Lower School Research Articles

DBT Skills Training Groups for School Personnel Working in High-Need Schools

The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges for school communities with long term impacts still unknown. School personnel working in high need, low wealth schools are uniquely at risk for pandemic-related stress given extensive changes to their work life and concerns regarding student trauma exposure. We delivered DBT skills training to 39 school personnel (89% female, mean years of experience was 18.49 [SD = 7.88]). Close to 20% of the sample reported moderate-to-severe anxiety, depression, and stress and substantial impact of COVID-19 on loved ones. Multilevel regressions indicated significant decreases in stress between the 1st-2nd sessions attended (p = .004), and the 3rd-6th sessions attended (p = .04). Sessions 7-8 were not associated with significant decreases in stress (p = .51). Study limitations, implications, and conclusions are discussed.

Association among therapeutic adherence, health literacy, and engagement in care: How to increase health-conscious management of HIV disease.

In the context of People Living with HIV (PLWH), poor health literacy (HL) seems to be linked to poorer health outcomes and reduced engagement in care. Additionally, the level of HL can affect HIV knowledge and may impact adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). This research explored the connection between ART adherence, HL, and engagement in care in a cohort of 250 PLWH receiving ART in Italy. A questionnaire was given to PLWH at Policlinico Gemelli in Rome to assess their health literacy and adherence to therapy. The Brief Health Literacy Screening (BHLS) and the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) were used to evaluate subjective and objective HL. Adherence levels were self-reported as poor, good, or excellent, and the assessment included the Patient Health Engagement Scale (PHE-S). Notably, the majority of the sample comprised male individuals (67.9%), with 69.2% reporting a 10-years or longer duration between their HIV diagnosis and their initiation of ART. It was found that PLWH with poor adherence had low schooling, had been living with HIV for 1-5years, were HCV co-infected, had a viremia >50copies/mL, poor health status, poor engagement in care, and poor HL (p = <0.001). They exhibited lower mean scores on the subjective HL scale and lower CD4 T-cell counts and nadir CD4 T-cell counts (p < .001). Our study demonstrated a positive correlation between higher HL levels and improved disease management, treatment adherence, and overall physical and mental well-being. Enhanced HL capabilities are paramount in bolstering health management and treatment adherence.

Assessing Individual and Interpersonal Attitudes and Behavior Associated with School Outcomes in a Predominantly Low Income, Latino, and Immigrant High School Population.

Assessing Individual and Interpersonal Attitudes and Behavior Associated with School Outcomes in a Predominantly Low Income, Latino, and Immigrant High School Population.

Associations of childhood socioeconomic position and health with trajectories of grip strength from middle to older ages in populations from China and from England

BackgroundWe investigated associations of childhood socioeconomic position and health with trajectories of grip strength from middle to older ages in two distinct populations. MethodsWe used data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS, n = 16,701) and English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA, n = 12,695). Hand grip strength was measured at three timepoints in CHARLS (2011–2015) and four in ELSA (2001−2020). Random-effects growth models were applied to assess associations between each childhood factor and age trajectories of grip strength. FindingsLower parental education was associated with weaker grip strength, by 0·36 kg(95 % CI:0·17,0·56) for participants of illiterate (vs literate) parents in CHARLS and 1·88 kg(0·43,3·33) for participants of parents without education (vs ≥ high school) in ELSA, after adjusting for parental occupation and own adult socioeconomic position. Low parental occupation was associated with weaker grip strength, although the difference diminished after adjustment for adult socioeconomic position. Financial hardship was associated with weaker grip strength only in CHARLS, by 0·19 kg(0·01,0·38) after adjustment. Self-rated poor childhood health and school absenteeism were associated with weaker grip strength (both studies). Being confined to bed and hospitalised for more than a month due to health were associated with weaker grip strength only in CHARLS. Each additional childhood illness (only reported in ELSA) was associated with 0·52 kg(0·28,0·81) lower mean grip strength. Reported poor childhood health (CHARLS), low parental education and school absenteeism (ELSA) were associated with grip strength decline. InterpretationLower socioeconomic position and poor health in childhood were associated with weaker grip strength in later life in both Chinese and English populations. Addressing socioeconomic disparities and promoting health of children may enhance life-course physical capacity, promote healthy ageing and reduce age-related adversities.

