Maria Santaguida

Research Interests

  • Alcohol-Related Sexual Behaviours
  • Sexual Aggression & Violence
  • Sexual Decision-Making
  • Erotic Technology
  • Space Sexology
  • Sexual Psychophysiology

My research investigates the acute effects of alcohol on individuals’ subjective and psychophysiological responses to visual sexual stimuli, using eye-tracking, genital thermography, and self-report measures. My research also focuses on the role of sex-related alcohol expectancies in risky sexual decision-making.

Over the past 7 years, I have been involved in various initiatives that enhance the quality of the undergraduate and graduate student experience in the Psychology Department at Concordia University. I have done consulting work in the private sector and for various academic-related programs and committees, such as Mentorship Among Psychology Students and the Graduate Instructors and Teaching Assistants Committee at Concordia University.

Personal website: https://mariasantaguida.com/

Prospective Specialization/Honours students: I am no longer accepting applications for specialization/honours projects for 2022-2024.

Prospective volunteers: I am not currently looking for volunteers for 2022-2023.

Education

Ph.D. Candidate (Psychology – Research Option, Concordia University)
B.A. (Honours Psychology – Great Distinction, Concordia University)

Academic awards and distinctions

  • 2021-2022 Graduate Scholarship in Psychology, Concordia University
  • 2018-2021 Doctoral Scholarship Fonds Québécois de la Recherche sur la Société et la Culture (FQRSC)
  • 2018-2019 Concordia University’s Faculty of Arts & Science Travel Awards
  • 2019 Concordia University’s Council on Student Life Outstanding Contribution Award
  • 2017-2019 Concordia University Conference Exposition Awards
  • 2016 Graduate Fellowship, Concordia University’s Faculty of Arts and Science
  • 2015 Graduate Scholarship, Fonds Québécois de la Recherche sur la Société et la Culture (FQRSC)
  • 2014 Joseph-Armand Bombardier Scholarship, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
  • 2014 Special Entrance Award, Concordia University
  • 2009-2013 Dean’s List, Concordia University’s Faculty of Arts and Science

Teaching and Leadership

Lecturer

  • Research Methods & Design I (PSYC310 – Undergraduate; 3 sessions), Department of Psychology, Concordia University

Teaching Assistant

  • Statistical Analysis I (PSYC315 – Super TA; 2 sessions), Department of Psychology, Concordia University
  • Statistical Analysis I (PSYC315 – Undergraduate Laboratory Instructor; 8 sessions), Department of Psychology, Concordia University
  • Research Methods & Design I (PSYC 310 – Undergraduate Conference Instructor; 1 session), Department of Psychology, Concordia University

Thesis supervision and student mentorship

Graduate Student Supervisor

  • Constandina Perlinghis, MA (undergraduate – Concordia University)
  • William Edmiston, BSc Candidate (undergraduate – Concordia University)
  • Zoe Yarymowich, BA (undergraduate – Concordia University)
  • Alexandra Connor, BA (undergraduate – Concordia University)
  • Jessica Salvemini, BA (undergraduate – Concordia University)

Publications & Presentations (2022 – 2023)
Peer-reviewed publications

Dubé, S., Santaguida, M., Anctil, D., Giaccari, L., & Lapierre, J. (2023). The case for Space Sexology. Journal of Sex Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2021.2012639

Dubé, S., Williams, M., Santaguida, M., Hu, R., Gadoury, T., Yim, B., Vachon, D., & Johnson, A.P. (2022). Hot for robots! Sexual arousal increases willingness to engage erotically with robots. Journal of Sex Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2022.2142190

Dubé, S., Santaguida, M., Zhu, C.Y., Di Tomasso, S., Hu, R. Cormier, G., Johnson, A.P. & Vachon, D. (2022). Sex robots and personality: It is more about sex than robots. Computers in Human Behaviour. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2022.107403

Dubé, S., Santaguida, M., Anctil, D., Zhu, C.Y., Thomasse, L., Giaccari, L., Oassey, R., Vachon, D., & Johnson, A.P. (2022). Perceived stigma and erotic technology: From sex toys to erobots. Journal of Psychology and Sexuality. https://doi.org/10.1080/19419899.2022.2067783

Dubé, S., Santaguida, M., & Anctil, D. (2022). Erobots as research tools: Overcoming the ethical and methodological challenges of sexology. Journal of Future Robot Life. https://doi.org/10.3233/FRL-210017

Chapters

Santaguida, M., Dubé, S., Yarymowich, Z., Williams, M., Vachon, D., & Johnson, A. (2022). Alcohol expectancy theory and high-risk sexual behavior among college students. In A.D. Lykins (Ed.). Encyclopedia of Sexuality and Gender. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59531-3_110-1

