Speaker

Name: Games for Health Europe Conference
Start: 2025-03-31T09:00
End: 2025-04-01T18:00

Speaker Info

Organization: Wilhelmina Children's Hospital (University Medical Center Utrecht)

Biography: Dr. Emmie W. Koevoets has a background in Clinical Neuropsychology and Cognitive Neuroscience. She obtained her PhD through the Physical Activity and Memory (PAM) study, which investigated the effects of physical exercise on cognitive functioning and the brain in chemotherapy-treated breast cancer patients. As of September 2022, Emmie is working as a post-doctoral researcher at the Department of Pediatrics of the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital. She is researching play behavior and mental well-being in children with a chronic (physical) condition. Her project is part of the “Feeling good, despite illness; Accessible eHealth supporting the well-being of chronically ill children.” The eHealth Junior Consortium project (with project number : NWA.1292.19.226) of the NWA research program “Research on Routes by Consortia (ORC)"" is funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO).

Title: The Role of Play in Mental Health of Children With a Chronic Physical Condition

Summary: Play is vital for developing social, motor, and cognitive skills, and fostering resilience. This presentation will focus on the significance of play behavior in children, particularly its relationship to mental well-being and the role of having a chronic condition. The presentation goes beyond gaming to explore various dimensions of play, emphasizing its critical role in the lives of children with chronic conditions. Articles that will be discussed in this presentation include: 1. "Impact of play restriction during the COVID-19 pandemic on mental well-being in children with a chronic condition": o This study examines how reduced opportunities for play during the pandemic affected the mental health of children with chronic conditions. 2. "Play behavior and mental health problems in children with a chronic physical condition: a Generation R Study"" (nearing publication.): o This study explores the associations between having a chronic physical condition, play behavior, and mental health problems.