Miguel Arriaga

Miguel Arriaga is a Researcher at the Católica Research Centre for Psychological, Family and Social Wellbeing (CRC-W), Universidade Católica Portuguesa. He holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Beira Interior, awarded in 2018, and has been actively engaged in research related to public health, health literacy, and social wellbeing. His work spans multiple interdisciplinary projects, including national and international collaborations focused on crisis response, digital health, and population health assessment.

• PhD in Psychology, University of Beira Interior (2018)

His primary research interests include health literacy, public health, psychology, social sensing, healthy aging, quality of life, and crisis communication. Miguel’s work often integrates behavioral insights with data intelligence to understand public responses during health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. He has contributed significantly to the development and validation of health literacy instruments, including the HLS19-DIGI tool used across 13 countries.

Recent publications reflect a strong focus on the behavioral aspects of pandemic compliance, digital health interventions for older adults, and the role of trust and fairness in public health messaging. His research employs diverse methodologies, from large-scale surveys to quasi-experimental studies and social sensing technologies.

• Prémio nacional de Saúde Publica Francisco George (2018)

Miguel Arriaga has been involved in significant research grants and collaborative projects, including HLS-19, ResiliScence 4 COVID-19, and studies on vaccination intentions and social prescribing. He frequently presents at academic and policy forums, contributing expert insights on health literacy and crisis management. He is also engaged in supervising research and mentoring early-career researchers within the CRC-W framework.

His affiliations with the WHO Action Network M-POHL and participation in multi-country studies underscore his role in shaping evidence-based public health strategies. He collaborates closely with national health authorities and research teams across disciplines to advance social and psychological wellbeing.