John De Wit
Biographic Data
| ID | 84171 |
|---|---|
| NAME | John De Wit |
| GIVEN NAMES | John |
| FAMILY NAME | De Wit |
| SIGNATURE | DE WIT J |
| AFFILIATIONS | Utrecht University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-5895-7935 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 126 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 148 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 126 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1954 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 7 |
Promoting HIV-Testing Amongst Gay, Bisexual and Other Men who have Sex with Men in Amsterdam
Late HIV diagnosis remains prevalent in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in Amsterdam and is associated with ongoing transmission. Drawing on proven but underused intervention development approaches, we co-created an innovative communication campaign with GBMSM and HIV prevention experts to promote HIV-testing amongst never or not recently tested GBMSM. The campaign addressed behavioral determinants of HIV testing throug…
Perceived Accuracy of ‘Undetectable Equals Untransmittable’ (U = U) Affects Openness to HIV Serodifferent Partnering in Australia
Sexual Orientation, Gender, and HIV-Related Stigma or Discrimination Among Gay and Bisexual Men and Non-Binary People in Australia
Making sense of risk
OBJECTIVE: To explore how Irish gay men make sense of sexual health-related risk in contemporary prevention ecology. DESIGN: Qualitative study using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Purposive sampling recruited nine cisgender gay men living in Ireland. Semi-structured interviews (45-60 min) were conducted remotely and deliberately de-framed (the term 'risk' was omitted from materials) to reduce priming. Analysis followed idiographic, cas…
From initial awareness to sustained involvement
HIV remains a persistent global health challenge, emphasizing the urgent need for an effective cure. Meaningful engagement of affected communities is essential for advancing HIV cure efforts. Using stage theories of behavior change, this paper investigated engagement as a dynamic process. Engagement was highlighted with five interconnected stages: awareness, perceived relevance, decision-making, participation, and sustained involvement. These sta…
“It Touched Me Deeply”
Discrimination against LGBTIQA+ adolescents in schools is a global issue. Perspective-taking and empathy are widely recognized as effective mechanisms for reducing prejudice and discrimination. Theater plays have the potential to enhance audience members' empathy for marginalized groups represented in the play. This study examines the impact of a theatrical performance and the post-performance dialogue on reducing prejudice among students at seco…
A Decade of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Cascade Monitoring
We have monitored Australia's maturing HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) program for the past decade, providing a unique view of long-term implementation among gay, bisexual and queer men and non-binary people. Using two national surveys, the GBQ + Community Periodic Surveys (GCPS, 2014-2023, N = 78,378) and the PrEPARE Project (2017-2023, N = 5,278), we constructed and iteratively refined cascades to monitor PrEP suitability, awareness, use, a…
Migration Status and HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Uptake Among Gay and Bisexual Men and Non-binary People in Australia
Increasing HIV prevention coverage among migrant gay and bisexual men (GBM) and non-binary people in Australia has become a priority, as recently arrived migrants are at higher risk of HIV acquisition than longer-term Australian residents. We compared GBM and non-binary participants who were willing to use but had never used pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) before with current PrEP users, and explored how migration status was associated with PrEP …
Polydrug use during chemsex
Chemsex refers to the intentional use of psychoactive substances to enhance, explore, or alter sexual experiences. The use of geolocation apps, and its link with physical, psychological, and social harms for the individual as well as society has been described ‘Polydrug use’—combining multiple substances to amplify or diversify effects—is frequently reported across these groups. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the sexual effects…
Women's empowerment and mental well-being
Perinatal mental health is a significant concern globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Women's mental well-being is essential for managing daily stresses and positively contributing to their communities. Empowering women can enhance their health and that of their families. This paper explores how women's empowerment(WE) in rural Kenyan communities affects their maternal mental well-being and discusses the challenges and lesson…
Understanding the dynamics and interplay of public support and adherence to five key mitigation behaviors over the course of the evolving Covid-19 pandemic
Behavioral measures played a critical role in mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic, and their success hinged on continued public support and adherence. This study provides novel evidence on changes in support and adherence to behavioral mitigation measures and appraises the role of pandemic fatigue to provide robust guidance for effective governance of future public health and safety crises. Data were collected from a population cohort study in the N…
Investigating the influence of partner attitudes, norms and risk behavior on condom use decision-making during penile-vaginal sex with casual partners
Among young persons, declining condom use trends in many countries, high prevalences of chlamydia, and recent increases in gonorrhea diagnoses highlight the need to promote condom use. Individual social-cognitive factors and those of partners are known to influence condom use decision-making in steady partnerships, whereas research on casual partnerships is lacking. Our vignette study examined the influence of partner characteristics on condom us…