Santaguida, M., Dubé, S. Williams, M., Eidus, C. Vachon, D. & Johnson, A.P. (2022). Alcohol myopia and high-risk sexual behaviour among college students. In A.D. Lykins (Ed.) Encyclopedia of Sexuality and Gender. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59531-3_108-1

Kennedy-Turner, K., Santaguida, M., & Szczerbickyj, K. (2022) Gender schema theory: Culture and society as proximate causes for gender identity. In A.D. Lykins (Ed.) Encyclopedia of Sexuality and Gender. New York: Springer Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59531-3_109-1

Kaspryzk, A., Santaguida, M., & Kennedy-Turner, K. (2022). Cannabis and sexual behaviour: Focus on men who have sex with men. In A.D. Lykins (Ed.) Encyclopedia of Sexuality and Gender. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59531-3_106-1

Oral Presentations

Santaguida, M. (2022, September). 21st century sexology: Exploring applications of sexual technology on Earth and in space [Oral presentation]. Reimagine Sexuality – A SexTech Conference (Virtual).

Dubé, S., Williams, M., Santaguida, M., Hu, R., Gadoury, T., Yim, B., Vachon, D., & Johnson, A. (2022, November). Hot for robots! Sexual arousal increases willingness to engage erotically with robots. [Oral presentation]. International Congress on Love & Sex with Robots, Montreal, Canada (Virtual).

Hu, R., Gadoury, T., Williams, M., Yim, B., Dubé, S., & Santaguida, M. (2022, November). Queering sex robots: Comparing LGBTQ2A+ and heterosexual individuals’ willingness to engage erotically with machines [Oral Presentation]. International Congress on Love & Sex with Robots, Montreal, Canada (Virtual).

Gadoury, T., Williams, M., Yim, B., Hu, R., Dubé, S., & Santaguida, M. (2022, November). Would you have sex with a robots: Just asking the question influences the answer [Oral presentation]. International Congress on Love & Sex with Robots, Montreal, Canada (Virtual).

Yim, B., Hu, R., Gadoury, T., Williams, M. Santaguida, M. & Dubé, S. (2022, November). Oh my bot! Religiosity is unrelated to willingness to engage with sex robots [Oral presentation]. International Congress on Love & Sex with Robots, Montreal, Canada (Virtual).

Williams, M., Yim, B., Hu, R., Gadoury, T., Santaguida, M. & Dubé, S. (2022, November). My dear robot: The more human you are, the more I would love you [Oral presentation]. International Congress on Love & Sex with Robots, Montreal, Canada (Virtual).

Poster Presentations

Santaguida, M., Dubé, S., Chen, E., Dadouche, J., Vachon, D., & Johnson, A. (2023, accepted). Associations between sexual behaviours, mental health, substance use, and sexting among adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis [Poster Presentation]. International Academy of Sex Research, Montreal, Quebec.

Williams, M., Dubé, S., Santaguida, M., Johnson, A.P., & Vachon, D. (2023). Asking the question influences the answer: The case of sex robots. [Poster presentation]. International Academy of Sex Research Conference, Montreal, Canada.

Santaguida, M., Edmiston, W., Dubé, S., Yarymowich, Z., Kasprzyk, A., Williams, M., Vachon, D., & Johnson, A. (2022). Alcohol use, sex-related expectancies, and sexting among university students. [Poster Presentation]. International Academy of Sex Research Conference, Reykjavik, Iceland.

Dubé, S., Santaguida, M., Zhu, C.Y., Hu, R., Di Tommaso, S., Cormier, G., Gadoury, T., Yim, B., Vachon, D., & Johnson, A. (2022). Sex robots and personality: It’s more about sex than robots [Poster presentation]. International Academy of Sex Research, Reykjavik, Iceland.


Media

Revue Spiritualité Santé (December 1, 2022)
Soins virtuels et société | télésanté preventive, accompagnement chez soi!

The Conversation (October 28, 2022)
#Metoo dans l’espace : les risques de violences sexuelles loin de la Terre sont bien réels

The Conversation (October 12, 2022).
#MeToo in space: We must address the potential for sexual harassment and assault away from Earth

The Daily Beast (September 23, 2022)
Sex in Space Will Look Like Nothing We’ve Ever Seen Before.

Gama Revista (September 18, 2022)
Sexo: uma odisseia no espaço.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (May 26, 2022)
Shopping, Doing Chores, and Having Sex in Space

CBC Sickboy Podcast (May 2022)
Sex in Space: The Case for Space Sexology.

Mic Magazine (March, 2022).
Inside the push to study sex in space

Participate in our research!

Click here for our study resource page that includes a comprehensive list of mental health, substance use, and sexuality/sexual trauma resources.

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