Rita Francisco

Rita Francisco is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Human Sciences, Catholic University of Portugal, and coordinates Master's programs in Psychology of Well-being and Health Promotion and Child and Youth Promotion and Protection System. She is a certified specialist in Clinical and Health Psychology by the Portuguese Order of Psychologists and serves as a consultant to the Directorate-General for Health in health literacy and well-being. Her research focuses on eating disorders, health literacy, well-being, and child/adolescent maladjustment in social and family contexts.

• Education: PhD in Psychology (University of Lisbon), Bachelor's in Psychology (University of Lisbon)

Her work includes longitudinal studies on pandemic impacts, health communication, family dynamics, and school-based interventions. She has led projects like #EntreViagenseAprendizagens and COVID-19 e pessoas idosas, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. Her recent publications span depression in youth, social participation during crises, and health literacy strategies.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Concessão de louvor pela Diretora-Geral da Saúde (2023)
  • Prémio Investigação Científica em Ciências Militares (2022, 2021, 2018)

Francisco is a full member of the CRC-W (Católica Research Center for Psychological, Family and Social Wellbeing) and has supervised academic internships, Master's, and Doctoral programs in Clinical, Health, and Family Psychology. She integrates her research into public policy and media outreach, contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) like education and health.