Sara Aleksandra Filipiak

Dr. Sara Aleksandra Filipiak is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology, Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (UMCS), Poland. Her academic career spans over 15 years, with a focus on life-span developmental psychology, executive functions, and locus of control. She holds a PhD in Social Sciences (Psychology) from UMCS (2015), supervised by Dr. hab. Katarzyna Markiewicz, and has participated in international collaborations, including projects with J. Turner-Cobb, C. Panourgia, and A. Hawrot.

• PhD in Psychology (UMCS, 2015)
• Advanced English (Cambridge FCE, CAE) and Intermediate French (DELF)

Research Interests: Dr. Filipiak investigates developmental psychology across the lifespan, emphasizing executive functions (planning, working memory, cognitive flexibility), personality traits (Big Five), and locus of control. Her recent work explores pandemic impacts on mental health, procrastination behaviors, and cross-cultural differences in adolescents. She serves as Review Editor at Frontiers in Psychology (Developmental Psychology) and collaborates with institutions in Spain, Portugal, Ukraine, and Cyprus.

Scientific Output Trends: Her 15 most recent articles (2025-2022) highlight interdisciplinary research bridging developmental psychology, clinical assessment, and pandemic-related mental health. Key subfields include neuroticism in adolescents, cultural influences on procrastination, PTSD symptoms during pandemics, and cognitive predictors of school success.

• Awards: Third-degree team award from UMCS Rector (2014).
• Projects: Coordinated international initiatives like 'Psychometric properties of Perceived Stress Scale for Kids' (2022–2025) and 'Care models for older adults' (2018–2019).

Organizational Roles: Dr. Filipiak has held roles in Erasmus+ coordination (2018–2019), international conference organization (e.g., 2020 Jubilee Conference), and committee memberships at UMCS since 2011. She actively participates in conferences across Poland, Ukraine, Austria, and Cyprus, often with co-author Dr. Beata Łubianka.