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Psychology Research Institute Psychology Research Institute

Dr. J.D. (Jonathan) Leipoldt PhD

Lecturer
Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences
Programme group Developmental Psychology
Area of expertise: Residential youth care, Adolescence, Psychopathology, Quality of life, School dropout, Social climate, Contextual factors
Visiting address
  • Nieuwe Achtergracht 129
  • Room number: G1.15
Postal address
  • Postbus 15916
    1001 NK Amsterdam
Contact details
Social media
  • Profile

    Jonathan Leipoldt works as a Lecturer and Researcher at the Programme Group Developmental Psychology of the University of Amsterdam. His research focuses on contextual factors within youth care, families, and young people. The focus is on the links with psychopathology and quality of life. He also conducts research on school dropouts and interventions within the prison setting.

    In addition to his research tasks, Jonathan is also the Teaching Coordinator and Study adviser for the Developmental Psychology Programme Group and the Assessment Expert for the Department of Psychology.

    Memberships

  • Research

    Research Projects

    Identity content and psychopathology in adolescence

    This mixed-methods research project investigates how characteristics of identity develop in adolescence and how we can measure this accurately. We examine how adolescents use both the online and offline world in developmentof their identity content and which contextual factors have a promoting effect on identity content. We also investigate the extent to which negative identity development can contribute to the development of psychopathology and whether there are buffering effects.

    School dropout - AlmeerKans (AK)

    Adolescents who are (at risk of) dropping out of school are given a last chance at AK, a project of Mind@Work, to return to school or vocational education. The entire trajectory lasts 18 months, and during the first six months youth follow training courses based on the social competence model. School is temporarily put on hold, instead these adolescents perform internships, obtain training in social skills, and receive personal guidance from a mentor.

    The research focuses on the effectiveness of the intervention, currently over the first six months. Several measures, including motivation, behavioural problems, competence, and intelligence, are used in the trajectory to gain insight into the young person's progress. This data is used to study the effectiveness of AK.

    Soft skills intervention in detention - Samenspel

    Samenspel investigates the effectiveness of a sports intervention among male prisoners in a prison in the Netherlands. Over a period of 12 weeks, participants are offered various atypical sports games in which they learn to develop soft skills. These soft skills include collaboration, self-regulation, trust, and managing new rules. The intervention is provided by psychomotoric therapists and physical education instructors in the prison.

    The study examines whether participants improve in their soft skills, and recently, we started investigating whether these skills are retained. In addition, we are investigating the validity of the used instruments.

    Research Interests

    • Social climate in residential youth care
    • School dropout
    • Interventions in detention settings
    • Contextual factors and psychopathology in youth

    Research Methods

    • Structural Equation Modelling (SEM)
    • Latent Class and Profile Analysis
    • Modern test theory (IRT)
    • Quantitative research
    • Qualitative Systematic Reviews

    Research Grants and Prizes

    • Stimulus Grant (€50.000) - University of Amsterdam
    • Best Master's thesis prize (€100) - Triversum, Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

    Relevant Links

  • Teaching & PhD Supervision

    Coursework

    • Psychological Assessment
    • Childhood: Developmental, Clinical and School Psychology
    • Adolescence: Developmental, Clinical and School Psychology
    • Youth Interventions: Theory, Research and Practice
    • Healthy Development: From Brain to Society

    Individual Supervision

    • Bachelor's thesis supervision within the Bachelor of Psychology, specialisation Clinical Developmental Psychology
    • Master's thesis supervision within the master's Clinical Developmental Psychology (KLOP)
    • Internship supervision within the master's Health Promotion & Behaviour Change (HPBC)

    PhD-supervision (co-promotor)

    • Lorraine Denis

    Other educational tasks

    • Teaching Coordinator Programme Group Developmental Psychology
    • Study adviser
      • Bachelor Psychology, specialisation Clinical Developmental Psychology, master's KLOP and HPBC

