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Portrait Kathrin Karsay

Dr. Kathrin Karsay

Communication Scientist

I am an Assistant Professor at the Department of Communication at the University of Vienna (Austria). I dedicate my professional life to exploring, researching, and sharing knowledge on how to successfully navigate the mediated world we live in.

LATEST PUBLICATIONS

Noon, E., Maes, C., Karsay, K., & Yang, C. (2024). From stigma to strength? The interrelations between sexual identity stigma, well-being, and accepting communities on Instagram amongst sexual minority youth. Journal of Adolescence.
 https://doi.org/10.1002/jad.12465

Nassen, L-M., Schreurs, L., Karsay, K., & Vandenbosch, L. (2024). Exploring adolescents’ social media connection and disconnection: A latent class approach. Media & Communication. 
https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.8597

Beelen, E. & Karsay, K. (2024). “The future is bright! Is it?” Investigating effects of hopeful mental health content and endorsement cues on social media. Social Media + Society, 10(3). 
https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051241277603

CV

CURRICULUM VITAE

I began my academic journey at the University of Vienna, where I earned my Ph.D. in 2018. During my studies, I had the opportunity to visit KU Leuven in Belgium, Freie Universität Berlin in Germany, and the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Following my doctoral studies, I worked as a pre- and post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Communication before taking maternity leave in 2019.

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Afterward, I moved to Belgium as a postdoctoral fellow, supported by the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO). I later joined KU Leuven as an Assistant Professor in Media and Health Communication within their Media Psychology Lab. Since September 2023, I have returned to the University of Vienna's Department of Communication as a tenure-track Assistant Professor.

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My research explores the impact of entertaining digital and mass media on both societal and individual levels. With a dedication to academic excellence, I aim to advance knowledge in the field, inform the public, and serve as both a role model and mentor for emerging scholars.

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Currently, I focus on three main research areas:

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  1. Challenges and effects of mobile connectivity and digital disconnection in everyday life
     

  2. Risks and benefits of mental health discussions on social media
     

  3. The impact of health influencers on adolescents 

Academic Positions

09/2023

Assistant Professor
Entertainment Research

2021–2023

Assistant Professor
Media and Health Communication

2020–2021

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

2019–2020

Research Fellow

2018–2029

Postdoctoral Researcher

2013–2018

Predoctoral Researcher

UNIVERSITY OF VIENNA

Department of Communication

KU LEUVEN

Leuven School for Mass Communication Research

Belgium

KU LEUVEN

Leuven School for Mass Communication Research

Research Foundation Flanders (FWO)

Belgium

UNIVERSITY OF VIENNA

Department of Communication

UNIVERSITY OF VIENNA

Department of Communication

UNIVERSITY OF VIENNA

Department of Communication

Education

RESEARCH

Publications by Topics

2013–2018

Doctoral Degree, Dr. phil.

UNIVERSITY OF VIENNA

Department of Communication, University of Vienna, Austria
Supervisor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Jörg Matthes

2009–2012

UNIVERSITY OF VIENNA

Department of Communication, University of Vienna, Austria
Supervisor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Jörg Matthes

Co-Supervisor: Dr. Florian Arendt

Master's Degree, Mag.phil.

2006–2009

Bachelor's Degree

UNIVERSITY OF SALZBURG

Department of Communication Studies, University of Salzburg, Austria

RESEARCH

Reseach

I have been fortunate to work alongside thoughtful and compassionate colleagues, mentors, and supervisors throughout my career. Since September 2021, I've had the privilege of leading my own research team.

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Together with my supervised PhD candidates Elien Beelen and Lise-Marie Nassen, we explore how mobile and social media influence our daily lives, health, and well-being. Elien's research examines how mental health is represented on social media and its potential impact on attitudes, perceptions, and stigma. Lise-Marie's dissertation investigates disconnection practices in our constantly connected society, focusing on their relationship with psychological well-being and digital stress.

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Within the FWF research project "Health Influencers in Social Media" (PI: Raffael Heiss), I am supervising Sascha Gell and Elena Engel in their doctoral research on health (mis)information and nutrition marketing. 