Estimating Prevention-Effective Adherence to HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Among Australian Gay, Bisexual and Queer Men and Non-binary People
Oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective when taken appropriately at times of HIV risk, termed "prevention-effective adherence". To understand suboptimal adherence, we refined a brief measure for surveys among gay, bisexual and queer men and non-binary (GBQ+) people. We used a mixed-methods design, comprising a national, online cross-sectional survey (June-July 2023) and cognitive interviews (August-October 2023). Logistic reg…
Risk reconsidered
This study explored how risk in the context of sexual health is conceptualised in research related to gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men during a period of major biomedical change, including the scale-up of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and the Undetectable = Untransmittable (U = U) campaign, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. A systematic search across Medline (OVID), CINAHL, and Scopus identified studies published and/or with dat…
Collective Decision Making and Support for Covid ‐19 Measures at Campus
Although the importance of a collective action approach for pandemic management has been acknowledged during the recent COVID‐19 pandemic, actual attempts at involving people in designing a package of mitigation measures were absent. Our research examines the potential of active participation of the student community in collective pandemic decision making in the university setting. We address two questions. First, would a student population be wi…
Local implementation of long-term care and the shaping of carers’ capabilities in the Netherlands and Slovenia
This article explores the implementation of long-term care (LTC) systems in four municipalities in Slovenia and the Netherlands against a context of decentralisation and deinstitutionalisation. As these reforms have increased reliance on carers for home-based care, local implementation shapes the capabilities of carers. Our analysis identifies three main challenges at the local level: fragmented information sources; treating carers as resources i…
Sustaining Heteronormativity in Marriage
Family members often cite broader societal discourses and norms when forcing Chinese queer people to engage in heterosexual marriage (referred to as HMQ; heterosexual marriage undertaken by Chinese queer people). It is unclear what these social norms entail and how the norms are maintained. This paper examines 89 Chinese newspaper articles to uncover the societal discourses driving families to pressure queer people into heterosexual marriage. We …
A survey-based assessment of rates and covariates of mpox diagnosis and vaccination provides evidence to refine eligibility criteria for mpox vaccination among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex…
Background: The 2022 multicountry mpox outbreaks predominantly affected gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in non-endemic countries, including in the Netherlands. We conducted a survey-based assessment of the alignment between the risk factors associated with mpox diagnosis among GBMSM in the Netherlands and the eligibility criteria used in 2022 for vaccinating this group, with the aim to refine these criteria. Methods: An …
Engagement of HIV-negative MSM and partners of people with HIV in HIV cure (research)
As the prospect of an HIV cure is gaining prominence, engaging key populations affected by an HIV cure becomes essential. This study examined the engagement of HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM) and/or partners of people with HIV (PHIV) in the Netherlands. Interviews were conducted with 19 MSM not in relationships with a partner with HIV and 16 partners of PHIV and were thematically analyzed. Perspectives on the importance of an HIV cur…
The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on STI and HIV Services in the Netherlands According to Health Care Professionals
Surveillance data from the Netherlands show that STI/HIV testing decreased at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting barriers to access to STI/HIV care. However, the impact of the pandemic on STI/HIV care may be more complex, and key populations could be differentially affected. The aim of this study was to gain more insight into the impact of COVID-19 on STI/HIV care in the Netherlands from the perspective of STI/HIV care providers. We i…
Intersectional inequalities in mental health by education, income, gender, and age before and during the Covid-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
Inequalities in mental health add up for those who experience multiple axes of disadvantage, such as women and those with low incomes, but no disproportionate intersectional interaction effects were found. Effort is needed to ensure that mental health support is accessible for all, especially those with low incomes. Given the especially strong mental health declines among those over 65, responses to future crises need to include measures to prote…
Interventions to Prevent Intimate Partner Violence
Intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a global health and human rights problem. This systematic review assesses the effects of preventive interventions on the occurrence of IPV experience or perpetration. Twenty-six studies published between January 1, 2008 and March 31, 2022 were included, contributing 91 effect sizes. Multilevel meta-analysis showed a protective pooled effect (risk ratio = 0.85, 95% CI [0.77, 0.99]). Interventions (also) incl…
A qualitative exploration of food choice motives of urban indigenous food gatekeepers in Fiji
