School Performance Research Articles

Congenital hypothyroidism and associated visual-motor and intellectual development.

Congenital hypothyroidism's sequelae include visuomotor and intellectual developmental deficits. Visual-motor perception is a cognitive function related to academic performance. Intellect is the ability to learn and use acquired knowledge to solve and achieve goals. Our objective was to evaluate visual-motor and intellectual development in children with late initiation of treatment for congenital hypothyroidism enrolled in a developmental follow-up and intervention program. We evaluated the visual-motor and intellectual development of 75 infants with congenital hypothyroidism, 34 with athyrosis, and 41 with ectopia using the Bender Visual-Motor Development Test and the Weschler Intelligence Scale at eight and nine years of age. Children with ectopia had a visual-motor delay of -2 years and an Intelligence Quotient (IQ)greater than 98 points. Children with athyrosis had a visual-motor delay equivalent to -3.2 years and an IQ below 90 points. Better performance on Bender's test was positively correlated with IQ. Attending more than 80% of Developmental Intervention Program appointments had a positive impact on intellectual development. Timely diagnosis and early treatment with the appropriate dose of levothyroxine are determining factors; however, attendance to a development follow-up and intervention program could further support the cognitive development of children with congenital hypothyroidism. Visuomotor development influences cognitive functions related to school performance. Deficits in the ability to learn and use acquired knowledge to solve problems and achieve goals are characteristic of children with congenital hypothyroidism. Delayed treatment is associated with more severe sequelae in both visual-motor and intellectual development. Here, we show that treatment with adequate doses of levothyroxine and inclusion in a follow-up and developmental program are highly recommended for patients with delayed treatment. A better understanding of these factors will allow clinicians to target therapeutic interventions.

Determination of the Effect of Graduate Teacher Attrition on Students’ Performance in Government Senior Secondary Schools in the Gambia

Determination of the Effect of Graduate Teacher Attrition on Students’ Performance in Government Senior Secondary Schools in the Gambia

A life course approach to examine cumulative impacts of parental migration on children's psychological well-being and education in Southeast Asia.

Researchers have raised concerns about parental migration's effects on various aspects of the left-behind children's development. However, there is limited understanding of how parental migration influences children over the life course. This study aimed to fill this gap by investigating how exposure to parental migration during childhood shapes later development in Indonesia and the Philippines, two major labor-sending countries in Southeast Asia. Adopting a life course perspective, we examine how the timing, sequence, and cumulative extent of parental migration affect children's outcomes. We used longitudinal data from 1,023 households in 2008 (with children aged 4.56 on average) and 849 households in 2016/17 (with children aged 12.78 on average). Retrospective information on children's exposure to parental migration during early childhood (under 3), middle childhood (4-5), and late childhood (6-10) was constructed for its impact on individuals' school performance and psychological well-being during early adolescence (11-14). The findings indicate that the timing of children's initial exposure to parental migration impacts certain aspects of their development. In Indonesia, paternal migration during middle or late childhood is associated with a trade-off between improved school performance and reduced prosocial behavior. For Filipino children, maternal migration during the first 3 years is linked to higher levels of internalizing problems, while migration during middle and late childhood reduces the risk of such problems. These findings underscore the importance of tailored policies and support programs that acknowledge the diverse impacts of parental migration across different developmental stages, considering distinct cultural contexts. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Exploring the Dimensions of Perfectionism in Adolescence: A Multi-Method Study on Mental Health and CBT-Based Psychoeducation.