Changes in the association between educational achievement, attainment and subsequent mental health: A survival analysis of 21 Swedish graduation cohorts

BackgroundLow academic achievement and low educational attainment in adolescence is associated with higher risks of internalizing disorders later in life. However, less is known regarding if these associations vary over time across cohorts. The aim of this study was to investigate temporal changes in the association between academic achievement or educational attainment and subsequent inpatient treatment for internalizing disorders among Swedish youths.MethodsRegister data on all students graduating from compulsory school in Sweden between 1990 and 2010 (N = 2 252 703) were used. Students were followed for a maximum of 8 years using discrete time proportional hazard models. Internalized disorders were measured by specialized inpatient psychiatric care for depression or anxiety disorders. Academic achievement was measured by grades at the end of compulsory school, and educational attainment by completion of upper secondary school.ResultsThe positive association between inpatient treatment for internalizing disorders and both low compulsory school achievement and non-completion of upper secondary school became stronger in more recent cohorts. The results were completely driven by girls and native-born youth.ConclusionsLow compulsory school achievements and failure to complete upper secondary school has become more important risk factors for inpatient treatment for internalizing disorders, particularly in native-born youth and girls. More research is needed to establish whether youth with internalizing disorders increasingly fail in school or whether low achievement has become more harmful for mental health.

Exploring the moderator role of organisational ambidexterity in the relationship between instructional leadership and teacher instructional practices

This study aimed to explore schools’ ambidexterity profiles and examine how each profile influences the relationship between instructional leadership and teacher instructional practices. Using data from 1150 teachers across 108 schools in Turkey, we employed multilevel latent profile analysis to group schools into clusters based on aggregated teachers’ responses to organisational ambidexterity. We conducted moderation analyses with latent profile variables. Results revealed two distinct profiles: high explorative-exploitative and low explorative-exploitative schools. The study also provided evidence of the significant moderating role that school ambidexterity profiles played in the link between leadership and teaching. We discussed implications for policy and practice.

Digital Pedagogical Approaches for Preparing South African Matric Teachers for Higher Education

South African Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are undergoing a digital revolution, facing challenges from social, historical, and cultural diversity and low schooling backgrounds. Incorporating digital technology into teaching and learning has become essential, yet a notable digital divide persists. Students with Information Communication Technology (ICT) skills perform better in higher education compared to those from resource-restrained or marginalized communities, such as Pinetown, Durban, South Africa. This research aims to equip learners and teachers in South Africa to adapt to the rapid pace of technological change while examining the pedagogical approaches of matric teachers in digitally preparing matric learners for HEIs. A quantitative research approach was utilized to collect primary data from a sample of 363 teachers across 25 high schools in Pinetown, selected based on Krejcie and Morgan’s (1970) methodology, ensuring an appropriate representation for the population of 1,300. A high response rate was achieved, facilitated by a pilot phase that clarified the research subject for participants. In addition to primary data, relevant secondary literature was also utilized. The findings revealed that a majority of teachers prefer problem-based and project-based pedagogical approaches and acknowledge the benefits of an online learning environment. These results indicate that most teachers are capable of digitally preparing matric students for higher education. Therefore, problem-based and project-based teaching and learning approaches should be emphasized in the field of digital technology. It is also recommended that teachers and lecturers in HEIs utilize online platforms to enhance the curriculum. Keywords: Digital pedagogy, Higher Education, Digital divide, ICT skills, South African education, Problem-based learning, Project-based learning

Analysis of the spatial distribution patterns of education infrastructure development (A case study of 33 regencies/city in North Sumatra Province)

