معرفی
Sarah Pressman is a Professor of Psychological Science and Associate Dean of Student Success in the Division of Undergraduate Education at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). She holds dual affiliations within the School of Social Ecology and the Department of Psychological Science. Her research focuses on the interplay between stress, positive emotions, and health, with a particular emphasis on physiological pathways such as endocrine and cardiovascular processes.
Pressman earned her BSc (honors) in Biopsychology from Mount Allison University, followed by MS and PhD degrees in Social, Personality & Health Psychology from Carnegie Mellon University. She completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh.
Her work explores how positive behaviors (e.g., vacations, sleep) and emotions (e.g., smiling) mitigate stress and enhance health outcomes. Key themes include stress buffering, immune system modulation, and the role of non-traditional markers of well-being (e.g., facial expressions, word encoding). Her research has been published in high-impact journals such as Nature Human Behavior and Health Psychology Review.
Pressman leads the STress, Emotion, & Physical health (STEP) Laboratory, which prioritizes UCI students for volunteer opportunities. She is actively involved in mentoring graduate students and has contributed to initiatives like UCI’s Happiness Week. Her research has received recognition, including the Springer Award for Excellence in Publication in Behavioral Medicine.
Her articles collectively emphasize translational research, bridging psychological mechanisms with biological outcomes. Grants and collaborations focus on stress resilience, cultural disparities in health, and the application of positive psychology in diverse populations.
