Future Well-being Research Articles

IN THE PRESENT AND IN THE FUTURE: HOW TIME PERCEPTION AND TIME ORIENTATION SHAPE WELL-BEING ACROSS ADULT LIFE

Abstract Individuals are able to maintain or even improve their wellbeing well into older adulthood. Socioemotional selectivity theory describes such age-related improvement in terms of motivational shifts toward emotionally meaningful goals with shrinking future time horizons. However, the association between future time perceptions and well-being is in need of being further clarified. In this symposium, four presentations will shed light on three different aspects of future time perceptions — time savoring, future preoccupation, thinking about the future — and their associations with wellbeing. Growney et al will present a study that utilizes a day reconstruction method to examine if time savoring is associated with psychosocial wellbeing and helping behaviors in workplaces. Pauly et al will discuss the potential benefits of time savoring for how solitude is experienced, by examining the buffering role of time savoring in depressive mood and somatic symptoms during solitude. Chu et al offers an alternative conceptualization of future time horizons, future preoccupation, capturing the worries and fixation on future preparation, and discusses its role in wellbeing across the life span. Choi et al discuss the role of thinking about the future for age-related differences in everyday experiences of happiness of varying arousal levels. The symposium will end with a discussion by Laura Carstensen integrating these findings into research on future time perspective and wellbeing across the life span. By elucidating more specific time-related experiences, our findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of how age-related changes in future time perspectives shape wellbeing trajectories across the life span.

RETIRING AFTER A JOB WELL DONE: HOW SUBJECTIVE CAREER EVALUATIONS IMPACT RETIREMENT ADJUSTMENT

Abstract An individual’s past, and how they reflect on it, may influence current and future well-being, with recent qualitative studies suggesting retirees’ reflections on their careers may relate to well-being in retirement. Establishing factors that may promote successful transition to retirement is vital. Particularly in light of population ageing and the subsequent increase in both the number of retirees and the length of retirement. The aim of our study was to investigate the impact subjective career evaluations on retirement adjustment at follow-up. Using data from across three waves of the NIDI Pension Panel Study, (conducted in 2015,2018, and 2023) we examined the pre-retirement career evaluations of a sample of Dutch older workers (N= 3566), factors associated with these evaluations, and the impact of subjective career evaluations on retirement at five or eight-year follow-up. The results of our ordinal logistic regression models showed that how individuals evaluated both the work (b= 0.15 p=.001) and family (b= 0.12 p=.001) domain of career was positively associated with retirement adjustment, with those who evaluated their careers more favorably reporting fewer problems adjusting to retirement. Our results demonstrate the long-term impact of subjective career evaluations and highlight the need for additional research evaluating their predictive utility for other important outcomes in older adulthood such as life satisfaction and health. These findings could also be applied to identify and deliver interventions for those at risk of less favorable retirement outcomes.

Groundwater for drinking and industrial purposes: A study of water stability and human health risk assessment from black sand mineral rich coastal region of Kerala, India

