Adolescents and games Growing up in a hybrid reality

Adolescents are spending an increased amount of leisure time playing videogames and therefore live in a hybrid reality. In this relative new environment adolescents, parents and social professionals encounter present-day challenges. In this PhD-project we examine the relation between adolescents’ gaming, identity development, psychosocial well-being and the supporting role of parents and social professionals.

This study aims to understand the relation between adolescents’ gaming, identity development, psychosocial well-being and the supporting role of parents and social professionals. With this newly gathered knowledge we will develop tools for parents and social professionals to help them support gaming adolescents. This could contribute to a positive (social) identity development for gaming adolescents.

The results of this PhD-project will be presented in multiple scientific publications. In addition, together with parents, social professionals and adolescents we will translate these results into practical tools. Furthermore, the associated partners will apply these scientifically grounded insights into their curricula and working methods.

09 January 2022 - 09 January 2026

This PhD-project has an applied, mixed-methods research design. We will perform quantitative analysis with longitudinal data from the Utrecht University Digital Youth project. In addition, qualitative data will be gathered by using symbolic netnography, interviews and (participatory) observations with adolescents, parents and social professionals. Together with adolescents, parents and social professionals we will translate our insights into practical tools.

"In various cases gaming influences the development of adolescents to a greater and lesser extent and we regularly receive questions about this from adolescents and/or their parents"
Youth and family worker

This research project concerns a collaboration between Youth Studies, Interdisciplinary Sciences at Utrecht University, and the Youth Research Group at Utrecht University of Applied Sciences. The supervisor is Prof. Dr. Marloes Kleinjan (UU/Trimbos), with Dr. Margot Peeters as co-supervisor from UU. Dr. Saskia Wijsbroek is the co-supervisor from the Youth Research Group.

Additionally, various partners are involved in this research project, including the Utrecht Regional Public Health Service (GGD regio Utrecht) and the Regional Knowledge Center for Youth and Family (Regionale Kenniswerkplaats Jeugd en Gezin Centraal).