Erlinde Cornelis

The advanced activities of daily living: A tool allowing the evaluation of subtle functional decline in mild cognitive impairment

ObjectivesAssessment of advanced activities of daily living (a-ADL) can be of interest in establishing the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in an earlier stage, since these activities demand high cognitive functioning and are more responsive to subtle changes. In this study we tested a new a-ADL tool, developed according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). The a-ADL tool is based on the total number of activities performed (TNA) by a person and takes each subject as his own reference. It distinguishes a total Disability Index (a-ADL-DI), a Cognitive Disability Index (a-ADL-CDI), and a Physical Disability Index (a-ADL-PDI), with lower score representing more independency. We explored whether these indices allow distinction between cognitively healthy persons, patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and patients with mild AD.MethodsParticipants were on average 80 years old (SD 4.6; 66–90), were community dwelling, and were diagnosed as (1) cognitively healthy subjects (n=26); (2) patients with MCI (n = 17), or (3) mild AD (n = 25), based upon extensive clinical evaluation and a set of global, cognitive, mood and functional assessments. The a-ADL-tool was not part of the clinical evaluation.ResultsThe a-ADL-CDI was significantly different between the three groups (p<.01). The a-ADL-DI was significantly different between MCI and AD (p<.001). The tool had good psychometrical properties (inter-rater reliability; agreement between patient and proxy; correlations with cognitive tests). Although the sample size was relatively small, ROC curves were computed for the a-ADL-DI and a-ADL-CDI with satisfactory and promising results.ConclusionThe a-ADLCDI and a-ADL-DI might offer a useful contribution to the identification and follow up of patients with mild cognitive disorders in an older population.

The effectiveness of regulatory (in)congruent ads: the moderating role of an ad’s rational versus emotional tone

In a 2 (ad tone: emotional versus rational) × 2 (ad’s regulatory focus: prevention versus promotion)× 2 (viewer’s self-regulatory focus: prevention versus promotion) between-subjects experimental design, the effectiveness of fair trade campaigns is tested. The results show that, in the case of a rational ad, regulatory congruence (versus incongruence) effects were found (though only for prevention focused people), whereas in the case of an emotional ad, regulatory incongruence (versus congruence) effects were found (though only for promotion focused people).

Being healthy or looking good? The effectiveness of health versus appearance-focused arguments in two-sided messages.

Two experimental studies test the effectiveness of health versus appearance-related arguments in two-sided messages. The first study shows that two-sided messages to discourage suntanning are more effective when using appearance-focused instead of health-focused arguments. Study 2 elaborates on the underlying mechanism and extends the generalization of the results of the first study, by investigating two-sided messages to promote physical exercise. The results show that for health-motivated consumers, a health-focused message is more effective, whereas for appearance-motivated consumers, an appearance-focused message is more effective. This matching effect is mediated by argument relevance.

The Inoculating Effect of Message Sidedness on Adolescents’ Binge Drinking Intentions: The Moderating Role of Issue Involvement

In this study, we assess an alternative strategy for health interventions, namely, two-sided messages. A 3 × 2 between-subjects factorial experimental design investigates the effect of three different anti-binge drinking messages (i.e., one-sided, two-sided non-refutational, and two-sided refutational) on strongly and weakly issue-involved adolescents’ binge drinking intentions after exposure to peer pressure. A sample of 185 adolescents between the age of 15 and 19 participated in the experiment. The results show that when adolescents’ involvement with binge drinking is strong, a two-sided refutational as well as non-refutational message result in lower binge drinking intentions than a one-sided message. When adolescents’ involvement with binge drinking is weak, binge drinking intentions are not influenced by message sidedness.

The credibility of refutation in two-sided anti-drug messages

Purpose – This study aims to address the credibility effects of refutational versus non-refutational two-sided messages. Additionally, it aims to unravel the moderating role of issue ambivalence and argument type. Design/methodology/approach – A 2 × 2 × 2 between-subjects factorial experimental design (N = 853 adolescents) investigates the effect of eight anti-binge drinking and anti-marijuana messages on source and message credibility. Findings – The results show that refutation increases credibility compared to non-refutation. Additionally, a three-way interaction effect is found: credibility depends on the ambivalence of the issue and the argument type. Originality/value – First, this study clarifies the inconsistencies found in previous literature regarding (non-)refutational two-sided messages by addressing two important (and so far neglected) moderating variables. Second, we provide useful new insights for health practitioners who develop campaigns to prevent drug abuse among adolescents.