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Additionally, I supervise Alina Danilkow and collaborate with Prof. Dr. Ruth Wendt and Dr. Anne-Linda Camerini on the international project "AWARE: Mental Health Portrayals on Social Media."  

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An overview of my complete publication list can be found on Google Scholar: click here

TEACHING

TEACHING
  • Introduction to Data Analysis with R (2024)

  • Master seminar (2024)

  • Communication sociology lecture (2024)

  • Communication research proseminar (2024)

  • Communication research methods (2015, 2016, 2017) 

  • Communication research seminar (2014, 2015)

  • Tutoring & teaching assistance (2010-2011)

University of Vienna

  • Psychology of social media lecture (2021/22, 2022/23) 

  • Evidence-based health communication seminar (2021/22, 2022/23)

  • Quantitative seminar  (2021/22, 2022/23)

  • Uitdagingen in de communicatiewetenschappen [Challenges in communictaion science] (2023)

KU Leuven

GRANTS AND AWARDS

GRANTS AND AWARDS

Grants (selection)

2024-2027
Project
: “AWARE: Mental Health Portrayals on Social Media & Implications on Adolescents' Awareness and Well-being." FWF Austrian Science Funds; Principal investigator

In Collaboration with A.-L. Camerini and R. Wendt)

2023-2025
Project
: “Digital well-being in an ‘always-on’ society: Investigating the interrelationships between digital disconnection and psychological well-being.”
KU Leuven; Principal investigator

2021-2023
Project
: “Toward conceptual clarification and empirical evidence on the relationship between digital disconnection and psychological well-being”.
KU Leuven; Principal investigator

2022-2025
Project
: “Health Influencers on Social Media: Who they are, what they post, and how they affect adolescents’ health” (PI: R. Heiss)
FWF Austrian Science Fund, Co-Principal investigator

2020-2023
Project
“Social media use and adolescents’ well-being”. Funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), PI: Jörg Matthes, Co-author

2019-2021
Postdoctoral fellowship
for the project: “Digitizing Joy: The Role of Smartphone Use in Capitalizing Positive Life Events and Adolescents’ Psychological Wellbeing”

FWO                     

2019-2020

Project: “Perfect picture, imperfect life? The relationship between personalized Instagram use and subjective life satisfaction – A linkage analysis.” (with B. Naderer and C. Peter)
Society of Communication (ÖGK), Principal investigator

2019-2019
Project
: “Perception and effects of disclaimer labels on fashion images on body image.”
Vienna Municipal Department of Women’s Affairs (MA 57) and Women’s Health (MA 24) (with B. Naderer and C. Peter), Principal investigator

2015
Research award:
Department of Communication, University of Vienna, (with D. Schmuck); Co-Principal investigator

Awards

2025
ICA Top Student Paper Award, Mass Communication Division, as a co-author of supervised Phd candidate E. Beelen. This award is granted to the best student-led paper presented at the yearly conference within the MassCom Division.

2024

Best Paper Award, 3rd Place, co-authored with supervised Phd candidates E. Engel, S. Gell as well as R. Heiss; Austrian Public Health Conference, Innsbruck, Austria.

2023
Reviewer Award awarded at the European Conference on Health Communication by the European Journal of Health Communication

2021
Top Student Paper Award, International Communication Association (ICA) Children, Adolescents, and Media Division, leading author: Sarah Devos

                                   

2019
ICA Kyoon Hur Dissertation Award, International Communication Association (ICA), Mass Communication Division.

2018
Award of Excellence, Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research

2018
Sowi-Doc.Award, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Vienna

2017
Top 3 Student Paper Award, Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication’s (AEJMC) Communication Theory and Methodology Division

2009
Best Bachelor Thesis Award, Department of Communication Studies, University of Salzburg, Austria.

Image of a research award booklet
Outreach

MEDIA / THIRD MISSION

Contact

CONTACT

Dr. Kathrin Karsay

University of Vienna

Department of Communication

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Kolingasse 14-16

1090 Vienna

Austria

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https://publizistik.univie.ac.at

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Reach out via email

My Google scholar

ORCID ID​

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