TimingStress is a research project led by Dr. Christian Bröer (Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Sociology, and Sarphati Ethnografie) that investigates how everyday time management in families with young children contributes to stress and sleep problems—and how these issues can be prevented. The project brings together an interdisciplinary team: Dr. Nadia van der Spek (Amsterdam UMC and De Amsterdamse Psychologenpraktijk), Prof. Dr. Arnoud Verhoeff (FMG Sociology, GGD Amsterdam, and the Sarphati Institute), Dr. Kristine Johanson (Faculty of Humanities, English Language and Culture), Dr. Margreet Harskamp-van Ginkel (Youth Health Care at GGD Amsterdam and the Department of Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC), and Zana Costa Chadud Cosac, MA (FMG Sociology). The team works in close collaboration with partners including GGD Amsterdam, the Sarphati Cohort, and Rijksmuseum Boerhaave. 

Modern families face increasing pressure to balance work, caregiving, and self-care—often within rigid, time-scarce environments. These tensions can lead to exhaustion, relationship strain, and long-term consequences for both adult and child mental health. Instead of focusing solely on individual behaviours or clinical interventions, TimingStress introduces the idea of “time-care”: structuring daily routines in ways that better support both children and caregivers. 

By focusing on the temporal rhythms of everyday life, TimingStress highlights the often-overlooked role of timing in family well-being. The project aims not only to generate new academic insights but also to support scalable, preventive strategies for youth health care (JGZ), sleep and stress education, and culturally sensitive family support.