School Parents Research Articles

Developing mental wellbeing promotion practices in Finnish primary schools: The CONSENSUS project

Abstract Issue/problem Schools constitute a key arena for promoting mental wellbeing among children and adolescents, and the Finnish welfare state has many beneficial structures in place for promoting mental wellbeing in schools. However, as mental health problems are prevalent, the need to advance this work is vital, ideally applying a holistic approach focusing on school-family interaction. Description of the problem The Finnish CONSENSUS project (2021-2025) focuses on the development of new practices and collaboration models in mental wellbeing promotion, targeting pupils in 13 primary schools in the Ostrobothnia region. The project answers question such as: What focal areas are prioritized by stakeholders in the development of mental wellbeing promotion in schools? How do participatory principles contribute to the development process and related outcomes? Results In 2024, a synthesis of previous project results (interviews, focus groups and longitudinal survey data collected among pupils, school personnel, school health care services and parents) was generated. The synthesis encompasses 20 possible priority areas to focus on in the development of mental well-being promotion actions, which are ranked by stakeholder representatives utilizing Delphi methods. Some pinpointed priority areas are implemented and evaluated in collaboration with self-selected schools during the academic year 2024-2025. Lessons Results highlight priorities in the development of mental wellbeing promotion in Finnish primary schools and describe focal areas being piloted, also illustrating opportunities and challenges when implementing participatory principles in action research projects. Key messages • Project results highlight prioritized areas in the development of mental wellbeing promotion in Finnish schools, as well as new initiatives currently being piloted. • The project approach emphasising participatory principles provides lessons for other initiatives focusing on mental wellbeing promotion development in schools.

Associations between school engagement and mental well-being among Finnish parent-child dyads

Abstract Background To understand how individual differences in mental well-being emerge for children and adolescents, it is important to understand the amenable factors in the context in which the development takes place - that is, for children, primarily in the family and in school. There is a notable gap in the research exploring the positive impacts of school factors on parent-child dyads and their mental well-being, and if there are any associations between school engagement and the mental well-being of parents and their children. Methods Data from 307 parent-child dyads were included in the study, the data stemming from a Finnish l research project (CONSENSUS) encompassing longitudinal survey data collection among both children in grades 4-6 and their parents. By exploring bivariate correlations and using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM), the present study aims to investigate actor and partner effects of school engagement and mental well-being among parents and their child in grade 4-6. Results Preliminary results show that there are statistically significant correlations between parents’ and their children’s mental well-being, but that there are no significant correlations between children’s school engagement and parental school engagement. Further, statistically significant actor effects emerge between children’s school engagement and mental well-being, and between parental school engagement and mental well-being. Conclusions By clarifying the interaction between school engagement and mental well-being in parent-child dyads, this study not only contributes to the theoretical understanding of these constructs but also offers insights that can inform future development of mental well-being promotion interventions aimed at families and educational settings in Finland and elsewhere. Key messages • This study offers an innovative exploration of the links between mental well-being and school engagement among 274 Finnish parent-child dyads. • Results show various interactions between school engagement and mental well-being among the parent-child dyads, with implications for interventions intended to support well-being in families.

Time junior middle school students invested to sports and their cognitive skill development: a time economics perspective

Great importance is attached to physical exercise and students’ cognitive development, yet the precise mechanism linking the time duration of physical activities or sports with adolescents’ cognitive development remains inconclusive. Based on the two-wave panel data of China Education Panel Survey (CEPS), this paper empirically examines the impact of daily physical exercise duration on junior middle school students’ cognitive abilities, by using the two-way fixed-effect estimation. The findings reveal a nonlinear relationship, specifically an inverted “U”-shaped pattern, between daily time length of physical activities or sports and students’ cognitive performance. The cognitive benefits of time investment in physical activities or sports reach the peak at approximately 0.829 h (equivalent to 50 min) per day among the teenagers in China. Furthermore, the daily time allocated to physical activities or sports affects students’ cognitive performance differentially, students attending rural schools were rewarded more progressively, students of poorer physical fitness and those in good shape did not show discernible between-group differences. This study shades light on educational governance and time management, urging school administrators, parents and students to optimize the efficiency and utility of time resource invested in sports activities.

Implementing LEARN: Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Training for High School Students, Parents, and School Personnel.

