My focus of research is narrative psychology and technology. I study how personal stories contribute to the lifespan development of identity, mental health and well-being over time. Theories from positive psychology and gerontology contribute to a better understanding of the role of personal stories. Technology supports people in constructing and sharing stories about their lives, for example in digital life story books or online therapy. Technology supports researchers in analyzing how stories are expressed in everyday life, for example in the expression of emotions or in conversations between counselors and clients.
Functions
- Past President Advisory Board International Center for Life Story Innovations and Practice, formerly known as International Institute of Reminiscence and Life Review
- Past president Dutch Society for Gerontology
- Editorial board Narrative Works
Expertise
Psychology
- Mental Health
- Wellbeing
- Depression
- Groups
- Life Stories
- Research
- Evaluation
- Treatment
Organisations
Publications
2025
Psychological mechanisms of revenge and revenge ideations in family homicide: results from qualitative research of forensic assessment reports (2025)BMC psychiatry, 25(1). Article 582. Grobbink, L. H., Huijbregts, K. M. L., Draisma, S., Derksen, J. J. L. & Westerhof, G. J.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07021-wCompassion as a guiding framework for the implementation of digital mental health interventions: An interview study with clients and professionals (2025)PLoS ONE, 20(10 October). Article e0320710. van Lotringen, C. M., Zirnheld, A., Kelders, S. M., Westerhof, G. J. & Noordzij, M. L.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0320710Learning Futures Consciousness: An integrative review (2025)Futures, 173. Article 103654. Koch, M. J., Sools, A. M., Spaas, G. H. J. & Westerhof, G. J.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2025.103654Multidimensional determinants to adoption, use and effectiveness of digital technologies for healthy ageing in migrant populations: a scoping review protocol (2025)BMJ open, 15(10). Article e096196. Stanciu, A., Rodríguez, A. D. & Westerhof, G. J.https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-096196Remembering past emotions: How emotion expressions are linked to memory reappraisal (2025)PLoS ONE, 20(9). Article e0332575. Nazareth, D. S., Truong, K. P., Heylen, D., Kok, P. & Westerhof, G. J.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0332575Trajectories of grief-related psychopathology: A decade after the MH17 plane disaster (2025)Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 114. Article 103036. Nijborg, L. C. J., Westerhof, G. J., Pociūnaitė-Ott, J., Kunst, M. J. J., de Keijser, J. & Lenferink, L. I. M.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.103036Positivity effects in self-defining memories in men and women across adulthood: different patterns between self-rated affect and content-coded meaning (2025)Cognition and Emotion (E-pub ahead of print/First online). Liao, H. W. & Westerhof, G. J.https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2025.2525475Assessing prolonged grief symptoms using experience sampling methodology: The development of the prolonged grief symptoms - short ecological assessment (PGS-SEA) scale (2025)Comprehensive psychiatry, 140. Article 152597. Ergun, T. D., ten Klooster, P. M., Bohlmeijer, E. T., Westerhof, G. J., Franzen, M. & Lenferink, L. I. M.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2025.152597De dans tussen klachten en welbevinden: Een casuïstiekbespreking (2025)Gedragstherapie, 58(2), 139-157. Huijbregts, K., Bohlmeijer, E. & Westerhof, G.https://doi.org/10.5553/TG/016774542025058000002How to integrate physiological data from wearables in treatment of personality disorders: a narrative review (2025)Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16. Article 1591871. Lans, L. L., Huijbregts, K. M. L., Westerhof, G. J., Haeyen, S. W., Derks, Y. P. M. J. & Noordzij, M. L.https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1591871
Research profiles
Affiliated study programs
Courses academic year 2025/2026
Courses in the current academic year are added at the moment they are finalised in the Osiris system. Therefore it is possible that the list is not yet complete for the whole academic year.
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