The “HEALTH Lab | Competence Center for Medical and Health Psychology” is an interdisciplinary competence centre of the Faculty of Psychology that specialises in researching and improving the quality of life of different populations. One focus is set on people with health restrictions, in particular rare and chronic diseases. Another focus is placed on the quality of life of healthy populations, such as LQBTIQ* rainbow families.

The HEALTH Lab’s research include qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods studies as well as intervention-based approaches. This variety of methods is used to gain comprehensive and in-depth insights into the quality of life of the targeted groups and to develop effective intervention strategies.

The HEALTH Lab is interdisciplinary and brings together experts from various fields such as psychology, psychotherapy science, medicine and computer science in order to jointly develop innovative solutions and sustainably improve the quality of life of people in various life situations.

Fields of activity at a glance

  • Realisation of studies on quality of life
  • Development and evaluation of intervention-based approaches
  • Interdisciplinary collaboration in the field of medical and health psychology
  • Research focus on rare and chronic diseases as well as special populations such as rainbow families

Medical psychology: Rare and chronic diseases are often accompanied not only by physical but also by a wide range of psychosocial effects. Medical and clinical research is working hard to make the lives of people with rare and chronic diseases easier in the future. But what about now? What can make it easier to deal with such a disease now? The main aim of the research area is to investigate stressful factors as well as helpful aspects of dealing with the disease. Depending on the illness under investigation, the relationship between the state of health, quality of life, burdens and resources of those affected and their relatives is analysed. At the same time, several quality of life measurement instruments that are already established in English are being translated into German and validated.

Health psychology: Health psychology is concerned with the psychological and social factors that influence health and illness. A central area of research is the promotion and maintenance of health and the prevention of illness. Various populations are studied, including healthy people and specific groups such as rainbow families. The main aim of the research area is to identify the determinants of health and well-being and to develop effective strategies for health promotion. Factors such as stress management, health behaviour, social support and life satisfaction are investigated. Research will be conducted into how these factors influence quality of life and general well-being and what measures can be taken to promote positive health behaviours and minimise negative influences. In addition, interventional approaches are developed and evaluated to strengthen health literacy and promote mental well-being. These measures are developed and integrated on an interdisciplinary basis to ensure comprehensive and sustainable health strategies.

Research Team

Lead

MMag. DDr. Gudrun Salamon
gudrun.salamon@sfu.ac.at

“I love doing research that makes an impact and to contribute to the understanding on how to improve quality of life of people in various life situations.”

 

Research Team

Sophie Strobl, MSc.
sophie.strobl@sfu.ac.at

“To learn about the life stories of people with EB and their relatives, to scientifically process their expertise in order to support and strengthen their quality of life in the long term – is a special honor and a matter close to my heart.”

 

Students

Our students come from the fields of psychology, medicine and psychotherapy. They accompany the HEALTH Lab for one year at a time, during which they familiarise themselves intensively with the topic, conduct research together with us and write their theses. The results obtained in this way are incorporated into further research and, if the work is of an appropriate quality, lead to joint publications.

Research projects by students:

In cooperation with Institut Rehab Zentrum Stadlau

  • Anna Pia Kienbacher: Ressourcenorientierte Analyse der Schmerzbewältigung bei PatientInnen mit Wirbelsäulenschmerzen in physikalischen Instituten

In cooperation with AIT Austrian Institute of Technology und salumentis

  • Vania Chen King: SUpporting REsilience of Caregivers (SURE)

Individual projects

  • Wiktoria Glück: Lebensqualität bei Regenbogenfamilien. Eine psycholinguistische Untersuchung
  • Eva Laimböck: Lebensrealitäten von Regenbogenfamilien im deutschsprachigen Raum: Eine qualitative Interviewstudie zu Belastungen und Ressourcen bei ‚Sozialer Elternschaft’
  • Stephanie Pfeffer: Health Identity, Gesundheits- und Krankheitsverständnis im Kontext von Epidermolysis bullosa

Research Projects

Research project | Epidermolysis Bullosa

Ongoing: 

  • Visions of quality of life with a rare disease. A transdisciplinary approach to identify, measure and improve quality of life with epidermolysis bullosa (2024-2027)
  • BUR-EB: Changes in the Socio-economic Burden of Epidermolysis Bullosa in Europe (2023-2025)

Finished:

  • Burdens and helpful aspects for achieving and maintaining quality of life with epidermolysis bullosa (2021-2023)
  • Epidermolysis bullosa in Ireland: Burdens and helpful aspects for achieving and maintaining quality of life (2022)
  • Epidermolysis bullosa: Patient relevant outcomes and helpful factors for the quality of life (2019-2021)

Publications

Salamon, G., Strobl, S., Field-Werners, U., Hübl, V., & Diem, A. (2024). Facing the complex challenges of people with epidermolysis bullosa in Austria: A mixed methods study on burdens and helpful practices. Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, 19(211), 1-14. doi: 10.1186/s13023-024-03163-4 (IF: 3.7)

Salamon, G., Strobl, S., Field-Werners, U., Welponer, T., Murrell, D. F., & Diem, A. (2024). Translation, cultural adaptation and validation of the German Quality of Life in Epidermolysis Bullosa (QOLEB) questionnaire. Journal of Health Psychology, –(-), 1-15. doi: 10.1177/13591053231221369 (IF: 3.2)

Salamon, G., Strobl, S., Field-Werners, U., Diem, A., Schwieger-Briel, A., & Pope, E. (2024). Psychometric Properties of the Instrument for Scoring Clinical Outcomes of Research for Epidermolysis Bullosa patient score (iscorEB-p): a patient-reported outcome measure. British Journal of Dermatology, –(-), 1-7. doi: 10.1093/bjd/ljae019 (IF: 10.3)

Salamon, G., & Hübl, V. (2020, January). Facilitating factors for the quality of life of people living with epidermolysis bullosa and their families, identified by health care professionals and experts. In ACTA DERMATO-VENEREOLOGICA (Vol. 100, pp. 49-49).

Salamon, G., Ruberl, A., & Maar, L. (2020, January). Psychosocial aspects of epidermolysis bullosa and quality of life. A systematic review. In ACTA DERMATO-VENEREOLOGICA (Vol. 100, pp. 73-73).

Current Vacancies

As part of establishing the new research unit “HEALTH Lab | Competence Centre for Medical and Health Psychology” under the lead of DDr. Gudrun Salamon, the Faculty of Psychology at Sigmund Freud Private University Vienna is looking for highly motivated employees (m/f/d). 

If you are interested in a cooperation, contact gudrun.salamon@sfu.ac.at