René Diekstra

Prof. Dr. René F.W. Diekstra
Professor of Psychology
P.O. Box 94NL-4330 AB Middelburg
www.rooseveltacademy.org

(present) Professor of Psychology and Head Social Science Department, Roosevelt Academy /University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.

(present) Professor on Youth and Development and Head of the Youth and Development Center, University for Professional Education, The Hague

(present) Advisor on Youth Policy and Social Policy to the Mayor and Municipial Administration of the City of Rotterdam, the Netherlands

(present) Columnist of the Official Journal of the State of The Netherlands (on Psychology, Social Policy and Economics)

Selected Publications

· Diekstra. R.F.W. Hawton, K. (eds.) (1987). Suicide in Adolescence. Dordrecht/Canberra: Kluwer Academic Publishers.
· Diekstra, R.F.W. (1995). "Depression and Suicidal Behaviors in Adolescence: Sociocultural and Time Trends". In: M. Rutter & D.Smid (eds.). Psychosocial Disturbances in Young People: Challenges for Prevention. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 212-243.
· Du Bois-Reymond, M., Diekstra, R., Hurrelmann, K. & Peters, E. (Eds.) (1995). Childhood and Youth in Germany and The Netherlands: Transitions and Coping Strategies of Adolescents. Berlin/New York: W. De Gruyter. ISBN 3-11-014154-X, pp. 351.
· Garnefski N, Diekstra RFW Child sexual abuse and emotional and behavioral problems in adolescence: gender differences J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 36(3):323-329 (1997)
· De Heus P, Diekstra RFW (1999). Do teachers burn out more easily? A comparison of teachers with other social professions on work stress and burnout symptoms. In: Vandenberghe R, Huberman AM (eds)Understanding and preventing teacher burnout: A sourcebook of international research and practice, Cambridge University Press: Cambridge UK, pp. 269-284.
· van der Doef, M., Maes, S., & Diekstra, R. (2000). An examination of the job-demand-control-support model with various occupational strain indicators. Anxiety Stress and Coping, 13, 165-185
· Gravesteijn, J.C., Diekstra, R.F.W., De Wilde, E.J., Koren, E. (2004). The efficacy of a schoolbased skills for life curriculum. Kind en Adolescent, 99-106
· Diekstra R.F.W., Gravesteijn. J.C. (2005) (Lieve Hemel) Good heaven. On Children and Bereavement. Uithoorn; Karakteruitgevers. pp. 172
· Diekstra, R.F. W. (2005) Wenn das Leben schmerzt. Wie wir an Verlusterfahrungen lernen können. München, Kosel Verlag, pp. 340.
· Gravesteijn, J.C., Diekstra R.F.W. (2007) The effects of a curriculum-based Skills For Life program for adolescents on suicidality. (in press)

Selected Present Research Project / Research Grant: The Skills for Life Curriculum for Adolescents

Research grant from ZonMw, for projectnumber: 50-50110-98-384, commencing january 2007, i.e. the project Evaluation of the Life Skills Curriculum Intended for Dutch Secondary School Students. This grant has been obtained by Prof. Diekstra in cooperation with TNO (Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek Kwaliteit van Leven. Preventie en Zorg; Jeugd, Preventie en Bewegen) and NIGZ (Nationaal Instituut voor Gezondheidsbevordering en Ziektepreventie Cluster Jeugd). The grant has been given for further research into the Life Skills curriculum for secondary school students, that has been developed by Prof. Diekstra and J.C. Gravesteijn, M.Sc., and that -- in research carried out and published by the developers so far -- has shown to be highly promising in terms of the prevention of behavioral and emotional disorders in youth and the promotion of social and moral skills. The ZonMw research grant project has started on January 1, 2007, and will be continued for 4 years. It will encompass 33 experimental schools and 33 control schools throughout the Netherlands.