Antoinette Haverhals is a PhD candidate and lecturer in the Forensic Family and Youth Care program group. She studies the development of resilience in adolescents who have experienced childhood adversity. Her research focuses on how the social environment (particularly peers) and the brain can together predict vulnerability and resilience.

More information about Antoinette Haverhals

About her research

Antoinette Haverhals studies the development of resilience in adolescents who have experienced childhood adversity.

The aim of her PhD research is to better understand the mechanisms underlying resilience and vulnerability, so that this knowledge can ultimately be used to foster recovery and resilience. Her research mainly focuses on the role of (both positive and stressful) experiences and relationships with peers.

For example, she studies how friendships and mental health develop together over time. She also studies neural mechanisms that may be related to resilience.

Her work is part of the THRIVE research project at the Resilience Center Leiden.  Antoinette finds it important to make science accessible and understandable for everyone.

Short cv

Antoinette Haverhals obtained a bachelor's degree in Psychology at Leiden University in 2022.

She obtained her research master's degree in Developmental Psychology at Leiden University in 2024, after which she started her current position as PhD candidate.

Since 2025, she is also a lecturer in the Education and Child Studies program.