Pacific Island Countries (PICs) have exceptionally high rates of obesity and non-communicable diseases. The causes are complex but one prominent factor is the notable shift from traditional plant and seafood diets to diets high in unhealthy processed foods. Literature is sparse on the motives behind food choice decisions of Pacific Islanders. The widely used Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ) (Steptoe et al., 1995) is a multi-dimensional tool captur…
An unequal health policy landscape? Examining socioeconomic differences in acceptability and preferences for policies that aim to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in health
BACKGROUND: This study explores socioeconomic differences in acceptability and preferences for policies that aim to reduce socioeconomic health inequalities. The investigated policies range from structural policies, requiring no individual agency, to agentic policies, which depend on the individual agency for behaviour change. METHODS: An online, cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1182 participants, stratified by education and representat…
Interventions Used in Practice to Reduce Prejudice and Stereotypes Toward Lesbian and Gay People
Various interventions are used in practice to reduce prejudice against lesbian women and gay men. Often these have not been developed or evaluated for effectiveness by researchers. In this study, we used theory-based evaluation (TBE) to determine whether the assumptions underlying three types of interventions (knowledge interventions, guessing games, and theater and movie interventions) often used in practice in the Netherlands are in line with e…
Minority Stress in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Young Adults in Australia
When planning is not enough
In two experiments a self‐regulatory strategy combining mental contrasting with the formation of implementation intentions (MCII) was tested for its effectiveness in diminishing unhealthy snacking habits. Study 1 ( N = 51) showed that participants in the MCII condition consumed fewer unhealthy snacks than participants in a control condition who thought about and listed healthy options for snacks. In Study 2 ( N = 59) MCII was more effective than …
On the Margins of Pharmaceutical Citizenship
With the expanding pharmaceuticalization of public health, anthropologists have begun to examine how biomedicine's promissory discourses of normalization and demarginalization give rise to new practices of and criteria for citizenship. Much of this work focuses on the biomedicine-citizenship nexus in less-developed, resource-poor contexts. But how do we understand this relationship in resource-rich settings where medicines are readily available, …
"Post-Gay" Yet? The Relevance of the Lesbian and Gay Scene to Same-Sex Attracted Young People in Contemporary Australia
In recent years, the lesbian and gay "scene" of bars, nightclubs, and dance parties has been undergoing a structural decline in many Western cities. This article aimed to examine the relevance of the scene to same-sex attracted young adults amid these changes. An online survey was conducted with 572 same-sex attracted young women and men in Sydney. Only a minority of respondents participated in the scene at least weekly (16%), and the majority di…
Challenging Perceptions of 'Straight
Research shows that some heterosexually identified men engage in sex with men; however, they remain largely hidden and little understood. Despite long-standing scholarly recognition that sexual identity and orientation do not always neatly coincide, the culturally normative heterosexual/homosexual binary tends to shape mainstream perceptions of such men as well as render them invisible in sexual health systems reliant on stable sexual identity ca…
Educational Status and Risk of HIV in Young Gay Men
Lower socioeconomic status (SES) has been associated with higher rates of HIV infection as well as higher rates of unsafe sex. The behavioral determinants that might mediate the effect of SES on risky sex have not been studied thus far. We investigated the involvement of social cognitions in the link between educational status and unprotected anal sex in 292 participants of the Amsterdam Young Gay Men Study. We found that poorly educated men had …
Looking cool or attaining self-rule. Different motives for autonomy and their effects on unhealthy snack purchase
Cool and independent or foolish and undisciplined? Adolescents’ prototypes of (un)healthy eaters and their association with eating behaviour
Doing More Good than Harm? The Effects of Participation in Sex Research on Young People in the Netherlands
Socio-cultural beliefs about an ideal body size and implications for risk of excess weight gain after immigration
Objectives: Though several studies have focused on risk factors associated with excess weight gain, little is known about the extent to which socio-cultural beliefs about body sizes may contribute to risk of excess weight gain, especially in non-Western migrant communities. Drawing on socio-cultural and attribution theories, this study mainly explored socio-cultural beliefs about an ideal body size among Australian residents who were born in sub-…
Communicating eating-related rules. Suggestions are more effective than restrictions
The habitual nature of unhealthy snacking
No Ordinary Mainstream Illness
Research has shown that social representations of HIV can constitute barriers to health workers' willingness to provide HIV care. Considering a growing shortage in the HIV primary workforce in Western countries, we examine how HIV is perceived today by doctors involved in its care. In 1989 Sontag predicted that once the virus became better understood and treatable, the dehumanizing meanings that defined the early epidemic would vanish and HIV wou…
At-Home Environment, Out-of-Home Environment, Snacks and Sweetened Beverages Intake in Preadolescence, Early and Mid-Adolescence