Tempero-spatial analysis of groundwater to disseminate the level of drinking water quality and industrial suitability to meet the developmental requirement of a region is a significant area of research. Accordingly, groundwater quality and geochemical interactions prevailed in a black sand mineral rich coastal village is systematically presented in appraisal of drinking and industrial uses for economic engineering purposes. The study area focused is Alappad village, Kollam, Kerala, India has numerous ecological features in a sustainable perspective. The region is unique with placer deposits where an alluvial soil aquifer–saline water–freshwater interaction occurs. This dynamics decides the pertinent hydro geochemistry, potable and designated uses of ground water in season wise. Coastal area is hereby presented based on water quality parameters predicted with the health risk assessment model with a view on human health and cancer risk due to ions (Pb, Ni, Cu, Ba, Fe, Al, Mn, Zn) in groundwater.. To ascertain industrial usage, ground water is evaluated by Langelier saturation index (LSI), Ryznar stability index (RSI), Aggressive index (AI), Larson-Skold index (LS) and Puckorius scaling index (PSI) and inferences are complemented. Chemical weathering and evaporation processes are the natural factors controlling hydrochemistry of this aquifer. This complex coastal system has Nemerow pollution index (NPI) of moderate pollution for total dissolved ions of Fe and lesser for Cu, and Cr present in groundwater. LSI indicates, water is scale forming but non corrosive (46% in PRM, 20% in MON and 47% in POM). Water quality index (WQI) in POM (ranged 28.7–79.9) was excellent for drinking, followed by PRM (23.6–218.2) and MON (33.4–202.7) seasons. This groundwater bears temporary hardness with the dominance of Ca–Mg–HCO3 water type. Health risk assessment of non-carcinogenic risk index of trace metals (Fe, Zn, Mn, and Pb) revealed, children are at ‘low risk’ and ‘medium’ risk with Ni and Cu. The carcinogenic risk index indicated 93% of samples were high Ni induced cancer risk for children, and 87% for adults due to long term ingestion (drinking water intake) pathway. Studies specific on placer mineral deposited coastal region of India are not sufficiently reported with a focus on the above perspectives. Growing need of rare earths for material, device and energy applications, placer mineral explorations can destabilise the coastal hydrosphere. Interrelations of mineral soil – water chemistry prevailed and health hazard predicted would kindle a set of sustainable deliberations. This study summarises the drinking and industrial use of coastal groundwater for future development and human well-being on the basis of quality criteria, corrosion proneness, water stability and health risk factors.

Microplastics in sediment and surface water from an island ecosystem in Bay of Bengal

Microplastics (MPs) have garnered global attention as emerging pollutants in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Despite their significance, studies on MP pollution have overlooked a biodiverse island ecosystem in the northeast Bay of Bengal. Hence, the current study is a pioneering effort to delve into this issue with the island. This research embodies the first comprehensive report exploring the presence of MP pollution in sediment and surface water and their influencing factors along Sandwip island in the northeast Bay of Bengal. The average MP concentration was 305 ± 37.16 (items/kg) in sediment and 106.14 ± 22.57 (items/m3) in surface water. Fragments emerged as the predominant type in sediment (78.77%) and surface water (54.64%) samples. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy identified three plastic polymers, the most abundant being polyethylene (56%) and polypropylene (41%). Anthropogenic activities, particularly fishing practices, improper waste disposal, and inadequate waste management strategies, were pinpointed as potential sources of MP contamination on the island. MP concentrations in water and sediment correlated positively with pH and organic matter (p < 0.000), indicating important factors influencing MP distribution. The spatial distribution and hotspots of MPs followed significant human routes. By shedding light on the extent of MPs' presence and their potential sources, this study contributes essential insights that can inform effective environmental management strategies for the island's future well-being.

Adherence to Mediterranean Diet and Food Neophobia Occurrence in Children: A Study Carried out in Italy.

Food Neophobia (FN), defined as the reluctance to eat new or unfamiliar foods, mainly concerns fruit, vegetables, and legumes, typical of the Mediterranean Diet (MD). Considering these premises, this study aimed to clarify the relationship between FN and AMD in a sample of Italian children and their association with some socio-demographic factors and children's nutritional status. A sample of 288 children aged 3-11 years participated in an assessment carried out with a questionnaire evaluating FN and AMD, respectively, with the Child Food Neophobia Scale (CFNS) and the KIDMED test. Most of the sample showed an intermediate (67.3%) or high level of FN (18.1%), with high rates among 6-11-year-old children (63.9%) and especially in those who were the only child (50%). The AMD was mostly low (29.5%) or medium (54.8%) and reached lower levels among higher neophobic children (51.9%; p value < 0.05). The present results confirm the study hypothesis that FN is a driver of MD abandonment and shows the positive effects on children's eating habits and siblings. Finally, this study proves the relevance of adopting effective feeding strategies against FN to avoid its maintenance in adulthood and the detrimental effects on future overall health and well-being.

Education: Why not a race to the top?

