Honouring Our War Heroes or Honouring War? Well-being in Contemporary Australian War Fiction for Children and Adolescents

Author(s):  
Adrielle Britten
2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  

During the last years, muscle strengthening exercises have been included as an essential part in youth physical activity guidelines of national and international health organisations. It is well-documented that strength training is effective in improving physical fitness and promoting health and psycho-social well-being. Therefore, the purpose of this review article is to present empirical evidence on the effectiveness of strength training in children and adolescents. Additionally, and with reference to an established youth physical development model, conceptual and methodological aspects of safe and effective strength training in youth will be discussed and specific practical recommendations will be presented.


Author(s):  
Herbert E. Ainamani ◽  
Godfrey Z. Rukundo ◽  
Timothy Nduhukire ◽  
Eunice Ndyareba ◽  
Tobias Hecker

Abstract Background Child maltreatment poses high risks to the mental health and cognitive functioning of children not only in childhood but also in later life. However, it remains unclear whether child maltreatment is directly associated with impaired cognitive functioning or whether this link is mediated by mental health problems. Our study aimed at examining this research question among children and adolescents in Uganda. Methods A sample of 232 school-going children and adolescents with a mean age of 14.03 (SD = 3.25) was assessed on multiple forms of maltreatment using the Maltreatment and Abuse Chronology Exposure—Pediatric Version (pediMACE). Executive functions were assessed by the Tower of London task and working memory by the Corsi Block Tapping task, while mental health problems were assessed using the Child PTSD Symptom Scale for PTSD and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC). Results In total, 232 (100%) of the participant reported to have experienced at least one type of maltreatment in their lifetime including emotional, physical, and sexual violence as well as neglect. We found a negative association between child maltreatment and executive functions (β = − 0.487, p < 0.001) and working memory (β = − 0.242, p = 0.001). Mental health problems did not mediate this relationship. Conclusions Child maltreatment seems to be related to lower working memory and executive functioning of affected children and adolescents even after controlling for potential cofounders. Our study indicates that child maltreatment the affects children’s cognitive functionality beyond health and well-being.


Author(s):  
Carolina Mendoza ◽  
Helena Poggi ◽  
Mónica Flores ◽  
Cristóbal Morales ◽  
Alejandro Martínez-Aguayo

Introduction: Transgender (TG) children and adolescents experience problems in school as well as with family and social relationships that can adversely affect their physical and psychosocial health and impair their quality of life (QOL). This study aims to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in TG children. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study comparing HRQoL in gender nonconforming (Trans) and gender conforming (CIS) children and adolescents using the Spanish version of KIDSCREEN-52 in 120 Chilean Trans and CIS children (aged 8–18 years) and their parents. All scores were standardized according to the KIDSCREEN manual. Results: Among the 100 questionnaires answered, 38 corresponded to children and adolescents aged 8.4–18 years. Twenty-one of them were TG (71% trans males) and 17 were CIS (76% females). Sixty-two parents answered the questionnaires: 33 from families of TG children (PTrans) and 29 from families of CIS children (PCis). Trans children had lower HRQOL scores in all domains compared to CIS children. The lowest-scoring domains for TG children were “Moods and Emotions”, “Psychological Well-Being” and “Social Acceptance”, and the highest-scoring domain was “School Environment”. The PTrans group had significantly higher scores than the Trans group for 3 of the 10 domains: “Psychological Well-Being”, “Moods and Emotions”, and “Parent Relations and Home Life”. Conclusion: Our results revealed that TG children and adolescents have lower QOL than their CIS counterparts, especially regarding items related to mental health. Furthermore, their parents may underestimate their well-being, confirming the vulnerability of the TG population. This finding underlies the need to perform early assessments of QOL for early detection and intervention in aspects that could deteriorate their quality of life.


