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Since 2020, changes to the school curriculum in England and Wales have made elements of Personal, Social, and Health Education (PSHE) statutory. As schools grapple with these changes, alongside the psychosocial impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, it is important to consider effective ways of helping children make safe decisions and improve their overall mental health/wellbeing. Previous research has demonstrated the benefits of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as a treatment for range of psychological and behavioral disorders. As an extension of this, the DNA-V model provides a way of teaching children and adolescents the same psychological skills targeted within the ACT model in a more developmentally informed manner. Using scripted lesson plans, the Connect PSHE curriculum offers a research-informed curriculum for 4- to 11-year-olds so teachers can introduce the DNA-V model alongside the six ways to wellbeing. In this paper, we aimed to explore teachers' (N = 6) experiences of implementing Connect PSHE within a primary school context. Through semi-structured interviews and thematic content analysis, we identified six themes around the implementation process: (1) buy-in and engagement, (2) training and support for teachers, (3) program design, (4) creating a psychologically safe environment, (5) online delivery, (6) benefits. We outline how these findings support the existing literature around school-based ACT and reflect upon some of the feedback for future development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to COVID-19, 2020 was a strange and different school year for many students around the world. Based on a survey of primary school students (N = 2665) conducted in December 2020, this article examines students' well-being and stress levels one year after the first COVID-19 outbreak. It also examines how students emotionally relate to the pandemic after a year with a large number of persistent stressors caused by school closures and re-openings. The article indicates that at a general level, COVID-19 seems to be a moderate stressor for students, but a number of specific stressors are identified. The article shows that well-being and stress levels vary among different groups of students, and it finds that there is a group of almost a third of the students that we should pay special attention to. Finally, the article identifies eight themes in how the students relate, negatively and positively, to the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research was to identify those dimensions of the Internal Implementation Context that facilitated or hindered the implementation of a community-based public school mental health (SMH) program. Fifty-one members of the educational communities in which the program is implemented were interviewed. The semistructured interviews were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative content analysis. The results made it possible to (1) identify three main categories: organizational scenario, information management and organizational receptivity, which accounted for the main contents highlighted by those participating in the program and (2) establish, according to the positive or negative evaluation given, those dimensions operated as facilitators or hinderers in the implementation of the program, which were pointed out as central and critical aspects to understand the performance and effectiveness of the program studied. Implications, limitations and projections of the findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood is a stage of rapid psychological development, movement and psychological development are inseparable. At this stage, games are the main form of activity for children which play a dominant role in promoting children's psychological development. By implementing parent-child sports game intervention activities, children can prevent psychological disorders or behavioural problems, help them better adapt to social life, and make more effective contributions to society and humanity. Therefore, current research aimed to check the impact of parent-child sports games on children's psychological development. For this purpose, survey subjects were 50 students from large class of kindergarten A and 50 students from the large class of kindergarten B. An experimental research design was applied by using control and experimental group. The findings that the experimental group showed significant improvements in cognitive ability, emotional stability, willpower, and personality shaping compared to the control group. Moreover, their social adaptability was notably higher, fostering smoother communication and harmonious interpersonal relationships. The findings highlight the importance of early engagement in sports game activities to promote psychological health and resilience in preschool children, emphasizing the need for integrating such activities into early childhood education and parental involvement programs. The research also explored a new research area for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental and behavioral health conditions among schoolaged children, including substance use disorders and overall emotional well-being, are a public health concern in the United States. Timely data on seasonal patterns in child and adolescent conditions can guide optimal timing of prevention and intervention strategies. CDC examined emergency department (ED) visit data from the National Syndromic Surveillance Program for 25 distinct conditions during January 2018-June 2023 among U.S. children and adolescents aged 5-17 years, stratified by age group. Each year, during 2018-2023, among persons aged 10-14 and 15-17 years, the number and proportion of weekly ED visits for eight conditions increased in the fall school semester and remained elevated throughout the spring semester; ED visits were up to twice as high during school semesters compared with the summer period. Among children aged 5-9 years, the number and proportion of visits increased for five mental and behavioral health conditions. Seasonal increases in ED visits for some conditions among school-aged children warrant enhanced awareness about mental distress symptoms and the challenges and stressors in the school environment. Systemic changes that prioritize protective factors (e.g., physical activity; nutrition; sleep; social, community, or faith-based support; and inclusive school and community environments) and incorporate preparedness for increases in conditions during back-to-school planning might improve child and adolescent mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder among primary school children that significantly impacts their academic performance and social interactions. Traditional interventions for ADHD children often lack personalization and struggle to engage and motivate them effectively. This research paper proposes an innovative approach that leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) techniques to develop a personalized intervention system for motivating and assisting primary school children with ADHD. This study includes designing and developing an AI and ML-based intervention system tailored to the unique characteristics and preferences of ADHD children. The system will incorporate adaptive features to customize the intervention content, difficulty level, and feedback mechanism based on individual needs. