Research window Vitality, Well-being and Health

How do you regain control over your body, mind and well-being? An example of a question that Professor Jooske van Busschbach and her team are looking into.

Exercise and a positive body experience are very important to our well-being. Within psychomotor therapy (PMT) an important and wide range of movement-based and body-oriented interventions has been developed over the last few decades. They are widely used when well-being and quality of life are at risk due to psychosocial or psychiatric problems. Research within the professorship focuses on the efficacy, effect and potential use of these different movement-based and body-oriented interventions.

Want to know more? Contact Professor Jooske van Busschbach via +31 88 469 7968 (phone) or email(opens in new tab).

From ICT floors that register movement patterns to apps in gym class. Professor Ivo van Hilvoorde and his team focus on sport-related didactic innovations. They conduct research into people's movement and sports behaviour, particularly within the context of the school and sports club. 

The research is practice-based. This means that lecturers of physical education can apply the knowledge from research directly in their work. Examples of questions that come up for discussion are: How do children learn to move, and how do we improve motor learning? What is the social role and significance of sport? What is the relationship between the sports club and physical education? What are the social effects of a certain sports policy?

Want to know more? Contact Professor Ivo van Hilvoorde via +31 88 469 9162 (phone) or email(opens in new tab).

A society in which everyone has equal opportunities when it comes to well-being and health, in relation to both the physical and social environment. That is what Natascha Notten's professorship is committed to.  

The professorship conducts practice-oriented research into the opportunities, challenges and potential of a healthy society. They focus on reducing socio-economic differences in good health and well-being by supporting vulnerable groups in society. They contribute to prevention by using the intergenerational transfer of social inequality as a central and overarching theme.

Want to know more? Contact Project Coordinator Lydia van Koningsveld via +31 88 469 9999 (phone) or email(opens in new tab).

Alie Weerman's professorship has both feet firmly planted and is active in the professional field. Their research focuses on how to prevent the neglect of vulnerable people. To make sure that this is seen in good time, so that counselling or treatment can be provided.

The professorship focuses on strengthening the link between mental health care and society. So that vulnerable people with mental or addiction problems, often involving other problems such as debt, loss of work and income or a disability, also receive the help they really need in time. In this respect, experience is the basis for proper care and services.

Want to know more? Contact Professor Alie Weerman via +31 6 5753 9885 (phone) or email(opens in new tab).

Contributing to the health and well-being of people with dementia and their families by conducting practice-based research. This is what Simone de Bruin’s professorship is dedicated to. 

The number of people with dementia is rising sharply. Many of them prefer to live in their own homes for as long as possible. By conducting practice-based research, the Research Group and Centre of Expertise for Living Well with Dementia aims to contribute to better lives for people with dementia and their families. In our group we mainly focus on people’s abilities rather than on the limitations and challenges posed by the disease. This implies that important themes in our work include autonomy, dignity, inclusion, meaningfulness, participation, and well-being of people with dementia and their families. Research lines of our group are:

1. the meaning of living well with dementia; 
2. innovations in the living and care environments of people with dementia, and 
3. access to and alignment of dementia care and support services. 

Our research designs are often guided by the principles of participatory action research, including co-creation between stakeholders from research, practice, and education.

Want to know more? Contact Simone de Bruin via email(opens in new tab). 

Many people see eHealth as a promising development. Yet few IT innovations are sustainably embedded in healthcare practice.

Marike Hettinga and her research team bridge this gap by conducting multidisciplinary research combining data from the fields of care, technology and business. Their research results in applicable knowledge and useful tools that support healthcare providers in deploying eHealth, or handy tools used by entrepreneurs.

Want to know more? Contact Professor Marike Hettinga via +31 88 469 7762 (phone) or    email(opens in new tab).

Every child is entitled to care, equal opportunities and safety. But how do you forge ties between parents, education and the youth sector? That’s the focus of Professor Dorien Graas and her team.