2014 ◽  
pp. 1251-1305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Juan García Bacete ◽  
Ghislaine Marande Perrin ◽  
Barry H. Schneider ◽  
Celine Blanchard

2018 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Esteban-Gonzalo ◽  
Anne I. Turner ◽  
Susan J. Torres ◽  
Irene Esteban-Cornejo ◽  
José Castro-Piñero ◽  
...  

AbstractThe present study examined the association between high-quality diet (using the Mediterranean diet (MD) as an example) and well-being cross-sectionally and prospectively in Spanish children and adolescents. Participants included 533 children and 987 adolescents at baseline and 527 children and 798 adolescents at 2-year follow-up, included in the UP&DOWN study (follow-up in schoolchildren and adolescents with and without Down’s syndrome). The present study excluded participants with Down’s syndrome. Adherence to an MD was assessed using the KIDMED index. Well-being was measured using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and the KIDSCREEN-10 questionnaire. Associations between MD adherence and well-being were assessed using multi-level, mixed-effects linear regression. At baseline, MD adherence was positively related to health-related quality of life in secondary school girls and boys (β=0·41,se0·10,P<0·001;β=0·46,se0·10,P<0·001, respectively) and to positive affect in secondary school girls and boys (β=0·16,se0·05,P=0·006;β=0·20,se0·05,P<0·001, respectively) and in primary school boys (β=0·20,se0·08,P=0·019). At 2-year follow-up, MD adherence was negatively related to negative affect in secondary school adolescent girls and boys (β=–0·15,se0·07,P=0·047;β=–0·16,se0·06,P=0·019, respectively), and MD adherence was associated with higher positive affect scores in secondary school girls (β=0·30,se0·06,P<0·001) and in primary school boys (β=0·20,se0·09,P=0·023). However, MD adherence at baseline did not predict well-being indicators at 2-year follow-up. In conclusion, higher MD adherence was found to behave as a protective factor for positive well-being in cross-sectional analysis.


Retos ◽  
2017 ◽  
pp. 89-93
Author(s):  
Robinson Ramírez-Vélez ◽  
Libardo Huertas-Zamora ◽  
Jorge Enrique Correa-Bautista ◽  
Edgar Giovanni Cárdenas-Calderón

El sueño juega un papel fundamental en muchas esferas del desarrollo de los infantes en etapa escolar. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la confiabilidad y validez de contenido del cuestionario BEARS en niños y adolescentes de 9 a 17 años. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 8.862 niños y adolescentes pertenecientes a 24 instituciones educativas oficiales de Bogotá, Colombia. Se aplicó el cuestionario BEARS, de manera auto-diligenciada por formulario estructurado. Una sub-muestra de 246 participantes se utilizó para los análisis de fiabilidad. La consistencia del instrumento se analizó mediante el coeficiente alfa de Cronbach, la validez de constructo a través del análisis factorial exploratorio (AFE), y la fiabilidad mediante el coeficiente Kappa ponderado. Los resultados mostraron adecuada consistencia (Cronbach global de 0,732; rango 0,706 a 0,769) y moderada fiabilidad (kappa de 0,665; rango 0,378 a 0,629). El AFE determinó un solo factor (ítem 1: problemas a la hora de dormir), explicaba el 61,4% de la varianza, agrupando dos interacciones χ2/gl=2690,817; p=0,001. El cuestionario BEARS mostró una adecuada consistencia interna, fiabilidad y validez. A partir de estos resultados, se recomienda este instrumento principalmente en el contexto de atención primaria, para el estudio y cribado de las alteraciones del sueño en población escolarizada de Bogotá, Colombia.Abstract. Sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being in school-age children. The aim of this study was to determine the reliability and content validity of the BEARS questionnaire in children and adolescents from 9 to 17 years of age. The sample comprised 8,862 children and adolescents belonging to 24 official education institutions from Bogotá, Colombia. The BEARS questionnaire was applied through self-completion manner, with a structured form. A sub-sample of 246 participants was used for reliability analyses. Consistency of the instrument was analyzed through Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, construct validity through exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and reliability through the weighted Kappa coefficient. Results showed adequate consistency (global Cronbach of 0.732; range 0.706 to 0.769) and moderate reliability (Kappa of 0.665; range 0.706 to 0.769). The EFA determined a single factor (item 1: problems when going to sleep), which explained 61.4% of the variance, grouping two interactions χ2/gl = 2690.817; p = 0.001. The BEARS questionnaire showed adequate internal consistency, reliability, and validity. From these results, this instrument is recommended principally within the context of primary care for the study and screening of sleep alterations in school-aged populations from Bogotá, Colombia.