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the intervention will be evaluated through standardized ADHD assessments, focusing on improvements in attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity levels. Ethical considerations regarding privacy, data security, and potential risks associated with AI and ML interventions will be addressed to ensure the responsible and ethical deployment of these technologies. Practical recommendations will be provided for parents, and professionals to facilitate the implementation of AI and ML interventions in primary school settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Environmental provisions can boost students' discretionary participation in physical activity (PA) during lunchtime at school. This study investigated the effectiveness of providing PA equipment as an environmental intervention on middle school students' PA levels and stakeholders' perceptions of the effectiveness of equipment provisions during school lunch recess. Methods: A baseline-intervention research design was used in this study with a first baseline phase followed by an intervention phase (ie, equipment provision phase). A total of 514 students at 2 middle schools (school 1 and school 2) in a rural area of the western United States were observed directly using the System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth instrument. Interviews were conducted with stakeholders. Paired-sample t tests and visual analysis were conducted to explore differences in PA levels by gender, and common comparison (with trustworthiness measures) was used with the interview data. Results: The overall percentage of moderate to vigorous PA levels was increased in both schools (ranging from 8.0% to 24.0%). In school 2, there was a significant difference in seventh- and eighth-grade students' moderate to vigorous PA levels from the baseline. Three major themes were identified: (1) unmotivated, (2) unequipped, and (3) unquestionable changes (with students becoming more active). Conclusions: Environmental supports (access, equipment, and supervision) significantly and positively influenced middle school students' lunchtime PA levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Gaceta Médica de Caracas is the property of Academia Nacional de Medicina and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The study investigated Peer Victimisation and Mental Health of Primary School Pupils. Respondents comprised 235 primary school pupils selected from nine primary schools across three Local Government Areas in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The participants were between 6 and 11 years and were stratified into lower and upper primary classes. The Multidimensional Peer-Victimisation Scale, Children's Depression Inventory-Short, and Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children were used to elicit information for the study. The results indicated that respondents reported largely high levels of peer victimisation with verbal victimisation as the most common form of peer victimisation. There were significant differences between male and female respondents on verbal and social forms of peer victimisation. Also, the study established that feeling unhappy and nervousness were forms of depression and anxiety experienced as a result of peer victimisation. The study brings into attention the need to encourage a consistent checking of victimisation rates and identify pupils that are at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental Health of primary and secondary school students has drawn wide public attention against the backdrop of the implementation of the Double Reduction policy. This article aims to analyze the effects of non-subject-based off-campus training on student mental health based on an investigation among primary and secondary school students from 30 counties (cities, districts) in six eastern, central, and western provinces of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to review the research which focused on ‘Reading Anxiety’ in Turkish language systematically. According to the questions derived from the aim, 16 papers were re-examined based on the rules of systematic review method. These papers were analysed in terms of their aims, designs, sampling and results. In addition to this, similarities and differences of the reviewed papers were discovered. It was seen that these studies were conducted with primary and middle school students. It was also found that the methodology of these reviewed studies was designed with quantitative approaches. The results of the review indicates that reading anxiety is related with reading comprehension, reading habit, reading fluency and reading motivation. Such factors as gender, parents‟ income, having books and place of residence have relation with reading anxiety. The results gathered from reviewed papers suggest that studies designed with qualitative and mixed-method are needed. Additionally, focusing on various topics related with „reading anxiety‟ with different participant groups are needed. In conclusion, it is believed that this systematic review study can provide fruitful information for the area and new perspectives for the further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adolescent period is indicated as one of the risk factors responsible for depression symptoms. In Poland the attention has been drawn to this problem relatively rarely as it was hitherto stereotypically perceived as the disease of the elderly. However, school psychologists and counselors more and more frequently suggest that their students exhibit different symptoms characteristic of, among others, youth depression. Thus, authors' objective consisted in conducting a pilot study in order to check if there are any reasons for distress as to the psychophysical state of primary school students. The study was carried out in the group of one hundred and forty (140) students from the fourth and seventh grades where the biggest teaching changes occurredan done hundred and forty (140) parents and class teachers. Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) by Maria Kovacs was employed in research. Based on the obtained research results one may put forward the thesis that there is a necessity to conduct in-depth diagnostic studies oriented towards revealing children's and school youth's depression symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the precautions exercised to control the corona virus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, various population groups have acclimated to diverse levels of screen usage which may have substantial effects on physical and mental health. Numerous studies have been done to identify the screen time across various population segments. Digital screen use which includes television, computers, mobile phones and smart devices has been linked to a variety of health problems. Some of these health problems include obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, myopia, depression, sleep difficulties and a variety of other noncommunicable diseases. This increased disease implication is prominent among those who have an inactive lifestyle which is likely to worsen during quarantine or isolation owing to COVID-19. As a result, it is vital to analyze the long-term health repercussions of such behavior. A study was conducted on various school children for their screen time usage via social media and Google forms. The study leads to the conclusion that the virtual mode of learning has caused various health issues in school children and traditional learning environment should be used to fix the health issues caused by the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little is known about the associations of preschoolers' health behaviors with their later psychosocial wellbeing. This study investigates the association of 3- to 5-year-old children's physical activity and electronic media use with their later social-emotional skills (6-8 years). Methods: Data were collected in 2008-2009 and 2011-2012 for the Healthy Active Preschool and Primary Years (HAPPY) Study in metropolitan Melbourne. Participants were a random subsample (n = 108) of the 567 children at follow-up. Physical activity was objectively measured using ActiGraph GT1M accelerometers; electronic media use (television viewing, sedentary electronic games and active electronic games) was parent proxy-reported. Social and emotional skills were child-reported using the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory--Youth Version. Regression analyses controlled for sex, clustering by center of recruitment, and accelerometer wear time (for physical activity analyses). Results: Sedentary electronic games were positively associated with intrapersonal and stress management skills and total emotional quotient. Computer/internet use was inversely associated with interpersonal, and positively associated with stress management, skills. Conclusions: Findings suggest that physical activity is not associated with children's psychosocial health while some types of electronic media use are. Future research should investigate the contexts in which preschoolers participate in these behaviors and potential causal mechanisms of associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chilean Skill for Life (CSFL) is a school mental health program implemented by local agencies from the Education, Health, and Social Services public sectors. It represents an excellent opportunity to study inter-organizational collaboration and its advantages to public and state-subsidized schools. The propensity score matching technique was used to compare school performance in second grade (the most intensive treatment level) between schools participating in the program and those not participating and between schools with different types of sectoral collaboration to identify the best partner for the school. To select all Chilean schools' participant in CSFL and the comparative group of schools' non-participant, a sequential sampling was applied. The measures were obtained from government public data, considering annual school performance and other educational indicators. It was found that public schools that implement the CSFL obtain better school performance than those that do not implement it (ATT = .042; p < .05), for state-subsidized schools, the same was not found. It was also observed that when educational agencies implement the program, the gain is more significant (ATT = .046; p < .05). The importance of aligning program values and goals with local agencies and schools is discussed, analyzing the possibilities for better collaboration in school mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the positive effects of different kinds of physical activity (PA) on cognitive functioning have already been demonstrated in a variety of studies, the role of cognitive engagement in promoting children's executive functions is still unclear. The aim of the current study was therefore to investigate the effects of two qualitatively different chronic PA interventions on executive functions in primary school children. Children (N = 181) aged between 10 and 12 years were assigned to either a 6-week physical education program with a high level of physical exertion and high cognitive engagement (team games), a physical education program with high physical exertion but low cognitive engagement (aerobic exercise), or to a physical education program with both low physical exertion and low cognitive engagement (control condition). Executive functions (updating, inhibition, shifting) and aerobic fitness (multistage 20-m shuttle run test) were measured before and after the respective condition. Results revealed that both interventions (team games and aerobic exercise) have a positive impact on children's aerobic fitness (4-5% increase in estimated VO2max). Importantly, an improvement in shifting performance was found only in the team games and not in the aerobic exercise or control condition. Thus, the inclusion of cognitive engagement in PA seems to be the most promising type of chronic