinant of the success or failure of digital and online health interventions (eHealth), as these techniques directly influence user engagement, motivation and adherence over time.
Potential research areas include:
• The development of eHealth interventions aimed at the de-implementation of low-value clinical practices;
• The examination of personal motivation and decision-making processes in the initiation and maintenance of behavioural change;
• The design of persuasive systems for online interventions that promote disease prevention and health promotion; and
• The application of theoretical frameworks such as the Behaviour Change Wheel, Persuasive System Design and the Fogg Behaviour Model to the field of health promotion.
Further information:
In this research line, we have been working funded both by public and private partners.
We are interested in facilitating the participation of PhD students in "Industrial Doctoral Programs of the Government of Catalonia (MOU with a company) as the request for additional funds.
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Dr Manuel Armayones Ruiz
Dr Beni Gómez-Zúñiga
Dr Modesta Pousada Fernández |
Behavioural Design Lab |
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Loneliness: behavioral insights into experience, cognitive processes, and the mediating social resources.
Unwanted loneliness is an interdisciplinary topic in which a psychological perspective is especially important, regardless of which group we are referring to (the elderly, people with disabilities, or parents of children with chronic illnesses among others). This research line focuses on:
Further information
In this research line, we have been working funded both by public and private partners.
We are interested in facilitating the participation of PhD students in "Industrial Doctoral Programs of the Government of Catalonia (MOU with a company) as the request for additional funds.
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bgomezz@uoc.edu
mpousada@uoc.edu
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Behavioural Design Lab |
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Virtual Communities of Practice for caregivers: a psychological approach
Caring for a person with a long-term condition impacts caregivers' health and deteriorates their quality of life. Virtual communities of practice for caregivers can provide them with knowledge, social support and coping strategies.
Are virtual communities of practice a goog structure for health?
How is an online intervention based on virtual communities designed?
How are interactions in these communities promoted?
How is a powerful environment for caregivers stimulated?
Virtual communities of practice can be built intentionally to promote knowledge to help with quality care.
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bgomezz@uoc.edu
mpousada@uoc.edu
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Behavioural Design Lab |
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(Digital) Health Literacy (dHL) How does (d)HL help people make better decisions about health? How do social networks further the reach of health messages and ultimately improve health? What skills are needed by people (professionals and the public) to navigate digital healthcare services? Health literacy is an issue on the global agenda and one of the three pillars of health promotion. Health literacy means more than simply being able to 'read pamphlets', 'make appointments', 'understand food labels' or 'comply with prescribed actions' from a doctor. It is not just a personal skill. Rather, it depends on individual skills, community resources, and the complexity and demands of the health system. Health literacy aims to:
Research topics:
Within this research line, we are now working with public and private funds, and together with mental health institutions and the Spanish Network for Health Literacy. We are interested in admitting PhD students to apply for "Industrial Doctoral Programs of the Government of Catalonia" (implying a memorandum of understanding with a company), as well as the application for additional funds. |
mboixados@uoc.edu
ehernandez@uoc.edu
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Behavioural Design Lab |
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Human sexuality
Our main goal is to investigate different areas of human sexuality, in order to improve the discipline of sexology. This line is geared towards sexual health; hence, we are interested in understanding the components that impact sexual health from different perspectives. We are especially interested in psychological assessment, new psychological therapies for sexual dysfunctions, the promotion of sexual health among young people, the implication of sexism in sexuality and the prevention of sexual violence.
Broadly speaking, we have three main research lines: sexual function, sexual health promotion and sexual victimization. Above all, we are interested in the interactions between these three areas.
Research topics:
● Sexual function: We would like to explore new ways of assessment (AI included), test new treatment effectiveness and gain deeper insight into the conditioning factors of sexual (dys-)functions.
● Sexual health promotion: This line focuses on adolescents and young adults. We not only search for strategies to increase condom use and reduce unplanned pregnancies, but we also extend our research to all aspects of comprehensive sexual health (homophobia, transphobia, sexism, pleasure, etc.).
● Sexual victimization: In this last topic, we focus mainly on sexual violence by men against women. Thus, knowing the reality of women, understanding the contexts of violence and being able to design interventions aimed at reducing sexual violence are some of this line's sub-objectives.
