Research

I am currently working as assistant professor of positive psychology at the Centre for eHealth and Wellbeing Research at the University of Twente in Enschede. I supervise Bachelor and Master students and give lectures about flourishing, positive psychology and wellbeing therapy. My research experience and interests focuses on flourishing, mental wellbeing and positive psychology. Currently, I am working on a longitudinal quantitative and qualitative study among women during transitions in their lifespan such as motherhood and menopause. Other research interests are eating disorders, meaning in life, climate change behaviors and physical exercise.

Please contact me if you would like to collaborate on research regarding flourishing or mental wellbeing more in general.

dr. Marijke Schotanus-Dijkstra

Assistant Professor

Education

  • MSc. Clinical and Health Psychology at the Utrecht University
  • BSc. Clinical and Health Psychology at the Utrecht University
  • B.A. Sports, Health and Management at the Hanzehogeschool Groningen

Work experience

  • 2016-recent: Assistant professor at the University of Twente in Enschede
  • 2021-2022: Scientific secretary at the Dutch Health Council in The Hague, for advice about ‘Prevention and early treatment of eating disorders’
  • 2013-2016: PhD-student at the Trimbos Institute, The Netherlands Institute for Mental Health and Addiction, Department of Public Mental Health in Utrecht in collaboration with the Center for eHealth and Wellbeing Research at the University of Twente in Enschede.
  • 2009-2012: Scientist at the Trimbos Institute, The Netherlands Institute for Mental Health and Addiction, Department of Public Mental Health in Utrecht.
  • 2008: Health promoter in education projects at the Public Health Service of Groningen (i.e. healthy lifestyle behaviors)

Dissertation

Schotanus-Dijkstra, M. (2016). How to flourish in everyday life? Enhancing flourishing mental health in the general population as a new strategy for the prevention of anxiety and depressive disorders. Enschede, The Netherlands: University of Twente.

International peer-reviewed papers

Publications

National peer-reviewed papers

Book chapters

  • Schotanus-Dijkstra, M., & Bohlmeijer E.T. (2017) ‘Flourishing’ people. In: Leo Bormans (Ed.). The World Book of Happiness 2.0. Tielt: Lannoo Uitgeverij. [Book is also available in a Dutch edition, 2016].
  • Hilderink, I., Dijkstra, M., & Bransen, E. (2011). Grensoverschrijdende pubers. LVG jeugd en middelengebruik. In: Clerkx, M., de Groot, R., & Prins, F. (2011). Grensoverschrijdend gedrag van pubers. Apeldoorn: Garant-Uitgevers.