My research focuses on meaning-making in stressful situations, particularly climate change and coping with cancer.

Climate Psychology

I study how climate change affects mental health. What eco-emotions do people experience? How are these emotions associated with cognitions, meaning-making and climate (un)friendly behaviors? How does climate change affect the client population in mental health care? And what treatments are available for individuals with climate-related mental health problems?

Psychosocial Oncology

In the Rhythms of Relating project, we investigate how interpersonal emotion regulation plays a role in emotional sharing, especially when partners in a romantic relationship talk about personal problems. We examine how different types of emotional sharing are related to personality characteristics, dyadic coping and relationship quality. In addition, we study interpersonal emotion regulation in the context of dyadic coping with cancer, from both the patient and caregiver perspectives.

In the ADJUST-study, we investigated the prevalence of adjustment disorder in cancer patients and the reach, efficacy and budget impact of a tailored psychological treatment, according to the guidelines. Previously, I played a role in the development of Oncokompas for cancer patients in palliative care and testing its efficacy and cost-utility. Oncokompas is an eHealth application that facilitates self-management. Alongside Oncokompas, we developed LearnPAL, a mobile learning tool on palliative cancer care.

My dissertation revolved around meaning-centered group psychotherapy for cancer survivors. I examined the long-term effects of this psychological intervention, and whether an enhanced sense of meaning in life mediates a reduction in depressive symptoms. Furthermore, I studied the intertwinement between meaning-making, positive mental health and psychological posttraumatic growth in cancer survivors.

Education

Coordinator Master track Clinical Psychology

Course coordinator Psyche & Soma

Coordinator Bachelor’s Thesis Clinical Psychology

Supervisor Master’s Thesis Clinical Psychology

• Stichting Klimaatpsychologie | Deventer | Lid werkgroep Onderwijs & Onderzoek | 2023-01-01 - present

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