Anja Machielse

Research activity per year

Personal profile

Anja Machielse is professor emeritus of Humanism and Social Resilience and endowed professor Social Resilience of Older Adults. She studied philosophy at the University of Amsterdam and the Erasmus University Rotterdam and received her Ph.D. at Utrecht University.

Her work focuses on the social embeddedness of human beings and the significance of social relationships, both for personal life and the wider community. The tension between individual autonomy and the demands of the social environment is central to this. Important themes in her work are social isolation and loneliness, social resilience, existential problems, and meaning in life. Her research into older adults emphasizes (social) resilience, meaning in life, and promoting social recognition.

Education/Academic qualification

PhD, Utrecht University

Award Date: 16 Jan 2006

Master, Wijsbegeerte, Erasmus University Rotterdam

Award Date: 1 Sept 1998

External positions

Supervisory board member, Nationaal Ouderenfonds

2024 → …

Member of Programme Committee Day Activities for People with Dementia & Reablement, ZonMw

2023 → 2026

Board member Socrates foundation, Humanistisch Verbond

2022 → …

Member of nomination committee Humanistic Spiritual Counsellors, Humanistisch Verbond

2020 → 2026

Member of Social Trials Monitoring Committee, ZonMw

2020 → 2026

Supervisory board member, Avoord

2018 → 2026

Wetenschappelijke Adviescommissie "Een tegen Eenzaamheid" , The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport

2018 → 2026

Loneliness policy advisor, Gemeente Rotterdam

2015 → …

Keywords

loneliness
social isolation
social resilience
existential problems
meaning in life

Research themes

Care, welfare and flourishing
Life course, loss and grief
Meaning making and chaplaincy

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1 Similar Profiles

10 Finished

Resilience around severe experiences of loss in daily life. Phenomenological practice-oriented research.
Machielse, A. (Principal Investigator), Beeris, C. (Researcher) & Niemeijer, A. R. (Researcher)
ZonMW - Innovatie. Preventie in Transitie.
1/01/23 → 31/12/25
Project: Research
Onderzoek naar project Maatschappelijke Diensttijd
Machielse, A. (Principal Investigator), van der Vaart, W. (Researcher) & Hendrick, L. (Researcher)
Tijd voor Actie
1/09/22 → 31/05/23
Project: Research

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Factorenmodel sociale relaties
Machielse, A. (Principal Investigator) & Glasner, T. J. (Researcher)
Gemeente Rotterdam - Maatschappelijke Ontwikkeling
1/09/21 → 30/11/21
Project: Research
Zin in Bellen - Telefonische groepsgesprekken voor ouderen
Machielse, A. (Principal Investigator) & van der Vaart, W. (Principal Investigator)
Centrum voor Levensvragen Rotterdam e.o.
1/09/21 → 1/01/23
Project: Research
SEE ME: Social inclusion through Meaningful ageing
Machielse, A. (Principal Investigator) & van der Vaart, W. (Researcher)
Erasmus+ Call 2020
1/01/21 → 31/12/22
Project: Other

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Eenzaamheid is een complexe emotie
Machielse, J. E. M., 28 May 2026
Research output: Online publication or non-textual form › Web publication › Professional
Eenzaamheid is normaler dan je denkt
Machielse, J. E. M., 30 Apr 2026
Research output: Online publication or non-textual form › Web publication › Professional

Open Access
Hoe kunnen kunst en erfgoed helpen eenzaamheid zichtbaar, invoelbaar en bespreekbaar te maken?
Machielse, J. E. M., 2026, eenZM 2021-2024. Zeeuws Museum, p. 7-9
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Popular
'Ik geloof niet dat iemand echt geen contact wil': Eenzaamheid/ vervreemding/verdriet
Machielse, J. E. M., 1 Jun 2026, Wat het leven de moeite waard maakt: De mooiste gesprekken over die ene grote vraag. Pama, G. & de Vos, M. (eds.). Amsterdam: NRC Boeken, p. 201-208 H.25. (NRC Boeken).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Popular
Predictors of quality of life after cardiac procedures: a mixed-methods study
Medendorp, N., Rijnhart-de Jong, H., Verstraaten, I., Oirbans, T., Daeter, E., Wesselink, H., Snijder, R., Schulz, D., van der Voort, P., Boerma, C., Duiker, D., Machielse, J. E. M., Huber, M., Takkenberg, J. & van Veghel, D., 22 Aug 2026, In: Quality of Life Research. 35, 9, 14 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review