Professor Fabio Sani
Professor in Psychology
![Portrait photo of Fabio Sani](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/520x520_cropped/public/2020-08/fabio-sani.jpg?itok=TxmoJ0e7&h=aeea0c14)
Contact
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
![Stress image](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2021-06/Stress%20image.jpg?itok=y6SRP22-)
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.
![Portrait photo of Amy Malaguti](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2020-08/amy_malaguti_0.jpg?itok=LSuTnuB6&h=aff2a75d)
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