Research Koen Ponnet

Abstract

The university or college experience is often viewed as a time of transition, experimentation and risk-taking, especially with regard to substance misuse. While there has been an abundance of research on alcohol and marijuana misuse, other areas of this research field remain relatively unexplored, in particular the scientific knowledge on the misuse of prescription stimulants – generally prescribed to treat Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorders (AD(H)D) – by students as a means for performance enhancement. Exploratory research in Flanders reported a prevalence of up to 10% of Flemish students using prescription stimulants during the exams, resulting in considerable attention in the news media. However, there is a clear dearth in scientific knowledge on (1) which student groups are vulnerable to such drug misuse and why they misuse these stimulants (demand side) and (2) how these students access the prescription drugs (supply side). The proposed study aims to fill these research gaps and generate scientific knowledge on stimulant misuse in Flanders. From a theoretical point of view, a comprehensive theoretical model, the theory of triadic influence, will be used to disentangle the complex mechanisms through which the decision to misuse ADHD drugs can be explained. From a methodological point of view a comprehensive mixed-methods research design will be used focusing on three vital stakeholders: students, general practitioners and pharmacists.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Wouters Edwin
• Co-promoter: Ponnet Koen
• Co-promoter: Van Hal Guido
• Fellow: De Bruyn Sara

Research team(s)

• Centre for Population, Family and Health

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Smartphones have permeated a large number of people's lives. Although mobile apps and other digital applications offer great advantages in terms of social connections and access to information, a growing number of users indicate they struggle with their smartphone use. Their mobile phone use sometimes impacts their social life, physical activity and sleep habits in a negative way. The PVI (Safety Instititute of the province of Antwerp) has developed an awaraness raising campaign (Kop Op) to stimulate people to use their smartphone in a more conscious way and, if needed, to restore the balance between smartphone use and other activities. To assess the impact of the activation tools that were developed (test, logging app, website) a combined qualitative (in-depth interviews) and quantitative (survey) study was performed. The study investigated respondents' smartphone use habits and motives and problems/challenges they face when using their device. The tools developed during the campaign were studied to assess if the tools support users in gaining insight into their smartphone use and stimulate them to have a more conscious use of their device. Also recommendations for the follow-up of the campaign were formulated.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Walrave Michel
• Co-promoter: Ponnet Koen

Research team(s)

• Media, ICT and interpersonal relations in Organisations and Society (MIOS)

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Digital technologies have opened up new avenues for perpetrators of teen dating violence to harm, control, stalk or harass their partners. To date, research on the recent phenomenon of adolescent cyber dating abuse has been mainly descriptive in nature and focuses on the link with negative health outcomes and other risk behaviors among victims. Little is known about the antecedents of cyber dating abuse perpetration. In order to design effective prevention strategies, however, research should focus on perpetration and apply complementary theoretical perspectives. This will allow us to compare the predictive power of the various frameworks and to provide educators with information on how to tailor their prevention efforts effectively to the main facilitators of cyber dating abuse perpetration.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Walrave Michel
• Co-promoter: Ponnet Koen
• Fellow: Van Ouytsel Joris

Research team(s)

• Media, ICT and interpersonal relations in Organisations and Society (MIOS)

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The use of social network sites (SNS) has rapidly increased over the past decade. As these sites revolve around the disclosure of personal information, scholars have critically discussed the possible implications of online self-disclosure, especially for adolescents. However, studies on SNS data disclosure are limited in several ways that inspired the project's objectives. First, most studies take a data-driven perspective and lack a theoretical angle. Consequently, this project is theory driven. Adolescents' self-disclosures will be investigated by applying complementary theoretical models: the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Prototype Willingness Model. The Protection Motivation Theory and the Technology Threat Avoidance Theory will be applied to investigate users' awareness and experience of risks related to self-disclosure and how this motivates protective behaviors. Second, most studies adopt a cross-sectional design. Therefore, the second objective of the project is to adopt a longitudinal approach to analyze how adolescents' behaviors evolve after experiencing specific outcomes of self-disclosure.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Walrave Michel
• Co-promoter: Ponnet Koen
• Fellow: De Kimpe Lies

