Anja Machielse
Biographic Data
| ID | 2925894 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Anja Machielse |
| GIVEN NAMES | Anja |
| FAMILY NAME | Machielse |
| SIGNATURE | MACHIELSE A |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Humanistic Studies |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-5665-1684 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 11 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 15 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 11 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2020 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
The Impact of Religious Exclusivism on Outgroup Attitudes
Religiously diverse societies are often portrayed as marked by tensions between exclusive worldviews and aspirations toward inclusive and cohesive social relations. These tensions are particularly salient in religious contexts, where deeply held convictions about truth and moral order may coexist uneasily with ideals of tolerance and mutual recognition. A central question emerging from this dilemma is how religious worldviews shape evaluations of…
The impact of religious identity on intergroup encounters
In recent decades, social cohesion in Western societies has been progressively undermined, leading to increased polarisation and fragmentation. Efforts to counteract this trend have included organising intergroup activities to restore trust and foster ‘bridge-building’ between different communities. While social psychology has extensively explored the dynamics of intergroup encounters, particularly in terms of their ability to promote successful …
I’m a fighter and I do not give up’ – Socially isolated older adults’ experiences with meaning in life
Positively experienced relationships with family, partners and friends are the most important source of meaning in life for older persons. At the same time, Western countries are confronted with a growing number of socially isolated older adults who lack those relationships. This study aims to explore whether and how older adults who live in social isolation experience meaning in life. Data were collected via in-depth, semi-structured interviews …
"I Chose to Put my Ego in the Closet for a while, but Struggled to Find It Again" - Backstage Reflections on Participatory Action Research and Resilience
Unwelcome truths' are central to the empowerment and transformation aims of Participatory Action Research (PAR). They confront dominant narratives, challenge power relations, and reveal hidden structures of influence. At the same time, creating communicative spaces in which unwelcome truths can surface is rarely straightforward. Researchers play a key role in creating these spaces and face several challenges. These include ethical responsibilitie…
If it stops, then I’ll start worrying.” Humor as part of the fire service culture, specifically as part of coping with critical incidents
Firefighters are reluctant to talk about firefighters’ humor with outsiders. This closed attitude has led to a lack of understanding of this important coping strategy in the outside world. It is not clear how firefighters experience humor and its role as part of the fire service culture and why they consider humor to be important when coping with critical incidents. Data has been collected by means of 20 participant observations and 72 interviews…
She shouldn't cross the line’
Social isolation of older adults is difficult to break through, and interventions that focus on network development or enhanced social participation are hardly effective, especially when the older adults have been isolated for a long time and have problems in multiple life domains. This study aimed to investigate the needs and subjective experiences of this less-researched group and obtain a deeper understanding of their goals and priorities. The…
What’s important to me is to get people moving.’ Fostering social resilience in people with severe debt problems
Resilience is considered an important solution to problematic personal debt. European debt policy and research generally focuses on the financial resilience of individuals against life events that may generate debt problems. However, many studies overlook the social dimensions of resilience with regards to tackling problematic personal debt. In this article, we therefore explore the meaning and practices of fostering social resilience in people w…
Attuning to the needs of structural socially isolated older adults with complex problems
Many interventions to combat the social isolation of older adults are hardly effective because they ignore both the heterogeneity of the target group and the uniqueness of the individual experiences of social isolation. In order to be effective, interventions must meet the individual needs of specific clients. In this study, we aim to gain insight into the process in which professionals seek to understand how clients assess their situation, and w…
Meaning in life? Make it as bearable, enjoyable and good as possible!’
The population of adults ageing in place and using home-care services is growing rapidly worldwide. Meaning in life (MiL) of this group of clients is relevant for healthcare and social workers. MiL is associated with many positive outcomes, but can be challenging for aged persons. Objective of this study was to explore MiL in daily life of community-dwelling aged persons who receive homecare. A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was followed. …
Strategies of socially isolated older adults
Social isolation relates to a lack of social contacts and interactions with family members, friends or the wider community, and results in diminished health and well-being. And yet many interventions aimed at enhanced social participation are not effective because they do not match the needs of the socially isolated older adults themselves. Little is known about the experiences of socially isolated older adults and their need for help and support…
Improving Social Quality in Housing Complexes for Older Adults
Social quality in housing complexes for older adults depends largely on the opportunities to participate in social activities and the social connections between residents in the complex. The aim of this mixed-methods study was to explore the possibilities of residents in low-income housing complexes to improve the social quality in their complexes, and to get insight into their need for professional support. Results showed that the self-organizin…
Strategies of socially isolated older adults
Social isolation relates to a lack of social contacts and interactions with family members, friends or the wider community, and results in diminished health and well-being. And yet many interventions aimed at enhanced social participation are not effective because they do not match the needs of the socially isolated older adults themselves. Little is known about the experiences of socially isolated older adults and their need for help and support…
Improving Social Quality in Housing Complexes for Older Adults
Social quality in housing complexes for older adults depends largely on the opportunities to participate in social activities and the social connections between residents in the complex. The aim of this mixed-methods study was to explore the possibilities of residents in low-income housing complexes to improve the social quality in their complexes, and to get insight into their need for professional support. Results showed that the self-organizin…
If it stops, then I’ll start worrying.” Humor as part of the fire service culture, specifically as part of coping with critical incidents
Firefighters are reluctant to talk about firefighters’ humor with outsiders. This closed attitude has led to a lack of understanding of this important coping strategy in the outside world. It is not clear how firefighters experience humor and its role as part of the fire service culture and why they consider humor to be important when coping with critical incidents. Data has been collected by means of 20 participant observations and 72 interviews…
Attuning to the needs of structural socially isolated older adults with complex problems
Many interventions to combat the social isolation of older adults are hardly effective because they ignore both the heterogeneity of the target group and the uniqueness of the individual experiences of social isolation. In order to be effective, interventions must meet the individual needs of specific clients. In this study, we aim to gain insight into the process in which professionals seek to understand how clients assess their situation, and w…
She shouldn't cross the line’
Social isolation of older adults is difficult to break through, and interventions that focus on network development or enhanced social participation are hardly effective, especially when the older adults have been isolated for a long time and have problems in multiple life domains. This study aimed to investigate the needs and subjective experiences of this less-researched group and obtain a deeper understanding of their goals and priorities. The…
What’s important to me is to get people moving.’ Fostering social resilience in people with severe debt problems
Resilience is considered an important solution to problematic personal debt. European debt policy and research generally focuses on the financial resilience of individuals against life events that may generate debt problems. However, many studies overlook the social dimensions of resilience with regards to tackling problematic personal debt. In this article, we therefore explore the meaning and practices of fostering social resilience in people w…
Meaning in life? Make it as bearable, enjoyable and good as possible!’
