Robert Ac Ruiter
Biographic Data
| ID | 3799794 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Robert Ac Ruiter |
| GIVEN NAMES | Robert Ac |
| FAMILY NAME | Ruiter |
| SIGNATURE | RUITER R A |
| AFFILIATIONS | Maastricht University, The Netherlands |
| VERIFIED | No |
| TOTAL WORKS | 26 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 25 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 26 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2003 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2024 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Understanding Why Youth Drop Out of School in South Africa
Out of school youth (OSY) are adolescents who have not completed their schooling and are not currently enrolled in school. This study sought to understand why learners drop out of school by interviewing 41 OSY (aged 13-20 years). Respondent Driven Sampling was used to recruit OSY. Content analysis was used to analyze the data. Gender differences were found in the reasons for leaving school. Males dropped out due to poor school performance, vocati…
The Association Between Neuroticism and Problematic Social Networking Sites Use: The Role of Fear of Missing out and Self-Control
Problematic use of social networking sites (SNS) has a negative impact on mental health. It has been found that people who score high on neuroticism are especially vulnerable towards engaging with SNS in a problematic way but it is not clear which psychological mechanisms explain this relationship. We addressed this issue by examining the mediating role of fear of missing out and self-control in the relationship between neuroticism and problemati…
Using intervention mapping in motivational interviewing training to improve ART uptake in Gauteng, South Africa
In South Africa, lay HIV counsellors are at the forefront of many HIV-related behavioural interventions. However, they have limited formal counselling training and little ongoing in-service support, leading to considerable variability in approaches to counselling. We describe the use of Intervention Mapping to develop a motivational interviewing counselling training and support program, titled "Thusa-Thuso - helping you help", for lay HIV counsel…
High school suicide in South Africa: Teachers’ knowledge, views and training needs
Teachers in Limpopo Province need to be trained to identify students at risk, and to respond to situations by referring individuals at risk to appropriate mental health professionals. School-based suicide prevention programmes that are based on theory and evidence should be developed. These programmes should include teacher training to help teachers to identify symptoms of psychosocial problems that might lead to suicide, develop their skills in …
High school students’ knowledge and experience with a peer who committed or attempted suicide: A focus group study
School-based suicide prevention programs based on theory and evidence are necessary. Such interventions should also focus on detection of mental health problems by peers. Counseling services for students with mental health problems and suicide survivors should be available and made known to students at risk and peers
Correlates of consistent condom use among recently initiated and traditionally circumcised men in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
The study findings reveal important target points for future cultural sensitive health education aimed at increasing consistent condom use among initiated and traditionally circumcised men in the Eastern Cape Province
I don’t see an added value for myself”: A qualitative study exploring the social cognitive variables associated with influenza vaccination of Belgian, Dutch and German healthcare personnel
The social cognitive variables underlying the decision of HCP to get vaccinated against influenza (or not) seem to be similar in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, even though some differences surfaced. A quantitative investigation of those social cognitive variables is needed in order to determine the importance of the social cognitive variables in explaining the intention to get vaccinated and the importance of the similarities and differen…
Non-participation in chlamydia screening in the Netherlands: Determinants associated with young people’s intention to participate in chlamydia screening
Subjective norm, moral norm, susceptibility, and attitude towards chlamydia might be crucial targets to increase chlamydia screening behavior among sexually active young people. This study shows that informational invitation letters increase the intention and the intention-predicting variables. More evidence is needed on whether screening behavior can be increased by the use of an alternative information letter adapted to the specific unconscious…
Qualitative evaluation of the Teenage Mothers Project in Uganda: A community-based empowerment intervention for unmarried teenage mothers
It is concluded that strengths of the community-based TMP seem to be its socio-ecological approach, the participatory planning with community leaders and other stakeholders, counselling of parents and unmarried teenage mothers, and the emphasis on education and income generation. The project can improve by earlier active participation of unmarried pregnant adolescents and increased support for parents