Regulatory congruence effects in two-sided advertising: the mediating role of processing fluency and processing depth

Purpose – The aim of this study is to contribute to previous research by investigating the principle of regulatory congruence in two-sided advertising messages. Additionally, it addresses the underlying mechanisms of the congruence effect. Design/methodology/approach – The study encompasses two experiments: a two-level between-subjects design, manipulating the message’s frame (prevention vs promotion), while measuring respondents’ chronic self-regulatory focus (prevention vs promotion), and a 2 × 2 between-subjects design, manipulating processing depth (central vs peripheral) and message frame (prevention- vs promotion-oriented), while measuring individuals’ chronic self-regulatory focus (prevention vs promotion). Findings – Study 1 shows that in two-sided messages, the effect of regulatory congruence on attitudes toward the message depends on individuals’ self-regulatory focus: a congruence effect was only found in promotion-focused individuals. This congruence effect was driven by processing fluency. Th...

Two-sided messages for health risk prevention : the role of argument type, refutation and issue ambivalence

Two experiments were conducted among adolescents in 2011 in urban parts of Belgium, Europe. The effectiveness of two-sided binge drinking and marijuana prevention messages was investigated in relation to argument type, refutation, and issue ambivalence. Study 1 (n = 373) serves as a baseline study for study 2 (n = 156). Data were collected through a printed questionnaire in classrooms in Flemish secondary schools. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the data. Implications for health practitioners, as well as limitations and suggestions for further research are given.

Health versus Appearance Focus in One- versus Two-sided Messages Discouraging Sun Tanning

Despite the widespread awareness of the negative consequences of unprotected UV exposure, sun tanning is still a common practice among many people in western countries (Heckman, Wilson, and Ingersoll, 2009). Sun tanning increases the risks of skin cancer and photo-aging (Hoegh et al., 1999; Turrisi et al., 1998). Consistent findings across studies show that most people have sufficient knowledge of these risks, but this knowledge does not always transfer into behavioral intentions to limit UV exposure (Arthey and Clarke, 1995).

The Impact of Message Sidedness on Adolescents’ Binge Drinking Intentions after Peer Pressure: The Moderating Role of Issue Involvement

Ample studies demonstrate the dire effects of binge drinking, which is the episodic or irregular consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol, especially among adolescents (Oei and Morawska, 2004; Vik et al., 2003. Hence, there is a strong need for prevention programs to reduce alcohol use among adolescents (Swahn et al., 2004).

The Effectiveness of Emotional and Rational Regulatory (In)congruent Messages for a Fair Trade Campaign

According to research on message framing, messages that are factually equivalent, but framed differently, often lead to differences in persuasion (Yi and Baumgartner, 2009). Most previous research on message framing has compared message frames that differ in overall valence, i.e., positive frames versus negative frames (Rothman and Salovey, 1997; Levin et al., 1998). Message framing in terms of a prevention versus promotion outcome focus lately received an increased academic interest. This way of framing is based on the self-regulatory focus theory of Higgins (1997), stating that people can be classified as either relatively more promotion-focused or relatively more prevention-focused. Furthermore, this theory proposes that message (frame) effectiveness depends on consumers’ underlying motivational orientations (e.g., Aaker and Lee, 2001). That is, when the message frame is congruent to the viewer’s self-regulatory focus, the message is assumed to be more effective (Higgins, 2002). Although ample evidence supporting this regulatory congruency principle has been found (e.g., Latimer, et al., 2007; Yi and Baumgartner, 2008), the boundaries of this principle are still insufficiently studied. So far, studies have mainly focused on differently framed rational messages. To our knowledge, no studies were conducted yet to scrutinize the effectiveness of differently framed emotional messages despite the importance of emotions in consumer decision-making and their use in realistic ads (Pham, 1998). Therefore, the current study wants to complement prior academic research by examining the moderating role of message type (i.e., rational vs. emotional) on the effectiveness of regulatory congruent versus incongruent messages.