Crystal Smit

Dr. Crystal Smit is an Assistant Professor in Clinical Child and Family Studies at the Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam. She serves as Lab Manager of the Erasmus Movez Lab, focusing on youth, digital media, and well-being. Her research emphasizes motivating healthy behaviors in youth through social network interventions, particularly leveraging social influencers in co-created health campaigns. She holds a Bachelor's in Pedagogical Sciences and a Research Master's in Behavioral Sciences from Radboud University, where she also completed her PhD in 2021 on the Share H₂O intervention for healthy drinking behaviors in children.

• Education:
  • Bachelor's: Pedagogical Sciences, Radboud University
  • Research Master's: Behavioral Sciences, Radboud University
  • PhD: Behavioral Science Institute, Radboud University (2021)

Her research interests include public health, health behavior interventions, social network dynamics, and the role of digital media in promoting youth well-being. She has pioneered studies on social influence in health campaigns, particularly targeting hydration and physical activity using innovative methodologies like agent-based modeling and just-in-time adaptive interventions. Key collaborations involve cross-country comparative studies and partnerships with schools for community-based interventions.

Her work bridges academic research and societal impact through the Movez Lab, translating findings into actionable strategies for public health. Notable contributions include the Share H₂O intervention and evaluations of social network-based campaigns in diverse populations.