A qualitative study of the coverage of influenza vaccination on Dutch news sites and social media websites
News media and social media discussed the same topics regarding influenza, but differed in message tone. Whereas news media reports tended to be more objective and non-judgmental, social media more critically evaluated the harmfulness of influenza and the necessity of the flu shot. Media may influence decision making and behaviours of Internet users and may thereby influence the success of vaccination campaigns and recommendations made by health …
Determinants of HPV vaccination intentions among Dutch girls and their mothers: A cross-sectional study
Because of the large contribution of social-psychological variables to the explained variance of HPV vaccination intentions among the mothers and daughters, future communication strategies targeting HPV vaccination uptake should address attitudes, beliefs, subjective norms and habit strength. There is a need for longitudinal research to confirm the causality of the association between these determinants and HPV vaccination behavior indicated by t…
Why parents refuse childhood vaccination: A qualitative study using online focus groups
Information provided by the NIP turned out to be insufficient for this group of parents. More trust in the NIP and deliberate decisions might result from increased parental understanding of lifestyle and disease susceptibility, the impact of vaccinations on the immune system, and the relative risks of diseases and their vaccines. The public health institute should also inform parents that the NIP is recommended but non-mandatory
Parental information-seeking behaviour in childhood vaccinations
The information provided by the National Immunization Programme (NIP) might be sufficient for most parents. However, some parents mentioned that they did not receive enough information about side effects of vaccinations, which was also the topic most searched for by parents. Public Health Institutes (PHIs) and child healthcare workers should therefore be aware of the importance to mention this aspect in their communication (materials) towards par…
Suicide and related health risk behaviours among school learners in South Africa: Results from the 2002 and 2008 national youth risk behaviour surveys
The prevalence of suicide ideation and suicide attempts among South African adolescents is high and seems to be influenced by a wide spectrum of factors at the demographic, psychological and behavioural level. Hence, more research is needed to determine the behavioural and psychological determinants of suicide among youngsters in order to develop comprehensive intervention strategies for suicide prevention and care
Eye movement responses to health messages on cigarette packages
Non-smokers demonstrated an attention preference for high risk information as opposed to coping information, but only when text information was presented in combination with a high threat photo. For smokers, however, our findings suggest more attention allocation for coping information than for health risk information. This preference for coping information is not reflected in current health messages to motivate smokers to quit smoking. Coping in…
Correlates of delayed sexual intercourse and condom use among adolescents in Uganda: A cross-sectional study
This study has established relevant predictors of intentions of safe sex among young Ugandans and has shown that the intention to use condoms is motivated by different factors depending on previous sexual experience. A segmented approach to intervention development and implementation is thus recommended
The association between ethnic identity and sexual coercion among young men in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Sexual coercion by males poses important ethical, legal and public health challenges. Individual face-to-face structured interviews were conducted among 1656 men who had undergone male initiation and circumcision in rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province. Overall, 8.4 per cent of the participants reported ever having forced someone to have sex. Logistic regression adjusting for age, working status, education level and nation of origin showed th…
Avoidance orientation moderates the effect of threatening messages
This study investigated the influence of individual differences in people's dispositional avoidance orientation on the persuasive effects of low- and high-threat messages promoting moderate drinking. First, participents ( N = 99) individual differences in avoidance orientation were assessed, after which they were provided with either high- or low-threat messages about the consequences of drinking too much alcohol. The primary outcome measures wer…
Go Fast! Reaction Time Differences between Adults and Adolescents in Evaluating Risky Traffic Situations
This study investigated the hypothesis that adults are faster than adolescents in responding to risks. Twenty-six adolescents ( Mage = 15 years) and 26 adults ( Mage = 47 years) responded to risky situations (e.g. 'Is it a good idea to drive a car while having drunk alcohol?') and non-risky situations (e.g. '... wear a helmet while riding a moped?') in a choice reaction time task. Adults responded 110ms faster to both risky and non-risky question…
