Dr. Helen Vossen

Biography

Helen Vossen is an Associate Professor at Utrecht University specializing in youth media research. Her work focuses on the media usage of children and young people, examining both the positive and negative influences on psychosocial development and the crucial role educators play in this context. Dr. Vossen's research emphasizes the social impact of media, collaborating with stakeholders including parents, children, teachers, social workers, and policymakers. She aims to stimulate healthy screen use among children through various projects. Notably, she is involved in the Digital Family project, which investigates how digital media affects family functioning and the implications of problematic media use in children. Another key project, Youth Digitalisation (JEDi), is a large-scale multidisciplinary study exploring the factors that influence the relationship between digital media use and youth development. The goal is to develop skills and tools that support the positive effects of digital media use, enhancing equity in opportunities for young people. Additionally, Dr. Vossen is involved in DigAble, a research initiative in collaboration with VU Amsterdam and Leiden University of Applied Sciences, evaluating existing media interventions for their effectiveness in assisting neurodivergent youth. She is also a co-author of the Dutch Guideline for Healthy Screen Use, developed on behalf of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.

Research Interests

Experience