I am a media psychologist interested in the effects of digital media, especially video games and social media, on social-cognitive outcomes in adolescents. In my research, I combine behavioural and neuroimaging techniques and insights from media psychology, developmental psychology and social neuroscience.
Source: Google Scholar · figures update over time
01 — About
I am a media psychologist interested in the effects of digital media, especially video games and social media, on social-cognitive outcomes in adolescents. In my research, I combine behavioural and neuroimaging techniques and insights from media psychology, developmental psychology and social neuroscience.
I completed my PhD in media psychology at the Department of Communication Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, with the thesis “Traces of Violent Video Gameplay in Adolescent Development,” funded by an NWO Research Talent Grant. I completed two postdoctoral projects, led independent research, and contributed to three successful grant applications of approximately €530k.
I support open science practices and early career researchers. I was a board member of the Open Science Community Amsterdam. I am a core team member of Young NeurolabNL focused on early career scientists in Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour fields. I also actively disseminate my research and love sharing knowledge with my students.
02 — Research
Using behavioural tasks and ERP/EEG, I examine whether and how violent gameplay relates to emotion recognition, empathy for pain, perspective-taking, and inhibitory control in adolescents — separating short-term effects from lasting change.
I study how platforms such as TikTok relate to well-being, sleep, academic performance, and body image — with attention to how we measure media use in the first place.
I investigate how inequalities in digital media access and use among children and adolescents translate into differences in social, cognitive, and identity development.
I connect insight from neuroscience and media psychology to self-regulated learning and to game-based educational tools on immunity and vaccination for early adolescents.
A large interdisciplinary consortium examining the effects of digital media use on children's and adolescents' development. I was a postdoctoral researcher in this project.
In-school evaluation of a game-based educational tool on immunity and vaccination in early adolescents. I serve on the project's Advisory Board as expert-advisor.
03 — Publications
I have co-authored 14 manuscripts in media psychology, developmental psychology, and media neuroscience, and am first author of 9 (*). I have also co-authored 3 manuscripts with former Master's students (†). Additional publications in educational neuroscience are listed on my Google Scholar profile.
The “ideal versus real” social media posts increase female adults' body appreciation
Psychology of Popular Media, 15(3), 294–307 · doi
TikTok use versus TikTok self-control failure: Investigating relationships with well-being, academic performance, bedtime procrastination, and sleep quality
Acta Psychologica, 251, Article 104565 · doi
Desensitized gamers? Effects of violent video game exposure on adolescents' empathy for pain — an ERP study
Social Neuroscience, 18(6), 365–381 · doi
Is it painful? Playing violent video games affects brain responses to painful pictures: An event-related potential study
Psychology of Popular Media, 11(1), 13–23 · doi
Emotion recognition and inhibitory control in adolescent players of violent video games
Journal of Research on Adolescence, 32(4), 1404–1420 · doi
Insensitive players? A relationship between violent video game exposure and recognition of negative emotions
Frontiers in Psychology, 12 · doi
Plurality in the measurement of social media use and psychological well-being among adolescents and young adults
Social Media + Society, 7(3) · doi
Desensitized players? Violent video game effects on emotion-related outcomes: A meta-analysis
Preregistration: PROSPERO CRD42024547253
Inequalities in digital media use and youth development — a systematic review
Preregistration: PROSPERO CRD42025625378
Problematic social media use and academic achievement in adolescents — a long-term investigation
Preprint: doi
Youth's social media use, depression, and socioeconomic inequalities — a longitudinal investigation based on the ABCD study
Preprint (2025): doi
The importance of brain, behaviour and cognition research in changing times and landscapes: Challenges, opportunities and future prospects
Preprint (2025): doi
Do you see what I see? Examining effects of exposure to violent video games on adolescent boys' perspective-taking
Stop or go? Playing violent games reduces inhibitory control in adolescents
PsyArXiv preprint · doi
No publications match this filter.
* first author
04 — Teaching
I have over 15 years of experience in interdisciplinary teaching and thesis supervision across Psychology, Communication Science, and Educational Sciences, at Bachelor's and Master's levels.
Bachelor's theses supervised
Master's theses supervised
Research internships supervised
Postdoctoral Researcher — JEDi project
Dept. of Education, Utrecht University
Lecturer
Dept. of Communication Science, VU Amsterdam
Lecturer
Dept. of Communication Science, University of Amsterdam
PhD Candidate
Dept. of Communication Science, VU Amsterdam
Junior Lecturer
SWPS University, Sopot, Poland
Teaching Assistant
SWPS University, Sopot, Poland
05 — Outreach
I support open science practices and actively disseminate my research — through invited talks, public engagement, and community organising for early career researchers.
06 — Curriculum Vitae
Advisory Board, Immune Patrol
In-school evaluation of a game-based educational tool on immunity and vaccination
Postdoctoral Researcher
Dept. of Education and Pedagogy, Utrecht University — projects: Calibrated and in Control; Youth and Digitalization (JEDi)
Postdoctoral Researcher
Dept. of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, VU Amsterdam — effects of COVID-19 on education
Project PI
Dept. of Communication Science, University of Amsterdam — adolescents' well-being and media exposure during COVID-19
PhD Candidate & Media Psychology Group
Dept. of Communication Science, VU Amsterdam
Research Intern
Spinoza Centre for Neuroimaging & VU Amsterdam — SO-CONNECT fMRI study
Research Assistant
VU Amsterdam; SWPS University, Sopot, Poland
PhD in Media Psychology
Dept. of Communication Science, VU Amsterdam — Traces of Violent Video Gameplay in Adolescent Development; funded by NWO Research Talent Grant
MSc in Psychology (Cum Laude)
SWPS University, Sopot, Poland — The Role of Empathy and Self-control in Emotional Information Processing
Erasmus Exchange Programme
Faculty of Psychology and Education, VU Amsterdam
07 — Contact
I welcome conversations about media psychology, adolescent development, collaborations, student projects, and science communication. The best way to reach me is by email.
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