Social Development of Young People

Professor René Veenstra’s research revolves around the social development of young people, focusing on both positive and negative outcomes. He not only investigates the formation of friendships but also problematic behaviour such as bullying. Bullying is seen as a group process in which social norms play a significant role. Veenstra’s research analyses social networks to understand how bullying behaviour spreads and how the group and the teacher influence this.

The purpose of this research is not only to understand bullying but also to develop effective interventions. Veenstra and colleague Gijs Huitsing have demonstrated with KiVa, a programme for primary schools, that involving the group in solving bullying problems can be effective.

In addition to bullying, the research focuses on risky behaviour among young people aged 12 to 18, such as smoking, drinking, and delinquent behaviour. Peers play an important role here, with social status, peer pressure, and the need to belong being significant factors that influence young people’s choices.

Within this line of research, Jaap Nieuwenhuis focuses specifically on the causes of inequality in educational results. Marinus Spreen mainly investigates the risk indicators of aggressive behaviour. Wouter Kiekens focuses on the risk behaviour of LGBT young people in particular.

Veenstra also looks at young adults as part of the GUTS project, funded by NWO Gravitation (https://www.gutsproject.com). This project investigates how self-regulation influences the way young adults navigate their increasingly complex social environment. It examines how they meet their social needs and successfully transition to adulthood. Within GUTS, he tries to link neural profiles to various social network processes, such as selection for similarity and influence of peers.

Leden van het cluster
Prof. dr. René Veenstra
dr. Gijs Huitsing
dr. Jaap Nieuwenhuis
dr. Wouter Kiekens 
dr. Marinus Spreen

Postdocs
Thijmen Jeroense

PhD
Miriam Dietz
Zhe Dong
Melissa Gonzaléz-Loyola
Alexandra Pior
Pau Vila Solar
Fenna van der Wijk