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Dr Adrián Montesano del Campo |
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Interpersonal Relationships and Psychotherapy Our research seeks to contribute to enhancement of the quality of psychological interventions in both individual and in 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; patterns of interpersonal interaction. We aim at developing applied research projects focused on the improvement of the socio-sanitary response to participants with different health problems, as well as the promotion of psychological and relational welfare in the community. Research topics:
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Dr Adrián Montesano del Campo
Joan C Medina |
CIRCLE Lab |
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Artificial Intelligence for Psychotherapist Training and Clinical Expertise Development
Our research focuses on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and conversational agents to enhance psychotherapy training and clinical expertise development. Within this line, we explore how natural language models, embodied conversational agents and immersive simulations can be applied to foster reflective learning, empathy and therapeutic skills among psychotherapists in training.
This research area bridges clinical psychology, psychotherapy education and human-AI interaction, aiming to evaluate the effectiveness, ethical considerations and pedagogical potential of AI-assisted training environments. We are particularly interested in understanding how AI-generated dialogues, adaptive feedback systems and virtual role-play scenarios can support the acquisition of relational and technical skills essential for therapeutic practice.
Research topics:
● AI-driven conversational simulations for psychotherapy training.
● Development and validation of virtual patients and AI supervisors for reflective learning.
● Evaluation of user experience, perceived realism and skill transfer in AI-based simulations.
● Ethical, pedagogical and relational implications of AI in psychotherapy education.
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Dr Adrián Montesano del Campo montesano@uoc.edu |
CIRCLE Lab |
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Virtual reality for psychological interventions
Our research seeks to enhance the quality of psychologically informed virtual, augmented and mixed reality interventions in psychotherapy and clinical psychology.
Virtual, augmented and mixed reality is an emerging field within psychotherapy and human-computer interaction that seeks to understand how immersive and interactive technologies can be used in evidence-based well-being interventions. Our research focus is twofold:
1. Basic experimental research: We aim to develop conceptual frameworks and experimental designs to understand how virtual reality can be used effectively to influence the identity and well-being of individuals, families and communities.
2. Application: We focus on the development and validation of virtual reality experiences to promote psychological and relational well-being in a variety of clinical and non-clinical settings.
Research topics:
● Virtual reality in psychotherapy for the treatment of psychological problems.
● Virtual reality to promote relational well-being in couples and families.
● Virtual reality for the training of psychotherapists.
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Dr Adrián Montesano del Campo
Dr Sofía Seinfeld
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CIRCLE Lab |
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Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality Applied to the Psychology Practicum
This doctoral research line focuses on exploring the application of artificial intelligence (AI), intelligent conversational agents and virtual reality (VR) to enhance the psychology practicum, which is the supervised field training component of bachelor's and master's degrees in Psychology.
It aims to design immersive and interactive environments that support the training, supervision and evaluation of professional, ethical and clinical skills in realistic yet controlled scenarios, potentially offering a safe and flexible complement to traditional practicum experiences.
Possible research topics:
- Simulation of clinical interviews and ethical dilemmas in immersive virtual environments.
- Use of AI-driven conversational agents for skill development.
- Automated assessment of ethical, interpersonal and decision-making skills.
- Design of reflective and supervisory virtual environments for practicum learning.
- Understanding the differences between real-world and simulated practice and how they complement each other.
Further information:
This research line is part of a UOC institutional educational project.
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Dr Sofía Seinfeld
sseinfeld@uoc.edu
cselvao@uoc.edu
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Psychopathology, Adaptation Processes and Resilience Our research starts from the study of psychopathology and clinical psychology to better understand certain clinical disorders, their risk and protection factors and the processes of adaptation to adversity. Thus, some of the topics addressed are the evaluation and diagnosis of psychopathological conditions, the assessment of psychotherapy outcomes and processes, routine monitoring, the psychopathology of trauma, victimization and resilience processes, and response to psychosocial stressors (grief and loss, crisis intervention, care responsabilities, etc.)
Research topics:
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Dr Alba Pérez González |