2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luigi Mazzone ◽  
Valentina Postorino ◽  
Laura Reale ◽  
Manuela Guarnera ◽  
Valeria Mannino ◽  
...  

Background: Several recent studies investigated the relationship between self-esteem and ADHD, however, the results are still controversial. In the present study we analyze the characteristics of self-esteem in a sample of children and adolescents suffering from ADHD, with a particular focus on the relationship between ADHD symptoms severity and treatment strategies. Methods: A total of 85 patients with ADHD (44 drug-free and 41 drug-treated, 23 of which atomoxetine-treated and 18 Methylphenidate-treated) and 26 healthy controls were enrolled in the study in order to evaluate self-esteem using the Self-esteem Multidimensional Test (TMA). Results: ADHD subjects revealed lower scores on all self-esteem domains compared to controls. Both ADHD drug-free (47.1%) and ADHD drug-treated (44.1%) groups showed significantly higher rates of subjects in the pathological range as compared to normal control group (8.8%) (p <.001) with a higher percentage of subjects in the pathological range. Among ADHD drug-treated subjects, the methylphenidate group showed higher self-esteem scores as compared to the atomoxetine group. Conclusion: A lower self-esteem profile is more common in subjects suffering from ADHD than in healthy controls, suggesting the importance of an early detection of psychological well-being in these children in order to reduce the ADHD symptoms long-term impacts.


2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
AbdulKareem AlObaidi

Children and adolescents constitute half of Iraq's population of over 30 million. Mental health problems experienced by Iraqi children and adolescents are a hidden problem. Many factors contribute to the mental health problems of young Iraqis, including being victims and witnesses to violence, seeing family members become victims, being displaced from their homes, and experiencing the instability that still plagues their nation. Iraqis have experienced severe deprivation caused by many years of war, economic embargoes and civil unrest. Violence, poverty and the failure of the education and health systems have severely undermined the well-being of Iraqis, especially children (AlObaidi et al, 2009).


Author(s):  
Serkan Gunes ◽  
Rahime Aldemir ◽  
Adem Gunes ◽  
Ozalp Ekinci

IntroductionChildren with sickle cell disease (SCD) can present a variety of clinical symptoms that may affect their sleep and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This study aims to investigate the relation between sleep problems and HRQOL in children and adolescents with SCD.Material and methodsThe sample included 86 children and adolescents in the SCD patient group and 82 healthy controls, with an age range of 8-16 years. Subjects for the study were recruited from the Sickle Cell and Thalassemia Center of Hatay State Hospital, Hatay, Turkey. The Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) was used to evaluate sleep problems and Kinder Lebens­qualitätsfragebogen: Children’s Quality of Life Questionnaire – revis­ed (KINDL-R) was used to examine HRQOL.ResultsTotal score, bedtime resistance, and night waking subscores of CSHQ were significantly higher in children with SCD when compared to healthy children. Total score, physical well-being, emotional well-being, social, and school subscores of KINDL-R were significantly lower in the patient group. Among SCD children, total score, bedtime resistance, sleep onset delay, daytime sleepiness, and parasomnias subscores of CSHQ were negatively correlated with KINDL-R total score. In the regression model, disease severity and CSHQ total score had significant negative associations with KINDL-R total score.ConclusionsSleep problems in SCD children appear to be negatively linked with HRQOL. Disease severity and sleep problems may be predictors of overall HRQOL in children and adolescents with SCD.


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