This study explores the spatial distribution pattern of educational infrastructure development across districts and cities in North Sumatra, identifying significant disparities between urban and rural areas. The study aims to: (1) determine the distribution of educational development across districts and cities, (2) analyze global spatial autocorrelation, and (3) identify priority locations for educational development policies in North Sumatra Province. The methodology includes quantile analysis, Moran’s Global Index, and Local Indicators of Spatial Autocorrelation (LISA) using GeoDa software to address spatial autocorrelation. The results indicate that there are nine areas with a low School Participation Rate Index (SPRI), eleven areas with a low School Facilities and Infrastructure Index (SFII), and eleven areas with a low Regional Education Index (REI). Spatial autocorrelation analysis reveals that SFII shows positive spatial autocorrelation, while SPRI and REI exhibit negative spatial autocorrelation, indicating a high level of inequality between regions. Labuhan Batu Selatan and Labuhan Batu are identified as priorities for the provincial government in overseeing educational development policies.

Design and Development of a Low Cost Smart Electronic School Bell

Design and Development of a Low Cost Smart Electronic School Bell

Medication Literacy Test for Older Adults: psychometric analysis and standardization of the new instrument.

Low medication literacy is prevalent among older adults and is associated with adverse drug events. The Medication Literacy Test for Older Adults (TELUMI) was developed and content validated in a previously published study. To evaluate the psychometric properties and provide norms for TELUMI scores. This was a cross-sectional methodological study with older adults selected from the community and from two outpatient services. Descriptive item-analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), item response theory (IRT), reliability, and validity analysis with schooling and health literacy were performed to test the psychometric properties of the TELUMI. The classification of the TELUMI scores was performed using percentile norms. A total of 344 participants, with a mean age of 68.7years (standard deviation = 6.7), were included; most were female (66.6%), black/brown (61.8%), had low schooling level (60.2%) and low income (55.2%). The EFA pointed to the one-dimensional structure of TELUMI. A three-parameter logistic model was adopted for IRT. All items had an adequate difficulty index. One item had discrimination < 0.65, and three items had an unacceptable guessing index (< 0.35) and were excluded. The 29-item version of TELUMI had excellent internal consistency (KR20 = 0.89). There was a positive and strong association between TELUMI scores and health literacy and education level. The scores were classified as inadequate medication literacy (≤ 10.0 points), medium medication literacy (11-20 points), and adequate medication literacy (≥ 21 points). The results suggest that the 29-item version of TELUMI is psychometrically adequate for measuring medication literacy in older adults.

Relationship Between Happiness, Culture, Socio-Economic Status, And Religious Coping Among Muslim Women Students Residing In Sokoto State, Nigeria

The goal of happiness is to have a stress-free and functional society. Yet, stress from cultural and socio-economic factors may arise when Muslim women student’s issues are discussed within society practices; which has resulted in illiteracy in Nigeria due to low enrolment attendance and school completion rates. Despite this, the World Happiness Report (WHR, 2023) ranked Nigeria as 95th happiest country in the world, and the fifth happiest country in Africa. Nevertheless, not many researches on happiness among Muslim women students in Northern Nigeria have been reported. This study investigated the relationship between happiness, culture, socio-economic status (SES), and religious coping, among Muslim women students at the Women Centre for Continuing Education (WCCE), in Sokoto, Northern Nigeria. A total number of 269 Muslim women students were selected to participate in this study using purposive random sampling. Instruments namely Orientation to Happiness Scale (OHS), Cultural Questionnaire for Women, (CQW), Socio-Economic Status Scale (SESS), Islamic Religious Coping Scale (RCOPE) were used for data collection. The total Cronbach’s alpha Coefficiency was 0.937, which was found to be reliable. The results were analysed using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The measurement model was evaluated using items loading of average variance extracted (AVE) and composite reliability (CR). The findings of this study showed that the direct relationship of culture, socio-economic status and religious coping towards happiness were significant. As a conclusion, this study provides useful information for counsellors who can assist their clients in improving and maintaining their positive religious coping practices, as well as their ability to encounter positive feelings, engage in Islamic practices, have a meaningful life, and cope with stressors. Future research on happiness in other Northern states of Nigeria is recommended.