Adolescent suicide is a public health issue, and school is an ideal setting for prevention activities. LEARN is a peer-led gatekeeper training for high school personnel, parents, and students. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of LEARN as a gatekeeper training. Paired t tests were used to compare pre- and post-training surveys for 4983 LEARN participants. Participants reported an increased likelihood of engaging in each LEARN step: looking for signs, empathizing and listening, asking about suicide thoughts and plans, reducing danger, and connecting the person with help. Most participants were highly satisfied with the peer trainer's delivery of content. LEARN gatekeeper training was successfully implemented in high schools with students, parents, and school personnel. All groups reported increases in likelihood of approaching and providing support and connections for at-risk individuals and rated the trainer as effective, indicating satisfaction with the peer-led training format.

Improving Social Communication in Autistic Adolescents Through a Clinic-Home-School Collaboration.

Differences in social communication are common in highly verbal autistic adolescents and can interfere with development of friendships as well as lead to other co-occurring challenges. The purpose of this initial study was to assess whether targeted areas of social communication would improve following the implementation of a manualized social communication package with parent participation and school coordination. Autistic adolescents who demonstrated challenges with social communication participated in this study in the context of a rigorous concurrent multiple baseline experimental design. Weekly intervention targeting social communication was implemented over a period of six to seven weeks (depending on preintervention scores). Additionally, parents and participants completed standardized assessments of anxiety and depression and a post-intervention questionnaire was administered to assess their satisfaction with the intervention. This study demonstrated that social communication could be improved with a short-term intervention program with parent and school participation. All participants showed improvements in social communication, which was maintained at follow-up. Also, all participants and their parents reported high satisfaction with the program. These findings corroborate a growing literature base suggesting that support in the area of social communication is needed and can benefit autistic adolescents.

The Development Model of Educational Management for Special Classrooms of School Under The Secondary Educational Service Area Office Kalasin

Background and Aims: The creation of special classes aimed at helping students with exceptional abilities in academics and other areas reach their full potential, according to the guidelines set forth by the Ministry of Education regarding the decentralization of management and administration of education to the educational Service area office by giving schools the chance to set up special classrooms if they have the staff and finances to do so. According to projects started by the Basic Education Commission, special classrooms are spaces where educational institutions concentrate on teaching and learning activities meant to promote the potential of students with extraordinary abilities. Therefore, the objective of this research is to 1) study the components and indicators of educational management for special classrooms of schools. 2) to study the current situation, desirable condition and needs assessment of educational management for special classrooms of school under the secondary education service area office Kalasin. 3) to create a model for educational management for special classrooms of schools under the secondary education service area office Kalasin. Methodology: The research was divided into 4 phases: Phase 1 studied components and indicators of educational management for special classrooms of the school, the key informant group was 7 experts, and the research tool was an interview form. Phase 1 studied the current situation, desirable condition, and needs assessment of educational management for special classrooms of school, the sample group consisted of 358 people, research tool was a questionnaire with a reliability of .79. Data were analyzed by means and standard deviation. Phase 3 created a model for educational management for special classrooms school, The key informant group was 9 experts to create and evaluate the suitability Feasibility, and usefulness of the model and the evaluating group the manual for using the model was 15 people. The research tool was an interview form evaluation form, data were analyzed by means and standard deviation Results: 1. The components and indicators of educational management for special classrooms of school consisted of 1) management, 2) curriculum and academics, 3) environment that promotes learning, 4) personnel and budget, and 5) learner quality. 2. The overall current condition is at a high average level. The overall desirable condition was at the highest mean level. The necessary needs index was ranked from the highest to the lowest as follows: 1) curriculum and academics, 2) personnel and budget, 3) environment that promotes learning, 4) quality of learners, and 5) management. Respectively. 3. The model consists of components: 1) principles, 2) objectives, 3) content, 4) development process, and 5) measurement and evaluation. There are 4 learning modules: Module 1, Curriculum and Academic Module 2, Personnel and Budget Module 3, Environment that Promotes Learning Module 4, Quality of Learners Module 4, and Management. The model has a suitability assessment result. The model's possibility and overall usefulness were at the highest level. Conclusion: The management of special classrooms in schools currently faces various challenges and suggestions for improvement in several aspects including administration and research into developing management models for more effective governance. School administrators, teachers, parents, and students must all participate in the management process, collaborate in designing operational frameworks in various aspects, and identify areas that require expedited development within the project to achieve efficiency and effectiveness for the students. There are clear and coherent curricula aligned with students' development. There are various supplementary activities in different formats to enhance the curriculum. There is a learning management system that emphasizes both theory and practice, and there should be support systems in place to assist students with their needs and potential.

