Irwin G. Sarason (1929-2025)

Irwin G. Sarason (1929-2025), professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Washington, was a leading scholar whose pioneering work shaped contemporary understanding of anxiety, stress, and social support. Over a career spanning more than six decades, he produced influential empirical research, developed widely used psychological assessment instruments-including the Test Anxiety Scale, the Life Experiences Survey, and the Social Support Questionnaire-and coauthored enduring textbooks that educated generations of students worldwide. Sarason played a central role in the growth and leadership of the University of Washington's psychology department, including service as department chair. His scholarship bridged clinical, social, and cognitive psychology and helped establish test anxiety and social support as core constructs in psychological science. A fellow of major scientific organizations and recipient of multiple honors, Sarason also contributed internationally as a lecturer and visiting scholar. Colleagues and students remember him as an exacting thinker, dedicated mentor, and gifted communicator whose wide-ranging humanistic interests complemented his scientific achievements. His legacy endures through his research, his students, and his extensive contributions to psychological education. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).