Hans Koot

Prof. Dr. Hans Koot is a Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, affiliated with the Department of Clinical Developmental Psychology and APH - Mental Health. His research focuses on adolescent psychology, autism spectrum disorder, child mental health, and intervention programs. Koot has published over 446 works, including studies on aggression moderation, anxiety/depression scales, and cultural influences on youth mental health. He has supervised 35 PhD theses and received an award for research on emotional competence in children with autism. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to mental health and well-being.

Research Interests: Koot’s research emphasizes longitudinal studies on behavioral and emotional problems, intervention efficacy, and societal/cultural factors affecting child development. Key areas include normative influences on aggression, cross-cultural comparisons of mental health, and the impact of parental education on child outcomes.

Articles Overview: Recent work includes studies on trauma screening in children, differential susceptibility to family risk in Kenyan youths, and cross-cultural assessments of youth mental health. His publications analyze the role of contextual factors like parenting styles and school environments in shaping child behavior.

Awards: He received the Emotionele competentie van kinderen met autisme spectrum stoornissen award in 2008, recognizing his contributions to autism research.

Advising & Grants: Koot has supervised 35 PhD students and collaborated on grants exploring mental health interventions for marginalized populations, such as young people living with HIV in Kenya. His research often bridges clinical practice and public health policy.

Labs & Teams: Engaged in interdisciplinary collaborations, including studies on neonatal outcomes in Kilifi, Kenya, and the development of interactive assessments for autism spectrum disorder.