We are thrilled to share the exciting news that Dr. Lea Rahel Delfmann successfully defended her PhD thesis at Ghent University on Wednesday 18th June 2025.
Her thesis, titled “Investigating the added value of co-adaptation — A healthy sleep intervention with and for adolescents”, explored how co-creation and co-adaptation with adolescents can promote healthy sleep in school settings.
The exploration into co-adaptation has yielded several key insights. Co-adaptation was well-received by the adolescents who participated in the process. The study of adolescent sleep health reveals its complexity and suggests that a systems approach could be beneficial. One of the primary advantages of co-adaptation appears to be the enhancement of intervention acceptance among participants. However, the value of co-adaptation is likely context-dependent, indicating that decisions regarding its implementation should involve a careful consideration of the associated costs and benefits.
Lea’s work was expertly guided and supported by her supervisory team, which included Prof. Dr. Maïté Verloigne, Prof. Dr. Benedicte Deforche, Prof. Dr. Greet Cardon, Prof. Dr Simon C Hunter, and Dr. Anneke Vandendriessche.
Thanks go to the jury members for their thoughtful feedback, insightful questions and engaging discussions. The jury members for were Maartje van Stralen, Lien Van der Biest, Pieter Van Dessel, Karlien Dhondt, and Anna Galle.
Lea has published findings from her research in academic journals, which can be accessed here.
Once again, a huge congrats to Dr Lea Rahel Delfmann – we wish you all the success for the future!