intervention to enhance executive functions in children, providing further evidence for the importance of the qualitative aspects of PA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the harmful effects of peer victimization have been well documented, there is limited research on the parental behaviors as potential moderators of victimization and child mental health outcomes. The current study examined the moderating effects of parental warmth, parental rejection, and child gender on the relation between peer victimization and child mental health difficulties, i.e., emotional and behavioral difficulties. Participants included 425 Chinese elementary school children in grades 3 to 6 (Mage = 10.59, SDage = 1.11), who self-reported on peer victimization experiences, perceived parental warmth and rejection, and mental health difficulties. Data were collected at two-time points, six months apart. Victimization and parental rejection positively predicted child emotional and behavioral difficulties, while parental warmth negatively predicted child emotional and behavioral difficulties at both time points. Victimization significantly predicted emotional difficulties (at time 1) and behavioral difficulties (at time 2) for girls, but not boys. In addition, gender moderated the interaction of victimization and parental rejection in predicting child behavioral difficulties at time 1, i.e., parental rejection exacerbated the effects of peer victimization on behavioral difficulties for girls only. Findings highlight the need to target bullying prevention efforts, and underscore the importance of evaluating peer and parental factors while working with children with emotional and behavioral issues. Highlights: The study examined if parental warmth, parental rejection, and child gender moderated the effects of peer victimization on child mental health difficulties. Peer victimization is associated with mental health difficulties, both emotional and behavioral. Parental warmth is beneficial, and parental rejection is detrimental for children's mental health. Peer victimization affects girls more negatively compared to boys. Parental rejection exacerbated effects of peer victimization on behavioral difficulties for girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research focuses on the impact of the context of Covid‐19 on the role of the SENCo in English schools. The SENCo's role is a contested field; however, the current Special Educational Needs Code of Practice identifies 11 key areas of SENCos' work. A widely distributed survey was used to access the voice of SENCos across the country, and received 26 responses. Data were analysed using a realistic evaluation framework to identify the impact of Covid‐19 on the work of the SENCo. The research indicated that practice in this context had changed in some key areas, and also identified three new aspects of the SENCo role. These point to the need to revise policy and guidance relating to the SENCo being part of the senior leadership team, providing emotional support for adults, and engaging in practical pedagogical activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated mental health in schoolchildren in different living arrangements after parental separation. The study population included 31,519 children from the Danish National Birth Cohort, followed-up at age 11 in 2010–2014. Child mental health was measured with a maternal report of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Associations between living arrangements and mental health were analyzed using logistic and linear regression models, taking into account early childhood indicators of the parents’ relations, income, education and psychiatric care. At age 11, children living in a nuclear family had the lowest rate of total SDQ score, 8.9%. Of the children who had experienced parental separation, children in joint physical custody had the lowest adjusted odds ratio (OR)1.25 (95%-CI 1.09–1.44), for a high SDQ score relative to children living in a nuclear family, with adjusted ORs of 1.63 (1.42–1.86) and OR 1.72 (1.52–1.95) for sole physical custody arrangements with and without a new partner. An analysis of change in SDQ scores between ages 7 and 11 in children showed a similar pattern. This study indicates that joint physical custody is associated with slightly more favorable mental health in schoolchildren after parental separation than sole physical custody arrangements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health disorders among primary school children remain a crucial issue. Early health promotion interventions can positively affect and prevent the onset of mental disorders. Promising digital mental health methods have been implemented for adolescents and youths with scarce evidence among younger ages. Therefore, the aim of the current systematic review was to identify health promotion interventions on mental health and wellbeing, with the use of digital methods, delivered in primary school settings. Six digital interventions have been identified, three of which were targeting teachers and the others students. Regardless of the limited number of studies, the effectiveness of the web-based interventions upon teachers' knowledge and attitudes and the positive impact on children's behavioral improvements has been documented. The lack of adequate evidence highlights the need for further research in the field. The current review provides information for professionals working in primary schools useful for the design and implementation of effective mental health and wellbeing interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Miscellanea Anthropologica et Sociologica is the property of University of Gdansk / Uniwersytet Gdanskim and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Canterbury, New Zealand, earthquake disaster of 2010–2011 had a major impact on children. The present study aims to increase understanding of schools' contributions to children's recovery by examining how this core context fosters children's effective coping in a disaster. The study uses a phenomenological approach to investigate the disaster experience from the children's (n = 32) own viewpoint and from that of their parents (31), teachers (6), and school principals (5). The schools in the study proved a stable, supportive environment for children providing routine, consistency, and a sense of safety and security. Teachers were a trusted source of support for children, and they coached children to cope. Teachers and schools also continually kept