Information and Communication Technologies for the Civic Participation of Parents in Schools: A Systematic Review

Information and Communication Technologies for the Civic Participation of Parents in Schools: A Systematic Review

Primary Education’s Stakeholders Behavioural Intention to use Prospective Game-based Learning for Waste Awareness

Despite some efforts to design games to raise primary school students’ awareness of the waste problems, there is a lack of research studying the directly involved stakeholder’s behavioural intention to use the games. Prior studies have explored the users’ games acceptance of the games that have already been developed. However, we believe that understanding the user’s acceptance from the beginning of the game design process is also crucial. This research investigates the factors that influence the behavioural intention to use prospective game-based learning (GBL) for waste awareness among primary school parents, teachers, and students. An online survey based on the UTAUT 2 was distributed to each stakeholder, supplemented by a video demonstrating an Augmented Reality-based mobile game interaction scenario. The sample of participants included 135 parents, 47 teachers, and 129 primary school students from Malang, Indonesia. The internal consistency of game acceptance from the surveys was evaluated through Kruskall Wallis. Results show that Effort Expectancy is the factor with the highest acceptance value while Facilitating Condition has the lowest value. The three stakeholders argued that the prospective GBL seems easy to play and learn, but in contradiction, the adults are concerned that they cannot assist in teaching how to use the game and cannot provide the necessary technology. The cultural background seems to influence user game acceptance. Indonesians are known to be quite open to new technologies like GBL, although the facilitation condition might be low. Furthermore, there are some significant differences between the student-parent and student-teacher groups, but not in the parent-teacher group. Findings indicated that Indonesian teachers are more ready to adopt GBL than students and their parents. By understanding the perceptions and attitudes of these groups, educators and researchers can develop strategies to address any concerns or doubts they may have and promote the benefits of GBL.

How Saudi parents rationalize the choice of school for their children

In societies where education holds high significance and parental ambitions for their children’s academic achievements are profound, understanding the rationale behind parental school choice becomes crucial. This study aims to explore the question: Are Saudi parents rational in selecting their children’s schools? Through an in-depth analysis of preferences and decision-making factors, this research endeavors to shed light on the intricate dynamics influencing parental school choice within the Saudi Arabian context. To achieve this objective, semi-structured interviews were conducted with Saudi parents whose children were enrolled in private schools (K-12). The findings indicate that cultural or religious identity emerged as a predominant factor, encompassing elements such as gender segregation in schools, parental preference for English over Arabic language learning, and the emphasis on Islamic religious education. Additionally, accessibility factors such as the physical location of the school and school fees emerged as significant determinants of parental preferences for their children’s schools. Wellbeing emerged as a crucial factor in parental decision-making. Furthermore, certain academic considerations emerged as a primary influencing factor in Saudi parents’ school selection. These considerations included skills development, school pedagogy, school staff quality, and learning outcomes.

Co-creation and implementation of a healthy lunch at Dutch primary schools in disadvantaged neighbourhoods: design of a cluster randomised cross-over effectiveness study

IntroductionThe majority of children fails to have a healthy diet. Providing a healthy lunch at school is a way to target all children, regardless of ethnic and socioeconomic background. This...

Shaping inequality and intergenerational persistence of poverty: Free college or better schools?

We evaluate the aggregate, distributional and welfare consequences of alternative government education policies to encourage college completion, such as making college free and improving funding for public schooling. To do so, we construct a general equilibrium overlapping generations model with intergenerational linkages, a higher education choice as well as a multi-stage human capital production process during childhood and adolescence with parental and government schooling investments. The model features rich cross-sectional heterogeneity, distinguishes between single and married parents, and is disciplined by US household survey data on income, wealth, education and time use. Studying the transitions induced by unexpected policy reforms we show that the “free college” and the “better schools” reform generate significant welfare gains, which take time to materialize and are lower in general than in partial equilibrium. It is optimal to combine both reforms: tuition subsidies make college affordable even for children from poorer parental backgrounds and better schools increase human capital thereby reducing dropout risk.

중학생이 지각한 부모 공감과 학교생활적응 간의 관계에서 자기격려와 정서조절능력의 매개효과

The purpose of this study is to increase school life adaptation by confirming the mediating effects of self-encouragement and emotional regulation ability in middle school students' parental empathy and school life adaptation. To this end, 233 middle school students in Busan and Gyeongnam were surveyed, and the data were analyzed with SPSS Ver 27.0. Correlation analysis between variables was conducted, hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted to verify the mediating effects of self-encouragement and emotional regulation ability, and significance was verified by the method of bootstrapping. The results of the study are as follows. First, there was a positive correlation between parental empathy, self-encouragement, emotional regulation ability, and school life adaptation perceived by middle school students. Second, there was a complete mediating effect on self-encouragement and emotional regulation ability in middle school students' parental empathy and school life adaptation, and emotional regulation ability had a partial mediating effect. These results suggest the importance of self-encouragement and emotional regulation ability that influence middle school students' adaptation to school life through parental empathy.