Distress, Need for Help, and Positive Feelings Derived from Participation in Sex Research
To inform cost-benefit analyses of potential harms and benefits for participants in sex research, the current study investigated potential effects of completing a self-report sex survey. The data stem from a sexual health study in a population sample in the Netherlands (N = 8,064; 15 to 70 years old). Three measures assessed potential effects of participation: distress, need for help, and positive feelings related to research participation. Analy…
PrEP Interest Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in the Netherlands
Despite increased availability of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), PrEP uptake has remained low. To promote uptake, factors related to PrEP interest among relevant target populations warrant investigation. The aim of this study was to provide an analysis of PrEP interest among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the Netherlands, while taking study recruitment strategies into account. We recruited 154 MSM from an LGBT research panel (AmsterdamPinkP…
Making plans for healthy diet
The main objective of the present study was to examine the role of motivation and action orientation in forming spontaneous (i.e., without specific instruction or manipulation) implementation intentions for a healthy diet goal. We hypothesized that (1) the adoption of a diet goal would be determined by (either intrinsic or extrinsic) motivation only whereas, (2) forming implementation intentions would be determined by intrinsic motivation and (ei…
Feeling' Risk and Seeing Solutions
This study assessed cognitive and affective predictors of intention to obtain vaccination against the hepatitis B virus (HBV) among men who have sex with men (MSM), based on leading social cognitive models of health behavior. The key predictors of vaccination intention were perceived risk of contracting HBV, expectancies regarding the outcome of vaccination, and the interaction between risk perception and outcome expectancies. Negative affect inc…
Sustaining Heteronormativity in Marriage
Family members often cite broader societal discourses and norms when forcing Chinese queer people to engage in heterosexual marriage (referred to as HMQ; heterosexual marriage undertaken by Chinese queer people). It is unclear what these social norms entail and how the norms are maintained. This paper examines 89 Chinese newspaper articles to uncover the societal discourses driving families to pressure queer people into heterosexual marriage. We …
Interventions Used in Practice to Reduce Prejudice and Stereotypes Toward Lesbian and Gay People
Various interventions are used in practice to reduce prejudice against lesbian women and gay men. Often these have not been developed or evaluated for effectiveness by researchers. In this study, we used theory-based evaluation (TBE) to determine whether the assumptions underlying three types of interventions (knowledge interventions, guessing games, and theater and movie interventions) often used in practice in the Netherlands are in line with e…
Stigma, Anxiety, and Depression Among Gay and Bisexual Men in Mixed-Orientation Marriages
The mental health of gay and bisexual men in mixed-orientation marriages is poorly understood. In this article, the authors explore the development of anxiety and depression among gay and bisexual men in heterosexual marriages. Sixteen men, living in the Australian states of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and Tasmania were interviewed throughout 2016 and 2017. An analysis of interviews identified four main themes, namely, compulsory heter…
Associations of post-migration dietary and physical activity behaviours with acculturation and social cognitive factors
A considerable amount of research suggests that several 'immigrants' from low-and-middle income countries often adopt less healthy dietary and physical activity behaviours after settling in high income countries, which may lead to increased risk of weight-related diseases. Several studies have also reported that post-migration changes in dietary and physical activity behaviours are associated with acculturation. Given that social cognitive factor…
The relationship between negative responses to HIV status disclosure and psychosocial outcomes among people living with HIV
This report examines rates of HIV status disclosure and negative responses to disclosure among people living with HIV in Australia. Among 697 people living with HIV, most (>90%) had disclosed their status to friends, sexual partners and health providers. Almost a third had not disclosed to family, and half had not told any work colleagues. Negative responses to disclosure (e.g. blame, rejection) by all groups were associated with increased HIV-re…
When group members go against the grain
Human rights and universal access for men who have sex with men and people who inject drugs
De Textu Iuvenci Poetae Observationes Criticae
De Sulpicio Severo Observationes
On facts and how to use them
This paper deals with the difference between reality and fantasy, and the way it is being obscured in the debate on terrorism that is presently taking place in the Federal Republic of Germany. Our central thesis is that society creates a certain human prototype by ignoring some facets of the complex reality. We base this view on the philosophy of the French anarchist Michel Foucault. As an illustration we discuss the Mescalero case. Finally, we f…
Sexual Behavior and Depression Among HIV-Positive Gay Men
Do Today's Young Homosexual Men Practice Safer Sex Than Today's Older Homosexual Men Did When They Were Young? An Analysis of Sexual Behavior Change Across Cohorts in Amsterdam
Assessing sexual risk behaviour of young gay men in primary relationships
