Research


Current interests: 


Areas: health psychology, social medicine


Modern societies are becoming increasingly diverse. My aim is to improve the lives of people stigmatized by society. How can we tackle social conflict and health inequities in society?

I do research on the intersection psychology (intergroup relations) and social medicine (health inequities). My research focuses on how society deals with diversity in the context of global challenges such as immigration, Brexit and Covid-19, and the impact of these on health and wellbeing. I examine how social processes influence the relations between people from diverse social and cultural backgrounds (e.g. in healthcare, education, workplace) and thereby inequities in society as well as in health and wellbeing, across the lifespan and in different cultures.


1. Health Inequalities: Social Stigma and Health 

I am interested in understanding and tackling health inequities across cultures. Understanding involves questions such as: How does stigma affect people's physical and mental health? How do psychological processes cause health inequities? Tackling involves questions such as: How can healthcare be optimized for disadvantaged groups in society? How can stigmatized individuals, families and healthcare professionals be supported?


2. Diversity: Promoting Positive Intergroup Relations

One line of research aims to develop and test theory-based interventions (virtual reality, contact, mental imagery, mindfulness meditation) to reduce stigma and social conflict. The other line examines which factors promote and which inhibit positive relations between majority and minority groups and through this their wellbeing.


My work contributes towards the following global Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations: