Zeena Harakeh

After completing my study in Health Sciences and earning a PhD (Cum Laude) on the role of parents and peers on adolescent smoking, I broadened my expertise to include risk behaviour, (mental) health, and lifestyle. I am driven to improve health and well-being, especially for youth and people in vulnerable situations. At TNO, I conduct practice-oriented research that connects with people’s lived experiences and social environments.

My expertise focuses on:

• Effective elements of interventions: What makes an intervention work, for whom, when, and why? I analyse interventions such as those targeting alcohol use and anti-bullying policies among youth to enhance their effectiveness.
• Strategies to reach and engage target groups: In projects like Screening the Neighborhoods and Pandemic Preparedness, I collaborate with the target group, key figures and relevant stakeholders to make communication and interventions more inclusive and effective.
• Sustainable implementation: I work with stakeholders to ensure interventions and communication materials are implemented in a sustainable and inclusive way, such as the communication regarding the cancer screening programs.
• Art in research: I use art, creativity, and visual tools to make research more accessible and communication more understandable, such as the communication regarding the cancer screening programs.

Recent publications

Harakeh, Z., de Hoogh, I., Krijger-Dijkema, A. M., Berbée, S., Kalkman, G., van Empelen, P., & Otten, W. (2024). A 360° Approach to Personalize Lifestyle Treatment in Primary Care for People With Type 2 Diabetes: Feasibility Study. JMIR Formative Research, 8(1), e57312. https://repository.tno.nl/SingleDoc?find=UID%202efe0de1-42f8-41fb-8e78-433af5336faf

Harakeh, Z., Vugs, S., van Schendel, J., Heemskerk, E., Ruiter, R., op den Kamp, G., van Empelen, P. (2024). Inclusief (her)ontwerp gedigitaliseerde communicatie bevolkingsonderzoeken: co-creëren met laaggeletterden, ouderen en mensen met een migratieachtergrond. Tijdschrift voor Human Factors, 49(1). https://repository.tno.nl/SingleDoc?find=UID%20362b0b34-330a-4e91-b16a-8fe2669f5729

Harakeh, Z., Preuhs, K., Eekhout, I., Lanting, C., Klein Velderman, M., Van Empelen, P. (2023). Behavior Change Techniques that Prevent or Decrease Obesity in Youth with a Low Socioeconomic Status: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Childhood Obesity, 20(2), 128-140. https://repository.tno.nl/SingleDoc?docId=56102

Harakeh, Z., De Hoogh, I., Van Keulen, H., Kalkman, G., Van Someren, E., Van Empelen, P., Otten, W. (2023). 360 Diagnostic Tool to Personalize Lifestyle Advice in Primary Care for People With Type 2 Diabetes: Development and Usability Study, JMIR Formative Research, 7, e37305. https://publications.tno.nl/publication/34640658/1RVUAI/harakeh-2023-diagnostic.pdf (pdf)

Van Egmond, M., Harakeh, Z., Otten, W., De Kraker, H., Werkman, A., Smits, S., Wiezer, N. (2022). Interventie in leefstijl bij diabetici in ploegendienst. TBV–Tijdschrift voor Bedrijfs-en Verzekeringsgeneeskunde, 30, 58-62. https://publications.tno.nl/publication/34642310/kXtfzo/egmond-2022-interventie.pdf (pdf)

Harakeh, Z., Van Keulen, H., Hogenelst, K., Otten, W., De Hoogh, I., Van Empelen, P. (2022). Predictors of the Acceptance of an Electronic Coach Targeting Self-management of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: Web-Based Survey. JMIR Formative Research, 6, e34737. https://publications.tno.nl/publication/34639921/wmhPD2/harakeh-2022-predictors.pdf (pdf)

Peijen, R., Harakeh, Z., Niks, I., Brouwer, C., Hooftman, W., Oude Hengel, K. (2022) De effecten van langdurig thuiswerken gedurende de coronapandemie op de gezondheid. TNO rapport. https://repository.tno.nl/SingleDoc?docId=54068

Koning, I., De Looze, M., Harakeh, Z. (2020). Parental alcohol-specific rules effectively reduce adolescents’ tobacco and cannabis use: A longitudinal study. Drug and alcohol dependence, 216,108226. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376871620303914?via%3Dihub

Stevens, G., Veldkamp, C., Harakeh, Z., Laninga-Wijnen, L. (2020). Associations between ethnic minority status and popularity in adolescence: the role of ethnic classroom composition and aggression. Journal of youth and adolescence, 49, 605-617. https://repository.tno.nl/SingleDoc?docId=509636

Laninga-Wijnen, L., Steglich, C., Harakeh, Z., Vollebergh, W., Veenstra, R., Dijkstra, J. (2020). The role of prosocial and aggressive popularity norm combinations in prosocial and aggressive friendship processes. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 49, 645-663. https://repository.tno.nl/SingleDoc?docId=50156

Laninga-Wijnen, L., Harakeh, Z., Dijkstra, J., Veenstra, R., Vollebergh, W. (2020). Who sets the aggressive popularity norm in classrooms? It’s the number and strength of aggressive, prosocial, and bi-strategic adolescents. Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, 48, 13-27. https://repository.tno.nl/SingleDoc?docId=50079