This essay reminds us that more than five decades of research establish education as one of the best economic investments in terms of future economic growth and material well-being. Despite that, global education is facing both a crisis of access and equity and a crisis of quality and relevance. The essay emphasizes the need for a holistic transformation of education across four dimensions: learning to learn, learning to do, learning to live together, and learning to be. To effectively advance in that direction, it advocates for the need to transform schools, teachers, learning methods, and resources, including the harnessing of the digital revolution. The essay identifies a paradox of educational investment, revealing huge global disparities and calling for increased and better investments. It discusses the danger of poverty traps, where short-term gains impede long-term investments in education. Ultimately, it calls for a shift from a “race to the bottom” mentality to a “race to the top” approach, emphasizing the need for visionary leadership, a social movement and international cooperation to break free from poverty traps and advance towards sustainable development.

Foraminifera: A Proxy for Ecology, Climate Change and Its Associated Hydro−Environment

Paleocanography, the study of ancient oceans, relies heavily on a wide range of proxies and methodologies to reconstruct past oceanic conditions. Among these tools, foraminifera, microscopic marine organisms with calcium carbonate shells, have played a pivotal role. Over the years, researchers have harnessed the insights provided by foraminifera to unlock the secrets of Earth's oceans throughout geological history. This comprehensive review explores the various ways in which foraminifera have been employed in paleocanography, shedding light on past climate, ocean circulation, ecology, and more. The application of foraminifera represents a sustainable approach with far-reaching implications for environmental, ecological, and geological research. Foraminifera, microscopic marine protists characterized by calcium carbonate shells, serve as valuable indicators of past and present environmental conditions. They are instrumental in the fields of paleoecology, stratigraphy, environmental impact studies, and ocean acidification research. This abstract highlights the sustainable aspect of using foraminifera as bioindicators to assess the health of marine ecosystems, monitor climate change, and investigate the impact of human activities. By providing insights into the past and present, foraminifera contribute to informed decision-making in conservation, resource management, and addressing critical environmental challenges. Their application stands as a testament to the enduring value of these microorganisms in understanding and safeguarding our planet's natural resources and ecosystems, exemplifying the sustainability of scientific research driven by a profound respect for the Earth's history and future well-being.

Dying 2 Talk: Generating a More Compassion Community for Young People

People in the Global North often have a problem talking about — and processing — the inevitability of death. This can be because death and care of the dying has been professionalised, with encounters of death within our families and communities no longer being ‘normal and routine’ (Kellehear 2005). Young people are particularly excluded from these conversations, with implications for future mental health and wellbeing (Ainsley-Green 2017). Working in Wolverhampton and Bradford, the Dying 2 Talk (D2T) project aimed to build young people’s future resilience around this challenging topic. We recruited over 20 young people as project ambassadors to co-produce resources that would encourage talk about death, dying and bereavement. The resources were used as the basis of ‘Festivals of the Dead’ which were taken to schools to engage wider audiences of young people (aged 11 +). The project aimed to use alternative ‘ways in’ to open discussion, beginning with archaeology, and ultimately using gaming, dance, creative writing and other creative outputs to facilitate discussion, encourage compassionate relationships and build resilience. The resources succeeded in engaging young people from ages 11–19 years, facilitating a comfortable and supportive environment for these vital conversations. Project evaluations and observations revealed that the Festivals, and the activities co-created by the young ambassadors helped to facilitate spontaneous conversations about death, dying and bereavement amongst young people by providing a comfortable and supportive environment. The project was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AH/V008609/1), building on a pilot project funded by the Higher Education Innovation Fund at the University of Bradford.

Interrelation of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 Alpha (HIF-1 α) and the Ratio between the Mean Corpuscular Volume/Lymphocytes (MCVL) and the Cumulative Inflammatory Index (IIC) in Ulcerative Colitis.

