scholarly journals Shorter lunch breaks lead secondary-school students to make less healthy dietary choices: multilevel analysis of cross-sectional national survey data

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 1626-1634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Townsend
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Multilevel Analysis ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
School Level ◽  
School Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Lunch Break ◽  
Dietary Choice ◽  
Dietary Choices ◽  
The Impact

AbstractObjectiveAt the time of the study a number of schools within Wales had shortened the amount of time they allow for lunch break. The study investigated the association between length of lunch break and the dietary choices of students in secondary schools.DesignStudent-level data, collected through anonymised questionnaires, included reported dietary choices and correlates of these; data on school approaches to food were collected through postal surveys. Multilevel analysis was used to study the independent association between lunch-break length and student dietary choice.SettingData were collected from secondary schools in Wales that were part of the 2005/2006 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study.SubjectsThe final sample for analysis included data from 6693 students aged 11–16 years and 289 teachers from sixty-four secondary schools in Wales.ResultsOnce controlling for many individual-level and school-level factors, the length of time allowed for lunch across the range for schools included in the study (minimum =25 min, maximum =62·5 min) was associated with higher odds of students eating fruit for lunch (2·20; 95 % CI 1·18, 4·11) and fruit and vegetables on a daily basis (2·15; 95 % CI 1·33, 3·47) but lower odds of eating unhealthy foods on a daily basis (0·44; 95 % CI 0·24, 0·80).ConclusionsShorter lunch breaks are associated with less healthy dietary choices by students. Schools should consider the impact that lunch-break length has on student dietary choice as well as on other behaviours. Policy makers should work with schools in encouraging them to maintain lunch breaks of a length that allow pupils to make healthy choices.

scholarly journals Developing and applying a socio-ecological model to the promotion of healthy eating in the school

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 1101-1108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Townsend ◽  
Charlie Foster
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Multilevel Analysis ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Ecological Model ◽  
Healthy Foods ◽  
School Students ◽  
Dietary Choices ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Final Sample ◽  
Organisational Factors

AbstractObjectiveTo develop and apply a socio-ecological model (SEM) for healthy eating in school students, to better understand the association between factors at different levels of the SEM and pupils’ dietary choices.DesignStudent-level data, collected through anonymised questionnaires, included reported dietary choices and correlates to these; data on school approaches to food were collected through postal surveys. We used multilevel analysis to study the association of each level of the SEM on student dietary choice while controlling for factors found at other levels.SettingData were collected from secondary schools in Wales that were a part of the 2005/2006 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study.SubjectsThe final sample for analysis included data from 6693 students aged 11–16 years and 289 teachers from sixty-four secondary schools in Wales.ResultsStudent interpersonal factors, an individual's social environment, had a greater association with the dietary choices students made for lunch than student intrapersonal characteristics, those that reside within the person, which were found to have a greater association with the dietary choices made outside school. School organisational factors, such as rules and policies, had a greater association with whether students ate unhealthy foods, whereas the community nature of the school had a greater association with the choosing of healthy foods.ConclusionsUsing the SEM and multilevel analysis allowed us to study how factors were associated with the choice of different foods at different times of the day by students. Interventions can use an SEM to target specific correlates and change health outcomes in the school.

Teen Dating Violence Victimization Among High School Students: A Multilevel Analysis of School-Level Risk Factors

2017 ◽  
Vol 87 (9) ◽  
pp. 696-704 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M. Parker ◽  
Sarah Lindstrom Johnson ◽  
Katrina J. Debnam ◽  
Adam J. Milam ◽  
Catherine P. Bradshaw
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Multilevel Analysis ◽  
Dating Violence ◽  
Teen Dating Violence ◽  
School Level ◽  
School Students ◽  
Violence Victimization ◽  
Teen Dating

scholarly journals A Middle School Program to Prevent E-Cigarette Use: A Pilot Study of “CATCH My Breath”

2020 ◽  
Vol 135 (2) ◽  
pp. 220-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven H. Kelder ◽  
Dale S. Mantey ◽  
Duncan Van Dusen ◽  
Kathleen Case ◽  
Alexandra Haas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Middle Schools ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
The United States ◽  
School Level ◽  
Cigarette Use ◽  
School Students ◽  
Cross Sectional