The Management of Government Grant-Aided Primary Schools in Goma Sub-County, Mukono District, Uganda: Implications on School Performance and Stability

The study explored the management of the government grant-aided primary schools in Goma sub-county, Mukono District. It specifically focused on the administration of schools, management of voluntary contributions, and the relationship between the school administration and the stakeholders. The exploratory research design was adopted to select ten headteachers, ten members of the foundation bodies, ten School Management Committee (SMC) members, and two officials from the District Education office. Data was collected through face to face interviews, document review and observations. The findings reveal that: (i) the SMCs lack the necessary competences and commitment to play effectively their administrative roles; (ii) the teacher support supervision by both the district education inspectors and headteachers is insufficient; (iii) the voluntary contributions towards midday meals and other administrative costs are inadequate; (iv) parents in rural schools are not as supportive as expected; and (v) there is evidence of interference by foundation bodies in the administration of schools. Therefore, the study recommends that: (i) government should revise the Education Act of 2008 to include the minimum qualification of an Advance Level certificate for SMC members to ensure competence to perform effectively their administrative and supervisory roles; (ii) government should increase the capitation grant to cater for the mid-day meals and other administrative costs; (iii) the SMCs, the Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) and the church should sensitize the communities on the importance of voluntary contributions; and (iv) the District Education authorities should organize training workshops for the headteachers and the members of the SMC on the roles of various stakeholders as stipulated in the Education Act of 2008 to minimize conflict.

Peran Guru dalam Penanganan Perilaku Anak Hiperaktif di TK Syamil Kids

Hyperactive behavior in children often affects the social-emotional quality of the surrounding environment. For this reason, the importance of conducting research on the role of teachers in handling hyperactive behavior in children at Syamil Kids Kindergarten becomes even more urgent considering that teachers are the figures who interact most with children during the learning process. This research aims to explore the role and challenges faced by teachers in handling the behavior of hyperactive children. This research uses a qualitative approach method. Data collection techniques were carried out by means of interviews with school principals, teachers, parents and direct observation of children. Meanwhile, data analysis in this research was carried out using interview transcripts, observation, coding and thematics. The results of this research show that the role of teachers in handling hyperactive behavior in early childhood is carried out by paying attention to: 1) classroom management strategies 2) taking an individual approach 3) teachers play a role in helping hyperactive children interact with their friends. Meanwhile, the challenges faced by teachers in handling hyperactive children are: 1) classroom management has not been able to facilitate hyperactive children to focus on the tasks given to them 2) there is no accompanying teacher to accompany hyperactive children 3) there is no teacher training on how to handle hyperactive children's behavior in kindergarten. Syamil Kids 4) difficulty in accepting parents regarding weaknesses in children with hyperactive behavior.

Implementation of PPDB Policy for State Middle Schools in Cirebon City

This research examines the implementation of the zoning-based New Student Admissions (PPDB) policy in State Middle Schools in Cirebon City, which is regulated by Minister of Education and Culture Regulation Number 44 of 2019. The aim of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of zoning policies in equalizing access to education, identify the challenges faced, and provide recommendations for improvement. This research used a qualitative descriptive approach, involving school principals, teachers, students and parents as respondents. The research results show that zoning policies have succeeded in increasing equitable access to education, but face challenges in communication, information consistency and socialization. Recommendations include increased coordination, ongoing training, and intensified outreach to support more effective policy implementation in the future.

Prevalence and Consequences of Substance Abuse among Undergraduates in Ilorin Metropolis

This study investigated the prevalence and consequences of substance abuse among undergraduates in Kwara State. The study examines whether or not moderating variables such as age, gender and family type would influence the respondents’ view on the prevalence and consequences of substance abuse among Undergraduates in Kwara State. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 60 respondents from each of the three selected institutions. Thus, a total of 180 respondents participated in the study. A researcher-developed questionnaire titled "Prevalence and Consequences of Substance Abuse Questionnaire (PCSAQ)" was used to collect data for the study, using a t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that the prevalent substances among undergraduates in Kwara State are cigarettes, alcohol, and tobacco among others. The findings also revealed that the consequences of substance abuse among undergraduates in Kwara State are low self-esteem, dropping out of school, and social isolation (i.e. Poor relationships with others) among others. The findings of this study also revealed that there was no significant difference in the prevalence and consequences of substance abuse among undergraduates based on age and family type. However, a significant difference was found in the prevalence and consequences of substance abuse based on gender. Based on the findings, it was recommended 1) that undergraduate students should be properly oriented by the counsellors on the dangers associated with substance abuse at the beginning of their academic year, 2) seminars and workshops should be provided by counsellors so that students would be informed about the consequences of substance abuse, 3) education should be properly structured and provided to students by school counsellor and parents at the early stage of development and 4) counsellors should organize seminars on the prevalence and consequences of substance abuse on the health of individual.