    Relevant Links

  • Teacher Professionalization

    Assessment Expert

    As an Assessment Expert for the department of Psychology, Jonathan is involved in the assessment part of the Univeristy Teaching Qualification (UTQ) for teachers. He also provides workshops for new teachers and PhD-students regarding master's thesis and internship supervision. In his role as Assessment Expert, Jonathan further has the following responsibilities:

    • Advising the Examinations Board on assessment related aspects
    • Managing Examiner status for employees in the department of Psychology
    • Advising teaching staff on application of assessment regulations
    • Policy work in the field of assessment

    Relevant Links

  • Publications

    2025

    • Eltink, E. M. A., Roest, J., van der Helm, G. H. P., Heynen, E. J. E., Kuiper, C. H. Z., Nijhof, K. S., Vandevelde, S., Leipoldt, J. D., Stams, G. J. J. M., Knorth, E. J., Harder, A. T., & Assink, M. (2025). Safety First! Residential group climate and antisocial behavior: A multilevel meta-analysis. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 69(12), 1663-1687. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X241252052
    • Knorth, E. J., Harder, A. T., & Leipoldt, J. D. (2025). Social support of young people during and after residential youth care in the Netherlands: The role of the family, care, care workers, and residential group. In E. Magalhães, & S. Attar-Schwartz (Eds.), Social Support of Young People in and after Residential Care: Is Someone There for You?: An International Perspective (pp. 271-287). (Routledge advances in social work). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003424468-20

    2023

    2022

    • Leipoldt, J. D., Harder, A. T., Kayed, N. S., Grietens, H., & Rimehaug, T. (2022). The interplay of youth and care characteristics with a positive social climate in therapeutic residential youth care. Children and Youth Services Review, 134, Article 106348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106348 [details]
    • Leipoldt, J. D., Harder, A. T., Kayed, N. S., Knorth, E. J., & Rimehaug, T. (2022). The Mediating Role of Social Climate in the Association of Youth and Residential Service Characteristics and Quality of Life. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 92(2), 203-216. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000598 [details]

    2020

    • Leipoldt, J. D., & Strijbosch, E. L. L. (2020). Een positief leefklimaat in gezinshuizen en residentiële leefgroepen. In A. Harder, E. Knorth, & C. Kuiper (Eds.), Uithuisgeplaatste jeugdigen: Sleutels tot succes in behandeling en onderwijs (pp. 109-117). Uitgeverij SWP.
    • Leipoldt, J. D., Harder, A. T., Kayed, N. S., Grietens, H., & Rimehaug, T. (2020). Corrigendum to “Determinants and outcomes of social climate in therapeutic residential youth care: A systematic review” [Children Youth Serv. Rev. 99 (2019) 429–440] (Children and Youth Services Review (2019) 99 (429–440), (S0190740918309988), (10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.02.010)). Children and Youth Services Review, 119, Article 105664. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105664

    2019

    • Leipoldt, J. D., Harder, A. T., Kayed, N. S., Grietens, H., & Rimehaug, T. (2019). Determinants and outcomes of social climate in therapeutic residential youth care: A systematic review. Children and Youth Services Review, 99, 429-440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.02.010

    2018

    • Leipoldt, J. D., Kayed, N. S., Harder, A. T., Grietens, H., & Rimehaug, T. (2018). Refining the COPES to Measure Social Climate in Therapeutic Residential Youth Care. Child and Youth Care Forum, 47(2), 173-197. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-017-9424-z

    2021

    • Leipoldt, J. D., Harder, A. T., Kayed, N. S., Grietens, H., & Rimehaug, T. (2021). The interplay of youth and care characteristics with a positive social climate in therapeutic residential youth care. 569. Abstract from EuSARF 2021: International Conference of the European Scientific Association on Residential and Family Care for Children and Adolescents, Zurich, Switzerland.

    2018

    • Leipoldt, J. D. (2018). Het sociale klimaat in de residentiële jeugdzorg: Een systematische review naar voorspellers en behandeluitkomsten. Poster session presented at Jeugd in Onderzoek 2018, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
    • Leipoldt, J. D., Harder, A. T., Kayed, N. S., Grietens, H., & Rimehaug, T. (2018). Institutional determinants of social Climate in therapeutic residential care: A systematic review and empirical follow-up study. 442-443. Abstract from EUSARF Porto 2018: All children, all families, Porto, Portugal.

    2017

    2016

    • Leipoldt, J. D., Rimehaug, T., Harder, A. T., Kayed, N. S., & Grietens, H. (2016). Measuring social climate in Norwegian residential youth care: A revision of the community oriented programs environment scale. 95-96. Abstract from EuSARF 2016: International Conference of the European Scientific Association on Residential and Family Care for Children and Adolescents, Oviedo, Spain. https://programme.exordo.com/eusarf2016/delegates/presentation/72/

    2015

    • Leipoldt, J. D. (2015). Live a life in residential care: The importance of social climate for the well-being of adolescents in care. Abstract from Sluttkonferanse for forskningsprosjektet Psykisk helse hos barn og unge i barneverninstitusjoner, Trondheim, Norway.

    2014

    • Leipoldt, J. D., Tromp, N., & van Dijk, R. (2014). Effectiveness of mentalisation-based treatment in clinical adolescents: Preliminary results and future developments. Abstract from 3rd International Congress on Borderline Personality Disorder and Allied Disorders, Rome, Italy.

    Prize / grant

    • Leipoldt, J. D. (2024). Stimulus grant.
    • Leipoldt, J. D. (2015). Best Master's thesis.

    Membership / relevant position

    • Leipoldt, J. D. (2016-2020). Board member of a network for PhD's and young researchers in the field of residential and family care, EUSARF Academy. https://eusarf.org/#academy

    Talk / presentation

    Others

    • Leipoldt, J. D. (reviewer) (15-6-2025 - 15-7-2025). Children and Youth Services Review (Journal) (peer review of a publication).
    • Leipoldt, J. D. (reviewer) (26-2-2025 - 29-7-2025). Child & Youth Care Forum (Journal) (peer review of a publication).
    • Leipoldt, J. D. (reviewer) (6-12-2023 - 31-3-2024). Child Indicators Research (Journal) (peer review of a publication).
    • Leipoldt, J. D. (reviewer) (13-12-2021 - 19-2-2022). Child & Youth Care Forum (Journal) (peer review of a publication).
    • Leipoldt, J. D. (organiser) (2-10-2018). EUSARF 2018 Academy Pre-conference, Porto. Organizer pre-conference for the EUSARF Academy during the EUSARF 2018 conference (organising a conference, workshop, ...). https://eusarf.org/#academy
    • Leipoldt, J. D. (reviewer) (24-11-2017 - 24-12-2017). Journal of Child and Family Studies (Journal) (peer review of a publication).
    • Leipoldt, J. D. (participant) (21-8-2017 - 25-8-2017). Summer School The Future of Child and Family Welfare Policy: Looking Trough Different Lenses, Groningen. This summer school aimed to gain insights into child and family policy and practice and the future scenarios of child welfare in Europe. Participants (…) (participating in a conference, workshop, ...). https://www.projecthestia.com/en/summer-school-the-future-of-child-and-family-welfare-policy-looking-through-different-lenses-organised-by-t…
    • Leipoldt, J. D. (organiser) (13-9-2016). EuSARF 2016: International Conference of the European Scientific Association on Residential and Family Care for Children and Adolescents: Shaping the Future, Oviedo. Organizer pre-conference for the EUSARF Academy during the EUSARF 2016 conference (organising a conference, workshop, ...). https://eusarf.org/#academy

    2021

    • Leipoldt, J. D. (2021). Give me the environment that I need: The importance of social climate for the well-being of young people in residential youth care. [Thesis, fully external, University of Groningen, Norwegian University of Science and Technology]. https://doi.org/10.33612/diss.183547001
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