We intended to investigate the presence and medical application of serum hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) along with the already known systemic inflammatory markers and the new one's inflammatory indices, the proportion of mean corpuscular volume and lymphocytes (MCVL) and the cumulative inflammatory index (IIC), for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). We sought to establish correlations that may be present between the serum levels of HIF-1α and these inflammatory indices, as well as their relationship with disease activity and the extent of UC, which can provide us with a more precise understanding of the evolution, prognosis, and future well-being of patients. Serum samples were collected from 46 patients diagnosed with UC and 23 controls. For our assessment of the serum levels of HIF-1α, we used the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique. Thus, for HIF-1α we detected significantly higher values in more severe and more extensive UC. When it came to MCVL and IIC, we observed statistically significant differences between the three groups being compared (Severe, Moderate, and Mild). Our study highlighted that HIF-1α correlated much better with a disease activity score, MCVL, and IIC. With MCVL and IIC, a strong and very strong correlation had formed between them and well-known inflammation indices. By examining the ROC curves of the analyzed parameters, we recognized that TWI (accuracy of 83.70%) provides the best discrimination of patients with early forms of UC, followed by HIF-1α (73.90% accuracy), MCVL (70.90% accuracy), and PLR (70.40%). In our study, we observed that HIF-1α, MCVL, and PLR had the same sensitivity (73.33%) but HIF-1α had a much better specificity (60.87% vs. 58.70%, and 54.35%). Also, in addition to the PLR, HIF-1α and MCVL can be used as independent predictor factors in the discrimination of patients with early forms of UC.

Individual Transilience in the Face of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Transilience, the perceived capacity to persist, adapt flexibly, and positively transform in the face of an adversity, is a promising construct for understanding human adaptation to climate change risks. However, the question remains whether transilience is also relevant for adaptation to other adversities. In this paper, we investigate the role of transilience in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which posed a more urgent and acute threat to individuals compared to climate change. We conducted two studies in Italy and the Netherlands to examine whether people perceived transilience in the face of COVID-19 across different time points and countries, in which the severity of the pandemic and government measures varied. Furthermore, we studied the relationship between transilience and adaptive responses, including individual and collective adaptation behaviors, cognitive coping, well-being, and positive personal change. The results suggest that people perceive transilience in the face of COVID-19, and that higher transilience promotes adaptive responses and mental health in the face of COVID-19, in the Netherlands, but not in Italy. Moreover, longitudinal analyses indicate that transilience may be causally related to future behaviors and well-being. These findings suggest that transilience may be a robust predictor of adaptive responses and well-being in the context of different adversities, although this may depend on the specific context. Future research directions and theoretical implications are discussed.

Environmental Sustainability and Urban Growth Issues: Empirical Evidence from Osogbo Capital Territory, Nigeria

Worldwide, urban centers have continued to see exceptional increase in spatial urban growth since more than 50 years ago in the majority of emerging countries. Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, is hardly discussed despite being one of the cities in Nigeria that is quickly urbanizing. In order to establish a justification for good governance in the pursuit of environmental sustainability, the article examines challenges related to urban growth and environmental sustainability in the Osogbo Capital Territory. Four Hundred and Fifty (450) questionnaires were distributed among the residents of six (6) residential areas and 384 questionnaires were retrieved, representing 85.33%, ergo judged fit for analysis of this study. Using a Stratified Random Sampling Techniques in order to ensure a fair representation of different socio-economic groups in Osogbo, Primary Data were obtained from field surveys with the administration of questionnaires across the Three (3) neighborhood strata to include: Core Area, Intermediate Area and New Areas. A pilot survey was conducted to test the reliability of the research instruments which paved the way for the refinement of the final questionnaire. The study used the severity index test of association, mean weighted score, and percentage-based descriptive methodology. The analysis's findings indicated that urban population growth had a big impact on environmental sustainability in terms of the state of the infrastructure and facilities, people's satisfaction with the facilities that are currently available, and the environmental issues in the neighborhood that was chosen. In order to maintain our cities and ensure the future well-being of inhabitants, the paper consequently advises proper methods of crucial policies to be held in order to achieve sustainable development, as this will further promote sustainability of Nigerian cities.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BEST INTERESTS PRINCIPLE FOR CHILDREN WHO COMMIT VIOLENT CRIMES RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF CHILDREN (STUDY IN THE CENTRAL JAKARTA DISTRICT COURT)

