Elisa is a PhD candidate at the Institute of Education and Child Studies at Leiden University. Her research focuses on trust in the context of child maltreatment. She examines how trust is related to other factors and how it influences the effectiveness of interventions within youth care.

More information about Elisa de Lange

Short CV

Elisa obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Pedagogical Sciences in 2024 from Erasmus University Rotterdam.

In 2025, she completed both the Master’s in Orthopedagogy and the Master’s in Parenting and Child Development in a Diverse Society, also at Erasmus University Rotterdam. During her master’s studies, she worked as a research assistant within the project 'De Vlinder', where she was involved in conducting a case study and writing the research report on care for young people experiencing unbearable psychological suffering.

Since September 2025, she has been a PhD candidate in the project 'Trust in Focus' within the program group Forensic Family and Youth Care Studies at the Institute of Education and Child Studies, Leiden University.

In her research, she focuses on the role of trust within youth care and its influence on the effectiveness of interventions in families affected by child maltreatment or complex family problems

Research focus

Elisa is a PhD candidate within the project Trust in Focus at the program group Forensic Family and Youth Care Studies. Her research focuses on the role of trust in the context of child maltreatment. She examines how trust is related to different forms of trust, including trust in professionals and organizations, and how this relates to factors such as traumatic childhood experiences, victimization, and stress.

The study focuses on parents with severe parenting difficulties. Using both qualitative and quantitative research methods, she investigates how trust develops and how it influences the effectiveness of the intervention 'The Lighthouse Parenting Programme'.

The aim is to gain a better understanding of how trust can contribute to more effective support and the reduction of child maltreatment.

Working days

Monday till Thursday