Harke Bosma

Biographic Data

ID	205361
NAME	Harke Bosma
GIVEN NAMES	Harke
FAMILY NAME	Bosma
SIGNATURE	BOSMA H
AFFILIATIONS	Maastricht University
ORCID	0000-0003-4333-4564
VERIFIED	Yes
TOTAL WORKS	58
TOTAL CITATIONS	190
AUTHOR COUNT	58
EDITOR COUNT	0
FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR	1996
LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR	2026
H-INDEX	5

Cumulative disadvantage at home and at work: Explaining socioeconomic inequalities in self-rated health with evidence from the Maastricht study
Open AccessRachelle Meisters, Jeroen Albers et al.ARTICLEHealth & Place2026
AIM: This study investigates how residential and work environmental factors are associated with the relationship between socioeconomic position (SEP) and self-rated health (SRH). While previous research has examined these domains separately, this study aims to assess their combined influence and potential mediating role in explaining socioeconomic inequalities in SRH. METHODS: Longitudinal data from The Maastricht study were used, a population-ba…
Between-school socioeconomic segregation and adolescent bullying: A cross-national multilevel study
Open AccessArmen A Torchyan, Inge Houkes et al.ARTICLESocial Science & Medicine2026
BACKGROUND: Bullying is a major public health concern among adolescents. Ecological frameworks suggest that bullying is shaped not only by individual characteristics but also by broader school, institutional, and macro-level contexts. We examined whether country-level between-school socioeconomic segregation helps explain differences in bullying perpetration and victimization. METHODS: We analyzed nationally representative data from 101,287 adole…
Socioeconomic position and type 2 diabetes: The mediating role of physical work environment - the Maastricht study
Open AccessBengisu Sezer, Jeroen D Albers et al.ARTICLESocial Science & Medicine2026
Low socioeconomic position (SEP) is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2D) creating socioeconomic health disparities. These inequalities might arise from differences in environmental conditions across SEP groups. People with a lower SEP might have more adverse work conditions compromising their health. We explore the mediating role of the physical work environment in socioeconomic inequalities in T2D. Cross-sectional and longitudinal data from 9…
Using the Diffusion of Innovation Theory to explain the declining trend in adolescent drunkenness between 2002 and 2022 across 46 countries
Open AccessKaren Schelleman-Offermans, Emmanuel Kuntsche et al.ARTICLESocial Science & Medicine2026
INTRODUCTION: Using Diffusion of Innovations Theory, we investigated whether countries with higher innovation capacity showed earlier tipping points (shift from increasing to decreasing drunkenness) and steeper declines in adolescent drunkenness (2002-2022). Innovation capacity likely facilitates these shifts through knowledge generation, policy implementation, and norm diffusion. METHODS: Trends in adolescent drunkenness were examined across 46 …
The importance of material deprivation in type 2 diabetes incidence: Longitudinal analyses in the Maastricht study
Open AccessRachelle Meisters, Allan Køster et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2025
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a common chronic disease that disproportionately affects groups with a low socioeconomic position (SEP). In addition to traditional SEP measures, material deprivation allows for further differentiation between people at the bottom of the socioeconomic hierarchy. This study therefore aimed to examine longitudinal associations between material deprivation and incident T2DM, independent of traditional SEP measures …
The association of neighborhood walkability and food environment with incident cardiovascular disease in The Maastricht Study
Open AccessJeffrey A Chan, Rachelle Meisters et al.ARTICLEHealth & Place2025References: 1
Socioeconomic position and type 2 diabetes: Examining the mediating role of social cohesion-The Maastricht Study
Open AccessJeroen D Albers, Jeroen Albers et al.ARTICLESocial Science & Medicine2025References: 56
The relationship between socioeconomic position and type 2 diabetes is well-established; individuals of lower socioeconomic position experience substantially higher rates of the disease. This study investigated the mediating role of perceived and ecometric area-level social cohesion in the association between socioeconomic position and incident type 2 diabetes. In a prospective population-based cohort, The Maastricht Study, we analyzed data from …
Socioeconomic inequalities in health-related functioning among people with type 2 Diabetes: Longitudinal analyses in the Maastricht Study
Open AccessRachelle Meisters, Jeroen Albers et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2024
Among people with T2DM, those with a lower SEP had worse health-related functioning in general than people with a higher SEP. Additionally, people with T2DM and low education developed poorer mental and social functioning over time compared to people with T2DM and high education. People with T2DM and low or intermediate income declined more in physical functioning over time than those with high incomes. In addition to HbA 1c -levels and lifestyle…