Children are the future generations of the nation and state, and it is essential that they receive protection to ensure their growth into fully developed human beings. However, in today's society, many children become entangled with the law, go through legal processes, and even face criminal sentences, where the principle of the best interests of the child is not yet the primary consideration for law enforcement authorities in handling cases involving children. This situation can have negative effects on a child's development. This study is a normative-empirical legal research with a legislative and case-based approach. The research findings indicate that the implementation of the best interests principle for children who commit violent crimes resulting in the death of children (a study conducted in the Central Jakarta District Court) is not yet optimally realized. During the legal proceedings, investigators and prosecutors still detain children, imprisonment remains the prosecutor's choice in the indictment, and during the trial, judges still opt for primary imprisonment as a punishment, even though there are alternative forms of sanctions such as rehabilitation, either within or outside institutions, which could be imposed on children, considering the conditions they are currently experiencing for their future well-being and development.

CHARACTER EDUCATION BASED ON RELIGION AND LOCAL WISDOM

In the current context, character education holds great relevance in addressing the moral crisis affecting Indonesia. This crisis, often overlooked, is alarming and primarily involves the nation's children. It encompasses rising promiscuity, escalating violent behavior among children, student conflicts, plagiarism, drug abuse, and unresolved social issues, among others. Various stakeholders, including policymakers, religious leaders, medical professionals, educators, parents, and the general public, are deeply concerned about this decline in character. Thus, this study aims to investigate the character education conducted in Hindu-based educational institution. This qualitative study took place at Pasraman Gurukula in Bangli Regency, employing purposive sampling to select informants. Data collection methods included observation, interviews, and documentation, with subsequent data analysis involving collection, reduction, presentation, and conclusion-drawing stages. Validation techniques encompassed source triangulation, time triangulation, and technical triangulation. Character education at Pasraman Gurukula is a collaborative effort involving teachers, community leaders, families, and the community, focusing on teamwork, abilities, honesty, and discipline. The education emphasizes religious and local wisdom-based values, fostering cooperation, nationalism, professionalism, integrity, and independence. Teachers play a pivotal role in instilling these values, contributing to the future well-being of children at Pasraman.

A practical guide to improve sleep and performance in athletes

Sleep is vital for optimal mental and physical health. For athletes, optimizing sleep is becoming a popular strategy to enhance athletic performance. Athletes often complain of sleep problems including insufficient sleep and insomnia symptoms and are also at a higher risk for sleep disordered breathing. Sleep disorders and insufficient sleep can contribute to excessive sleepiness, daytime dysfunction, and performance problems. In contrast, better sleep provides benefits for physical health and athletic performance. For athletes, multiple factors can contribute to insufficient sleep. Sport-specific factors include frequent travel across time zones, competition and training schedules, high training loads, and sleeping in an unfamiliar environment. Non-sport-related factors include work, social, and family commitments; attitudes and sleeping beliefs; individual characteristics, such as chronotype or preference for morning or evening; and lifestyle choices. Fortunately, there are strategies that can be implemented to improve sleep in athletes including (a) education and emphasis on the importance of sleep; (b) sleep screening; providing extra sleep opportunities like (c) banking sleep and (d) napping; improving sleep hygiene like (e) proper light exposure; (f) a good pre-sleep routine; (g) a conducive sleep environment; (h) a strategy for supplementation; (i) utilizing circadian timing adjustments; and (j) jet lag management. Increased recognition of the importance of sleep from sport professionals and screening for sleep disorders and disturbances will be key for future athlete health, well-being, and performance.

“They didn’t ask us!” School Counselor Perception of Involvement in Superintendent Decision Making During Crisis Schooling

Mental health and social-emotional development are fundamental to positive developmental outcomes. Students faced with the collective trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting rapid closure of school buildings in the spring of 2020 encountered unprecedented challenges to their physical and mental health. Structural barriers, coupled with a disproportionate shortfall of mental health professionals in rural settings, meant that rural students were at heightened risk of suffering negative psychological consequences. School districts emerged as a high-leverage source of institutional support, providing a variety of services to sustain the well-being of students and families. Superintendents were charged with reimagining the role of their schools in providing for these needs. This study used crisis decision theory as a framework to understand superintendent decision-making around mental health and social-emotional learning (SEL). Given their high degree of expertise around students’ mental health and social-emotional needs, school counselors might have been expected to serve as expert resources for superintendents during crisis decision-making around psychological needs. This statewide quantitative study sought to understand the role Maine school counselors played in the district-level response to crisis schooling as it pertained to students’ mental health and social-emotional development across geospatial contexts. Our data shows that school counselors’ perception of their involvement in superintendent decision-making was lowest where it was needed most: in rural school districts. This points toward inequitable opportunities for rural students to obtain the mental health and SEL support they needed during crisis schooling, threatening their future well-being and positive psychological development.

