Health, Media, and Sexuality
What we do
We focus on research in the areas of sexuality, psychology, and media, and more broadly in the field of health psychology. Our projects deal with research on adolescent, adult, and senior sexuality, changes in sexual behaviour due to digital media, new behavioural addictions such as excessive PC gaming, pornography, and mobile phone use. We also focus on the health of vulnerable groups such as sexual, gender and relationship minorities. In general, we explore the risks and opportunities that modern times and digital media offer. We apply both quantitative and qualitative approaches, working with cross-sectional and longitudinal data, conducting basic and practice-oriented research, and developing measurement tools in psychology.
Psychology of sexuality
Health and risk behaviour in adolescents
Partnership in older age
LGBTQIA+ psychology and health
Team
HEADS
| doc. Mgr. Anna Ševčíková, Ph.D. | sexuality, partnership, older age |
| doc. Mgr. Lukas Blinka, PhD. | digital media, addictions, adolescent health |
MEMBERS
| Gabriela Gore-Gorszewska, PhD | sexuality, partnership, older age |
| Mgr. Andrea Stašek | LGBTQIA+, digital media, sexuality |
| Mgr. Stanislav Svačinka, PhD. | partnership, sexuality, older age |
| Mgr. Veronika Gocieková | sexuality, partnership, older age |
| Mgr. Dita Siřínková | digital media, addictions |
| Bc. Pavla Nováková, MSc. | sexuality |
| Mgr. Karel Rečka | digital media |
| Mgr. Vít Suchý | sexuality, adolescent health |
| Msc. Linda Oweisova | adolescent health |
| Mgr. Natálie Macošková | digital media, addictions |
| Bc. Dominik Hrabec | sexualita, older age, LGBTQIA+ |
| Bc. Tereza Doležalová | LGBTQIA+ |
| Bc. Zuzana Semlerová | LGBTQIA+ |
| Bc. Ondřej Musil | LGBTQIA+, digital media |
International Collaborations
| Digital Minds Cyber Psychology Research Group | Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia |
| Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) | World Health Organization (WHO) |
| Community Health Research Network (CoHeReNt) | Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Faculty of Medicine, Slovakia |
| School of Media and Communication |
Northern Kentucky University, USA |
Local Collaborations
| CzechSex (National Research of Sexual Behavior) | National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany |
| Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) | Palacký University Olomouc |
| Department of Addictology 1. LF UK a VFN |
Charles University, General University Hospital in Prague |
| Q-Hub, z. s. | NGO, Brno |
| Jiný pohled, z. s. | NGO in Prague |
| SPONDEA | social service, Brno |
Publications
2025
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User-Avatar discrepancy scale : a comparative measurement of self and avatar views
Behaviour & Information Technology, year: 2025, volume: 44, edition: 9, DOI
Projects
Sexuality & Relationships
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On our own: Opportunities and Risks in the Individualization of Society (CZ.02.01.01/00/23_025/0008710)
MU Researcher: doc. Mgr. Anna Ševčíková, Ph.D. MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 5/2025 — 12/2028Investor: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR / OP JAK -
Research of Excellence on Digital Technologies and Wellbeing (CZ.02.01.01/00/22_008/0004583)
MU Researcher: prof. PhDr. David Šmahel, Ph.D. MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 1/2024 — 6/2028Investor: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR / OP JAK -
Aktuální otázky psychologie zdraví 4 (MUNI/A/1736/2024)
MU Researcher: doc. Mgr. Lukas Blinka, PhD. MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 1/2025 — 12/2025Investor: Masaryk University / Specific research - support for student projects -
Aktuální otázky psychologie zdraví 3 (MUNI/A/1571/2023)
MU Researcher: doc. Mgr. Lukas Blinka, PhD. MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 1/2024 — 12/2024Investor: Masaryk University / Specific research - support for student projects -
Aktuální otázky psychologie zdraví – adolescenti a digitální média a sexualita napříč životem 2 (MUNI/A/1460/2022)
MU Researcher: doc. Mgr. Lukas Blinka, PhD. MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 1/2023 — 12/2023Investor: Masaryk University / Specific research - support for student projects -
Aktuální otázky psychologie zdraví – adolescenti a digitální média a sexualita napříč životem (MUNI/A/1525/2021)
MU Researcher: doc. Mgr. Lukas Blinka, PhD. MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 1/2022 — 12/2022Investor: Masaryk University / Specific research - support for student projects -
Partnership changes in older age (GA20-25752S)
MU Researcher: doc. Mgr. Anna Ševčíková, Ph.D. MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 1/2020 — 12/2022Investor: Czech Science Foundation / Standard Projects -
Aktuální otázky psychologie zdraví – sexualita a online behaviorální závislosti (MUNI/A/1564/2020)
MU Researcher: doc. Mgr. Anna Ševčíková, Ph.D. MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 1/2021 — 12/2021Investor: Masaryk University / Specific research - support for student projects -
Sexualita a internet ve druhé půli života (GA17-11384S)
MU Researcher: doc. Mgr. Anna Ševčíková, Ph.D. MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 1/2017 — 12/2019Investor: Czech Science Foundation / Standard Projects -
Nové behaviorální závislosti: hry a sexualita online (GA15-19221S)