The psychosocial determinants of the intention to reduce the number of sexual partners among recent traditionally initiated and circumcized men in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
This study focuses on the factors associated with the intention to reduce the number of sexual partners. An individual face-to-face interview was used to collect data amongst 2337 traditionally initiated and circumcized men in the rural areas of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. About 55.5% reported having a main sexual partner and of those 41.4% indicated having other sexual partners. The strongest association with intention was found for sel…
The World Starts With Me: A multilevel evaluation of a comprehensive sex education programme targeting adolescents in Uganda
The study showed an intervention effect on a number of socio-cognitive determinants. However, the effectiveness of WSWM could be improved by giving more systematic attention to the context in which such a programme is to be implemented. Implications for the systematic development and implementation of school-based safe sex interventions in Uganda will be discussed
Psychosocial correlates of condom use consistency among Isixhosa-speaking women living with HIV in the Western Cape Province of South Africa
Many HIV-positive South African women continue to have unprotected sex. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess correlates of condom use consistency among Xhosa-speaking HIV-positive women in South Africa. One hundred and twenty women were recruited from five primary care clinics and completed a questionnaire. Regression analyses indicated that assertive negotiation and self efficacy for condom use were proximal correlates of condom u…
Self-efficacy as a Potential Moderator of the Effects of Framed Health Messages
This study focuses on self-efficacy as a potential moderator of the effects of gain- and loss-framed health messages. Undergraduate students ( N = 124) received a gain- or loss-framed message about consuming ecological meat. The data revealed that for participants high in self-efficacy, the gain-framed message resulted in consuming more ecological meat than the loss-framed message. Moreover it was found that - within the gain-frame condition - pa…
Social-cognitive correlates of risky adolescent cycling behavior
Adolescents realize whether they are risk takers or not. This implies that the focus of education programs should not be on risk perceptions, but on decreasing positive attitudes towards alcohol in traffic and increasing sense of responsibility instead. Cognitions regarding near accidents should be studied, the role of safe cycling self-efficacy is unclear
HIV/STI Risk Communication: The Effects of Scenario-based Risk Information and Frequency-based Risk Information on Perceived Susceptibility to Chlamydia and HIV
Health risk judgments are not merely based on risk statistics but also on the ease with which hypothetical events are imagined. We explored the effects of scenario information as opposed to frequency information on susceptibility perceptions regarding Chlamydia and HIV. Results showed that participants felt more susceptible to Chlamydia after reading frequency information. Scenario information only seemed to affect feelings of susceptibility in p…
Self-efficacy as a Potential Moderator of the Effects of Framed Health Messages
This study focuses on self-efficacy as a potential moderator of the effects of gain- and loss-framed health messages. Undergraduate students ( N = 124) received a gain- or loss-framed message about consuming ecological meat. The data revealed that for participants high in self-efficacy, the gain-framed message resulted in consuming more ecological meat than the loss-framed message. Moreover it was found that - within the gain-frame condition - pa…
The Role of Coping Appraisal in Reactions to Fear Appeals: Do We Need Threat Information
Fear appeal theory postulates a multiplicative relationship between threat information and coping appraisal on fear control (e.g. avoid thinking about breast cancer to reduce feelings of fear) and danger control (e.g. motivation to perform monthly breast self-examination to detect breast cancer). That is, the effects of threat information on measures of both coping modes are moderated by beliefs about one's ability to cope with the presented thre…
The association between ethnic identity and sexual coercion among young men in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Sexual coercion by males poses important ethical, legal and public health challenges. Individual face-to-face structured interviews were conducted among 1656 men who had undergone male initiation and circumcision in rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province. Overall, 8.4 per cent of the participants reported ever having forced someone to have sex. Logistic regression adjusting for age, working status, education level and nation of origin showed th…
Avoidance orientation moderates the effect of threatening messages