Perfectionism in adolescents can have both adaptive and maladaptive forms, with implications for mental health and school performance. This study aimed to investigate the relationships among perfectionism, mental health factors, and emotional regulation in adolescents and to evaluate the efficacy of psychoeducational interventions. Two studies were conducted: (1) A cross-sectional study (n = 261) examined the correlations among perfectionism, mental health factors, and emotional regulation. (2) An experimental study (n = 115) evaluated the effects of psychoeducation on perfectionism and healthy habits compared with a control group. The measures included questionnaires on perfectionism, depression, anxiety, stress, and emotional regulation. Study 1 found that maladaptive perfectionism was positively correlated with depression (r = 0.52, p < 0.001), anxiety (r = 0.48, p < 0.001), stress (r = 0.45, p < 0.001), and difficulties in emotional regulation (r = 0.39, p < 0.001). Adaptive perfectionism was negatively correlated with deficits in emotional understanding (r = -0.31, p < 0.05). Study 2 showed that psychoeducational interventions reduced maladaptive perfectionism (mean difference = -5.7, p < 0.05, Cohen's d = 0.62) and depression levels (mean difference = -3.2, p < 0.05, Cohen's d = 0.38) but increased stress in the experimental groups. No significant changes were observed in adaptive perfectionism or the anxiety level. These findings highlight the complex relationships among perfectionism, mental health, and emotional regulation in adolescents. Targeted interventions can reduce maladaptive perfectionism and its associated negative effects. Further research is needed on the long-term outcomes and refinement of interventional strategies.

Impact of Park Redesign and Renovation on Children's Health-Related Quality of Life.

Despite increasing interest in the role of parks on children's health, there has been little empirical research on the impact of park interventions. We used a quasi-experimental pre-post study design with matched controls to evaluate the effects of park redesign and renovation on children's health-related quality of life (QoL) in underserved neighborhoods in New York City, with predominantly Hispanic and Black populations. Utilizing longitudinal data from the Physical Activity and Redesigned Community Spaces (PARCS) Study, we examined the parent-reported health-related QoL of 201 children aged 3-11 years living within a 0.3-mile radius of 13 renovated parks compared to 197 children living near 11 control parks before and after the park intervention. Health-related QoL was measured using a modified version of the KINDL questionnaire that assessed children's physical and emotional well-being, self-esteem, and well-being in home, peer, and school functioning. Linear mixed regression model was used to examine the difference in difference (DID) between the intervention vs. control group for QoL. We found a significant differential improvement in the physical well-being subscale of KINDL in the intervention vs. control group (DID = 6.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.85-11.85, p = 0.024). The effect was particularly strong among girls (DID = 7.88, p = 0.023) and children of the lowest socio-economic background (p < 0.05). No significant DID was found in other KINDL domains. Our study indicated a beneficial impact of improving park quality on the physical well-being of children residing in underserved neighborhoods. These findings lend support for investments in neighborhood parks to advance health equity.

Multifaceted Concert Performances in Music Schools

Multifaceted Concert Performances in Music Schools

The Influence of Green Human Resource Management on Environmental Performance of Pre-School Education Through Environmentally Friendly Organizational Culture

This study aims to analyze the effect of Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) on the environmental performance of PAUD schools with an environmentally friendly organizational culture as a mediating variable. GHRM includes practices such as green recruitment, training, performance appraisal, and incentives that support environmental sustainability. An environmentally friendly organizational culture is defined as collective values, beliefs, and behaviors that support environmental initiatives in educational institutions. This study uses a quantitative approach with a survey method of educators and staff in a number of PAUD schools. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results showed that GHRM has a significant influence on environmental performance, both directly and through an environmentally friendly organizational culture. This study contributes to academic literature and management practice, especially in supporting sustainability strategies in the education sector.

Adolescent depression in school: risk factors and consequences on school functioning

Abstract Adolescents spend most of their formative years in school, making it an important context to consider when investigating crises. A personal crisis that often has its onset during adolescence is depression. To gain a better understanding of depression in school, we explore possible individual and school-related risk factors and outcomes of depressive symptoms in line with current etiology models. First, we investigate the intersection of possible demographic risk factors of depression (female gender, immigration background, SES). Second, we explore school-related factors (conscientiousness, parental expectations, social inclusion) that might be associated with students’ depressive symptoms, and whether depressive symptoms mediate the effects of these school-related factors on school-functioning (grades, test anxiety). The representative data was collected in 30 Austrian secondary schools in a survey study with three waves. The sample consisted of 1874 12th-grade students from 93 classes. We used well-established self-report scales for all constructs that showed good reliability and students’ mean grades on the most recent tests. Analyses were pre-registered. In general, students experienced heightened depressive symptoms. More specifically, calculating a dummy-coded regression, we found female students with an immigration background and low SES to be the most burdened. The results of the mediation model showed depressive symptoms to partially mediate the association of conscientiousness, social inclusion, and parental expectations with test anxiety; this was not observed for grades. Furthermore, we only found conscientiousness to be positively associated with grades. Directions for future research and implications are discussed.

