Alexandra Zaharia
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Assistant
University of Fribourg & University of Geneva & Swiss Distance Learning University — Institute of Special Education (UNIFR), Swiss Center for Affective Sciences (UNIGE)
Psychology, Special Education
Supervisor/PI: Andrea Christiane Samson
General Information
I obtained my Master's degree in Affective and Clinical Psychology at University of Geneva in 2014. My MA thesis, "Emotion recognition and perspective-taking was co-supervised by Prof. Tobias Brosch and Prof. Martin Debbané. During my Bachelor and Master studies, I was an inter in the Research Unit of Adolescence Clinical Psychology at University of Geneva (currently the Developmental and Clinical Psychology Research Unit), where I worked on various topics such as alexithymia, body modification and self-harm behavior, mentalization, delinquency, and agressive behavior in adolescence and young adults.
From 2014 to 2016, I worked as a research assistant at the Developmental Imaging and Psychopathology Lab (Research Unit of Office Médico-Pédagogique), Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, under the supervision of Prof. Stephan Eliez and Dr. Maude Schneider. My research project focused on an eye-tracking study exploring configural and featural face procecssing in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.
In 2016, I started working in the Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation Group led by Prof. Andrea Samson, affiliated to Swiss Center for Affective Sciences.
In 2018, I obtained a research and teaching assistant position at Swiss Distance Learning University for two MA courses in Psychology: Psychology of Socio-Emotional Processes and Positive Psychology. I am also enrolled as a PhD student at Special Education Department of University of Fribourg. My PhD project is co-directed by Prof. Samson and Prof. David Sander.
Currently, my main research topic focuses on positive emotion regulation interventions. I therefore coordinate a psycho-educational program implemented in schools and with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which aims to improve socio-emotional competences. I am further interested to develop and upgrade the current training into an interactive tool adapted for adolescents.
In addition, I investigate the sensitivity to cuteness in children with ASD using eye-tracking technology.
Research field
emotion regulation, emotional competences, board games, neurodevelopmental disorders, eye-tracking
Thesis
Board games focused on emotional competences: promoting positive emotions and emotion regulation skills in adolescents
Supervisor/PI:Prof. Andrea Samson (University of Fribourg) and Prof. David Sander (University of Geneva)
List of publications
2026
Scientific articles
- Mella, N., Rey, G., Zaharia, A., Smith, M. M., Samson, A. C., Gentaz, E., Piguet, C. M., & Sander, D. (2026). Common and differential effects of improvisation theater, mindfulness training and board games at school on adolescents’ social and emotional competencies [Article scientifique]. Social and Emotional Learning, Research, Practice, and Policy, 8, 100213. Social and emotional learning, research, practice, and policy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sel.2026.100213
2024
Scientific articles
- Zaharia, A., Kojovic, N., Rojanawisut, T., Sander, D., Schaer, M., & Samson, A. C. (2024). Examining the Link Between Social Affect and Visual Exploration of Cute Stimuli in Autistic Children [Scientific Article]. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. Journal of autism and developmental disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06504-1
2023
Scientific articles
- Dănciulescu, T., & Zaharia, A. (2023). Piano with a twist: A pilot study exploring the preliminary effects of a piano therapy program for children with autism spectrum disorder [Scientific Article]. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 82, 101987. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2022.101987
2022
Book chapters
- Zaharia, A., Dell’Angela, L., Sander, D., & Samson, A. C. (2022). Play and games: means to support emotional development [Book Chapter]. In Dukes, D., Samson, A.C. & Walle, E. (Ed.), Handbook of Emotional Development (pp. 354–370). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198855903.013.9
2021
Scientific articles
- Zaharia, A., Noir-Kahlo, K., Bressoud, N., Sander, D., Dukes, D., & Samson, A. C. (2021). Proof of concept: a brief psycho-educational training program to increase the use of positive emotion regulation strategies in individuals with autism spectrum disorder [Scientific Article]. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 705937. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.705937
2020
Scientific articles
- Dell’Angela, L., Zaharia, A., Lobel, A., Vico Begara, O., Sander, D., & Samson, A. C. (2020). Board games on emotional competences for school-age children [Scientific Article]. Games for Health Journal, 9(3), 187–196. https://doi.org/10.1089/g4h.2019.0050
2018
Scientific articles
- Zaharia, A., Schneider, M., Glaser, B., Franchini, M., Menghetti, S., Schaer, M., Debbané, M., & Eliez, S. (2018). Face processing in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: atypical development and visual scanning alterations [Scientific Article]. Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 10(26). https://doi.org/10.1186/s11689-018-9245-x
2017
Scientific articles
- Bostelmann, M., Glaser, B., Zaharia, A., Eliez, S., & Schneider, M. (2017). Does differential visual exploration contribute to visual memory impairments in 22q11.2 microdeletion syndrome? [Scientific Article]. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 61(12), 1174–1184. https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.12440
- Morosan, L., Badoud, D. M., Zaharia, A., Brosch, T., Eliez, S., Bateman, A., Heller, P., & Debbané, M. (2017). Emotion Recognition and Perspective Taking: A Comparison between Typical and Incarcerated Male Adolescents [Scientific Article]. PloS One, 12(1), e0170646. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0170646
2014
Masters
- Zaharia, A. (2014). Emotion recognition and perspective-taking in a sample of detained adolescents [Master].