Geert Verheijenoffline
Short bio
Researcher with a focus on the social development of teens, interested in the effects of average, day-to-day video game use. enthusiastic board gamer & self-proclaimed institutional champion of Super Smash Brothers.
Top-3 games
- Fire Emblem
- Skies of Arcadia
- XCOM: Enemy Within
About me
I started my PhD in September 2014 at the Social Development group of the Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University. In my research project, I examine the impact of video games on the wellbeing of adolescents. My main interests are the different ways in which average, day-to-day video game play behavior might influence the social behavior and peer relationships of adolescents, both beneficial and harmful.This project is part of the Kandinsky Longitudinal Study, a research line where adolescents are followed over a longer period of time and report yearly on the behavior of themselves and their peers (sociometric). I am also a member of the Peer Relations Lab Group (www.ru.nl/peerrelationslab)
I finished my bachelor in psychology and the Research Master BehaviouralScience at the Radboud University. My master thesis focused on the potential mental health benefits of video games for youth. I researched the effectiveness of Mindlight, a video game that has been developed as a tool for preventing anxiety disorder in children.
Projects I’ve worked on
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CategoryGamingDate22/06/2025Study/CourseLocation
The Influence of Playing Video Games on Social Development of Adolescents
About the projectThis project investigates the influences of different aspects of video game play behavior on the adjustment and social relationships of adolescents. In an annual survey, adolescents indicate their well-being and various elements of their video game play behavior (such as their motivation for gaming, type of games played, and the social context in which games are played). The aim of the project is to investigate how average, day-today gaming affects the social development of teens.
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CategoryAnxiety | DepressionDate22/06/2025Study/CourseLocation
MindLight - Childhood Anxiety Prevention
About the projectMany children have difficulties with fearful situations and are anxious. Interventions can help to teach children to cope effectively with anxiety-inducing situations. In our project, we rigorously tested whether an intervention in the form of a video game (MindLight) is effective in significantly reducing anxiety symptoms in children 8-12 years old. We did this by comparing MindLight to 1) a commercial game and 2) the gold-standard, cognitive-behavioural therapy for anxiety (Coping Cat). Furthermore, we evaluated the motivational characteristics of MindLight and for whom (e.g., age and gender differences) it is effective.
Events View all events
My publications
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The interplay between video games and social adjustment in adolescence [Doctoral Dissertation]
G. P. Verheijen (2020). The interplay between video games and social adjustment in adolescence. Doctoral Thesis. Radboud University.
Author: Geert Verheijen
Upload date: 10-13-2020
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Associations between Different Aspects of Video Game Play Behavior and Adolescent Adjustment
Verheijen, G. P., Burk, W. J., Stoltz, S. E. M. J., Berg, Y. H. M. v. d., & Cillessen, A. H. N. (2019). Journal of Media Psychology, 0, 1-13. doi: 10.1027/1864-1105/a000253
Author: Geert Verheijen
Upload date: 03-08-2019
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The Influence of Competitive and Cooperative Video Games on Behavior During Play and Friendship Quality in Adolescence
Verheijen, G. P., Stoltz, S. E. M. J., van den Berg, Y. H. M., & Cillessen, A. H. N. (2019). Computers in Human Behavior, 91, 297-304. doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2018.10.023
Author: Geert Verheijen
Upload date: 02-01-2019
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Friendly fire: Longitudinal effects of exposure to violent video games on aggressive behavior in adolescent friendship dyads
Verheijen, G. P., Burk, W. J., Stoltz, S. E. M. J., van den Berg, Y. H. M., & Cillessen, A. H. N. (2018). Aggressive Behavior, 44, 257-267. doi: 10.1002/ab.21748
Author: Geert Verheijen
Upload date: 05-01-2018
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A Neurofeedback Video Game (MindLight) to Prevent Anxiety in Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Schoneveld, E. A., Malmberg, M., Lichtwarck-Aschoff, A., Verheijen, G. P., Engels, R. C., & Granic, I. (2016). Computers in Human Behavior, 63, 321-333.
Author: Elke Schoneveld
Upload date: 10-01-2016
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Geert P. Verheijen on Google Scholar
Video Games, Adolescence, Social Behavior, Friendship
Author: Geert Verheijen
Upload date: 06-22-2025
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Reductions of Anxiety Symptoms, State Anxiety, and Anxious Arousal in Youth Playing the Videogame MindLight Compared to Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Tsui, T. Y., DeFrance, K., Khalid-Khan, S., Granic, I., & Hollenstein, T. (2021). Games for Health Journal, 10(5), 330-338. https://doi.org/10.1089/g4h.2020.0083
Author: Tiffany Y.L. Tsui
Upload date: 09-28-2021
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Mental Health Outcomes of an Applied Game for Children with Elevated Anxiety Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Non-inferiority Trial
Schoneveld, E.A., Wols, A., Lichtwarck-Aschoff, A., Otten, R., & Granic I. (2020). Journal of Child and Family Studies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-020-01728-y
Author: Elke Schoneveld
Upload date: 06-24-2020
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What Keeps Them Motivated? Children’s Views on an Applied Game for Anxiety
Schoneveld, E. A., Lichtwarck-Aschoff, A., & Granic, I. (2019). Entertainment Computing, 29, 69-74.
Author: Elke Schoneveld
Upload date: 03-01-2019
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Childhood Anxiety Prevention: An Evaluation of the Applied Game MindLight [Doctoral Dissertation]
Schoneveld, E. A. (2019). Doctoral dissertation
Author: Elke Schoneveld
Upload date: 02-26-2019
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Preventing Childhood Anxiety Disorders: Is an Applied Game as Effective as a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Based Program?
Schoneveld, E. A., Lichtwarck-Aschoff, A., & Granic, I. (2017). Prevention Science, 1-13.
Author: Elke Schoneveld
Upload date: 09-27-2017
Worked together with
Professor and Chair of the Developmental Psychopathology department in the Behavioural Science Institute; writer; voracious podcast consumer; mother of two upstanding little gamers
Professor at McMaster's University & Co-founder of PlayNice Interactive
I am not so interested in *whether* certain interventions work but *how* they work. That is, I am mainly focusing on underlying processes and mechanisms of change across diagnostic categories and different treatment modalities. Mother of two wild boys!
Professor of Orthopedagogics at University of Groningen
Graduate and psychologist interested in the effect of games on mental health. Likes why-questions, social impact and multidisciplinary collaboration. Bubbly, (not so crazy) cat lady and outdoor enthusiast.
Graduate
Rutger Engels
CEO at Trimbos Institute / Professor Developmental Psychopathology Utrecht University
Toon Cillessen
Research Director - Behavioural Science Institute
Yvonne van den Berg
Assistant Professor
Sabine Stoltz
Assistant Professor