Understanding the private-public school performance gap in PISA: evidence from Portugal

We analyse the PISA-reported convergence in the performance of private and public schools in Portugal. When PISA sampling weights are used, the number of students enrolled in those types of schools and specific grades/tracks of study differs significantly from official population figures. To account for those differences, we apply a post-stratification adjustment; however, sample sizes are small, resulting in estimates with low precision for several subgroups. We propose recommendations for improving the handling of these issues in future PISA cycles. In an additional analysis, we also account for changes in the composition of the student population. When all factors are considered, the convergence in scores is far less impressive than reported. For instance, in Science, after adjusting the sampling weights and removing population composition effects, the reported convergence of 46 points between private and public schools from 2015 to 2018 amounts to only 9 points. The decomposition and sample adjustment methods used in this paper can be easily adapted to other contexts.

Risk Factors and Clinical Predictors of Suicidal Behaviors and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Among Pediatric Psychiatry Emergency Admissions Pre- and Post-Pandemic: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Suicidal behavior (SB) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) are significant public health concerns among adolescents. The COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated these issues. This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 341 adolescents (aged 6-18 years) presenting to a Romanian pediatric psychiatry emergency department during the years 2019 (pre-pandemic) and 2022 (post-pandemic). All participants underwent a thorough psychiatric assessment, and, together with their caregivers, were questioned on a wide range of potentially relevant issues, such as family, social, school, and life history factors. Logistic regression and random forest models were used to identify predictors of SB and NSSI. SB was significantly predicted in regression models based on a prior suicidal ideation (OR = 68.410; p < 0.001), having a parent living abroad (OR = 11.438; p = 0.020), depression (OR = 6.803; p < 0.001), and conflicts with peers (OR = 0.325, p = 0.042), teachers (OR = 0.119, p = 0.024), or both (OR = 0.166, p = 0.012). The random forest model featured a slightly different order of the main predictors and highlighted the importance of additional predictors, such as prior suicide attempts, gender, and past non-suicidal self-injury. NSSI was mainly predicted by a history of self-harm (OR = 52.437; p < 0.001), the number of comorbid psychiatric disorders (OR = 1.709; p = 0.003), and conduct disorder (OR = 0.184; p < 0.001), to which are added, according to random forest models, new predictors, such as borderline personality disorder, suicidal ideation, and school performance. Post-pandemic increases were observed in depression, suicidal ideation, and possible psycho-traumatic negative life event exposure. This study underscores the complex interplay of individual, familial, and societal factors influencing adolescent self-harm. Comprehensive interventions are needed, with early intervention crucial for those with a history of self-harm. Further research using prospective designs is recommended.

Household Social Composition and Academic Performance in Primary School

Household Social Composition and Academic Performance in Primary School

Exploring the Influence of Career Decision Self-Efficacy on Adjustment Challenges in Psychiatric Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Insight.

