Peter Theuns

Peter Theuns is an Associate Professor in the Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), affiliated with the End-of-Life Care Research Group and Brussels University Consultation Center (Brain, Body and Cognition). Holding an MSc in Clinical Psychology (1985), MBA in Management (1988), and PhD in Mathematical Psychology (1992) from VUB, he teaches Research Methods, Statistics, Data Analysis, and Professional Ethics.

His academic credentials:

• MSc Clinical Psychology, VUB (1985)
• MBA Management, VUB (1988)
• PhD Mathematical Psychology, VUB (1992)

Theuns specializes in Quality of Life research, survey methodology, and information integration theory. His work develops rating scales, addresses response shift in longitudinal studies, and applies functional measurement to psychological data. Current projects bridge mathematical psychology with palliative care and mental health applications, including compassionate leadership frameworks for workplace bereavement and benchmarking mindfulness therapies for student well-being.

Recent publications (2024-2025) focus on benchmarking Mindful Self-Compassion and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for psychological well-being, advancing subjective well-being assessment through cultural relativity solutions, and examining compassionate leadership in grief contexts. This reflects his dual emphasis on methodological rigor in psychological measurement and real-world mental health impact.

His awards include:

• Belgian Association of Psychological Sciences Fellowship (1999)
• Belgian Federation for Psychologists Fellowship (1986)
• Vlaamse Verniging van Klinisch Psychologen Fellowship (1986)

With 72 supervised students and 21 research projects, Theuns leads the NSIS2 PRISM network (mental health innovations, 2024-2029) and IRP16 RESOCO project (compassionate communities, 2019-2026). His funded work spans quality-of-life measurement in glioblastoma treatment (avelumab/axitinib trials), child resilience instruments, and European psychological assessment conferences.

He contributes to VUB's End-of-Life Care Research Group and Brain, Body and Cognition center, collaborating through the PRISM network and RESOCO consortium on multidisciplinary mental health and palliative care innovations across Belgian institutions.