Examining the associations between high achievement in reading and school climate: evidence from five South American countries

An emergent literature has shown that some students overcome adversities related to their low Socio-Economic Status (SES) by attaining high academic achievement. One of the aims of this literature is to identify the factors that explain the capacity of students from low SES backgrounds to attain high academic achievement. However, upon reviewing this literature, I observed that few studies have comparatively investigated the associations between the capacity of students from low SES backgrounds to attain high achievement in reading and school climate characteristics. Additionally, I found that not many studies have researched whether student SES moderates these associations. This paper contributes to fill these two gaps by estimating associations between high achievement in reading and school climate characteristics. Moreover, it examines whether student SES moderates these associations. To do this, this research estimated logit and heterogeneous choice models using representative samples of students from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Uruguay who participated in the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). The results show that high achievement in reading is positively correlated to certain teaching practices, such as perceived teacher enthusiasm during the instruction and adapting instruction to students’ needs. Conversely, it is negatively correlated to teacher feedback and teacher-directed instruction. Furthermore, the findings indicate that high achievement in reading is negatively correlated to the scarcity and low quality of educational material. Interestingly, the results show that student SES does not moderate these associations. In conclusion, these findings indicate that interventions targeting these areas of school climate may help to increase students’ probability of attaining high achievement in reading, regardless of their SES. Likewise, these results suggest that if these interventions are focused in low SES schools, they may contribute to bridge the gap in reading skills between students from low and middle or high socioeconomic backgrounds.

Psychosocial impact of adverse home environment on primary school performance in Cambodia

There is lack of an in-depth understanding of the impact of psychosocial problems at home on learning performance among primary school children in Cambodia. Hereafter, the aim of this study is to gain a better understanding of the psychosocial challenges that primary school children in Cambodia face at home and how those affect their school performance. The semi-structure interviews were conducted with 86 participants in Battambang and Kampong Cham provinces, including students, parents/caregivers, and school officers. The thematic analysis was utilized. The findings show that primary school children who are exposed to family adversity, including domestic violence, family division, and household socio-economic crisis, demonstrate symptoms of psychological distress, impaired social interaction, and poor school performance. Low school performance was often anticipated by the lack of parental involvement and the overall deficient quality of teaching.

Tobacco smoking and tooth loss in adults and elderly in Brazil: a populational-based cross-sectional study.

To determine the association between smoking and tooth loss in individuals aged 18 years or more living in Brazil. Secondary analysis of the 2019 Brazilian National Health Survey data. The outcome was self-reported tooth loss, and the main independent variable was tobacco smoking. Family income, schooling, sex and age were covariates. Multiple linear regression analysis determined the association between tobacco smoking and the number of missing teeth and then the average number of missing teeth was predicted according to smoking status. The mean number of missing teeth in 88,531 individuals aged 18 or more was 7.7 (95%CI: 7.6-7.8). At least one missing tooth was identified in 72.0% (95%CI: 71.4-72.6) of the population, 21.3% (95%CI: 20.9-21.7) had a non-functional dentition, 14.2% (95%CI: 13.9-14.6) had severe tooth loss and 10.3% (95%CI: 10.0-10.6) were edentulous. The adjusted regression coefficients for number of missing teeth showed that current or former smokers, individuals with low family income and schooling, older age and females exhibited higher tooth loss. Current and former smokers had 1.40 (95%CI: 1.35-1.46) and 1.13 (95%CI: 0.54-0.98) times more lost teeth than never smokers, respectively. Both tooth loss and smoking are common in Brazilians and are associated. Unfavorable socioeconomic status and demographic factors also predict tooth loss.