This study investigated the influence of individual differences in people's dispositional avoidance orientation on the persuasive effects of low- and high-threat messages promoting moderate drinking. First, participents ( N = 99) individual differences in avoidance orientation were assessed, after which they were provided with either high- or low-threat messages about the consequences of drinking too much alcohol. The primary outcome measures wer…
The psychosocial determinants of the intention to reduce the number of sexual partners among recent traditionally initiated and circumcized men in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
This study focuses on the factors associated with the intention to reduce the number of sexual partners. An individual face-to-face interview was used to collect data amongst 2337 traditionally initiated and circumcized men in the rural areas of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. About 55.5% reported having a main sexual partner and of those 41.4% indicated having other sexual partners. The strongest association with intention was found for sel…
HIV/STI Risk Communication: The Effects of Scenario-based Risk Information and Frequency-based Risk Information on Perceived Susceptibility to Chlamydia and HIV
Health risk judgments are not merely based on risk statistics but also on the ease with which hypothetical events are imagined. We explored the effects of scenario information as opposed to frequency information on susceptibility perceptions regarding Chlamydia and HIV. Results showed that participants felt more susceptible to Chlamydia after reading frequency information. Scenario information only seemed to affect feelings of susceptibility in p…
Go Fast! Reaction Time Differences between Adults and Adolescents in Evaluating Risky Traffic Situations
This study investigated the hypothesis that adults are faster than adolescents in responding to risks. Twenty-six adolescents ( Mage = 15 years) and 26 adults ( Mage = 47 years) responded to risky situations (e.g. 'Is it a good idea to drive a car while having drunk alcohol?') and non-risky situations (e.g. '... wear a helmet while riding a moped?') in a choice reaction time task. Adults responded 110ms faster to both risky and non-risky question…
The Role of Coping Appraisal in Reactions to Fear Appeals: Do We Need Threat Information
Fear appeal theory postulates a multiplicative relationship between threat information and coping appraisal on fear control (e.g. avoid thinking about breast cancer to reduce feelings of fear) and danger control (e.g. motivation to perform monthly breast self-examination to detect breast cancer). That is, the effects of threat information on measures of both coping modes are moderated by beliefs about one's ability to cope with the presented thre…
HIV/STI Risk Communication: The Effects of Scenario-based Risk Information and Frequency-based Risk Information on Perceived Susceptibility to Chlamydia and HIV
Health risk judgments are not merely based on risk statistics but also on the ease with which hypothetical events are imagined. We explored the effects of scenario information as opposed to frequency information on susceptibility perceptions regarding Chlamydia and HIV. Results showed that participants felt more susceptible to Chlamydia after reading frequency information. Scenario information only seemed to affect feelings of susceptibility in p…
Social-cognitive correlates of risky adolescent cycling behavior
Adolescents realize whether they are risk takers or not. This implies that the focus of education programs should not be on risk perceptions, but on decreasing positive attitudes towards alcohol in traffic and increasing sense of responsibility instead. Cognitions regarding near accidents should be studied, the role of safe cycling self-efficacy is unclear
The World Starts With Me: A multilevel evaluation of a comprehensive sex education programme targeting adolescents in Uganda
The study showed an intervention effect on a number of socio-cognitive determinants. However, the effectiveness of WSWM could be improved by giving more systematic attention to the context in which such a programme is to be implemented. Implications for the systematic development and implementation of school-based safe sex interventions in Uganda will be discussed
Psychosocial correlates of condom use consistency among Isixhosa-speaking women living with HIV in the Western Cape Province of South Africa
Many HIV-positive South African women continue to have unprotected sex. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess correlates of condom use consistency among Xhosa-speaking HIV-positive women in South Africa. One hundred and twenty women were recruited from five primary care clinics and completed a questionnaire. Regression analyses indicated that assertive negotiation and self efficacy for condom use were proximal correlates of condom u…
Self-efficacy as a Potential Moderator of the Effects of Framed Health Messages
This study focuses on self-efficacy as a potential moderator of the effects of gain- and loss-framed health messages. Undergraduate students ( N = 124) received a gain- or loss-framed message about consuming ecological meat. The data revealed that for participants high in self-efficacy, the gain-framed message resulted in consuming more ecological meat than the loss-framed message. Moreover it was found that - within the gain-frame condition - pa…
