معرفی
Dr. Carolien Gravesteijn is a Lecturer in Parenting and Youth in Development at Leiden University of Applied Sciences since 2012. Her academic journey began with studies in social and organizational psychology at Leiden University, followed by clinical psychology studies while working as a psychologist at The Hague Employment Office. She completed her PhD research on 'Life Skills Programs at School: Background, Development, and Evaluation of Social and Emotional Skills Education' in 2010.
Her research focuses on parenting as a 'juggling act' where parental well-being forms the foundation for positive parenting. She leads the Parenting and Youth in Development research group which maintains strong connections with both education and practice, collaborating with national knowledge institutes and practitioners in youth work, schools, and childcare settings.
Gravesteijn's research examines protective factors for strong parenting including preparation for parenthood, knowledge about development, life skills, and supportive networks. Her flagship 'More Fun for Later' longitudinal study follows over 600 parents and children, examining how parental well-being impacts child development across different backgrounds.
Her publication record demonstrates consistent focus on life skills development and parenting support, with recent 2024 publications exploring parental and adolescent perspectives on Social Emotional Learning in prevocational education. Her influential 2015 book 'More than Parenting – Perspectives on Working with Parents' presents her philosophy that parenting extends beyond child-rearing techniques to encompass the parent's entire well-being.
Gravesteijn actively involves students in her research through the 'More Fun for Later' project and teaches in the 'Parenthood, Education & Prevention' minor. She has secured research funding from ZonMw and RAAK-PRO for developing and evaluating Life Skills programs for both schools and parents.
Her research group participates in community engagement through workshops on parenting, life skills development, and student stress management, reflecting her commitment to translating research into practical applications that support parents and strengthen family well-being.