To explore the relationship between Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy and maladjustment among psychiatric nursing students. The results of baseline data, Mental Health Knowledge Questionnaire, Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy scale and Clinical Practice Maladjustment Questionnaire of psychiatric nursing students from January 2022 to August 2023 were obtained from our hospital, and the correlation of scores was examined through Pearson correlation analysis. The factors affecting psychiatric nursing students' maladjustment were analyzed through logistic regression analysis. A total of 286 psychiatric nursing students were included in this study. The total score of all students of Mental Health Law Knowledge Questionnaire score was 21.30 ± 5.28, the total score of Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy scale was 132.90 ± 13.36 and the total score of Clinical Practice Maladjustment Questionnaire was 102.85 ± 9.81. Positive correlations were found among the Mental Health Knowledge Questionnaire score and the Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy scale and Clinical Practice Maladjustment Questionnaire (r = 0.550, 0.602, p < 0.05). Similarly, a positive correlation was found between the Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy scale and Clinical Practice Maladjustment Questionnaire (r = 0.639, p < 0.05). Personality, school performance, Mental Health Knowledge Questionnaire score and Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy Scale score were the main factors affecting clinical practice inadaptability of psychiatric nursing students, and the odds ratio (OR) values were higher than 1. Psychiatric nursing students experienced maladjustment during clinical practice, and Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy was the main influencing factor.

The Effect of Diaphragmatic Breathing as a Complementary Therapeutic Strategy in Stress of Children and Teenagers 6-18 Years Old.

Few studies are reported on interventions that have been carried out in children and adolescents using diaphragmatic breathing (DB) together with methods like counseling, muscle relaxation, therapeutic exercise, and music therapy. The goal of the review is to evaluate the effectiveness of DB as complementary therapy in the stress of the pediatric population (6-18 years old). Detailed research was carried out in the current literature to find relevant studies published from 2010 to October 2024 in PubMed and Cochrane Library. Thirteen studies that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Nine studies involved obese and overweight pediatric populations and the other four involved pediatric patients. The interventions comprised two 8-week studies in an obese pediatric population, seven studies in healthy children and adolescents with normal weight. The studies were based on DB, muscle relaxation, nutrition, counseling, music therapy, and slow breathing exercises. The participants in the intervention group improved in comparison to those in the control group in terms of stress and depression in most included studies, in terms of school performance in two studies, in terms of better family relationships in one study, and showed improvement in anthropometric indicators in two studies. In four studies that involved pediatric patients, stress and fear of medical procedures were reduced. DB can effectively contribute on its own or in combination with other therapeutic methods to improving physiological and psychological indicators in the pediatric population. It is useful to integrate stress management programs that include DB training as clinical practice in primary healthcare and in school schedules for elementary and high-school students.

Academic integrity: peculiarities of popularization in Ukrainian universities

The study raises the problem of popularizing the culture of academic integrity in higher education institutions of Ukraine. The author analyzes the origin and meaning of the term "academic integrity", explores the international experience of implementing academic integrity as a moral and ethical value in a modern university. In the article, academic honesty is presented as an integral component of the entire process of learning, scientific research, and creativity. The author reveals the reasons for the growing attention to the problems of academic integrity in Ukraine and analyzes in detail the events dedicated to the problems of academic integrity that are actively held today in the educational and scientific Ukrainian academic environment, such as round tables, conferences, research and educational domestic and international projects, webinars, online courses, etc. A detailed analysis of domestic and international large-scale sociological studies on the problems of the academic culture of students and the reasons for its deformation deserves special attention. According to the results of the surveys, the author summarizes that academic dishonesty is quite widespread in Ukrainian universities, but it is quite comparable to student fraud in other countries. The rationalization of the reasons for academic dishonesty among Ukrainian students and students of higher education abroad is comparable. As a rule, students justify the violation of norms of academic integrity by external circumstances and referring to the lack of practical value of tasks for their professional training, the irrelevance and uninterestingness of such tasks. The author analyzes what measures modern Ukrainian universities resort that to develop and popularize the values of academic culture and establish high moral and ethical qualities of participants in the educational process, and what role the internal normative and regulatory documents of universities play in this. The author comes to the conclusion that a correct understanding of academic honesty and a high level of information culture are the basis of the functioning of a modern higher school.