Objectives: From 2017 to 2018, electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use increased 78% among high school students and 48% among middle school students in the United States. However, few e-cigarette prevention interventions have been evaluated. We determined the feasibility and initial effectiveness of “CATCH My Breath,” an e-cigarette prevention program, among a sample of middle schools in central Texas. Methods: Twelve middle schools in Texas (6 intervention schools and 6 control schools) participated in the CATCH My Breath pilot program during 2016-2017. CATCH My Breath is rooted in social cognitive theory, consists of 4 interactive in-class modules, and is collaboratively administered via classroom and physical education teachers, student–peer leaders, and social messaging (eg, school posters). We collected 3 waves of data: baseline (January 2017), 4-month follow-up (May 2017), and 16-month follow-up (May 2018). Using school as the unit of analysis, we tested a repeated cross-sectional, condition-by-time interaction on e-cigarette ever use, psychosocial determinants of use, and other tobacco use behaviors. Analyses controlled for school-level sociodemographic characteristics (eg, sex, race/ethnicity, and percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch). Results: From baseline to 16-month follow-up, increases in ever e-cigarette use prevalence were significantly lower among intervention schools (2.8%-4.9%) than among control schools (2.7%-8.9%), controlling for covariates ( P = .01). Intervention schools also had significantly greater improvements in e-cigarette knowledge (β = 0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.21-1.21; P = .008) and perceived positive outcomes (β = –0.12; 95% CI, –0.23 to –0.02; P = .02) than control schools, controlling for covariates from baseline to 16-month follow-up. Conclusion: Ever e-cigarette use was lower among middle schools that implemented the CATCH My Breath program than among those that did not. Replication of findings among a larger sample of schools, using a group-randomized, longitudinal study design and a longer follow-up period, is needed.

scholarly journals Library Usage by the Medical Students of a Tertiary Medical College in Chattogram

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-42
Author(s):  
Maliha Ata ◽  
Rozina Hoque ◽  
Asma Mostafa ◽  
Happy Rani Barua
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Medical College ◽  
Self Study ◽  
Directed Learning ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Medical Student Learning ◽  
College Library

Background: The medical college library plays an important role in enhancing theacademic achievements of medical students. In order to improve the quality oflibrary services this study provided an assessment of the impact of the libraryservices on undergraduate medical student learning behavior. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive type of study. Thestudy used a self-designed questionnaire. The study sample was 200 undergraduatemedical students. The questionnaire was administered to them at the end of theirlecture class. Results: The primary reason for going to the library was self study (68%) refer text(37%) and group study (36%). Only 38.55% of the respondents visited the library ona daily basis, 50.5% students visit library when necessary and 10.5% student uselibrary 2-3 times a week. All students (100%) are aware about availability of textbooks in the library. 60.5% students know that journals are available in their library,52% know about dictionaries, 56.55% know of having internet, 62.5% students knowthat computers are available in library. 46.5% students said that their internet ofinstitutional library is somewhat helpful. Noise (67.5%), insufficient space (66%),lack of interent access (46%) and lack of computers(44.5%) might have negativeinfluence on the students in library visit. Conclusion :The study suggested that fulfillment of more needs to be done topromote self directed learning. The usage of library, its resources and services needto be increased. Chatt Maa Shi Hosp Med Coll J; Vol.19 (1); January 2020; Page 38-42

scholarly journals COVID-19 and young Italians: results of a cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Lia ◽  
B Dorelli ◽  
M Marte ◽  
M Chiappetta ◽  
A Faticoni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Young People ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
School Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Infected People ◽  
Knowledge And Attitudes ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background At the end of 2019, a novel pneumonia-causing Coronavirus called Sars-CoV-2 was first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. It subsequently spread throughout China and elsewhere, becoming a global health emergency. In February 2020, WHO designated the disease COVID-19, which stands for Coronavirus disease 2019. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on the perception of young Italians and to assess their knowledge and attitudes about the disease. Methods An online survey was conducted on 3rd-4th-5th February 2020 with the collaboration of “Skuola.net”, an important Italian Website for students. Young people had the opportunity to participate in the survey by answering an ad hoc questionnaire created to investigate knowledge and attitudes about the new Coronavirus, using a link published on the homepage. Results 5234 responses were received of which 3262 were females and 1972 were males, aged from 11 to 30. 82,4% were students (50,4% high school students) while 17,6% did not attend school or university. Regarding knowledge, 80% of the participants knew that the infection occurs through droplets from infected people; 63% knew that symptoms can appear up to 14 days after exposure; 80% knew that a vaccine has not yet been discovered. Regarding attitudes, 36% admitted that their attitude towards Chinese tourists has significantly worsened; 26% did not buy from Chinese run stores and 24% avoided Chinese restaurants. Conclusions Although most of the participants seem correctly informed about COVID-19, young Italians are at risk of assuming irrational behavior due to psychosis. Key messages The global emergency of COVID-19 needs adequate information to avoid the spread of dangerous psychoses. Young people, usual users of social networks as a means of information, are more at risk of being influenced by fake news and adopting wrong behaviors.

scholarly journals B Part of It School Leaver protocol: an observational repeat cross-sectional study to assess the impact of a meningococcal serogroup B (4CMenB) vaccine programme on carriage ofNeisseria meningitidis

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. e027233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen S Marshall ◽  
Mark McMillan ◽  
Ann Koehler ◽  
Andrew Lawrence ◽  
Jenny MacLennan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
School Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Carriage Prevalence