Eye movement responses to health messages on cigarette packages
Non-smokers demonstrated an attention preference for high risk information as opposed to coping information, but only when text information was presented in combination with a high threat photo. For smokers, however, our findings suggest more attention allocation for coping information than for health risk information. This preference for coping information is not reflected in current health messages to motivate smokers to quit smoking. Coping in…
Correlates of delayed sexual intercourse and condom use among adolescents in Uganda: A cross-sectional study
This study has established relevant predictors of intentions of safe sex among young Ugandans and has shown that the intention to use condoms is motivated by different factors depending on previous sexual experience. A segmented approach to intervention development and implementation is thus recommended
The association between ethnic identity and sexual coercion among young men in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Sexual coercion by males poses important ethical, legal and public health challenges. Individual face-to-face structured interviews were conducted among 1656 men who had undergone male initiation and circumcision in rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province. Overall, 8.4 per cent of the participants reported ever having forced someone to have sex. Logistic regression adjusting for age, working status, education level and nation of origin showed th…
Avoidance orientation moderates the effect of threatening messages
This study investigated the influence of individual differences in people's dispositional avoidance orientation on the persuasive effects of low- and high-threat messages promoting moderate drinking. First, participents ( N = 99) individual differences in avoidance orientation were assessed, after which they were provided with either high- or low-threat messages about the consequences of drinking too much alcohol. The primary outcome measures wer…
Go Fast! Reaction Time Differences between Adults and Adolescents in Evaluating Risky Traffic Situations
This study investigated the hypothesis that adults are faster than adolescents in responding to risks. Twenty-six adolescents ( Mage = 15 years) and 26 adults ( Mage = 47 years) responded to risky situations (e.g. 'Is it a good idea to drive a car while having drunk alcohol?') and non-risky situations (e.g. '... wear a helmet while riding a moped?') in a choice reaction time task. Adults responded 110ms faster to both risky and non-risky question…
The psychosocial determinants of the intention to reduce the number of sexual partners among recent traditionally initiated and circumcized men in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
This study focuses on the factors associated with the intention to reduce the number of sexual partners. An individual face-to-face interview was used to collect data amongst 2337 traditionally initiated and circumcized men in the rural areas of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. About 55.5% reported having a main sexual partner and of those 41.4% indicated having other sexual partners. The strongest association with intention was found for sel…
Non-participation in chlamydia screening in the Netherlands: Determinants associated with young people’s intention to participate in chlamydia screening
Subjective norm, moral norm, susceptibility, and attitude towards chlamydia might be crucial targets to increase chlamydia screening behavior among sexually active young people. This study shows that informational invitation letters increase the intention and the intention-predicting variables. More evidence is needed on whether screening behavior can be increased by the use of an alternative information letter adapted to the specific unconscious…
Qualitative evaluation of the Teenage Mothers Project in Uganda: A community-based empowerment intervention for unmarried teenage mothers
It is concluded that strengths of the community-based TMP seem to be its socio-ecological approach, the participatory planning with community leaders and other stakeholders, counselling of parents and unmarried teenage mothers, and the emphasis on education and income generation. The project can improve by earlier active participation of unmarried pregnant adolescents and increased support for parents
A qualitative study of the coverage of influenza vaccination on Dutch news sites and social media websites
News media and social media discussed the same topics regarding influenza, but differed in message tone. Whereas news media reports tended to be more objective and non-judgmental, social media more critically evaluated the harmfulness of influenza and the necessity of the flu shot. Media may influence decision making and behaviours of Internet users and may thereby influence the success of vaccination campaigns and recommendations made by health …
Determinants of HPV vaccination intentions among Dutch girls and their mothers: A cross-sectional study
