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Researcher

Ann DeSmet

  • Research Expertise  (University of Antwerp):Ann DeSmet is a behaviour change researcher with an interest in persuasive technology and methods that have the potential to engage users in healthy behaviour, such as serious games, apps, social media, chatbots and narratives. Previously she worked on projects related to cyberbullying, mental health care, patient-provider communication, illegal drugs, cancer prevention and psychosocial cancer care. Her current research focusses on developing and evaluating digital communication interventions for enhancing healthy lifestyles (physical activity, sleep, low sedentary behaviour) in adults, and in investigating synergies between health and pro-environmental behaviours. She has experience in developing and conducting RCTs of behaviour change interventions, with a particular focus on using new technologies. Her specialist research interests include health communication and technology; behaviour change techniques and other active working mechanisms of interventions; media psychology; user engagement; physical activity, sleep, sedentary behaviour, and mental health; and meta-analyses. Research lines and topics: - healthy lifestyle promotion (physical activity, sleep, diet) - digital health interventions (serious games, apps, wearable trackers) - mental health (promotion and prevention) - pro-environmental behaviours - cyberbullying
  • Keywords  (University of Antwerp):HEALTH PROMOTION, ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOUR, PSYCHOLOGY, Political and social sciences
  • Disciplines  (University of Antwerp):Public health sciences not elsewhere classified, Environmental psychology, Health psychology, Counselling psychology, Social behaviour and social action, Social psychology not elsewhere classified, Science and health communication
  • Disciplines  (Ghent University):Health promotion and policy
  • Research techniques  (University of Antwerp):Measurement methods: - ecological momentary assessment - surveys, tracker data - Personal Project Analysis Analyses: - Thematic content analysis (qualitative) - Multilevel analysis - Meta-analysis - Various quantitative multivariate analyses
  • Users of research expertise  (University of Antwerp):Government, other researchers, healthcare organizations or those involved in climate transition, media, schools, etc.