Wouter Kiekens

Dr. Wouter Kiekens is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences. His research focuses on LGBTQ+ youth mental health, substance use, and school safety disparities. He leads projects like 'Thriving Under Stress,' examining minority stress resilience among sexual minority adolescents. His work integrates innovative methods such as experience sampling and social network analysis.

Key research themes include the impact of school policies (e.g., Gender-Sexuality Alliances), bullying prevention, and protective factors for vulnerable youth. Collaborators include Laura Baams, Ruby van Vliet, and Rozemarijn van der Ploeg. His findings influence policy through meta-analyses of school safety interventions and advocacy strategies.

• Education: PhD in Sociology (implied by academic rank)
• Key Projects: School Safety Meta-Analysis, LGBTQ+ Youth Advocacy in GSAs
• Public Engagement: Media commentary on LGBTQ+ youth challenges (e.g., Dutch media features)

His publications (46+) address mechanisms linking minority stress to health outcomes, with a focus on adolescent development and institutional policies.