Learning disabilities caused by type 1 diabetes mellitus debuting in diabetic ketoacidosis. Pediatric Case Report

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an important public health problem worldwide due to its high prevalence, associated morbidity and mortality and the resulting high costs. Standardized and internationally validated epidemiological studies have also revealed an increasing trend in the incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) in children. The significant cognitive impairment observed in children with type 1 diabetes cannot be attributed to the consequences of the disease. The subtle neurocognitive changes documented in some of these patients at different ages do not necessarily result in significant decreases in academic performance, even over time. Life cannot be normal for children with diabetes if their learning and school performance are affected by the cognitive impairment caused by the disease. Therefore, it is very important to determine the effect of diabetes on school learning, because all this can lead to complications in the future, such as diabetic ketoacidosis. Clinical case: a 12 year old male patient is presented, who has a history of diabetes mellitus type 1 diagnosed 3 years ago, during his illness he refers learning problems which have increased, at the moment the patient refers asthenia, weight loss compatible with metabolic alteration of his illness. Conclusion: Life cannot be normal for children with diabetes if their learning and school performance are affected by the cognitive impairment caused by the disease. Therefore, it is very important to determine the impact of diabetes on school learning since all this leads to a metabolic alteration such as diabetic ketoacidosis, its diagnosis must be early because its complication is fatal

Influence of Strategic Leadership Management on Students’ Academic Performance in Public Secondary Schools in Kenya

This study sought to establish influence of strategic leadership management on students’ academic performance in Public Secondary Schools in Kathiani Sub-County of Machakos County. The study was guided by the following objective; to assess the influence of strategic leadership management on students’ academic performance. Descriptive survey design was employed by this study. The study used questionnaires to collect data. The study targeted 1,240 students, 224 teachers, and 31principals. Stratified and simple random sampling technique were used to select 11 Principals, 76 teachers and 422 students. Quantitative data was collected using the questionnaires and while qualitative data was collected through interview guides. The data was descriptively analyzed using frequencies and percentages and inferentially using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation test analysis with the help of SPSS Version 24 and presented using tables and charts. The coefficient of determination was conducted to measure how well the statistical model was likely to forecast future outcomes. Findings show that of the four independent variables contribute 34% of students’ academic performance. This means that this study did not focus on other factor that contribute to 66% of the students’ academic performance. The researcher further carried out a multiple regression analysis so as to identify the influence of the independent variables on students’ academic performance. From the regression coefficient, strategic resource allocation (p=0.000) and vision setting (p=0.000) were found to have a significant relationship with the dependent variable (students’ academic performance) as its p-value was below 0.05 while objective setting p=0.037 and strategic leadership (p=0.079) were found to have an insignificant relationship with the dependent variable as their p-values were above 0.05 Qualitative data from open ended questions was analyzed using thematic analysis while qualitative data from interview guides was presented in form of narratives. The findings of this study established insignificant relationship between strategic leadership management and students’ academic performance (p-value=0.080). The study concluded that; the principal should work with the teachers and other stakeholders to ensure that the syllabus is covered in a timely manner so that the students are not disadvantaged. The study recommended principals should motivate teachers who perform well in their subjects through commending them for their good work and ministry of education should reinforce the implementation of strategic Plans in all public secondary schools with intensive monitoring and supervision.

Adolescent reports of subjective socioeconomic status: An adequate alternative to parent-reported objective and subjective socioeconomic status?

Socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with well-being outcomes across studies; however, there is wide variation in its measurement, particularly in adolescence. One key difference in measures of SES concerns whether participants relay objective information-for example, years of education, household income-or subjective perceptions of socioeconomic status, either with or without reference to others or society. Although parents are often considered the best source of SES information-especially objective SES-within families, interviewing parents within the context of adolescent research is costly, time-consuming, and not always feasible. Given the importance of SES for outcomes in adolescence and cumulative effects over the lifespan, we used data from adolescents (N = 702) and parents (Ns = 664-730) to examine whether adolescent reports of SES serve as reasonable proxies for parent reports of both objective and subjective SES, as well as administrative data assessing family SES and neighborhood SES. Consistent with our hypotheses, adolescents' reports of subjective SES were moderately correlated with parent reports and administrative data tapping family SES. Moreover, adolescents' reports of subjective SES predicted adolescent-reported measures of well-being, including mental health, physical health, school performance, problem behavior, and alcohol use to the same degree as or better than parent reports of both subjective and objective SES and administrative data. These findings suggest that adolescent reports of subjective SES-using two different, easily understood measures-can stand in as reasonable alternatives to parent-reported SES and administrative data.

