Year Of Compulsory Secondary Education Research Articles

A Study on Language Attitudes Towards Regional and Foreign Languages by School Children in Aragon, Spain

The study of language attitudes has proved vital in order to guarantee the success of any proposal for language teaching in schools. Nevertheless, in Aragon, a region of Northern Spain close to the Pyrenees, three regional languages coexist. The number of studies on this phenomenon is scarce, and we can only associate this lack of research with the absence of enthusiasm with which language attitudes have traditionally been treated. In this context, based on a sample of students in one of the four years of compulsory secondary education, the study has two objectives. First, attitudes towards the three languages present in the area are explicated (i.e. Aragonese, Spanish and Catalan), and are also approached in relation to the two other foreign languages that are more present in the curriculum (French and English). Secondly, the influence of some of the main factors causing these attitudes is analysed. A great diversity in the different linguistic areas of Aragon can be observed in our data, and this should make us reflect upon future alternatives for schools located in areas traditionally considered as Aragonese, Spanish or Catalan speaking.

Consumo de cannabis en los estudiantes de secundaria de Barcelona: inicio en el consumo, efectos experimentados y expectativas

ObjectivesTo describe the circumstances of initial use of Cannabis, as well as the reasons for consumption, reported effects and expectations related to cannabis use, among adolescents in Barcelona. MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted in a sample of pupils in the third year of compulsory secondary education in 2005. The questionnaire was confidential and selfcompleted. Data were gathered from 2,043 secondary school pupils from 47 schools in Barcelona. ResultsA total of 37.5% of students reported cannabis consumption at some time, and 10.0% of these students had used cannabis in the previous month. Cannabis use was more common in public schools than in subsidized or private schools (p<0.001). More than half the adolescents (60.3%) smoked cannabis for the first time in parks or on the street. Most (88.4%) of the adolescents obtained cannabis from a classmate or friend and 92.3% did so without paying for it. The main reason for initial consumption was curiosity, and reasons for continuing use were a desire to feel better and to forget problems. The most frequently reported effects were memory loss, sadness and difficulties in studying or working. Cannabis use was positively related to the expectation that the drug induces relaxation and aids social and sexual relations, and negatively to the beliefs that the drug can impair intellect and behavior and has negative effects on health. ConclusionsCannabis was easily accessible to secondary school pupils and 9 out of 10 obtained the drug from a classmate or friend without paying for it. Two out of 3 adolescents reported negative effects as a consequence of cannabis use. Knowledge of expectations could help to explain and prevent cannabis consumption during adolescence.

Los procesos de orientación escolar y la toma de decisiones académica y profesional

Vocational Guidance Processes constitute an instrument which can influence pupils’ academic and vocational preferences. In this paper their importance is compared with other issues such as parents’ opinion, peers’ opinion, etc. The results and expectations included in this work have been elaborated with the information obtained from a sample of 2260 adolescents in their last year of Compulsory Secondary Education in the Principality of Asturias (Spain). The analysis of all this information constitutes the previous theoretical exploration which was necessary for the design of an academic and vocational assessment programme which has been recently published.

Comparación de la eficacia de un programa de prevención del tabaquismo en la escuela desarrollado por personal sanitario con otro desarrollado por personal docente