Orientasi Desain Pembelajaran PAI dan Budi Pekerti pada Kurikulum Merdeka

This study aims to analyze the design of Islamic Religious Education (PAI) and Ethics learning and its supporting programs at SMAN 01 Garut, within the framework of the Independent Curriculum implementation. The research approach used is descriptive analysis, with data collection techniques through observation, interviews, and documentation. Data were analyzed using the Miles and Huberman method. The main findings show that PAI and Ethics teachers actively participate in the preparation of various important documents such as syllabi, educational calendars, annual programs, and semester programs, involving all school elements, including committees and parent representatives. This involvement aims to enhance the quality of learning through close collaboration among related parties. This research makes a significant contribution to the literature on the implementation of the Independent Curriculum in senior high schools, particularly in the context of religious and ethical education. However, this study has limitations in terms of the number of respondents and the limited duration of the research. The prospects for developing the results of this study include increasing the use of technology in learning and applying broader collaborative strategies in various school contexts. Further implications indicate the need for ongoing teacher training to optimize the quality of learning and adapt the curriculum to local needs.

The mediating role of preschoolers’ self-efficacy in the relationship between of parental involvement and school readiness

ABSTRACT This study investigated the impact of parental involvement on school readiness, focusing on the mediating role of preschoolers’ self-efficacy. The research utilized a cross-sectional survey design with 1,000 preschool children from seven public kindergartens in Beijing, China. Structural equation modelling was employed for data analysis. The findings indicate that parental involvement, including its sub-dimensions of home-preschool conferencing, preschool-based involvement, and home-based involvement, significantly enhances preschoolers’ self-efficacy and school readiness. This encompasses various readiness aspects such as physical and psychological, life, social, and learning readiness. Furthermore, a bootstrap test indicated that preschoolers’ self-efficacy fully mediated the relationship between parental involvement and physical and psychological readiness, and school readiness.

Psychometric Validation of the Slovenian Version of the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale - Child and Parent Versions (RCADS and RCADS-P)

Abstract Objective Anxiety and depression are common disorders in children and adolescents and can have a negative impact on their lives. The Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale – Child and Parent versions (RCADS and RCADS-P) are widely used standardized measurement tools, but the Slovenian versions have not yet been validated. The aim of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Slovenian version of RCADS and RCADS-P in a representative Slovenian school sample. Methods We examined the psychometric properties (factor structure, internal reliability, short-term stability, inter-rater agreement and convergent validity) of the Slovenian version of the RCADS and the RCADS-P in 754 primary and secondary school students and parents of 485 students. The short-term stability of anxiety and depressive symptoms in youth was assessed in a subsample of 117 children and adolescents. Results Confirmatory factor analysis showed an acceptable fit of the 6-factor model with CFI=0.92, TLI=0.92 and RMSEA=0.056 for RCADS and with CFI=0.93, TLI=0.92 and RMSEA=0.047 for RCADS-P. Cronbach's α and McDonald's ω ranged from 0.70 to 0.95 for the total scale and the six subscales. The subscales correlated significantly positively with the total Child Anxiety Life Interference Scale score. Conclusion The results affirm the good psychometric properties of the Slovenian versions of RCADS and RCADS-P within a school-based sample. There is a need in the future to examine psychometric properties in clinical samples and to provide normative data.

Parental role and responsibilities in preschool distance learning environment

This study explored the lived experiences of parents in the home schooling of their preschool children during the Covid-19 pandemic. It focused on the parental roles and responsibilities as parent-teachers, and the support they received from the school. Purposive sampling was used in this qualitative study in order to choose participants who had firsthand experience with preschool distance learning during the pandemic. Twenty parents from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds made up the sample, ensuring a thorough comprehension of diverse viewpoints. Based on the findings, parents played an active role in the learning process during the distance learning approach, facilitating and guiding their children through the modular lessons. To promote children’s safe attachment, social-emotional competence, and cognitive development, they were expected to exhibit more positive emotions and greater levels of professional competence while doing remote learning. On the other hand, parents encountered variety of difficulties with distance learning, including the virtual environment, instruction delivery, unsatisfactory learning outcomes, challenges with the use and accessibility of technology, personal issues with health, stress, and their child’s learning style. To ensure parents receive the resources they need, there must be strong collaboration and open communication between the school and parents. The results imply that planning for blended learning models in the long run should assist and ready parents to work as co-teachers.