Low Class Primary School Students' Handwriting Readability Using Behaviorism Theory

Handwriting is a typical work result expressed in the form of letters, symbols and numbers. This research uses qualitative research methods with a case study design. The aim of the research was to determine the legibility of class 1 students' handwriting. The data collection instruments used were in-depth interviews, observation and document study. Researchers validated the data by triangulating data collection techniques and triangulating data sources. The results of the research are that behaviorism theory provides an understanding of how the legibility of lower grade elementary school students' handwriting develops through learning, experience and reinforcement. However, other factors also need to be considered in understanding the legibility of students' handwriting.

Examining risk and protective factors for mental health among school-going tribal adolescents in Meghalaya, India: Insights from the communities that care youth survey [CTC-YS

Risk and protective factors play crucial roles in shaping problem behavior, substance use, and mental health outcomes among adolescents. The study aims to examine the risk and protective factors and their association with emotional and behavioral problems among school-going tribal adolescents in Meghalaya, India. This study employed a cross-sectional design, utilizing a simple random sampling method to select schools from the Ri-Bhoi district (Nongpoh town) and East Khasi Hills district (Shillong cantonment area) of Meghalaya. A total of 450 students participated in the survey, out of which 300 students belonged to tribal ethnicity. The study focused on school-going adolescents with tribal ethnicity, aged 13-19 years, encompassing both genders (male and female). Participation in the study required both parental consent and the adolescent's assent. The Communities That Care Youth Survey (CTC-YS) and the Strength and Difficulty Questionnaires (SDQ), scale were administered. The findings highlighted significant risk factors including laws and norms favorable to drug use, community disorganization, poor family management, and low school commitment. Protective factors such as opportunities for prosocial involvement were evident across all domains. Family conflict, family history of antisocial behavior, and parental overcontrol were significant contributors (P < 0.05) to total difficulty scores. Among individual risk factors, "Interaction with anti-social peers" (P = 0.009) and "Intentions to use substance" (P = 0.021) had significant associations with higher difficulty scores. The overall prevalence of mental health problems, as indicated by the total difficulty score, was 31.3% among school-going tribal adolescents. The high prevalence of mental health problems, especially among tribal adolescents, underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions. By addressing these factors, policymakers and stakeholders can work toward fostering healthier outcomes for tribal adolescents in Meghalaya and similar communities.

Confronting A Crisis: How Leadership Reacted During COVID-19 Pandemic -A Case Study of Two Private Schools of Karachi, Pakistan, Dealing with The Challenges of Online Teaching and Learning

The purpose of this study was to discover how school heads of two low budget schools reacted during the COVID-19 crisis and how their thinking, practices, and approaches helped them in dealing with the challenges of sudden digital transition in teaching and learning. For this case study, two principals were purposefully chosen representing two private schools, having a low fee structure, and catering to similar kind of clientele. Moreover, the data was collected through interviews, observations, and documents’ review. The findings showed that the preparedness of the schools and leadership is very crucial in dealing with a crisis. During the COVID -19 crisis, technological preparedness and competence were essential. Additionally, leaders’ ability to respond and communicate well on time, intuition and foresightedness, experience and training, good governance, and above all, resilience and trust were some of the major qualities highlighted in the research findings for them to emerge as successful leaders during a crisis. The COVID-19 crisis urged the principals to prioritize their safety and well-being along with taking care of the well-being of other stakeholders of the school community. Also, the need for equity in teaching and assessment was also echoed by the two principals

Latent heterogeneity of deviant behaviors and associated factors among ethnic minority adolescents: a latent class analysis