Introduction The efficacy of drug abuse prevention programs in schools differs depending on whether they are imparted by teachers or health professionals. This study compares a smoking prevention program imparted by teachers or health workers in the same school. Material and methods We performed a quasi-experimental pretestpostest study with a control group over a 1-year period. The program was applied to students in the first year of compulsory secondary education in four, 1-hour sessions that took place once a month from January to April. The program was imparted by teachers in the 2001-2002 academic year in group 1 (n = 115) and by health workers in the 2002-2003 academic year in group 2 (n = 92). Evaluations took place twice (in December and again 1 year later) using the FRISC questionnaire. Results The questionnaire was completed by 107 students (66 boys; mean age 12.2 ± 0.4) in group 1 and by 86 students (42 boys; mean age 12.1 ± 0.4) in group 2 at the first evaluation and by 100 students (71 boys) in group 1 and 86 students (42 boys) in group 2 at the second evaluation. Smoking experimentation increased 12.5% in group 1 and 8.1% in group 2 (p = 0.161). Daily smoking increased 7% in group 1 and 2.3% in group 2 (p = 0.230). Weekly smoking showed no change in group 1 and increased 4.6% in group 2 (p = 0.019). Conclusions At 1 year, increases in daily smoking and experimentation with tobacco were lower in the health workers group than in the teacher's group but weekly smoking increased in the health workers group. Smoking initiation occurred later in the health workers’ group than in the teachers’ group.

Prevalencia de los trastornos del sueño en adolescentes de Cuenca, España

A number of different studies have shown that there is a high prevalence of sleep disorders among adolescents. These are often cited as being due to psychological, hormonal or pubertal factors, as well as inadequate sleep habits. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of sleep disorders in the adolescent population and to describe their sleep habits and the relationship between sleep disorders and daytime tiredness or drowsiness. We conducted an epidemiological, observational, cross-sectional study in a sample of schoolchildren studying the 1st and 4th years of compulsory secondary education by means of a self-administered anonymous questionnaire. Insomnia was diagnosed using DSM-IV criteria. Of a total number of 1155 children, 537 were males and 618 were females, with a mean age of 14.03 +/- 1.86 years. They sleep an average of 8 h 18 m during the week and 9 h 40 m at the weekend. Poor quality sleep was reported by 38.55%, 23.1% had difficulty in getting to sleep, 38.2% woke up during the night and 15.9% woke up too early. 17.7% reported some kind of sleep complaint plus some other insomnia-related symptom; the prevalence of insomnia was found to be 9.9%. Snoring (20.5%), talking in their sleep (45.4%) and nightmares (29.5%) were the most frequent parasomnias. 53% of them complained of excessive sleepiness during the day. Insomnia is more frequent in older adolescents, with a family history of similar disorders, among those who smoke and drink and sleep fewer hours at the weekend; those with insomnia present more symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as more daytime drowsiness. A number of factors are related to the high prevalence of sleep disorders among adolescents, giving rise to their being very tired and drowsy during the day. The interruption of their normal sleep habits at the weekend and an insufficient number of hours' sleep are related to the appearance of insomnia.

Evaluación pre-post de una actividad preventiva de la infección por VIH dirigida a los adolescentes de las comarcas del sur de Tarragona

Human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) infection is one of the leading public health problems in our country. Preventive education has shown itself to be a useful tool for curtailing this disease. The objective of this study is that of assessing the effectiveness of a preventive intervention at the Secondary Schools in the Baix Ebre and Montsià areas of the Tortosa Healthcare District aimed at reducing the risk of HIV transmission and furthering the knowledge of this disease. A pre/post intervention study was conducted with no control group. A total of 19 schools, corresponding to the fourth year of Compulsory Secondary Education and first year of "Bachillerato" studies were invited to participate. The activity consisted of a workshop 60-90 minutes in length, in conjunction with educational material. A questionnaire was used as the gauging tool. Twelve schools agreed to participate, a total of 896 answers having been gotten for the pre-test and 805 answers for the post-test. A statistically significant increase was found for 52% (10/19) of the items regarding the correct answers on the post-test. A statistically significant improvements was found in four of the five items (80%) related to attitudes, and in five of the eight (62.5%) items related to overall knowledge of this infection following the intervention. A statistically significant improvement regarding prevention-related knowledge was found solely in one of the six items (16.6%). Preventive activities in the form of participational workshops are a good way of furthering the knowledge and improving the attitudes regarding HIV/AIDS of the participating teenagers. As no curative treatment exists for this disease, prevention from the educational realm is of importance for curtailing increased HIV transmission.