IntroductionInvasive meningococcal disease is uncommon but associated with a high-case fatality rate. Carriage prevalence of the causative bacteria,Neisseria meningitidis, is high in adolescents. A large (n=34 500) cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) to assess the impact of a meningococcal B (MenB) vaccine on meningococcal carriage was implemented in the state of South Australia (SA) for year 10, 11 and 12 senior school students in 2017–2018. This study will assess the impact of MenB vaccine (4CMenB) on carriage prevalence in school leavers in SA, 1 and 2 years after implementation of the cluster RCT in adolescents. Measuring the impact of population programmes on carriage can assist in informing future meningococcal immunisation programmes such as targeted age groups and use of catch-up campaigns.Methods and analysisThis repeat cross-sectional study will assess carriage prevalence in 2018 and 2019. All school leavers who attended year 12 in any school in SA in 2018 or 2019 will be invited to participate in this study. An oropharyngeal swab will be taken from each participating student and a risk factor questionnaire completed by the student following informed consent. Students will attend clinics at SA universities, technical colleges, and metropolitan, rural and remote government council clinics. Confirmed vaccination history will allow a comparison in carriage prevalence between vaccinated and unvaccinated school leavers. A sample size of 4096 students per year will provide 80% power to detect a 20% difference in carriage prevalence of disease-causing meningococci (defined as genogroup A, B, C, W, X or Y) between years.Ethics and disseminationThe study was approved by the Women’s and Children’s Health Network Human Research Ethics Committee. Results will be published in international peer review journals and presented at national and international conferences.Trial registration numberNCT03419533; Pre-results

scholarly journals The psychometric properties of a short version of the General Self-Efficacy Scale: A Rasch analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
A M S Steigen ◽  
H S F Finbråten ◽  
A L K Kleppang
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
Differential Item Functioning ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Measurement Theory ◽  
School Level ◽  
Short Version ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Item Functioning ◽  
General Self Efficacy

Abstract Background Self-efficacy is important in adolescence and is found to affect adolescents’ physical activity, risk-taking behaviour and health decisions. Self-efficacy describes a person’s belief in own coping abilities. Having good measures of self-efficacy may contribute to more valid knowledge about the potential role of self-efficacy as a health promoting factor in adolescents lives. Several scales measuring self-efficacy exists. One of these is the General Self-Efficacy Scale comprising 10-items. However, there exists several short versions of the scale. In a large cross-sectional study among adolescents in secondary schools in Norway, five of the items from the General Self-Efficacy Scale are used. The aim of this study is to examine the psychometric properties of this short version of the General Self-Efficacy Scale applying Rasch measurement theory. Methods This study is based on cross-sectional data from the Youth Data Survey. The data collection was carried out in lower and upper secondary schools in Norway during 2018. In total, 6646 adolescents responded to a web-based questionnaire. The data were analysed using the partial credit parameterization of the unidimensional Rasch model. Results Preliminary results indicated that the short version had acceptable reliability (person separation index: 0.78). However, the targeting could have been better (mean person location: 1.441). All items had ordered thresholds. One under-discriminating item and three over-discriminating items were identified. Three items displayed differential item functioning with regard to gender and one item displayed differential item functioning for school level. Conclusions Based on our preliminary findings this short version of the General Self-Efficacy Scale has the potential to measure self-efficacy among adolescents, but there are room for improvements. The scale has some shortcomings related to targeting and differential item functioning that needs to be further explored. Key messages The short version of the General Self-Efficacy Scale has the potential to measure self-efficacy in adolescents. The scale has some shortcomings that needs to be further judged.

scholarly journals Witnessing Cyberbullying and Internalizing Symptoms among Middle School Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 957-966 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana M. Doumas ◽  
Aida Midgett
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Internalizing Symptoms ◽  
Somatic Symptoms ◽  
The United States ◽  
School Bullying ◽  
School Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cyberbullying Victimization ◽  
The Impact

Cyberbullying is a significant problem among school-aged youth. Cyberbullying peaks in middle school with 33% of middle school students reporting cyberbullying victimization and more than 50% reporting witnessing cyberbullying as bystanders. Although the association between cyberbullying victimization and internalizing symptoms is well documented, there is limited research examining the impact of witnessing cyberbullying on bystanders. To assess differences in internalizing symptoms between cyberbullying bystanders and non-bystanders, a school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among middle school students (6th–8th grade) in the United States (N = 130; 57.4% female; 42.6% male). Questionnaire data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of co-variance (MANCOVA) with three outcome variables (depression, anxiety, somatic symptoms) and the between-subject factor bystander status (bystander, non-bystander). We controlled for witnessing school bullying to examine the unique effect of witnessing cyberbullying on internalizing symptoms. Results of the MANCOVA indicated a significant effect for cyberbullying bystander status (p < 0.04). Post hoc analyses demonstrated that bystanders reported significantly higher levels of depression (p < 0.05), anxiety (p < 0.02), and somatic symptoms (p < 0.01) than non-bystanders. Findings suggest that programs to support students who witness cyberbullying are needed to reduce the mental health risks associated with being a cyberbullying bystander.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document