Childhood obesity

Abstract Obesity is one of the world's most challenging public health problems. The phenomenon of childhood obesity is increasing in industrialized and emerging countries, with the major impact of the onset of diseases in adolescence and adulthood. The high prevalence of youth obesity is associated with increasing rates of diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and hypertension, which are risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease in adulthood, the leading cause of chronic non-communicable disease deaths according to the World Health Organization. A healthy diet associated with an active lifestyle is a valuable tool for the prevention, management and treatment of many diseases, including obesity. In this sense, it is most effective to intervene in the paediatric population in order to establish correct eating habits from the earliest years of life that support current and future nutritional well-being. Among the various nutritional strategies to combat obesity and associated comorbidities, the Mediterranean Diet (DM) has been identified as the most effective. Educational actions to improve dietary behaviour and increase awareness of the health benefits associated with a traditional MD must be designed at school, home and clinic level. Better policies that create a new environment for children and grown-ups to choose better diets and lead active and healthy lives in every country of the WHO European Region are needed.

Health promoting schools in Iceland - SHE4AHA Erasmus+ project

Abstract Background The Green paper on ageing recognizes learning and experience in early childhood influences our lives. Healthy childhood in general shapes our future prospect, health situation and well-being. SHE4AHA Erasmus+ project approaches the Green paper and this work is lead by Schools for Health in Europe Network Foundation (SHE) in cooperation with researchers and coordinators for Health promoting schools in five countries. The green paper advocates for interventions and activities, which will help to laying the right foundation for early in life, preventing, limiting, and postponing some of the challenges linked to ageing. This could help European member states to fulfil the objective of adding healthier years to the life expectancy. Description The objective of SHE4AHA is to show Health Promoting School (HPS) framework used as a validated and evidence-based contribution to implement the Green paper on ageing that calls for solutions to support healthy and active ageing from an early age. The SHE4AHA project involves 15 pilot schools in five European countries, Iceland, Portugal, Denmark, France, and Slovenia. These schools receive training, coaching and support to work with the whole school approach for HPS. The SHE4AHA project started in March 2022 and will finish in February 2025. Each pilot school is working with aim on project selected of them to try out for the schoolyear 2022-2023. Lessons and results All pilot schools work with a pixie version of the SHE Manual made for the project. The school systems in the countries are very different and there is need for a little different approach for the countries. The three pilot schools in Iceland are also working with the Icelandic frame of being a HPS. The supporting material is e.g., checklists and interactive website. Results have shown e.g., need to increase and recognise appropriate resources like time and flexibility for coordinators at schools. Key messages • Health promoting framework built on the Ottawa Charter the process, enabling individuals and communities to increase control over the determinants of health to live an active and a productive life. • In the development process of health promoting schools, school principals, school management, teachers, other school staff, pupils and community partners need to be involved.

Screening and determinant of suspected developmental delays among Egyptian preschool-aged children: a cross-sectional national community-based study

