Professor Fabio Sani
Professor in Psychology
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Biography
I graduated in Pedagogy at the University of Florence, Italy, and subsequently I was awarded an MSc in Social Psychology from the London School of Economics (LSE) and a PhD in Psychology from the University of Exeter. After spending one year as a research fellow at the University of Surrey, in 1996 I joined the University of Dundee, where I am currently a professor of social and health psychology. I have held visiting positions at the Australian National University, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Bari, and the University of Queensland. I have been an associate editor of the European Journal of Social Psychology.
Research
I am interested in the influence of interpersonal relationships and group life on both physical and mental health. Over the past decade I have investigated the positive influence of subjective identification with social groups (e.g., family; friends; workplace) on various mental health dimensions, e.g. depression, anxiety, borderline personality, and substance misuse. In recent times I have also devoted attention to the factors (e.g., child maltreatment) that may impair one's ability to identify with social groups, and I have studied identity-related existential feelings such as a sense of emptiness.
Methodologically, I use both quantitative methods (e.g., survey/epidemiological studies) and qualitative methods such as thematic and phenomenological analyses.
Due to the interdisciplinarity of my work, my research is typically published in journals within a variety of fields, particularly social, developmental, clinical and health psychology, as well as psychological medicine and psychiatric epidemiology.
Representative Research Grants and Fellowships
- A. Malaguti & F. Sani. Designing a Behaviour Change Intervention to Reduce the Risk of Overdose. Scottish Government: Drug Deaths Taskforce Research Programme. (Start and end dates: 01/08/2020 – 31/01/2022). £88,328.
- F. Sani, M. Norbury & V. Madhok. Health in groups: A longitudinal and cross-national study. ESRC; Ref.: ES/I038349/1. (Start and end dates: 01/11/2011 – 31/08/2015). £504,000.
- F. Sani. Perceiving collective continuity: Social psychological implications. ESRC Fellowship; Ref. RES-000-27-0185. (Start and end dates: 01/09/2005 – 31/08/2008). £ 166,530.
Teaching
- Social Psychology
- Health Psychology
- Psychology of Mental Health
- Research Methods
Media availability
I am available for media commentary on my research.
Contact Corporate Communications for media enquiries.
Areas of expertise
- Mental health
- Psychology
Stories
Press release
Researchers from the University of Dundee and University College London have found a strong link between feelings of ‘emptiness’ and suicidal behaviour, providing the first definition of this common but poorly understood experience of mental distress.
Press release
University of Dundee Psychology PhD student Amy Malaguti and Psychology Professor Fabio Sani have secured funding from the Scottish Government for a research project