The population of adults ageing in place and using home-care services is growing rapidly worldwide. Meaning in life (MiL) of this group of clients is relevant for healthcare and social workers. MiL is associated with many positive outcomes, but can be challenging for aged persons. Objective of this study was to explore MiL in daily life of community-dwelling aged persons who receive homecare. A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was followed. …
Strategies of socially isolated older adults
Social isolation relates to a lack of social contacts and interactions with family members, friends or the wider community, and results in diminished health and well-being. And yet many interventions aimed at enhanced social participation are not effective because they do not match the needs of the socially isolated older adults themselves. Little is known about the experiences of socially isolated older adults and their need for help and support…
Improving Social Quality in Housing Complexes for Older Adults
Social quality in housing complexes for older adults depends largely on the opportunities to participate in social activities and the social connections between residents in the complex. The aim of this mixed-methods study was to explore the possibilities of residents in low-income housing complexes to improve the social quality in their complexes, and to get insight into their need for professional support. Results showed that the self-organizin…
What’s important to me is to get people moving.’ Fostering social resilience in people with severe debt problems
Resilience is considered an important solution to problematic personal debt. European debt policy and research generally focuses on the financial resilience of individuals against life events that may generate debt problems. However, many studies overlook the social dimensions of resilience with regards to tackling problematic personal debt. In this article, we therefore explore the meaning and practices of fostering social resilience in people w…
Attuning to the needs of structural socially isolated older adults with complex problems
Many interventions to combat the social isolation of older adults are hardly effective because they ignore both the heterogeneity of the target group and the uniqueness of the individual experiences of social isolation. In order to be effective, interventions must meet the individual needs of specific clients. In this study, we aim to gain insight into the process in which professionals seek to understand how clients assess their situation, and w…
If it stops, then I’ll start worrying.” Humor as part of the fire service culture, specifically as part of coping with critical incidents
Firefighters are reluctant to talk about firefighters’ humor with outsiders. This closed attitude has led to a lack of understanding of this important coping strategy in the outside world. It is not clear how firefighters experience humor and its role as part of the fire service culture and why they consider humor to be important when coping with critical incidents. Data has been collected by means of 20 participant observations and 72 interviews…
She shouldn't cross the line’
Social isolation of older adults is difficult to break through, and interventions that focus on network development or enhanced social participation are hardly effective, especially when the older adults have been isolated for a long time and have problems in multiple life domains. This study aimed to investigate the needs and subjective experiences of this less-researched group and obtain a deeper understanding of their goals and priorities. The…
The impact of religious identity on intergroup encounters
In recent decades, social cohesion in Western societies has been progressively undermined, leading to increased polarisation and fragmentation. Efforts to counteract this trend have included organising intergroup activities to restore trust and foster ‘bridge-building’ between different communities. While social psychology has extensively explored the dynamics of intergroup encounters, particularly in terms of their ability to promote successful …
I’m a fighter and I do not give up’ – Socially isolated older adults’ experiences with meaning in life
Positively experienced relationships with family, partners and friends are the most important source of meaning in life for older persons. At the same time, Western countries are confronted with a growing number of socially isolated older adults who lack those relationships. This study aims to explore whether and how older adults who live in social isolation experience meaning in life. Data were collected via in-depth, semi-structured interviews …
"I Chose to Put my Ego in the Closet for a while, but Struggled to Find It Again" - Backstage Reflections on Participatory Action Research and Resilience
Unwelcome truths' are central to the empowerment and transformation aims of Participatory Action Research (PAR). They confront dominant narratives, challenge power relations, and reveal hidden structures of influence. At the same time, creating communicative spaces in which unwelcome truths can surface is rarely straightforward. Researchers play a key role in creating these spaces and face several challenges. These include ethical responsibilitie…
The Impact of Religious Exclusivism on Outgroup Attitudes
Religiously diverse societies are often portrayed as marked by tensions between exclusive worldviews and aspirations toward inclusive and cohesive social relations. These tensions are particularly salient in religious contexts, where deeply held convictions about truth and moral order may coexist uneasily with ideals of tolerance and mutual recognition. A central question emerging from this dilemma is how religious worldviews shape evaluations of…
Psychology (9 works) · Social Psychology (9 works) · Social Psychology (7 works) · Sociology (6 works) · Health disparities and outcomes (5 works) · Political science (4 works) · Psychological intervention (4 works) · Psychotherapist (4 works) · Aging and Gerontology Research (3 works) · Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes (3 works)