channels open between children and their families, including maintaining contact with parents during aftershocks to reassure them their children were safe. Peer contact was also important for children to share their experiences and gain support from one another. Principals considered welfare and put in place support mechanisms for staff and the children. Understanding how a school context and the relationships within that context promote effective coping in children facing a disaster is critical for developing more effective psychosocial support, and intervention strategies for children. In view of the school's key role, support to schools and teachers, including further training for education professionals, is needed throughout a disaster cycle if children's positive adaptation and coping is to be fostered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Motor competence, defined as a person's ability to execute different motor skills, is directly associated with children's physical, mental, and social development and may be essential in encouraging an active lifestyle in childhood. Although health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children has been described as an individual's subjective perception of the impact of health status on physical, psychological and social functioning, in very young children, a HRQoL parent-proxy report is needed since (pre)schoolchildren have problems expressing their feelings and understanding items on HRQoL instruments. In addition, the influence of motor competence on fitness levels has strong empirical support, so it seems reasonable to hypothesize that cardiorespiratory fitness might play a crucial role in the association between motor competence and HRQoL in children. Objectives: This study examined the association between gross motor competence (G-MC) and HRQoL in typically developing children, and whether this association between G-MC and HRQoL was mediated by cardiorespiratory fitness. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study with 1088 (pre)schoolchildren (51.84% boys, 48.16% girls) aged between 4 and 7 years (5.32 ± 0.60) belonging to 21 schools in the Spanish provinces of Cuenca and Ciudad Real were included. G-MC was evaluated using the MABC-2 battery, HRQoL was assessed using the KINDL-R questionnaire and cardiorespiratory fitness using the 20m-shuttle-run-test. Partial correlations, covariance models and mediation analyses were conducted. Results: The mean scores of HRQoL (physical well-being, self-esteem, friends, school and global score index) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in children with higher G-MC. When cardiorespiratory fitness was added as a covariate, all the results remained unchanged (p < 0.05), except for physical well-being for the total sample as well as emotional well-being and the global score index for girls. Simple mediation analyses showed that cardiorespiratory fitness acted as a mediator between G-MC and physical well-being (Indirect Effect = 0.04 [95% CI = 0.01; 0.07]) for the total sample. For boys, it acted as a mediator between G-MC and physical well-being (Indirect Effect = 0.04 [95% CI = 0.00; 0.08]) and school (Indirect Effect = 0.05 [95% CI = 0.01; 0.09]), and, for girls, between G-MC and emotional well-being (Indirect Effect = 0.04 [95% CI = 0.01; 0.08]) and the global score index (Indirect Effect = 0.02 [95% CI = 0.00; 0.05]). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that good G-MC levels are associated with better HRQoL, mainly in global score index of HRQoL and self-esteem, friends, and school dimensions in typically developing children. Further, cardiorespiratory fitness mediates the association between G-MC and the physical dimension of HRQoL in (pre)schoolchildren. Additionally, physical and academic dimensions are mediated by cardiorespiratory fitness for boys and the emotional and global score indices of HRQoL are mediated by cardiorespiratory fitness for girls. These findings provide scientific evidence that improving motor competence and cardiorespiratory fitness might be a practical strategy to increase HRQoL in children. Thus, families and the educational community should promote effective interventions and incorporate opportunities inside and outside school that aim to jointly improve motor competence and cardiorespiratory fitness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge and understanding about the impact of cumulative adverse experiences on the health and wellbeing of children, adolescents, and adults has rapidly expanded over the past 30 years. Despite the invaluable attention and support this proliferation has drawn to the importance of early childhood experiences, we believe that it is time to move beyond broad indices of risk and toward more specific and individualized understanding of how risk exposures are linked to clinical outcomes in young children. Within infant and early childhood mental health, there is a need for greater specificity in linking adverse caregiving experiences in early life to psychopathology in children. We highlight a framework distinguishing experiences of trauma from experiences of deprivation and use the examples of posttraumatic stress disorder and reactive attachment disorder to demonstrate how greater specificity in our understanding of early adverse caregiving can lead to more accurate and targeted diagnosis and treatment for young children. Both researchers and clinicians benefit from an approach to gain a greater appreciation of the links between specific types of experiences and outcomes in the children that we serve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This phenomenological study is an examination of nine elementary school counselors' experiences working with young children who are suicidal. Elementary school counselors were interviewed and asked to describe the phenomenon of suicidal ideation and behaviors they identified within their schools. Five themes emerged from the data, including school counselor role related to suicide, uniqueness of suicide at the elementary level, student interactions with suicide, school counselor reactions to students who are suicidal, and barriers in suicide work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical exercise can enhance various aspects of character and education, but children may not engage due to a variety of barriers. Circus Skills Training (CST) is a novel approach to encourage participation in exercise and develop physical literacy. It delivers circus skills in a