Maike Luhmann

Maike Luhmann is a full Professor of Psychological Methods at the Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, and a Research Fellow at the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW). She leads significant research initiatives on loneliness, well-being, and personality development, with substantial funding from the European Union including an ERC Consolidator Grant (LOTIS) and coordination of the EU Horizon project LONELY-EU.

Her research interests span loneliness across the lifespan, subjective well-being, life events, and personality development. Luhmann investigates how social connections, major life transitions, and work contexts influence psychological well-being, with particular attention to measurement methodologies and statistical analysis. Her work bridges psychological theory with practical applications for mental health policy.

Luhmann's publications demonstrate a clear trajectory from foundational work on well-being adaptation and personality development toward contemporary research on loneliness as a critical public health issue. Her most recent work integrates cross-cultural, longitudinal, and policy-relevant perspectives on social isolation, reflecting her leadership in establishing loneliness research as a priority for European policy-making.

• Lehrpreis Das Goldene Hirn (2025, 2020, 2018)
• Sage Young Scholar Award (2019)
• Honourable mention for the Ruut Veenhoven Award (2016)
• Best Scientific Publication based on SOEP data (2011)

Luhmann advises multiple large-scale funded projects including an ERC Consolidator Grant LOTIS (2025-2030), EU Horizon project LONELY-EU (2025-2028), and several German federal ministry-funded initiatives. She serves as Scientific Member of the German Center for Mental Health and provides regular policy consultation to governmental bodies including the German Bundestag, European Commission, and European Parliament. Her laboratory focuses on advanced statistical methods for studying social connections and well-being across different life stages.