Research team(s)

• Media, ICT and interpersonal relations in Organisations and Society (MIOS)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The university or college experience is often viewed as a time of transition, experimentation and risk-taking, especially with regard to substance misuse. While there has been an abundance of research on alcohol and marijuana misuse, other areas of this research field remain relatively unexplored, in particular the scientific knowledge on the misuse of prescription stimulants – generally prescribed to treat Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorders (AD(H)D) – by students as a means for performance enhancement. Exploratory research in Flanders reported a prevalence of up to 10% of Flemish students using prescription stimulants during the exams, resulting in considerable attention in the news media. However, there is a clear dearth in scientific knowledge on (1) which student groups are vulnerable to such drug misuse and why they misuse these stimulants (demand side) and (2) how these students access the prescription drugs (supply side). The proposed study aims to fill these research gaps and generate scientific knowledge on stimulant misuse in Flanders. From a theoretical point of view, a comprehensive theoretical model, the theory of triadic influence, will be used to disentangle the complex mechanisms through which the decision to misuse ADHD drugs can be explained. From a methodological point of view a comprehensive mixed-methods research design will be used focusing on three vital stakeholders: students, general practitioners and pharmacists.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Wouters Edwin
• Co-promoter: Ponnet Koen
• Co-promoter: Van Hal Guido
• Fellow: De Bruyn Sara

Research team(s)

• Centre for Population, Family and Health

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

In this project, quantitative data will be collected among parents of a child that was internationally abducted. This quantitative data collection is financed by the European Commission and consists of a collaboration between Child Focus (Belgium), the Dutch Centrum Internationale Kinderontvoering (Centrum IKO, the Netherlands), and the Centre Français de Protection de l'Enfance - Enfants Disparus (CFPE, France), Missing Children Europe (MCE, the European umbrella organization for missing children) and the University of Antwerp. Data will be collected in the period September-October 2016 and form a population-based source of information on socio-demographic, individual, familial and social characteristics of abducting and left-behind parents and their children. Furthermore, qualitative interviews will be conducted among adolescents that were abducted.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Ponnet Koen
• Co-promoter: Kruger Thalia
• Co-promoter: Vandenhole Wouter

Research team(s)

• Law Enforcement

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Digital technologies have opened up new avenues for perpetrators of teen dating violence to harm, control, stalk or harass their partners. To date, research on the recent phenomenon of adolescent cyber dating abuse has been mainly descriptive in nature and focuses on the link with negative health outcomes and other risk behaviors among victims. Little is known about the antecedents of cyber dating abuse perpetration. In order to design effective prevention strategies, however, research should focus on perpetration and apply complementary theoretical perspectives. This will allow us to compare the predictive power of the various frameworks and to provide educators with information on how to tailor their prevention efforts effectively to the main facilitators of cyber dating abuse perpetration.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Walrave Michel
• Co-promoter: Ponnet Koen
• Fellow: Van Ouytsel Joris

Research team(s)

• Media, ICT and interpersonal relations in Organisations and Society (MIOS)

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Young people have rapidly taken up social network sites (SNSs) as their preferred online communication platforms. While using SNSs, adolescents self-disclose, they entrust information about, amongst others, their personal experiences. Moreover, they form and deepen relationships with their SNS contacts, which contributes to their social capital. Research focusing on adolescents, self-disclosure and social capital is, however, characterized by several limitations that this project aims to address. Until now research has focused on SNS users' profile information or used general measures of self-disclosure. However, young people may experience changes in important domains of their personal life, such as their appearance and relationships, and be inclined to self-disclose about them on SNSs. Therefore, this project takes a longitudinal approach to investigate how young people self-disclose on SNSs about several domains of their personal life. By doing so, this project analyzes how self-disclosure in these domains evolves over time and possibly relates to psychological and social gratifications adolescents may experience. Regarding the psychological aspects, this project will add to the current literature by investigating the antecedents (in terms of personality traits) and consequences (e.g. well-being) of adolescents' disclosures in several domains. Subsequently, how gratifications possible lead to changes in self-disclosure, will also be analyzed. As far as social gratifications are concerned, this project will study the relationship between self-disclosure and young people's changes in social capital. In turn, how variations in social capital may influence adolescents' consecutive disclosures, will also be investigated longitudinally. Finally, next to positive outcomes of young people's self-disclosure in terms of well-being and social capital, the impact of negative experiences will be studied too. More particularly, the project investigates how adolescents' self-disclosing behaviour possibly lead to negative outcomes and how they, in turn, influence subsequent self-disclosures.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Walrave Michel
• Co-promoter: Ponnet Koen
• Fellow: Van Gool Ellen

