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Social sciences
- Personality psychology
- Psychopathology
- Social and emotional development
- Behavioural and emotional problems
- Disabilities and developmental disorders
- Family support
- Orthopedagogical assessment and diagnostics
- Orthopedagogical interventions
- Parenting problems
- Special needs education
- Family studies
- Parenting support
My research focuses on supporting parenting and development in families where raising children is less straightforward, in complex living situations (cf. Parenting PLUS). This includes families where the child has a disability (such as autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, ADHD, or behavioral problems), or where parents are dealing with challenging life circumstances, such as cancer, medically invasive life events, addiction, or severe psychological issues. The goal is to better understand which factors (in the child, parent, and context) contribute to the wide variation in socio-emotional development and which 'resources' lead to positive growth, development, and well-being in these families. With a resilience-based and developmental pedagogical approach, I aim to identify both universal and group-specific processes that contribute to optimal parenting support and family guidance, thereby improving the well-being and quality of life of all family members.