Sofia von Humboldt is PhD in Psychology from ISPA-Instituto Universitário. She is a researcher and invited Professor and undergoing a post-doctoral at William James Center for Research, ISPA-Instituto Universitário, She has a long-standing experience with older adults. Her research interests include sexual well-being, cultural differences, gender, violence, bullying in old age,adjustment to aging and mental health. Deeply committed to working with older adults, she has published 92 scientific papers, and is editor, author and co-author of a number of chapters and books focused on aging and old age.
ISPA - Instituto Universitário
Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal
Doctorate Fellowship
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)
von Humboldt, S., Adjustment to aging and subjective well-being in an older cross-national community-dwelling sample [Grant number SFRH/BD/44544/2008]. Lisbon, October, 2009.
Best Presentation Awards
21st European Congress of Psychiatry (EPA)
von Humboldt, S., & Leal, I. Self-esteem and person-centered therapy: A pilot study with older adults. Presentation of outstanding selected poster and e-poster at the 21st European Congress of Psychiatry, Nice. April, 2013.
Investigador de Mérito [Investigator of Merit]
10º Congresso Nacional de Psicologia da Saúde
von Humboldt, S., & Leal, I. O ajustamento ao envelhecimento e a idade subjective na idade avançada [Adjustment to aging and subjective age in late adulthood]. Presentation at the 10º Congresso Nacional de Psicologia da Saúde, Porto. April, 2014.
Post-Doctorate Fellowship
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)
von Humboldt, S., Sexual well-being in old age: A cross-cultural mixed-methods study and an intervention with community-dwelling older adults. [Grant number SFRH/BPD/116114/2016]. Lisbon, September, 2017.
Jovem Investigador de Mérito [Young Investigator of Merit]
13º Congresso Nacional de Psicologia da Saúde
Santos, I., von Humboldt, S. & Leal, I. (2020). O efeito da imagem corporal na satisfação conjugal dos idosos [The effect of physical image in the marital satisfaction of older adults]. Presentation at 13th National Congress of Health Psychology, Covilhã. January, 2020.
Investigador de Mérito [Investigator of Merit]
13º Congresso Nacional de Psicologia da Saúde
von Humboldt, S. Ribeiro-Gonçalves, J. A., Costa, A., & Leal, I. (2020). Como os idosos se expressam sexualmente? Um estudo qualitativo [How older adults express themselves sexually? A qualitative study]. Presentation at a Symposium in the 13th National Congress of Health Psychology, Covilhã. January, 2020.
Jovem Investigador de Mérito [Young Investigator of Merit]
14º Congresso Nacional de Psicologia da Saúde
Francisco, I., von Humboldt, S. & Leal, I. (2022). Bem-estar psicológico e sentido de vida de população idosa: um estudo comparativo [Psychological well-being and sense of lifé among the older population: A comparative study]. Presentation at a Symposium in the 14th National Congress of Health Psychology, Funchal. September, 2022.
Investigador de Mérito [Investigator of Merit]
14º Congresso Nacional de Psicologia da Saúde
von Humboldt, S. Ribeiro-Gonçalves, J. A., Low, G., & Leal, I. (2022). As dificuldades sexuais em contexto psicoterapêutico: Estudo qualitativo com idosos [Sexual difficulties in a psychotherapeutic context: Qualitative study with older adults]. Presentation at a Symposium in the 14th National Congress of Health Psychology, Funchal. September, 2022.
William B. Gudykunst Award 2023
International Academy for Intercultural Research
von Humboldt, S., Leal, I. & Low, G. (2021). Sexuality, love and sexual well-being in old Age. In: C. H. Mayer, E. Vanderheiden (Eds.) International Handbook of Love. (pp. 351-368). Springer, Cham. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-45996-3_19
Investigador de Mérito [Investigator of Merit]
15º Congresso Nacional de Psicologia da Saúde
von Humboldt, S., Costa, A., Ilyas, N., & Leal, I. (2024). Perspetivas sobre saúde mental: Idadismo e participação cívica na adultícia avançada [Perspectives on mental health: Aging and civic participation in old adulthood]. Presentation at a Symposium in the 15th National Congress of Health Psychology, Almada. February, 2024.
Jovem Investigador de Mérito [Young Investigator of Merit]
15º Congresso Nacional de Psicologia da Saúde
Baião, P., von Humboldt, S., & Leal, I. (2024). Influência do diagnóstico de demência na perceção da expressão sexual [Influence of the diagnosis of dementia on the perception of sexual expression]. Presentation at a Symposium in the 15th National Congress of Health Psychology, Almada. February, 2024.
1st Award in the Dr. Nóbrega Fernandes scientific poster competition
6ª Jornadas Hospitaleiras de Saúde Mental
Jesus, J., von Humboldt, S., Soares, L., & Leal, I. Negligência em idosos: Uma abordagem sociodemográfica e de saúde no contexto português [Neglect of the older adults: A sociodemographic and health approach in the portuguese context]. Presentation at the 6ª Jornadas Hospitaleiras de Saúde Mental, Barcelos. May, 2025.