Research team(s)

• Media, ICT and interpersonal relations in Organisations and Society (MIOS)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This project represents a research agreement between the UA and on the onther hand IWT. UA provides IWT research results mentioned in the title of the project under the conditions as stipulated in this contract.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Walrave Michel
• Co-promoter: Poels Karolien
• Co-promoter: Ponnet Koen

Research team(s)

• Media, ICT and interpersonal relations in Organisations and Society (MIOS)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Growing up and living with financial hardship causes stress and mental health problems in parents and children. Most of the studies on the association between financial hardship, stress and well-being take the individual as unit of analysis. The aim of this project is to conduct a second wave of a longitudinal multi-actor research, in which data from mothers, fathers and an adolescent within the same family are collected.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Ponnet Koen

Research team(s)

• Centre for Population, Family and Health

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The use of social network sites (SNS) has rapidly increased over the past decade. As these sites revolve around the disclosure of personal information, scholars have critically discussed the possible implications of online self-disclosure, especially for adolescents. However, studies on SNS data disclosure are limited in three ways that inspired the project's objectives. First, most studies focus on data provided in online profiles and how profile privacy settings are used. Revealing personal information while using SNS has been less investigated. Therefore, the present project will contribute to the literature by analyzing predictors and consequences of self-disclosure of adolescents while using SNS. Furthermore, the project will investigate youngsters' protective behaviors when self-disclosing. Second, most studies take a data-driven perspective and lack a theoretical angle. Consequently, the second objective of the project is theory driven. Adolescents' self-disclosures will be investigated by applying an extended model based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. The Protection Motivation Theory will be applied to investigate users' awareness and experience of risks related to self-disclosure and how this motivates protective behaviors. Finally, most studies adopt a cross-sectional design. Therefore, the third objective of the project is to adopt a longitudinal approach to analyze how adolescents' behavior evolves after experiencing specific outcomes of self-disclosure.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Walrave Michel
• Co-promoter: Ponnet Koen
• Fellow: Van Ouytsel Joris

Research team(s)

• Media, ICT and interpersonal relations in Organisations and Society (MIOS)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

For the past three decades, scientific and public debates have been held on the influence of advertising on children and adolescents. Today, this remains an important subject of scientific research. However, the research conducted so far focuses almost exclusively on mass-media advertising. With children spending increasing amounts of time online, there is a clear need for empirical research on children/teens and their ability to understand the persuasive intent of commercial messages on the internet. Many of the previous research on children's and teens' understanding of (traditional) advertising has primarily focused on age. We will therefore investigate the ability of children and adolescents at different ages to recognize and understand the persuasive intent of two different forms of Internet advertising. Moreover, this project extends prior studies, by also taking several other influences into account. To do so, we will develop a website with different banners and different advergames. By using an experimental design, we will be able to measure whether children's and adolescents' recognition and understanding of Internet advertising depend on and/or is associated with (a) the type of Internet advertisement, (b) the child's involvement with the advertised product, and (c) different characteristics of the child and its environment.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Walrave Michel
• Co-promoter: Ponnet Koen
• Fellow: Vanwesenbeeck Ini

Research team(s)

