Research output per year
Research output per year
Personal profile
Person Introduction
Dr Sara Ascenso is a clinical psychologist with a BMus in piano performance and an MSc and PhD focused on Occupational Health Psychology in the performing arts sector. After working both as a psychologist in clinical settings and within educational projects, and as a collaborative pianist and piano teacher, Sara brings her two areas of work together through developing research and new HE curriculum on musicians’ wellbeing.
Research Interests
- Positive Psychology
- Performance Psychology
- Arts & Health
Current Research
Sara’s research focuses on occupational health and wellbeing. She has also been involved in arts & health research, especially the investigation of the psychological impact of community music engagement for vulnerable populations. Current projects focus on musicians’ work orientation, work meaning, positive education in conservatoire settings and basic needs satisfaction at work in the creative industries.
External positions
Honorary Lecturer, University College London
Mar 2025 → …
Visiting Lecturer, University of Lisbon
Sept 2014 → …
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics where Sara Ascenso is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
- 1 Similar Profiles
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Orchestral Musicians' Community Engagement as a Means for Flourishing: A Phenomenological Study
Ascenso, S., 2026, In: Journal of Community Psychology. 54, e70148Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Resounding Meaning: A cross-sectional profile of meaning in life, meaningful work and psychological distress among musicians
Ascenso, S., 2025, World Congress in Positive Psychology, IPPA Australia.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review
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What If?: Understanding perceptions of Positive Psychology’s actual and possible societal impact among MAPP alumni in Portugal
Ascenso, S. & Marujo, H. Á., 2025, 9th IPPA World Congress on Positive Psychology.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review
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A Cross-sectional Profile of Classical Musicians’ Mental Health and Illness
Ascenso, S., 2024, 11th European Conference on Positive Psychology, Innbruck.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review
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Creating conditions for musicians to thrive: Cultivating mental health
Ascenso, S., 2024, National Conference of the Association of British Orchestras.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review
Activities
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Global Development: Health and Wellbeing, The University of Oxford
Ascenso, S. (Speaker / presenter)
Feb 2026Activity: Talk, presentation, and live performance › Invited talk
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Scientific Committee, Portuguese Society of Positive Psychology (External organisation)
Ascenso, S. (Member)
2026 → …Activity: Membership › Membership of committee
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Organizing Committee, Student Mental Health Conference, NHS-Universities Partnership Student Mental Health Service (External organisation)
Ascenso, S. (Member)
2026Activity: Membership › Membership of committee
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2025: SwissMedMusica, Keynote, Musicians’ Mental Health: Myths and Good News, Biel, Switzerland
Ascenso, S. (Speaker / presenter)
Nov 2025Activity: Talk, presentation, and live performance › Invited talk
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Prevention and Management of Performance Anxiety, The University of Oxford
Ascenso, S. (Speaker / presenter)
2025Activity: Talk, presentation, and live performance › Invited talk
Prizes
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International Symposium on Performance Science Graduate Paper Award
Ascenso, S. (Recipient), 2017
Prize: Best Paper Prize
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Royal Society for Public Health – Arts & Health Award 2016 (research team)
Ascenso, S. (Recipient), 2016
Prize
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Press/Media
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The Strad, Analysis: Support Network
6/05/22
1 item of Media coverage, 1 Media contribution
Press/Media
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The Strad, 5 insights on mental health from The Strad archives
3/05/22
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media
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Music Teacher magazine, PERMAnent wellbeing in times of uncertainty
8/02/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media
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Financial Times, Why performance pressures put a strain on musicians’ mental health
11/01/19
1 Media contribution
Press/Media
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