The associations of socioeconomic position with structural brain damage and connectivity and cognitive functioning: The Maastricht Study
Open AccessAnouk F J Geraets, Miranda T Schram et al.ARTICLESocial Science & Medicine2024References: 51
We observed substantial SEP differences in later-life cognitive functioning. Associations of structural brain damage and connectivity with cognitive functioning were relatively small, and only marginally explained the SEP gradients in cognitive functioning
Two sides of the same coin? Absolute income and perceived income inadequacy as social determinants of health
Open AccessRachelle Meisters, Polina Putrik et al.ARTICLEInternational Journal for Equity…2023
Absolute income and perceived income inadequacy reflect conceptually different aspects of income and are independently associated with health outcomes. Perceived income inadequacy may be accounted for in health inequality studies, alongside measures of absolute income. In policy-making, targeting perceived income inadequacy might have potential to reduce health inequalities
The association between the food environment and adherence to healthy diet quality: The Maastricht Study
Open AccessJeffrey A Chan, Allan Køster et al.ARTICLEPublic Health Nutrition2023
Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine if healthier neighbourhood food environments are associated with healthier diet quality. Design: This was a cross-sectional study using linear regression models to analyse data from the Maastricht Study. Diet quality was assessed using data collected with a FFQ to calculate the Dutch Healthy Diet (DHD). A buffer zone encompassing a 1000 m radius was created around each participant home address.…
Validation of the MAastricht Instrument of Sustainable Employability (Maise-NL) Adapted for Employees in Low-Skilled Jobs (Maise-Easy)
Open AccessPauline Mignon, Emmelie Hazelzet et al.ARTICLEInternational Journal of…2022
Background : Sustainable employability (SE) is important for work organizations. Recently, the MAastricht Instrument for Sustainable Employability (MAISE-NL) was developed and validated. This study describes the development and validation of an adapted version of the MAISE-NL, the MAISE-Easy, which can be used for employees in low-skilled jobs. Methods : The adaptation of the MAISE-NL was based on six focus groups with employees in low-skilled jo…
How a steeper organisational hierarchy prevents change—adoption and implementation of a sustainable employability intervention for employees in low-skilled jobs: A qualitative study
Open AccessEmmelie Hazelzet, Inge Houkes et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2022
This study improved the understanding of the difficulties to adopt and implement such organisational intervention to contribute to the sustainable employability of employees in low-skilled jobs. Practical implications are given for future implementation of organisational interventions
Is Loneliness an Undervalued Pathway between Socio-Economic Disadvantage and Health
Open AccessRachelle Meisters, Polina Putrik et al.ARTICLEInternational Journal of…2021
Loneliness is a growing public health issue. It is more common in disadvantaged groups and has been associated with a range of poor health outcomes. Loneliness may also form an independent pathway between socio-economic disadvantage and poor health. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the contribution of loneliness to socio-economic health inequalities. These contributions were studied in a Dutch national sample ( n = 445,748 adults (…
Using intervention mapping to develop ‘Healthy HR’ aimed at improving sustainable employability of low-educated employees
Open AccessEmmelie Hazelzet, Inge Houkes et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2021
Principles of IM appeared to be useful to develop the intervention HHR systematically. This development process resulted in a practical online toolkit that supports employers in the development and implementation of local SE interventions tailored to the needs of low-educated employees. These employees should be actively involved in the process through a dialogue-based approach. By using IM principles, HHR is expected to increase the effectivenes…
The Gender Pay Gap: Income Inequality Over Life Course – A Multilevel Analysis
Open AccessLisa Toczek, Harke Bosma et al.ARTICLEFrontiers in Sociology2021Cited by: 1References: 6
The gender pay gap has been observed for decades, and still exists. Due to a life course perspective, gender differences in income are analyzed over a period of 24 years. Therefore, this study aims to investigate income trajectories and the differences regarding men and women. Moreover, the study examines how human capital determinants, occupational positions and factors that accumulate disadvantages over time contribute to the explanation of the…
Is a 'culture of plus-size women' the independent effect of neighborhood disadvantage on female BMI? A cross-sectional study in two Chilean Municipalities