• Media, ICT and interpersonal relations in Organisations and Society (MIOS)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The use of social network sites (SNS) has rapidly increased over the past decade. As these sites revolve around the disclosure of personal information, scholars have critically discussed the possible implications of online self-disclosure, especially for adolescents. However, studies on SNS data disclosure are limited in three ways that inspired the project's objectives. First, most studies focus on data provided in online profiles and how profile privacy settings are used. Revealing personal information while using SNS has been less investigated. Therefore, the present project will contribute to the literature by analyzing predictors and consequences of self-disclosure of adolescents while using SNS. Furthermore, the project will investigate youngsters' protective behaviors when self-disclosing. Second, most studies take a data-driven perspective and lack a theoretical angle. Consequently, the second objective of the project is theory driven. Adolescents' selfdisclosures will be investigated by applying an extended model based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. The Protection Motivation Theory will be applied to investigate users' awareness and experience of risks related to self-disclosure and how this motivates protective behaviors. Finally, most studies adopt a cross-sectional design. Therefore, the third objective of the project is to adopt a longitudinal approach to analyze how adolescents' behavior evolves after experiencing specific outcomes of self-disclosure.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Walrave Michel
• Co-promoter: Ponnet Koen
• Fellow: Van Gool Ellen

Research team(s)

• Media, ICT and interpersonal relations in Organisations and Society (MIOS)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This project represents a formal research agreement between UA and on the other hand the client. UA provides the client research results mentioned in the title of the project under the conditions as stipulated in this contract.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Ponnet Koen
• Co-promoter: Reniers Genserik

Research team(s)

• Centre for Population, Family and Health
• Media, ICT and interpersonal relations in Organisations and Society (MIOS)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This project represents a formal research agreement between UA and the Flemish Public Service. UA provides the Flemish Public Service research results mentioned in the title of the project under the conditions as stipulated in this contract. The main objective is to investigate the media representation of young parenthood on Flemish television and its reception among socially vulnerable young people.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Paulussen Steve
• Co-promoter: Dhoest Alexander
• Co-promoter: Maeseele Pieter
• Co-promoter: Mortelmans Dimitri
• Co-promoter: Neels Karel
• Co-promoter: Ponnet Koen
• Co-promoter: Vandebosch Heidi
• Co-promoter: Van den Bulck Hilde
• Co-promoter: Walrave Michel

Research team(s)

• Antwerp Media in Society Centre (AMSoC)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

There is a general societal trend toward increased father involvement in children's live. Previous studies on parenting, however, have paid little attention on how mothers' and fathers' parenting styles may interact to affect adolescent outcome (Lamb, 2010). In this research, we will assess the direct and mediating impact of mother's and father's parenting on offspring outcome. We first focus on the role of parent's personal characteristics and contextual sources of stress in shaping parenting . Then, we test the mediating impact of mothers' and fathers' parenting on adolescent outcomes. For the proposed research, the Centre for Longitudinal and Life Course Studies (CELLO) will cooperate with the Higher Institute for Family Science (HIG-HUBrussel).

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Ponnet Koen

Research team(s)

• Centre for Population, Family and Health

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

For the past three decades, scientific and public debates have been held on the influence of advertising on children and adolescents. Today, this remains an important subject of scientific research. However, the research conducted so far focuses almost exclusively on mass-media advertising. With children spending increasing amounts of time online, there is a clear need for empirical research on children/teens and their ability to understand the persuasive intent of commercial messages on the internet. Many of the previous research on children's and teens' understanding of (traditional) advertising has primarily focused on age. We will therefore investigate the ability of children and adolescents at different ages to recognize and understand the persuasive intent of two different forms of Internet advertising. Moreover, this project extends prior studies, by also taking several other influences into account. To do so, we will develop a website with different banners and different advergames. By using an experimental design, we will be able to measure whether children's and adolescents' recognition and understanding of Internet advertising depend on and/or is associated with (a) the type of Internet advertisement, (b) the child's involvement with the advertised product, and (c) different characteristics of the child and its environment.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Walrave Michel
• Co-promoter: Ponnet Koen
• Fellow: Vanwesenbeeck Ini

Research team(s)

• Media, ICT and interpersonal relations in Organisations and Society (MIOS)

Project type(s)

• Research Project