Lisanne Steijvers

Postdoc

My name is Lisanne Steijvers. I was born and raised in South-Limburg. Eventually, I (temporarily) left to study Health Sciences in Amsterdam. During my master’s, I chose the specialization Infectious Diseases and Public Health. For my internship, I returned to the South and joined the Public Health Service South Limburg (GGD Zuid-Limburg). This is where I first became acquainted with the topic “social networks”, a theme that captured my interest from day one. It may therefore come as no surprise that this became the central theme of my PhD research.

During my research, I examined how social relationships, the people around us, shape our health and health behaviors. To do so, I used data from the SaNAE study (Social Network Assessment in Adults and Elderly), a large cohort study among adults aged 40 and older in Limburg. The studies showed that in addition to the number of people someone has, the diversity of the network, the type of support, and social participation are also important for health and behavior. These insights can, in the long term, provide public health with tools and guidelines to map social networks. It is also important to include the social and physical environment in health-promoting strategies and to look beyond the individual.

Currently, I work as senior researcher at the public health service South Limburg, cluster Health Policy and Development. I focus on topics such as health living environments, both physical and social, and social health.

Besides enjoying research on social networks, I also love spending time with my own social network. I enjoy cooking or baking, trying out new recipes, and dining together with friends or family. After a busy workday, you will usually find me on the hockey field or at the gym. I also love traveling, exploring the world, and spending time in the mountains, whether skiing or hiking.

Recommended by me: I can wholeheartedly recommend Taylor Swift’s music, not only because of the creativity, powerful lyrics, and emotion she weaves into her songs, but also because of the unique community that surrounds her. The Swifties form a global social network in which fans connect and create shared experiences (think of the “friendship bracelets”). It’s a beautiful example of how shared interests can grow into meaningful social connections.

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