Not only parents, but also co-educators, professionals in the youth sector and the government bear responsibility for how young people grow up. The professorship works with practice-based scientific research on questions in this area that are relevant to various organizations and institutions. This is how we, as researchers and as a university of applied sciences, actively contribute to a safe environment for the upbringing of children.

Want to know more? Contact Project Coordinator Tanja Kers via +31 88 469 9773 (phone) or email(opens in new tab).

Whether it concerns cyberbullying, media education or gaming: Professor Peter Nikken's research focuses on the role of (social) media from the perspective of young people.

The living environment of children has changed rapidly in recent years with all kinds of new media and technologies. As a result, many parents and professional co-educators have all kinds of questions. When are media good or bad and what is the best way to support them as educators? And as a professional, how can you optimally support children or parents with questions about the media? The Professorship of Youth & Media, together with professional practice, looks for possible answers to such topical issues.

Want to know more? Contact Project Coordinator Tanja Kers via +31 88 469 9773 (phone) or email(opens in new tab).

A society in which everyone can participate in his or her own way. That's what the professorship wants to work for. Customer stories in their own context are the starting point for our research to be able to provide customized care and support. 

Issues to be addressed include, for example: What do people with disabilities need to participate in the job market? What is inclusive language, how do you tune your language to people with various language abilities? What do young people in residential youth care need in order to rejoin society? 

Want to know more? Contact Project Coordinator Monique Evink via email(opens in new tab).

In a constantly changing labour market, you always keep on learning, and lifelong development is an asset. The research conducted by Professor Menno Vos focuses on what’s needed to achieve this.

As a result of increasing technologization and digitization, the demands made on employees and managers are changing ever faster. What do these changes demand of us when it comes to knowledge and skills? What is the importance of lifelong development and how do we jointly promote a (more) active learning culture within organizations? These questions are answered by practical research in and with SMEs and other companies, sector organizations and educational institutions.

Want to know more? Contact Project Assistant Vibeke Oenema via +31 88 469 7394 (phone) or email(opens in new tab).

Our labour market continues to evolve and employment relationships change with it. Anneke Goudswaard's professorship combines sustainable craftsmanship with a sustainable economy. 

All technological developments make great demands on the flexibility and learning capacity of companies and workers. Entrepreneurs, educational institutions and public authorities in the area share the common challenge of strengthening the competitiveness of local businesses. The professorship actively supports the area in this. For example, with knowledge about how SMEs can grow with flexibility and inclusiveness. Or with knowledge about how public and private partners can collaborate to strengthen the professionalism and agility of the entire workforce.

Want to know more? Contact Project Coordinator Monique Evink via email(opens in new tab).

Every employee has different qualities. How do you turn such differences into added value? That’s the focus of research conducted by Professor Sjiera de Vries and her team.

How does your organization become attractive to a broad group of employees? And how do you prevent people from finding an organization unattractive or from finding themselves unable to work there because they are 'different', for example in terms of gender, age or physical or psychological abilities? Through practice-based research into social innovation, the professorship aims to answer these questions. They look at the various qualities of employees and how to turn all these differences into added value.
 
Want to know more? Contact Professor Sjiera de Vries via +31 88 469 6974 (phone) or email(opens in new tab).

Professor Nicolette Schipper designs, initiates and carries out research with her team into sports pedagogy, so that everyone can play sports: safely and enjoyably.

The professorship focuses on research, education and activities that ensure that people can participate in sport safely, under the guidance of competent people. Examples of research topics include unsportsmanlike behaviour, for instance aggression on the sports field, and awareness among physical education teachers of behavioural risks like sexual harassment and bullying. The aim of this professorship is for its research to contribute to a sustainable and responsible sports climate, in both elite and amateur sport as well as in education.

Want to know more? Contact Professor Nicolette Schipper via +31 88 469 6041 (phone) or email(opens in new tab).