OBJECTIVES: To establish the actual rate of risky unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) among young gay men in steady relationships by correcting for negotiated safety (NS) and NS compliance. In addition, to examine whether the rate of UAI with steady partners, after correction for NS and NS compliance, is higher than the rate of UAI during sexual contacts with casual partners. METHODS: A total of 435 young gay men completed questionnaires regarding…
Educational Status and Risk of HIV in Young Gay Men
Lower socioeconomic status (SES) has been associated with higher rates of HIV infection as well as higher rates of unsafe sex. The behavioral determinants that might mediate the effect of SES on risky sex have not been studied thus far. We investigated the involvement of social cognitions in the link between educational status and unprotected anal sex in 292 participants of the Amsterdam Young Gay Men Study. We found that poorly educated men had …
Behavioral and Cognitive Barriers to Safer Sex Between Men in Steady Relationships
Steady partners are a major source of HIV infection among gay men. To better understand sexual risk taking in steady relationships, we examined characteristics of the first incident of unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) between steady male partners. We also examined cognitive barriers to safer sex by way of associating beliefs regarding UAI with protective behavior. Questionnaires assessing sexual behavior and related cognitions were completed by…
Sexual Health Among Male College Students in the United States and the Netherlands
Findings suggest that sexuality education seems to decrease, rather than increase, sexual risk in heterosexually active male college students
What works best
OBJECTIVE: In an experimental online study we compared the effects of different types of persuasive evidence in promoting the acceptance of a personal health risk. DESIGN: 118 men who have sex with men (MSM) at-risk for infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) were recruited via a range of websites and randomly assigned to one of 4 conditions (2 experimental and 2 control): narrative evidence (i.e., a personal account), statistical evidence (i.…
Feeling' Risk and Seeing Solutions
This study assessed cognitive and affective predictors of intention to obtain vaccination against the hepatitis B virus (HBV) among men who have sex with men (MSM), based on leading social cognitive models of health behavior. The key predictors of vaccination intention were perceived risk of contracting HBV, expectancies regarding the outcome of vaccination, and the interaction between risk perception and outcome expectancies. Negative affect inc…
Cool and independent or foolish and undisciplined? Adolescents’ prototypes of (un)healthy eaters and their association with eating behaviour
Making plans for healthy diet
The main objective of the present study was to examine the role of motivation and action orientation in forming spontaneous (i.e., without specific instruction or manipulation) implementation intentions for a healthy diet goal. We hypothesized that (1) the adoption of a diet goal would be determined by (either intrinsic or extrinsic) motivation only whereas, (2) forming implementation intentions would be determined by intrinsic motivation and (ei…
Casual Sexual Encounters Among Gay Men
Looking cool or attaining self-rule. Different motives for autonomy and their effects on unhealthy snack purchase
Respondent-Driven Sampling (RDS) of People Who Inject Drugs
Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) is a relatively new form of sampling hidden populations. RDS has the ability to produce valid population estimates, provided that certain assumptions are met. This study examined whether an RDS survey of people who inject drugs (PWID) conducted in South East Sydney was able to meet the assumptions and requirements necessary to produce valid population estimates. From November 2009 to March 2010, 261 participants w…
When planning is not enough
In two experiments a self‐regulatory strategy combining mental contrasting with the formation of implementation intentions (MCII) was tested for its effectiveness in diminishing unhealthy snacking habits. Study 1 ( N = 51) showed that participants in the MCII condition consumed fewer unhealthy snacks than participants in a control condition who thought about and listed healthy options for snacks. In Study 2 ( N = 59) MCII was more effective than …
Respondent-Driven Sampling and the Recruitment of People with Small Injecting Networks
Gay Men are Less Likely to Use Condoms with Casual Sex Partners They Know ‘Well’
What moves a family doctor to specialise in HIV? Interviews with Australian policy key informants
The population of people living with HIV in Australia is increasing, requiring an expert primary care workforce to provide HIV clinical care into the future. Yet the numbers of family doctors or general practitioners (GPs) training as community-based HIV medication prescribers may be insufficient to replace those retiring, reducing hours or changing roles. We conducted semi-structured interviews between February and April, 2010, with 24 key infor…
Use of respondent-driven sampling to enhance understanding of injecting networks
Do implementation intentions help to eat a healthy diet? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the empirical evidence
Human rights and universal access for men who have sex with men and people who inject drugs
HIV-Negative and HIV-Positive Gay Men’s Attitudes to Medicines, HIV Treatments and Antiretroviral-based Prevention
Distant foods and proximal alternatives. The effect of food accessibility on consumption
Medicine (89 works) · Psychology (83 works) · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions (65 works) · Family medicine (46 works) · Social Psychology (43 works) · Public health (41 works) · Sociology (41 works) · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk (38 works) · Demography (36 works) · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (34 works)