Social Psychology Network

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Aleksandra Luszczynska

Aleksandra Luszczynska

My research interests focus on the social-cognitive predictors of health behavior change, the development of theory-based interventions, and improving quality of life among people with chronic illness (e.g., the role of social support and benefit finding).

This work has been recognized with several awards, including the Early Career Award, International Society For Behavioral Medicine (2004); Early Career Award, Stress and Anxiety Research Society (2004); Award of Polish Academy of Science for the Best Young Psychologist (A. Malewski Award)(2005); and Citation Award from the Program Committee of the International Society For Behavioral Medicine (9th ICBM; 2006)

I am a Fellow of the European Health Psychology Society and am currently serving as President of the Health Psychology Division, International Association of Applied Psychology. In addition, I am Editor-in-Chief of Anxiety, Stress and Coping, Associate Editor of Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, and have served on the editorial board of the British Journal of Health Psychology, Health Psychology Review, Psychology and Health, Applied Psychology: International Review, European Journal of Psychotraumatology, and Polish Psychological Bulletin.

Primary Interests:

  • Applied Social Psychology
  • Emotion, Mood, Affect
  • Health Psychology
  • Self and Identity
  • Social Cognition

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Journal Articles:

  • Abdollahi, A., Pyszczynski, T., Maxfield, M., & Luszczynska, A. (2011). Posttraumatic stress reactions as a disruption in anxiety-buffer functioning: Dissociation and responses to mortality salience as predictors of severity of post-traumatic symptoms. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 3, 329-341. doi: 0.1037/a0021084
  • Burkert, S., Knoll, N., Luszczynska, A., & Gralla, O. (2012). The interplay of dyadic and individual planning of pelvic-floor exercise in prostate-cancer patients following radical prostatectomy. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 35, 305-317. doi: 10.1007/s10865-012-9416-2.
  • Cieslak, R., Benight, C. C., Luszczynska, A., & Laudenslager, M. (2011). Longitudinal relationships between self-efficacy, posttraumatic distress, and salivary cortisol among motor vehicle accident survivors. Stress & Health, 27, e261-e268. doi: 10.1002/smi.1379
  • Cislak, A., Safron, M., Pratt, M., Gaspar, T., & Luszczynska, A. (2012). Family-related predictors of body weight and weight-related behaviors among children and adolescents: A systematic umbrella review. Child: Care, Health & Development, 38, 321-333. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01285.x
  • Kesebir, P., Luszczynska, A., Pyszczynski, T., & Benight, C. (2011). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder involves disrupted anxiety-buffer mechanisms. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 30, 819-841. 10.1521/jscp.2011.30.8.819
  • Knoll, N., Burkert, S., Luszczynska, A., Roigas, J., & Gralla, O. (2011). Predictors of support provision: A study with couples adapting to incontinence following radical prostatectomy. British Journal of Health Psychology, 16, 472-487. doi: 10.1348/135910710X522860
  • Luszczynska, A., & Abraham C. (2012). Reciprocal relationships between three aspects of physical self-concept, vigorous physical activity, and lung function: A longitudinal study among late adolescents. Psychology of Sport & Exercise, 13, 640-648. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2012.04.003
  • Luszczynska, A., Benight, C. C., & Cieslak, R. (2009). Self-efficacy and health-related outcomes of collective trauma: A systematic review. European Psychologist, 14, 49-60.
  • Luszczynska, A., & Cieslak, R. (2009). Mediated effects of social support for healthy nutrition: Fruit and vegetable intake across 8 months after myocardial infarction. Behavioral Medicine, 35, 30-38.
  • Luszczynska, A., Durawa, A., Scholz, U., & Knoll, N. (2012). Empowerment beliefs and intention to uptake cervical cancer screening: Three psychosocial mediating mechanisms. Women & Health, 52, 162-181. doi: 10.1080/03630242.2012.656187
  • Luszczynska, A., Goc, G., Scholz, U., Kowalska, M., & Knoll, N. (2011). Enhancing intentions to attend cervical cancer screening with a stage-matched intervention. British Journal of Health Psychology, 16, 33-46. doi:10.1348/135910710X499416
  • Luszczynska, A., Schwarzer, R., Lippke, S., & Mazurkiewicz, M. (2011). Self-efficacy as a moderator of the planning-behaviour relationship in interventions designer to promote physical activity. Psychology & Health, 26, 151-166. doi: 10.1080/08870446.2011.531571
  • Luszczynska, A., Sobczyk, A., & Abraham, C. (2007). Planning to reduce weight: Implementation intentions intervention helps to reduce body weight among overweight or obese women by prompting action planning. Health Psychology, 26, 507-512.
  • Safron, M., Cislak, A., Gaspar, T., & Luszczynska, A. (2011). Effects of school-based interventions targeting obesity-related behaviors and body weight change: A systematic umbrella review. Behavioral Medicine, 37, 15-25. doi: 10.1080/08964289.2010.543194
  • Safron, M., Cislak, A., Gaspar, T., & Luszczynska, A. (2011). Micro-environmental characteristics related to body weight, diet, and physical activity of children and adolescents: A systematic umbrella review. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 21, 317-330. doi:10.1080/09603123.2011.552713
  • Schwarzer, R., Lippke, S., & Luszczynska, A. (2011). Mechanisms of health behavior change in persons with chronic illness or disability: The Health Action Process Approach (HAPA). Rehabilitation Psychology, 56, 161-170. doi: 10.1037/a0024509
  • Schwarzer, R., Luszczynska, A., Ziegelmann, J. P., Scholz, U., & Lippke, S. (2008). Social cognitive predictors of physical adherence: Three longitudinal studies in rehabilitation. Health Psychology, 27(1, Suppl), S54-S63.

Aleksandra Luszczynska
Trauma, Health, and Hazards Center
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80933-7150
United States of America

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