About
Rita Espanha is an Associate Professor (with Habilitation) in the Department of Sociology at Iscte-University Institute of Lisbon, where she also serves as Director of the Department and ERASMUS Coordinator. She is an Integrated Researcher at CIES-Iscte - Center for Research and Studies in Sociology, working within the 'Communication and Culture' research group. Her academic qualifications include a PhD in Sociology from ISCTE, a Master’s in Regional and Urban Planning from the University of Lisbon, a Bachelor’s in Sociology from ISCTE, and an Aggregation in Communication Sciences from the University of Lisbon’s Higher Institute of Social and Political Sciences.
- Aggregation in Communication Sciences, University of Lisbon (2019)
- PhD in Sociology, ISCTE-University Institute of Lisbon (2009)
- Master’s in Regional and Urban Planning, University of Lisbon (2002)
- Bachelor’s in Sociology, ISCTE-University Institute of Lisbon (1992)
Rita Espanha's research centers on health communication, with a focus on health literacy, digital health, risk communication during pandemics, and the role of media in public health. She has led significant research projects, including the FCT-funded 'Risk Communication in Health: Design and Digital Communication of Official Public Health Sources for Citizen Guidance in Pandemic Situations' (https://heric2d.cies.iscte-iul.pt/). Her work bridges sociology and communication sciences, emphasizing digital technologies' impact on health knowledge and citizen autonomy.
Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on digital health adoption, public perceptions of health technologies, and the role of media in shaping health literacy. Themes such as the digital divide, self-efficacy in technology use among older adults, and the effectiveness of government communication during crises (e.g., motion graphics by DGS) are recurrent. Her work appears in journals such as Observatorio (OBS*), Comunicação e Sociedade, and Portuguese Journal of Public Health, as well as in book chapters and conference proceedings.
She is Associate Editor of the Observatory journal (OBS*), and serves on the Scientific Committee of Edicciones-InCom-UAB and the Editorial Committee of the Journal of Communication and Health. These roles underscore her leadership in the academic discourse on media and health.
Rita Espanha has contributed to several research grants and projects, most notably as coordinator of the HERIC2D project. She has supervised and collaborated with researchers such as C. Camilo, M.L. Lima, R.B. Rodrigues, and H. Martins. She is also active in academic dissemination, frequently presenting at national and international conferences on health communication and digital media.
She is a key member of the 'Communication and Culture' research group at CIES-Iscte, contributing to interdisciplinary research on media, technology, and society. Her work often involves collaboration across institutions and disciplines, reflecting the integrative nature of health communication research.
