Berna Güroğlu brings the science of friendship to a broad public audience
Prof. Berna Güroğlu has recently contributed to several public media productions that highlight the importance of friendships for young people’s development and well-being.
She was featured as a scientific expert in the international ARTE/ARD documentary The Power of Friendships, which was filmed at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences and at the LIBC scanner of Leiden University Medical Center. The documentary, broadcast on 15 January and now available online, explores how friendships shape social and emotional development across the lifespan and presents neuroscientific insights into adolescents’ sensitivity to peer relationships.
In addition, Güroğlu appeared in the BNNVARA podcast Echte Oogappels in the episode Vrienden voor altijd, where she discussed what friendships mean for young people and how brain research helps explain their role in identity formation, emotional support, and resilience. By connecting scientific knowledge to everyday experiences of families and young people, the episode makes research on social development accessible to a wide audience.
Through these contributions, Güroğlu helps translate developmental neuroscience into societal impact and raises awareness of the central role of peer relationships in youth mental health – an important theme within GUTS.