BackgroundDeviant behaviors are common during adolescence. Despite the diversity of juvenile delinquency, the patterns of deviant behaviors remain unclear in ethnic minorities. The present study aimed to evaluate the latent heterogeneity of deviant behaviors and associated factors in ethnic minority Yi adolescents.MethodsThe present study recruited a large sample of 1931 ethnic minority Yi adolescents (53.4% females, mean age = 14.7 years, SD 1.10) in five secondary schools in 2022 in Sichuan, China. The participants completed measures on 13 deviant behaviors and demographic characteristics, attitudinal self-control, and psychological distress. Sample heterogeneity of deviant behaviors was analyzed via latent class analysis using class as the cluster variable.ResultsThe data supported three latent classes with measurement invariance by sex. 68.2%, 28.0%, and 3.8% of the sample were in the Normative, Borderline, and Deviant class, with minimal, occasional, and extensive deviant behaviors, respectively. The Deviant class was more prevalent in males (6.5%) than females (1.6%). There were significant class differences in domestic violence, school belonging, self-control, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Males, domestic violence, low school belonging, and impaired self-control significantly predicted higher odds of the Deviant and Borderline classes compared to the normative class.ConclusionThis study provided the first results on three latent classes of deviant behaviors with distinct profiles in ethnic minority adolescents in rural China. These results have practical implications to formulate targeted interventions to improve the psycho-behavioral functioning of the at-risk adolescents in ethnic minorities.

Exploring the cross-sectional association between the strength of school vaping policies and student vaping behaviours using data from the 2021-2022 COMPASS Study.

Youth vaping is a concern in Canada. While school-level policies influence student behaviours, few studies have investigated the association between school vaping policies and student vaping. This study reviewed and scored the comprehensiveness of school vaping policies and investigated the association between school vaping policy scores and student vaping. Online policy documents from n = 39 schools in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, Canada, participating in the 2021-2022 wave of the COMPASS study were collected, reviewed, and scored for comprehensiveness (/39) using the School Tobacco Policy Index (STPI) rating form. The mean and range of scores for each domain of the STPI were calculated. School policy scores were linked to student vaping data from the COMPASS study. Multilevel logistic regression analyses identified the association between school vaping policy score and student lifetime and current (past 30-day) vaping. The mean total policy score was 10.2/39 (range 0‒24), and 28% of schools scored 0/39. The majority of school policies did not identify enforcement approaches or available preventive or cessation resources. Increasing STPI score was not associated with the odds of student lifetime or current vaping in multilevel logistic regression analyses. The STPI quickly identified components of school vaping policies that were missing. The overall score of most school vaping policies in our sample was low and most school vaping policies lacked many important components. Future studies should explore factors associated with adolescent vaping and identify effective prevention measures.

Association between Prenatal Control and the Incidence of Preeclampsia in Ecuadorian Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

Hypertensive disorders are one of the main complications that affect pregnancy, which makes them one of the most important causes of high maternal and fetal morbimortality. Approximately 80% of cases occur at term gestational age, while the remaining percentage begin at earlier gestational ages. Most cases of preeclampsia occur in healthy pregnant women. Therefore, it is important to establish the risk factors in prenatal control visits. Prenatal control is fundamental in which comprehensive surveillance of the pregnant woman is performed. It is known that hypertension in pregnancy is a frequent and potentially dangerous complication for the mother, fetus and newborn. For this reason, one of the objectives of prenatal care is to detect pre-pregnancy hypertension and pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome (preeclampsia). A nationally representative sample of 20648 mothers from the National Health and Nutrition Survey 2018 (ENSANUT) was used. We used multicollinearity tests to rule out possible statistical modeling problems and a binary logistic linear regression model where Odds Ratio (OR) with their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated for each of the independent variables. In addition, we used specificity tests to test the fit between our dependent and independent variables. Our results reveal that prenatal control reduced 2 times (OR= -2.0005; CI=-1.981;-2.055) the probability of suffering complications during pregnancy such as preeclampsia. This result is statistically significant (p&lt;0.05). It was also demonstrated that women from rural areas, with lower income and low schooling are more susceptible to suffer complications during pregnancy compared to the rest of the population. Preeclampsia-eclampsia continues to be one of the pathologies that has the greatest impact on maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, so work should continue to find ways to prevent its onset or modify its evolution, avoiding eclampsia or other severe forms of the disease. The results found in this study showed that adequate prenatal care (more than five visits starting in the first trimester of pregnancy) has an impact on the prevention of pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, since identifying and avoiding it is one of the main purposes of prenatal care.