Happy teachers, quality schools: improving teacher performance through happiness, motivation and a good work life

Introduction. The gap between expected teacher performance and actual teacher performance is one of the problems faced by all teachers. Despite the important role teachers play in shaping educational outcomes, many teachers face challenges that adversely affect performance, including stress, lack of motivation, and suboptimal working conditions. The purpose of this study is to explore how happiness at work, motivation, and quality of work life affect teacher performance. Study participants and methods. Respondents in this study were public high school teachers consisting of 17 schools totaling 260 teachers. Respondents in terms of age, the majority are 41-50 years old (35.8%), the majority are female 182 people (70%), and male 78 people (30%). The majority of respondents' last education was bachelor 211 people (81.2%). The length of work of most respondents was 177 people (68.1), and the status of respondents as civil servants was 114 (43.8%). Data were analyzed using SPSS Win. 27 and SmartPLS 3.0. The statistical techniques used were descriptive statistical analysis, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis including: validity and reliability, HTMT test, Structural model evaluation, hypothesis testing analyzing direct effects and indirect effects through intervening variables, Evaluation of goodness of fit and model fit. Results. The first validity and reliability test shows Cronbach's alpha value&gt; 0.70, so all data is reliable., Outer loading values of the four variables range from 0.701 to 0.930. This indicates that all measurement items are valid. Hypothesis test results show happiness at work significantly improves the quality of work life and teacher performance. Motivation also had a positive impact on quality of work life, but less of a direct effect on teacher performance. Quality of work life acts as an important mediator in this relationship, highlighting the importance of quality of work life in improving overall teacher performance. Overall, the results of the goodness-of-fit evaluation indicate that the proposed model fits the data. The R Square values indicate that the model can explain variations in the quality of work life and teacher performance variables, although there is still room for improvement. Model fit indicators such as SRMR, d_ULS, d_G, Chi-Square, and NFI show that the model has a good fit with the data. Therefore, the proposed model can be used to understand the relationship between happiness at work, motivation, quality of work life, and teacher performance. Conclusion. This study shows that workplace happiness and motivation are important factors affecting the quality of work life and teacher performance in public high schools in the Purwakarta district. This study examines the mediating effect of quality of work life on the relationship between happiness at work, motivation and performance. This research can be used as an evaluation and policy-making material to pay more attention to the conditions of teachers.

The Impact of Principal Leadership Styles on Teachers' Job Performance in Primary Schools

The Impact of Principal Leadership Styles on Teachers' Job Performance in Primary Schools

Annual consumption rate of fish types in Tanzania's Singida municipality during 2022.

This study assessed the annual fish consumption among the households in Singida Municipality. This was due to the long-time of unsatisfactory pupil performance in joining secondary schools which may be linked to a lack of Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The study used a questionnaire based on a random household consumer survey of 204 households. The questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS statistical software version 27 and the results were reported using descriptive statistics including means, standard deviations, percentages, and frequency distributions. The results showed that the highest mean annual consumption was 25.92kg and 23.00kg per person for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) respectively. Manyara tilapia (Oreochromis amphimelus) had a consumption rate of 22.27kg annually per person. Nile perch (Lates niloticus) had the lowest consumption of 18.98kg annually per person. The trend of respondents' perceptions on occurrences of non-communicable diseases was blood pressure, diabetes, stomach ulcers, marasmus, and inflammation of the lungs, epilepsy and Cancer. It was concluded that fish consumption in this study area varies with the type of fish and is higher than the national average fish consumption rate of 8.5kg in 2020. Although unsatisfactory school performance may be attributed to other factors, more research should be conducted on fish omega-3 quantities from this study area.