BackgroundEarly childhood life is critical for optimal development and is the foundation of future well-being. Genetic, sociocultural, and environmental factors are important determinants of child development.AimThe objectives were to screen for suspected developmental delays (DDs) among Egyptian preschool children, and to explore the determinants of these delays based on sociodemographic, epidemiological, maternal, and child perinatal risk factors.MethodsA national Egyptian cross-sectional developmental screening of a representative sample of preschool children (21,316 children) aged 12 to 71 months. The Revised Denver Prescreening Developmental Questionnaire (R-PDQ) followed by the Denver Developmental Screening Test, 2nd edition (DDST) was used.ResultsEach screened child manifested at least one of six developmental categories. Either typical development, gross motor delay (GM), fine motor adaptive delay (FMA), Language delay (L), Personal-social delay (PS), or multiple DDs. The prevalence of preschool children with at least one DD was 6.4%, while 4.5% had multiple DDs. Developmental language delay was the most prevalent, affecting 4.2% of children. The least affected domain was GM (1.9% of children). Boys were more likely to have DD than girls. Children in urban communities were more likely to have at least one DD than those in rural areas (OR = 1.28, 95%CI: 1.14–1.42), and children of middle social class than of low or high social class (OR = 1.49, 95%CI: 1.30–1.70 & OR = 1.40, 95%CI: 1.23–1.59 respectively). The strong perinatal predictors for at least one DD were children with a history of postnatal convulsions (OR = 2.68, 95%CI: 1.97–3.64), low birth weight (OR = 2.06, 95%CI: 1.69–2.52), or history of postnatal cyanosis (OR = 1.77, 95%CI: 1.26–2.49) and mothers had any health problem during pregnancy (OR = 1.73, 95%CI: 1.44–2.07). Higher paternal and maternal education decreased the odds of having any DD by 43% (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.47–0.68) and 31% (OR = 0.69, 95%CI: 0.58–0.82) respectively.ConclusionThis study demonstrates a considerable attempt to assess the types and the prevalence of DD among preschool children in Egypt. Perinatal factors are among the most common determinants of DD in preschool children and the majority could be preventable risk factors.

Towards A Literature of Actions: Green Informational Picturebooks and Critical Engagement with Fighting Climate Change

AbstractThis article investigates selected environmental informational picturebooks in which – often in both the main text and the peritext – readers find brief descriptions of actions they can take to change their habits and save the planet. The analysis focuses on lists of tasks incorporated into books and considers whether such sections (and, potentially, whole books) invite critical engagement. This ability seems crucial in times of fake news and the need for conscious action and political engagement in climate issues. In the first part, the theoretical framework on informational picturebooks is presented, and the importance of peritextual elements is stressed, as well as the critical thinking that may be fostered by a nonfiction text, referring to Joe Sutliff Sanders’ concept of “a literature of questions” (date?). Four international picturebooks are then discussed, representing both ‘traditional’ (Müll by Gerda Raidt and Śmieciogród by Ola Woldańska-Płocińska) and ‘new’ children’s nonfiction (Be a Tree! by Maria Gianferrari and Felicita Sala and Greta and the Giants by Zoë Tucker and Zoe Persico). The analysis demonstrates that green informational picturebooks may be perceived as both eco-activist books and books about eco-activism as they present certain tasks and encourage the readers to take actions; hence, the term “a literature of actions” has been proposed, as these books seem to trigger little critical thinking. The reason green informational picturebooks are unlikely to foster critical engagement may be that fighting the climate crisis is crucial to ensure humanity’s future wellbeing.

An ovulatory menstrual health literacy program within a Health Promoting School framework: reflections from school staff

IntroductionPoor ovulatory menstrual (OM) health experiences and low levels of OM health literacy compromise the future adult health and wellbeing of female adolescents.MethodsThis qualitative study sought reflections from secondary school staff on an intervention adopting the Health Promoting School (HPS) approach which aimed to enhance wellbeing through improving OM health literacy.ResultsTwenty female school staff from ten schools participated: three deans, 11 Health and Science teachers and six healthcare professionals. Five interviews and three focus groups were conducted, and 12 anonymously notated booklets of the program were returned. Reflective thematic analysis identified six themes: a need for OM health literacy; curricular challenges; teaching perspectives; school socio-emotional environment; community engagement; and resourcing needs.DiscussionAlignment with a HPS-framework may resolve some barriers to future program implementation, such as curricular restrictions, interprofessional co-ordination and community engagement. Additional barriers, relating to menstrual disdain, knowledge gaps and an absence of professional development, may be addressed with training to ensure that OM health education is framed positively and addresses student wellbeing.