“The need to belong is essential for people. Close relationships with friends and parents contribute to psychological health and wellbeing. In this way, relationships can be a source of support and can reduce stress.”

Susan Branje is a Professor in the section of Youth and Family. Her chair focuses on Development and Socialization in Adolescence. She is affiliated with the educational program Pedagogical Sciences and the Department of Education and Pedagogy within the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences.

The Department of Youth and Family focuses on Family Pedagogy and Ecological Pedagogy. The department’s work centers on everyday upbringing, with particular attention to the interaction between caregivers, young people, and their social environment. It examines how adolescents and caregivers can best be supported, and how the family system, peers, school, neighborhood, and media — both individually and in interaction — influence the development and upbringing of young people.

Branje looks at young people's relationships with parents, siblings, friends and intimate partners in relation to their psychosocial adjustment. She also investigates the development of the personality and identity of young people from early adolescence to young adulthood. Branje investigates the factors that contribute to successful transitions to adulthood and processes of intergenerational transmission. She investigates the interaction between individual and relational processes in young people's development in the short and long term.

Branje is also involved in the hub “Where do I belong? Growing up in multi-resident families”. An important goal of the researchers is to include the perspective of children and improve the position of children. Among other things, by offering more nuance in the often emotional and polarizing conversations surrounding divorce.

Branje studied Developmental Psychology at Radboud University, where she obtained her PhD in 2003. In addition to her work as a researcher, Branje is also involved as a teacher in the educational programs Pedagogical Sciences; Clinical Child, Family and Educational Sciences; Youth, Education and Society; and Development and Socialization in Childhood and Adolescence.

Currently she is involved in the following research projects:

RADAR
InTransition