Open AccessJossiana Robinovich, Harke Bosma et al.ARTICLESocial Science & Medicine2021References: 89
The Short-Term Value of the “Healthy Primary School of the Future” Initiative: A Social Return on Investment Analysis
Open AccessMarije Oosterhoff, Onno C P Van Schayck et al.ARTICLEFrontiers in Public Health2020
Background: This study examines the social return on investment (SROI) of the ‘Healthy Primary School of the Future’ initiative after 2 years. Methods: Healthy Primary Schools of the Future (HPSF) provide a healthy lunch and daily structured physical activity sessions, whereas Physical Activity Schools (PAS) focus on physical activity only. We evaluated the 2-year investments and effects (N=1676 children) of both school environments (4 schools) c…
Does Dialogue Improve the Sustainable Employability of Low-Educated Employees? A Study Protocol for an Effect and Process Evaluation of “Healthy HR”
Open AccessEmmelie Hazelzet, Harke Bosma et al.ARTICLEFrontiers in Public Health2020
Background: There is a need to develop sustainable employability (SE) interventions that are better aligned to the needs of low-educated employees. This group needs to get a voice in intervention development and implementation. In this study, a dialogue-based approach is proposed consisting of an online step-by-step support toolkit for employers, ‘Healthy Human Resources’ (HHR). When intervening, this toolkit enables and stimulates employers to h…
The Landscape of Identity Model: An Integration of Qualitative and Quantitative Aspects of Identity Development
Open AccessMandy A E Van Der Gaag, Naomi M P De Ruiter et al.ARTICLEIdentity2020
The landscape of identity model views identity as a constellation of commitments with different levels of strength and integration, showing how this constellation emerges from everyday life experiences. Drawing on key principles from the complex dynamic systems approach, our model further describes this conceptualization, as well as the mechanisms underlying the development of an identity landscape. We show that the model solves current conceptua…
Socioeconomic Inequalities in Health among Armenian Adolescents
Open AccessArmen A Torchyan, Harke Bosma et al.ARTICLEInternational Journal of…2020
We aimed to study the hypothesis of socioeconomic equalization in health among Armenian adolescents participating in the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children 2013/14 survey. Classes corresponding to the ages 11, 13, and 15 were selected using a clustered sampling design. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used. In a nationally representative sample of 3679 students, adolescents with a low family socioeconomic position (SEP) had greater…
Lifetime cost-effectiveness and equity impacts of the Healthy Primary School of the Future initiative
Open AccessMarije Oosterhoff, Eelco A B Over et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2020
Clinicaltrials.gov ( NCT02800616 ). Registered 15 June 2016 - Retrospectively registered
Loneliness in Later Life and Reaching Longevity: Findings From the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam
Open AccessLloyd Brandts, Theo G Van Tilburg et al.ARTICLEThe Journals of Gerontology…2020References: 6
The current analyses did not show support for the existence of a meaningful effect of loneliness on reaching longevity in both sexes. When investigating specific dimensions of loneliness, we observed that reporting social loneliness was associated with reaching 90 years in women. This indicates that, for women, a large and diverse personal network at an older age could increase the probability of reaching longevity. However, replication of our fi…
Adulthood Socioeconomic Position and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus—A Comparison of Education, Occupation, Income, and Material Deprivation: The Maastricht Study
Open AccessYuwei Qi, Allan Køster et al.ARTICLEInternational Journal of…2019
In an effort to better quantify the impact of adulthood socioeconomic circumstances on prediabetes and type 2 diabetes (T2DM), we set out to examine the relative importance of four adulthood socioeconomic indicators. Using cross-sectional data from The Maastricht Study on 2011 middle-aged older men and women, our findings indicate that low educational level (OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.24-2.64), low occupational level (OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 0.98-2.05), a…
The silent burden of stigmatisation: A qualitative study among Dutch people with a low socioeconomic position
Open AccessA SIMONS, Audrey M W Simons et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2018
Despite the good intentions of policies to enhance self-reliance, responsibility and active citizenship, these policies and related societal beliefs might affect people at the lower end of our socioeconomic hierarchies by making them feel inferior, ashamed and blamed, especially when they cannot meet societal expectations or when they feel treated disrespectfully, unjustly or unequally by social workers or volunteers of charity organisations