MU Researcher: doc. Mgr. Lukas Blinka, PhD. MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 1/2015 — 12/2017Investor: Czech Science Foundation / Standard Projects
Digital Health
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Research of Excellence on Digital Technologies and Wellbeing (CZ.02.01.01/00/22_008/0004583)
MU Researcher: prof. PhDr. David Šmahel, Ph.D. MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 1/2024 — 6/2028Investor: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR / OP JAK -
Aktuální otázky psychologie zdraví 4 (MUNI/A/1736/2024)
MU Researcher: doc. Mgr. Lukas Blinka, PhD. MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 1/2025 — 12/2025Investor: Masaryk University / Specific research - support for student projects -
Aktuální otázky psychologie zdraví 3 (MUNI/A/1571/2023)
MU Researcher: doc. Mgr. Lukas Blinka, PhD. MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 1/2024 — 12/2024Investor: Masaryk University / Specific research - support for student projects -
HoDeKoProM - Perception of hoaxes, disinformation, conspiracy and propaganda among young people (2022-3-SK02-KA210-YOU-000097190)
MU Researcher: Mgr. Zuzana Scott, Ph.D. MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 3/2023 — 12/2024Investor: European Union / Erasmus+ Key Action 2: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices -
Aktuální otázky psychologie zdraví – adolescenti a digitální média a sexualita napříč životem 2 (MUNI/A/1460/2022)
MU Researcher: doc. Mgr. Lukas Blinka, PhD. MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 1/2023 — 12/2023Investor: Masaryk University / Specific research - support for student projects -
Gaming disorder from longitudinal and psychodynamic perspectives (GA21-30769S)
MU Researcher: doc. Mgr. Lukas Blinka, PhD. MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 1/2021 — 12/2023Investor: Czech Science Foundation / Standard Projects -
Aktuální otázky psychologie zdraví – adolescenti a digitální média a sexualita napříč životem (MUNI/A/1525/2021)
MU Researcher: doc. Mgr. Lukas Blinka, PhD. MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 1/2022 — 12/2022Investor: Masaryk University / Specific research - support for student projects -
Aktuální otázky psychologie zdraví – sexualita a online behaviorální závislosti (MUNI/A/1564/2020)
MU Researcher: doc. Mgr. Anna Ševčíková, Ph.D. MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 1/2021 — 12/2021Investor: Masaryk University / Specific research - support for student projects -
Psychosociální souvislosti u vybraných rizik používání technologií: touha po hubenosti a nadměrné hraní počítačových her (MUNI/A/1297/2019)
MU Researcher: prof. PhDr. David Šmahel, Ph.D. MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 1/2020 — 12/2020Investor: Masaryk University / Grant Agency of Masaryk University -
Sexualita a internet ve druhé půli života (GA17-11384S)
MU Researcher: doc. Mgr. Anna Ševčíková, Ph.D. MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 1/2017 — 12/2019Investor: Czech Science Foundation / Standard Projects
LGBTQ+ Health
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Aktuální otázky psychologie zdraví 4 (MUNI/A/1736/2024)
MU Researcher: doc. Mgr. Lukas Blinka, PhD. MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 1/2025 — 12/2025Investor: Masaryk University / Specific research - support for student projects -
Aktuální otázky psychologie zdraví 3 (MUNI/A/1571/2023)
MU Researcher: doc. Mgr. Lukas Blinka, PhD. MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 1/2024 — 12/2024Investor: Masaryk University / Specific research - support for student projects -
Trust in people and authorities, well-being, and psychology of citizenship (MUNI/A/1596/2023)
MU Researcher: doc. Mgr. et Mgr. Jan Šerek, Ph.D. MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 1/2024 — 12/2024Investor: Masaryk University / Specific research - support for student projects -
Good Practice from Norway: Well-being of Immigrants with a Minority Background (EHP-BFNU-OVNKM-4-263-01-2023)
MU Researcher: Mgr. Andrea Stašek MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 3/2024 — 10/2024Investor: Ministry of Finance of the CR / EEA/Norway grants 2014 - 2021 -
Aktuální otázky psychologie zdraví – adolescenti a digitální média a sexualita napříč životem 2 (MUNI/A/1460/2022)
MU Researcher: doc. Mgr. Lukas Blinka, PhD. MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 1/2023 — 12/2023Investor: Masaryk University / Specific research - support for student projects -
Gaming disorder from longitudinal and psychodynamic perspectives (GA21-30769S)
MU Researcher: doc. Mgr. Lukas Blinka, PhD. MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 1/2021 — 12/2023Investor: Czech Science Foundation / Standard Projects -
Aktuální otázky psychologie zdraví – adolescenti a digitální média a sexualita napříč životem (MUNI/A/1525/2021)
MU Researcher: doc. Mgr. Lukas Blinka, PhD. MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 1/2022 — 12/2022Investor: Masaryk University / Specific research - support for student projects -
Aktuální otázky psychologie zdraví – sexualita a online behaviorální závislosti (MUNI/A/1564/2020)
MU Researcher: doc. Mgr. Anna Ševčíková, Ph.D. MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Social Studies Project Period: 1/2021 — 12/2021Investor: Masaryk University / Specific research - support for student projects