Because of the large contribution of social-psychological variables to the explained variance of HPV vaccination intentions among the mothers and daughters, future communication strategies targeting HPV vaccination uptake should address attitudes, beliefs, subjective norms and habit strength. There is a need for longitudinal research to confirm the causality of the association between these determinants and HPV vaccination behavior indicated by t…
Why parents refuse childhood vaccination: A qualitative study using online focus groups
Information provided by the NIP turned out to be insufficient for this group of parents. More trust in the NIP and deliberate decisions might result from increased parental understanding of lifestyle and disease susceptibility, the impact of vaccinations on the immune system, and the relative risks of diseases and their vaccines. The public health institute should also inform parents that the NIP is recommended but non-mandatory
Parental information-seeking behaviour in childhood vaccinations
The information provided by the National Immunization Programme (NIP) might be sufficient for most parents. However, some parents mentioned that they did not receive enough information about side effects of vaccinations, which was also the topic most searched for by parents. Public Health Institutes (PHIs) and child healthcare workers should therefore be aware of the importance to mention this aspect in their communication (materials) towards par…
Suicide and related health risk behaviours among school learners in South Africa: Results from the 2002 and 2008 national youth risk behaviour surveys
The prevalence of suicide ideation and suicide attempts among South African adolescents is high and seems to be influenced by a wide spectrum of factors at the demographic, psychological and behavioural level. Hence, more research is needed to determine the behavioural and psychological determinants of suicide among youngsters in order to develop comprehensive intervention strategies for suicide prevention and care
High school students’ knowledge and experience with a peer who committed or attempted suicide: A focus group study
School-based suicide prevention programs based on theory and evidence are necessary. Such interventions should also focus on detection of mental health problems by peers. Counseling services for students with mental health problems and suicide survivors should be available and made known to students at risk and peers
Correlates of consistent condom use among recently initiated and traditionally circumcised men in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
The study findings reveal important target points for future cultural sensitive health education aimed at increasing consistent condom use among initiated and traditionally circumcised men in the Eastern Cape Province
I don’t see an added value for myself”: A qualitative study exploring the social cognitive variables associated with influenza vaccination of Belgian, Dutch and German healthcare personnel
The social cognitive variables underlying the decision of HCP to get vaccinated against influenza (or not) seem to be similar in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, even though some differences surfaced. A quantitative investigation of those social cognitive variables is needed in order to determine the importance of the social cognitive variables in explaining the intention to get vaccinated and the importance of the similarities and differen…
High school suicide in South Africa: Teachers’ knowledge, views and training needs
Teachers in Limpopo Province need to be trained to identify students at risk, and to respond to situations by referring individuals at risk to appropriate mental health professionals. School-based suicide prevention programmes that are based on theory and evidence should be developed. These programmes should include teacher training to help teachers to identify symptoms of psychosocial problems that might lead to suicide, develop their skills in …
The Association Between Neuroticism and Problematic Social Networking Sites Use: The Role of Fear of Missing out and Self-Control
Problematic use of social networking sites (SNS) has a negative impact on mental health. It has been found that people who score high on neuroticism are especially vulnerable towards engaging with SNS in a problematic way but it is not clear which psychological mechanisms explain this relationship. We addressed this issue by examining the mediating role of fear of missing out and self-control in the relationship between neuroticism and problemati…
Using intervention mapping in motivational interviewing training to improve ART uptake in Gauteng, South Africa
In South Africa, lay HIV counsellors are at the forefront of many HIV-related behavioural interventions. However, they have limited formal counselling training and little ongoing in-service support, leading to considerable variability in approaches to counselling. We describe the use of Intervention Mapping to develop a motivational interviewing counselling training and support program, titled "Thusa-Thuso - helping you help", for lay HIV counsel…
Medicine (22 works) · Psychology (17 works) · Public health (15 works) · Biostatistics (14 works) · Environmental health (13 works) · Family medicine (12 works) · Psychiatry (12 works) · Social Psychology (12 works) · Nursing (11 works) · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (9 works)