I received my Masters degree in health sciences and my PhD degree in experimental psychology. My research is best situated in the field of applied social psychology and basically studies psychological and behavioural reactions to health education messages. More recently my research interest has shifted from predicting attitude and behavior change to processes of attention allocation and comprehension, two basic prerequisites for effective persuasion. In my research I use self-report measures as well as methods from the cognitive neurosciences including EEG/ERP and fMRI. Other projects I am involved in include experimental studies on the role of basic cognitive functions (work memory, response inhibition, attention) in the explanation and changing of health and safety behavior, and developing and testing behavior change programmes in the areas of blood donation, cancer prevention, safe sex, and traffic safety.

Besides my experimental research work at Maastricht University, I have a strong interest in research capacity building in sub-Saharan Africa. I am continuously involved in PhD projects in Southern and Eastern Africa, mostly related to the prevention of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria. These projects have the goal to develop theory- and evidence-based health education materials while training young students to become fully qualified public health researchers.

Primary Interests:

Applied Social Psychology
Attitudes and Beliefs
Communication, Language
Health Psychology
Neuroscience, Psychophysiology
Persuasion, Social Influence
Social Cognition

Applied Social Psychology
Attitudes and Beliefs
Communication, Language
Health Psychology

Neuroscience, Psychophysiology
Persuasion, Social Influence
Social Cognition

Research Group or Laboratory:

Maastricht Brain Imaging Center
Interactive Map

Journal Articles:

Crutzen, R., Cyr, D., Larios, H., Ruiter, R.A.C., & de Vries, N.(2013). Social presence and use of Internet-delivered interventions: A multi-method approach. PlOS ONE 8(2): e57067. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0057067
Dongen, van A., Abraham, C., Ruiter, R.A.C., Schaalma, H.P., Kort, de W.A.L.M., Dijkstra, J.A., & Veldhuizen, I.J.T. (2012). Are lapsed donors willing to resume blood donation, and what determines their motivation to do so? Transfusion, 52, 1296-1302. doi: 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2011.03447.x
Harmsen, I.A., Lambooij, M.S., Ruiter, R.A.C., Mollema, L., Veldwijk, J., Van Weert, Y.J.W.M., Kok, G., Paulussen, T.W.G., De Wit, G.A., De Melker, H.E. (2012). Psychosocial determinants of parents’ intention to vaccinate their newborn child against Hepatitis B. Vaccine, 30, 4771-4777. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.05.034
Kessels, L.T.E., & Ruiter, R.A.C. (2012). Eye movement responses to health messages on cigarette packages. BMC Public Health, 12: 352.doi:10.1186/1471-2458-12-352
Kok, G., Lo, S. H., Peters, G.J.Y., Ruiter, R.A.C. (2011). Changing energy-related behavior: An Intervention Mapping approach. Energy Policy, 39, 5280-5286. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2011.05.036
Kok, G., Van Essen, G. A., Wicker, S., Llupià, A., Mena, G., Correia, R., & Ruiter, R. A. C. (2012). Planning for influenza vaccination in health care workers: An Intervention Mapping approach. Vaccine, 29, 8512-8519. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.09.008
Leerlooijer, J.N., Ruiter, R.A.C., Reinders, J., Darwisyah, W., Kok, G., & Bartholomew, K. (2011). The World Starts With Me: using intervention mapping for the systematic adaptation and transfer of school-based sexuality education from Uganda to Indonesia. Translational Behavioral Medicine. Published online 21 April 2011. doi: 10.1007/s13142-011-0041-3
Mevissen, F.E.F., Meertens, R.M., Ruiter, R.A.C., & Schaalma, H.P. (2012). Bedtime stories: The Effects of Self-Constructed Risk Scenarios on Imaginability and Perceived Susceptibility to Sexually Transmitted Infections. Psychology and Health, 27, 1036-1047 (IF:1.59). doi:10.1080/08870446.2011.648935
Nyembezi, A., Funani, I., Sifunda, S., Ruiter, R. A.C., Van den Borne, B, & Reddy, S. P. (in press). The psychosocial determinants of the intention to reduce the number of sexual partners among recent traditionally initiated and circumcised men in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Journal of Health Psychology, 17, 665-677. doi: 10.1177/1359105311424469
Onoya, D., Reddy, P., Sifunda, S., Lang, D., Wingood, G.M., Borne, B van den, Ruiter, R.A.C. Transactional sexual relationships, sexually transmitted infection risk, and condom use among young black women in peri-urban areas of the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Women’s Health Issues, 22-3, e277–e282. doi:10.1016/j.whi.2011.11.006
Peters, G.J.Y., Ruiter, R.A.C., Kok, G. (2012). Threatening communication: a critical re-analysis and a revised meta-analytic test of fear appeal theory. Health Psychology Review. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17437199.2012.703527
Peters, G. J. Y., Ruiter, R., & Kok, G. (2012). Address physical inactivity, but avoid stressing harms. The Lancet, 380 (9853), 1554. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61874-1.
Riet, J. van ‘t, Werrij, M.Q., Nieuwkamp, R., Vries, H. de, & Ruiter, R.A.C. (2013). Message frame and self-efficacy influence the persuasiveness of nutrition information in a fast-food restaurant. Food Quality and Preference, 29, 1-5. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2013.01.007
Riet, J. van ’t, Ruiter, R.A.C., & De Vries, H. (2012). Avoidance orientation moderates the effect of threatening messages. Journal of Health Psychology, 17, 14-25. doi 10.1177/1359105311403523
Riet, J. van ’t, Ruiter, R.A.C., & De Vries, H. (2012). Preaching to the choir? The influence of personal relevance on the effects of gain-and loss-framed health-promoting messages. Journal of Health Psychology 17, 712-723. doi: 10.1177/1359105311421047
Rijsdijk, L.E., Bos, A.E.R., Lie, R., Ruiter, R.A.C., Leerlooijer, J.N., & Kok, G. (2012). Correlates of delayed sexual intercourse and condom use among adolescents in Uganda: A cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 12:817. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-12-817
Shilubane, H.N., Ruiter, R.A.C., Bos, A.E.R Borne, B. van den, James, S., & Reddy, P.S. (2012): Psychosocial determinants of suicide attempts among black South African adolescents: A qualitative analysis, Journal of Youth Studies, 15, 177-189. doi: h10.1080/13676261.2011.634400
Sifunda, S., Reddy, P., Braithwaite, R.L., Stephens, T., Ruiter, R.A.C., & van den Borne, B. (2012). Psychosocial determinants of risky sexual behaviour amongst South African male prison inmates in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga Provinces. International Journal of Prisoner Health, 8, 151 – 162. doi: 10.1108/17449201211285021
ten Hoor, G.A., Peters, G.Y., Kalagi, J., de Groot, L., Grootjans, K., Huschens, A., Köhninger, C., Kölgen, L., Pelssers, I., Schütt, T., Thomas, S., Ruiter, R.A.C., & Kok, G. (2012). Reactions to threatening health messages. BMC Public Health, 12:1011. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-12-1011
van Keulen, H. M., Otten, W., Ruiter, R.A.C., Fekkes, M., van Steenbergen, J., Dusseldorp, E., & Paulussen, T. (2013). Determinants of HPV vaccination intentions among Dutch girls and their mothers: A cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health,13, 111. doi: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/13/111

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Robert A. C. Ruiter
Department of Work and Social Psychology
Applied Social Psychology Group
Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616
6200 MD Maastricht
The Netherlands

Work: +31 43 3882413 /1908
Mobile: 31433882413
Skype Name: rob.ac.ruiter