Projects
Adolescence and externalizing problem behavior: The role of (co-)parenting and the stress response system KU Leuven
The present PhD dissertation studied the associations between (co-)parenting, the stress response system (i.e., cortisol stress response, methylation levels of NR3C1) and externalizing problem behavior in adolescence. The ecological model of coparenting (Feinberg, 2003) and the Adaptive Calibration Model of stress responsivity (Del Giudice et al., 2011) served as theoretical frameworks.
Data from two large longitudinal projects ...
Understanding the influence of sexual objectification in media: A triangulation study of the role of peers in the relationship between media use and self-objectification in adolescents. KU Leuven
Mass media that are popular in adolescents abound with messages that portray individuals as (sexual) bodies while disregarding their personalities. Objectification theory argues that exposure to such so-called sexually objectifying media encourages adolescents to develop an objectified self-concept which is considered to be a central factor in health risks. My PhD introduced the “three-step process of self-objectification” that explains how ...
The impact of sexualizing messages in childrens media. KU Leuven
On track? A study on the effects of tracks in secondary education KU Leuven
Tracking is the grouping of students with similar abilities in the same classroom or school during secondary education. For each group, a tailored educational program is provided, which is called a ‘track’. Many education systems use this practice, based on the assumption that fitting educational environments to more homogeneous student groups will result in more efficient education. Tracking also allows for the development of specialized ...
Growing up in the age of constant connectivity: Elucidating the dynamic interplay between preadolescents’ online practices and their identity development KU Leuven
The advent of mobile technology has reduced time and place constraints on communication practices. As such, these technologies allow individuals to be permanently online and permanently connected, which can have important consequences for the way they perceive themselves, especially in relation to others. Interestingly, the introduction of mobile devices typically occurs during preadolescence, which is a critical phase for the formation of a ...
Confessional Religious Education? Research Into Teachers as ‘Committed Witnesses’ in Flemish Catholic Religious Education. KU Leuven
The renewed Flemish curriculum for Catholic secondary religious education (RE) aims to give pupils the opportunity to clarify and articulate their own worldview in dialogue with the plural world and the Christian faith. The teacher has a crucial role to play in this. He/she is expected be a ‘witness’ who teaches from a lived Christian attitude, a specialist with expert knowledge on religions, and a moderator who can promote dialogue. With the ...
Confessional Religious Education? Research into Teachers as ‘Committed Witnesses’ in Flemish Catholic Religious Education KU Leuven
Enhancing fraction understanding: the role of cognitive and noncognitive factors and the potential of educational games KU Leuven
Given the crucial role of fraction understanding for later mathematical proficiency, it is worrying that both cognitive and noncognitive difficulties may be a stumbling block to develop fraction understanding. In terms of cognitive factors, some individuals experience difficulties with both conceptual and procedural fraction knowledge. These cognitive difficulties are often attributed to the ‘natural number bias’, which refers to individuals’ ...