Bart Soenens is a professor of developmental and motivational psychology at Ghent University. His research mainly focuses on the role of parents in the psychosocial development of children and adolescents. With Self-Determination Theory as a central framework, this research highlights both growth-promoting forms of parenting (such as autonomy support and structure) and more undermining forms of parenting (such as psychological control and overprotection). He also studies parenthood in a broader sense, with attention to themes such as parental well-being and the development of parental identity.