positive, non-competitive and supportive social atmosphere, making it particularly appealing to those who avoid traditional competitive team sports. In a between-subjects design we compared 2 groups of children (aged 9–12) on various measures of physical and psychological wellbeing at baseline, and again after one group had received 6 months of CST training as part of their school's physical education classes. Significant differences between CST and none-CST children were found for teacher ratings of emotional problems, with the CST-group showing fewer such problems. CST could offer an innovative means of encouraging children to engage with exercise and provide wider benefits in terms of psychological wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Academic Social Science Studies is the property of Journal of Academic Social Science Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background The present study evaluates the effects of a classroom-based universal program for stress management among elementary school students. Methods The participating children (aged 11-12 years) were assigned to either an intervention (n = 172) or a control group (n = 100). The program involved one 45-minute session during school hours. The program taught students about cognitive distortions and trained them using cognitive reconstruction. Cognitive distortions were characterized so that children could easily understand them. Students were asked to complete the Children's Stress Response Test, comprised of five questions about self-efficacy about cognitive reconstruction before and after the program, to assess the program's effects. Results The results as observed in the intervention group were as follows: (a) stress responses decreased, (b) self-efficacy in the awareness about one's feelings and thinking improved, (c) understanding how thinking affects feelings was prompted, (d) self-efficacy to review one's thinking improved when they felt uncomfortable, and (e) self-efficacy to change one's negative thinking to adaptive thinking improved. Conclusion These results suggest that the program was useful for reducing stress responses and improving self-efficacy in cognitive reconstruction among children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For preventive interventions in school mental health to be effective, it is essential to have valid and reliable screening instruments that can detect students in need of more support. In order to do this, the present study is aimed at assessing the psychometric properties of the Teacher Observation of Classroom Adaptation, an interview for teachers that measures school adjustment difficulties. The study evaluated 10,287 adolescents participating in a Chilean public program for improving mental health in schools. Of the total sample, 5,815 (56.5%) students were in 6th grade and were 12.91 years old on average (SD = 1.391). Exploratory factor analyses were used to identify four dimensions (behavioral, learning, social, and autonomyrelated difficulties), which were tested using structural equations. Reliability analyses show that all factors have high levels of internal consistency and differ according to age, grade, and extreme poverty. The article discusses the results obtained, their implications, and the importance of performing screening in schools through rigorously assessed psychometric instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What role does child psychotherapy have to play in addressing the mental health needs of children in areas of disadvantage? This paper will discuss an innovative programme of school-based mental health work, led by child psychotherapists in Bristol. Referencing child psychotherapy's early work with severely deprived children, and the pioneering work in schools by colleagues such as Youell and Jackson, the paper describes how the Bridge in Schools (BiS) has developed a local response to the high level of unmet mental health needs of children, especially in deprived areas of the city. We consider the challenges and opportunities to be found in building partnerships with school teams, and applying child psychotherapy in a school environment. We explore the relevance of child psychotherapy, both in developing therapeutic approaches to learning and behaviour management that provide containment for vulnerable children, and in offering effective and timely therapeutic interventions. We draw on evaluation data to show that this approach can significantly improve access and outcomes for families who currently do not reach CAMHS thresholds. Finally, we consider how these developments in child psychotherapy give us unique opportunities to contribute to the government's current re-design of child mental health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of school-aged children referred for psychological assessment and psychotherapy in our psychology clinic, who are showing comorbid emotional and behavioural issues, are in continuous growth over the last years. This article presents the correlations between the level of anxiety scales in school-aged children and their aggressive behaviour, and also a prediction equation for the children's aggressive behaviour. All the data are collected over the last 3 years in a centre for research, diagnosis and treatment of children with mental health issues in Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Mental health assessment in childhood needs to be carried out within a broader context that includes different factors. Objective: To assess the prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems in schoolchildren and associated factors. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a school-based sample at 20 schools selected by systematic random sampling. Participants consisted of children aged 7-8 year old and their parents or primary caregivers. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used to screen for the presence of emotional and behavioral problems in children. Results: A total of 596 dyads were evaluated. The prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems was 30.0% among boys and 28.2% among girls. Hyperactivity/inattention were more prevalent among boys (p=0.015). Belonging to economically disadvantaged strata increased the likelihood of emotional and behavioral problems among schoolchildren by 71% (p=0.001), while having parents or caregivers with mental disorder increased by 2.2 times that probability (p<0.001). Conclusion: Our findings showed a high prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems among schoolchildren, as well as the influence of economic conditions and of the mental health of parents and caregivers on child mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Policymakers are focusing increased attention on the role of schools to promote and support children's mental health, and evidence‐based models of good practice are in demand. Pyramid Club is a school‐based, socio‐emotional intervention, demonstrably effective with primary‐aged pupils. Aims: This study extends previous Pyramid Club evaluations by examining effectiveness with pupils in early secondary education; service users' perceptions and experiences were investigated to increase understanding of Pyramid's impact, thus supporting enhanced practice. Sample: Participants (n = 126) comprised selected pupils, aged 11–14 (52 males; 74 females), who completed the 10 week programme (Pyramid group) and a non‐intervention comparison group. Club leaders (n = 23) were trained, Pyramid volunteers. Methods: A mixed‐methods design was implemented. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), informant‐rated version (Goodman, 1997, J Child Psychol Psychiat, 38, 581) and self‐report version (Goodman, Meltzer, & Bailey, 1998, Europ Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 7, 125), was used to measure socio‐emotional well‐being: pre‐club (baseline assessment), post‐test (within 2 weeks of programme completion), and at 12‐month follow‐up (informant‐rated version only). Focus groups were conducted separately with Pyramid pupils and Club leaders. Results: Findings from informants and self‐reports identified significant improvements for the Pyramid group in total difficulties and on pertinent SDQ subscales (e.g., emotional symptoms and peer relationship problems) at post‐test. Improvements were sustained at 12‐month follow‐up. Comparison pupils demonstrated minimal change over time. Thematic analysis of qualitative data supported the quantitative findings and provided valuable insights into the Pyramid Club experience. Conclusions: Findings contribute to evidence‐based, preventative models for the early adolescent population and support the social validity of Pyramid Club. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this research was to gauge students' attention deficit and hyperactive disorder (ADHD). Major objectives of the study were (a) to measure the prevalence of ADHD among elementary students in mainstream education classroom; (b) to gauge the types of interventions that teachers are using to handling students with ADHD in mainstream education classrooms and (c) to compare the public and private sector school teachers' understanding about the prevalence of students' learning difficulties in mainstream classrooms. The nature of the study was descriptive by using quantitative research approach. 200 teachers both from public and private schools were selected as a sample of the study by using stratified sampling technique. Three different questionnaires were used to collect information from the participants after establishing reliability and validity. Gathered data were analyzed with statistical techniques such as t-test through SPSS. The outcomes of the study specified that although mainstream classroom teachers had some idea of the learning difficulties but they were not much aware of the causes of learning difficulty (due to ADHD). Furthermore, the prevalence of ADHD was more observed in government sector classes. Most of the teachers only changed the physical arrangement of the class to deal with problematic behavior of students. It is due to less knowledge about any other intervention. It is therefore recommended that mainstream teachers may be supported with professional training to deal with ADHA students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anxiety and depression are among the most common mental health issues experienced in childhood. Implementing school-based prevention programs during childhood, rather than adolescence, is thought to provide better mental health outcomes. The present meta-analysis aimed to investigate the efficacy of universal school-based prevention programs that target both anxiety and depression in children (aged 13 years or below), and examine three moderators (i.e., program type, primary target of program, and number of sessions) on prevention effects. PsycINFO, PubMED, and Google Scholar were systematically searched for relevant articles published up to and including January 2018. Fourteen randomised controlled trials, consisting of 5970 children, met eligibility criteria. Prevention programs led to significantly fewer depressive symptoms at post-program (g = 0.172) and at long-term follow-up periods (g = 0.180), but not at short-term follow-up. Programs were not found to prevent anxiety symptoms across any time point. Considerable heterogeneity was observed for all effects. Program type and length were found to moderate the relationship between prevention program and outcomes. Prevention programs were effective in preventing depressive symptoms at post-program and long-term follow-up, while no significant preventative effect on anxiety symptoms was observed. The FRIENDS Program and programs which contained a greater number of sessions showed beneficial effects on anxiety and depressive symptoms. Universal programs aimed at preventing both anxiety and depression in children are limited. Future research should investigate the long-term evaluation of school-based prevention programs for anxiety and depression in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review of reviews presents an empirically based set of mean effect size distributions for judging the relative impact of the effects of universal mental health promotion and prevention programs for school-age youth (ages 5 through 18) across a range of program targets and types of outcomes. Mean effect size distributions were established by examining the findings from 74 meta-analyses of universal prevention and promotion programs that included more than 1100 controlled outcome studies involving over 490,000 school-age youth. The distributions of mean effect sizes from these meta-analyses indicated considerable variability across program targets and outcomes that differed substantially from Cohen's (1988, Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.)) widely used set of conventions for assessing if effects are small, medium, or large. These updated mean effect size distributions will provide researchers, practitioners, and funders