The Department of Developmental Psychopathology conducts fundamental and applied research on the development of psychopathology and well-being from infancy to early adulthood, focusing on family studies and social interactions.
Developmental Psychopathology
Our mission
Our ultimate goal is to understand how children, adolescents, and (young) adults develop across time and in relationships with others and which factors can explain inter- and intra-individual differences. Our ambition is to conduct rigorous research, publish in high-impact scientific journals, present at international conferences, collaborate both nationally and internationally, and communicate our findings to the general public.
Research
Our research focuses on individual, family, parental, and peer factors. Most of our studies use longitudinal designs, enabling us to examine development from micro-level to macro-level scales (days to years). Moreover, we find it essential that our work impacts society. Therefore, we collaborate closely with several youth care institutions, police, municipalities, juvenile prisoners, and addiction care facilities.
Core topics
We have several core topics that we investigate, including internalizing problems (e.g., depressive symptoms and loneliness), externalising problems (e.g., conduct disorder and callous unemotional-traits), eating and lifestyle behaviours, substance use (disorders), well-being, effects of trauma and stressors on development, and the development of prosocial and antisocial behaviours. However, we are not only interested in atypical development because knowledge of typical behaviour is needed to understand why some people adapt better than others. We also study typical behaviour and factors that facilitate resilience and (positive) well-being.
Methods
We employ a multi-method approach to study these forms of psychopathology and well-being, including longitudinal surveys, qualitative approaches, Experience Sampling Methods (ESM), experiments, hormonal measurements, DNA samples, neuroimaging, and observations.
Our Team
We are a dynamic team with an open work atmosphere. Our department consists of researchers with different expertise. We collaborate within our group, and outside the department (ranging from within BSI to internationally outstanding collaborations). We strongly believe that Open Science is important, so we increasingly pre-register our studies and share our data and codes. We are strongly motivated to share our findings in practice and society.
Research groups
Contact information
Location
Visiting address
Thomas Van Aquinostraat 46525GD Nijmegen
Postal address
Postbus 91046500HE NIJMEGEN
Contact person
C.M.J. Tielen (Christel) MSc