Short cv

Winifred (Winnie) A. Gebhardt is an expert on health behavior change. She studied at Utrecht University, The Netherlands, where she obtained her first degree in Clinical - and Health Psychology (Major), and Social - and Organizational Psychology (minor) in 1989. She did a post-Master research internship at Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA, USA in 1989. Upon return to the Netherlands, she worked in different health settings before starting her PhD in 1992 at Leiden University. In 1997, she obtained her PhD cum laude on a thesis entitled “ Health behaviour goal model: Towards a theoretical framework for health behaviour change." From 1997 she was employed as Assistant Professor, and as of 2006 as Associate Professor of Health Psychology at Leiden University. Since April 2021 Winnie Gebhardt works as a senior researcher at the National Institute for Social Research for 4 days a week.

Ancillary functions

Winnie Gebhardt is also chair of the Psychogy Masters' Programme Committee, and also holds many other ancillary functions both within academia and in practice. At the annual conference of the European Health Psychology Society in 2018, she will receive an honourary Fellowship from Society for her contribution to the field of health psychology.  

For more information about her research and teaching please visit Winnie Gebhardt's personal website or her cv (pdf). 

Research

Winnie Gebhardt studies the dynamic interaction of health goals and other personal goals, including the role of ambivalence, goal prioritization, intergoal facilitation and - conflict. Moreover, she explores intervention techniques to strengthen the link between a health goal and personal identity, e.g. by connecting the health goal to future "possible" selves, or by boosting “transitional identities. In addition, she works on the evaluation of (governmental) interventions to encourage healthier lifestyles, and on the improvement of the process of implementation.

Grants

• The effects of the public smoking ban on current smokers' smoking behavior and (self)conceptions, and implications for governmental communication. (Miro/Pfizer) 
• Preconditions for effective implementation of tailored-based 
• Interventions to enhance an active life-style among high risk populations. (ZonMW) 
• Who takes care for the caregivers? (ZonMW) 
• The effectiveness of implementation intentions in reducing alcohol consumption among students (LUF) 
• Evaluation of the prevention programme for elementary schools “Fire”. (Dutch Burn Society) 
• Perfect Fit: Targeting key risk factors for cardiovascular disease in at-risk individuals using a personalized and adaptive approach (NWO)

Awards

• Fellow of the European Health Psychology Society (2018)

Supervisors

• Prof. dr. C.J.M.G. Maes

Supervised PhD candidates

• Janice Sandjojo.Promoting self-management in people with intellectual disability (lopend)
• Eline Meijer. This is (not) who I am: Understanding identity in continued smoking and smoking cessation (2017). 
• Josanne Huijg. Preconditions for the effective introduction of physical activity interventions for high-risk populations to primary health care. (2013)
• Karin Menninga. Continued abstinence and relapse among ex-smokers (2013)  
• Emma Massey. Explaining well-being and headache in adolescence: A self-regulation perspective (2009)
• Kristell Penfornis, Perfect Fit: Targeting key risk factors for cardiovascular disease in at-risk individuals using a personalized and adaptive approach.
• Michelle Brust: Teachable moments, identity and health behavior change.
• Marjon Bohré, The influence of leadership on perceived humanness in organizations.

Relevant links

• Leiden Psychology Blog
• LinkedIn profile
• Research Gate profile
• winniegebhardt.com

Publications

Activities