with more appropriate evidence-based standards for judging the relative effects of universal prevention programs for youth. Limitations in current data and directions for future work are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Football is one of the most common extracurricular activities among schoolchildren. Illusions and expectations are poured into a competitive sport that complements their formal education at school. The controversy over competition in schoolchildren aged six and seven opens up a debate on the lessons that are constructed. This study explores the emotional management that children develop in order to participate in sports activities in relation to the lessons promoted by the school. This article presents an ethnographic study grounded upon participant observation, with 101 schoolchildren in the first and second years of primary school during one academic year in 207 sessions, and semi-structured interviews with 21 teachers. After analysing the narratives, the results reveal previous expectations and stresses, a level of activation adequate for the competitive demands of the environment, the development of the ability to be competent in a stressful situation, the emotional capitalization of knowing how to win and lose, the impact of social recognition on adaptative construction of self-esteem, and the management of episodes of stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pivotal information about the structure of students' comprehension underlying from which the knowledge is gained can be identified through the mental model. This study aimed at describing the six levels of students' mental model in comprehending the concept of the integer. The subject of this research was 40 students consisting of 20 students from the second graders of primary school and 20 students from the third graders of primary school. The subject was taken from two classes in order to meet the whole levels of the mental model. The subject of the research was given a test to know their comprehension of the concept of the integer. From the subject, there were 6 students who were interviewed because they have already fulfilled the six levels of the mental model. To guarantee the validity and reliability of the research, the triangulation technique was done by comparing the video recording of the interview with the results of the test. The results reveal that there are six levels of students' mental model in comprehending the concept of integer, i.e. pre-initial mental model, initial mental model, the transition 1, synthetic mental model, the transition 2, and formal mental model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

0Background. The World Health Organization recommends children to participate in sufficient PA by engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for at least 60 min daily per week. Schools are important settings for the promotion of children's physical activity. Through commuting, breaks, and physical education lessons they provide regular opportunities for children to be active. Methods. The experimental group included 36 girls and 34 boys aged 6-7 years old. Their mean weight and height were 24.3 ± 0.9 kg and 1.25 ± 0.11 m for the girls, and 29.3 ± 0.6 kg and 1.33 ± 0.09 m for the boys. The control group included 35 girls and 33 boys aged 6-7 years old, attending the same school. Their mean weight and height were 22.3 ± 0.7 kg and 1.24 ± 0.1 m for the girls, and 28.4 ± 0.7 kg and 1.36 ± 0.07 m for the boys. The methodology of innovative physical education classes was based on the DIDSFA model (dynamic exercise, intense motor skill repetition, differentiation, physical activity distribution in the classroom). The evaluation of physical activity. Children's Physical Activity Questionnaire (Corder et al., 2009) was used. It was also based on the Children's Leisure Activities Study Survey (CLASS) questionnaire. The measurement of anxiety - the methodology of Reynolds and Richmond (1994). Results. The post-test of the experimental group boys (1320.24 MET, min/week) was to analyse average physical activity in comparison with the girls of the experimental group (840.60 MET, min/week). Statistically significant difference was found during the analysis of average MET per boy (1390.45 MET, min/week) in comparison with the girls (880.27 MET, min/week, p < .05). The results of the somatic anxiety in EG (5.54 ± 1.18 points) before the experiment and after it showed that after the intervention programme somatic anxiety in EG was 5.08 ± 1.09 points. This demonstrates lower levels of depression, seclusion, somatic complaints, aggression and delinquent behaviour (F = 4.895, p < .05, P = 0.550). Conclusion. It was established that properly construed and purposefully applied complex of the eight-month exercise intervention programme for elementary school children led to statistically significant changes in the dependent variables: increased physical activity and decreased anxiety for the experimental group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Converging evidence suggests shared genetic underpinnings of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Studies of infants at risk for ASD have proliferated over the past decade; the few studies that have followed these infants beyond age 3 report a range of difficulties facing a subset of these infants as they reach school age, including elevated levels of attention problems and externalizing behavior. Given this, we aimed to identify early predictors of school-age ADHD outcomes in a sample of infant siblings at risk for ASD. This study reports on a sample of 59 infants at high and low risk for ASD who had been followed for more than a decade, collecting data at regular intervals from 3 to 36 months and then determining diagnostic outcome at 8-10 years of age. Seventeen participants were diagnosed with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.) ADHD at school age (n = 14 high risk, 3 low risk). As infants, the ADHD outcome group demonstrated atypical longitudinal patterns of sustained visual attention. A significantly larger proportion of their parents reported behavior/temperament problems at 36 months of age, and examiners noted the presence of inattentive, hyperactive, and/or impulsive behaviors in this group by 18 months of age. These data suggest that behavioral indicators of risk for later ADHD may be present early in development, which may improve earlier detection and treatment of the disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]