Sarah Stanton

Sarah Stanton is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, affiliated with the School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences. She leads the Health and Relationship Processes (HARP) Lab, focusing on social psychological mechanisms linking close relationships to health and well-being.

• Current PhD students supervised: Zoe Chen-Zhao, Jiaxuan Du, Ian Hajnosz, Taranah Gazder, Annalyse Ellis, Andrew Ithurburn
• Past PhD students: Dr Siyu Chen, Dr Karen Twiselton, Dr Mayu Koike

Her research explores positive relationship experiences, partner responsiveness, self-expansion theory, and mindfulness interventions in dyadic contexts. She employs multi-method approaches to study human-pet bonds, sexual minority relationships, and longitudinal health outcomes.

Key research trends include attachment theory, dyadic affective processing, and methodological validation in relationship science. Her lab addresses social disconnection and reproducibility challenges through cross-disciplinary collaborations.

• Scientific Awards
  • Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) New Investigator Grant
  • University of Edinburgh Local Network Lead for the UK Reproducibility Network

Through the HARP Lab, she investigates chronic stress biomarkers, mindfulness impacts, and ideal partner preference dynamics, with publications spanning Psychological Science, Society & Animals, and Behavioral Sciences.