scholarly journals 533The psychosocial profiles of children aged 11-12 years who have self-harmed: A prospective cohort study

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohan Borschmann ◽  
Lisa Mundy ◽  
Louise Canterford ◽  
Margarita Moreno-Betancur ◽  
Paul Moran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Peer Relationships ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Online Bullying ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
Bullying Victimisation

Abstract Background Self-harm in very young people can be a clinically ominous event. While most studies to date have focused on self-harm during the teenage years, fewer studies have examined children aged 12 years or under. We aimed to estimate the incidence and correlates of recent self-harm in a population-based, non-treatment-seeking sample of primary school-aged children. Methods 1059 children from 43 primary schools in Melbourne, Australia were interviewed at the age of 8 years (Wave 1), and followed up annually until the age of 11 years (Waves 2-4). Interviews covered a range of physical and mental health, social, educational and family domains, including (at Wave 4) self-harm during the previous 12 months. Results At Wave 4 (mean age: 11.9 years), a total of 28 children (3%; 18 girls [3%], 10 boys [2%]) reported self-harming during the previous 12 months. When compared with children who reported no self-harm, they were more likely to report depression, anxiety, poor emotional control, frequent bullying victimisation (including online bullying), truancy, recent alcohol consumption, and antisocial behaviour during Waves 1-3. They were also more likely to report having few friends. Conclusions Self-harm was reported by a proportion of community-dwelling children aged 11-12 years. As these children were more likely to report a range of other adverse behaviours, experiences and health conditions, clinicians should consider the possibility of prior self-harm when assessing children presenting with such behaviours and issues. Key messages The focus of intervention efforts aimed at preventing and reducing adolescent self-harm should extend to primary school-aged children, with a focus on mental health and peer relationships during the pubertal transition.

scholarly journals Self-harm in primary school-aged children: Prospective cohort study

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. e0242802
Author(s):  
Rohan Borschmann ◽  
Lisa K. Mundy ◽  
Louise Canterford ◽  
Margarita Moreno-Betancur ◽  
Paul A. Moran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Peer Relationships ◽  
Antisocial Behaviour ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
Persistent Symptoms ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
Bullying Victimisation ◽  
Pubertal Transition

Introduction No prospective studies have examined the prevalence, antecedents or concurrent characteristics associated with self-harm in non-treatment-seeking primary school-aged children. Methods In this cohort study from Melbourne, Australia we assessed 1239 children annually from age 8–9 years (wave 1) to 11–12 years (wave 4) on a range of health, social, educational and family measures. Past-year self-harm was assessed at wave 4. We estimated the prevalence of self-harm and used multivariable logistic regression to examine associations with concurrent and antecedent factors. Results 28 participants (3% of the 1059 with self-harm data; 18 girls [3%], 10 boys [2%]) reported self-harm at age 11–12 years. Antecedent (waves 1–3) predictors of self-harm were: persistent symptoms of depression (sex-age-socioeconomic status adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 7.8; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 2.6 to 24) or anxiety (aOR: 5.1; 95%CI 2.1 to 12), frequent bullying victimisation (aOR: 24.6; 95%CI 3.8 to 158), and recent alcohol consumption (aOR: 2.9; 95%CI 1.2 to 7.1). Concurrent (wave 4) associations with self-harm were: having few friends (aOR: 8.7; 95%CI 3.2 to 24), poor emotional control (aOR: 4.2; 95%CI 1.9 to 9.6), antisocial behaviour (theft—aOR: 3.1; 95%CI 1.2 to 7.9; carrying a weapon—aOR: 6.9; 95%CI 3.1 to 15), and being in mid-puberty (aOR: 6.5; 95%CI 1.5 to 28) or late/post-puberty (aOR: 14.4; 95%CI 2.9 to 70). Conclusions The focus of intervention efforts aimed at preventing and reducing adolescent self-harm should extend to primary school-aged children, with a focus on mental health and peer relationships during the pubertal transition.

scholarly journals Impact of The Daily Mile on children’s physical and mental health, and educational attainment in primary schools: iMprOVE cohort study protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. e045879
Author(s):  
Bina Ram ◽  
Anna Chalkley ◽  
Esther van Sluijs ◽  
Rachel Phillips ◽  
Tishya Venkatraman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Educational Attainment ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
School Year

IntroductionSchool-based active mile initiatives such as The Daily Mile (TDM) are widely promoted to address shortfalls in meeting physical activity recommendations. The iMprOVE Study aims to examine the impact of TDM on children’s physical and mental health and educational attainment throughout primary school.Methods and analysisiMprOVE is a longitudinal quasi-experimental cohort study. We will send a survey to all state-funded primary schools in Greater London to identify participation in TDM. The survey responses will be used for non-random allocation to either the intervention group (Daily Mile schools) or to the control group (non-Daily Mile schools). We aim to recruit 3533 year 1 children (aged 5–6 years) from 77 primary schools and follow them up annually until the end of their primary school years. Data collection taking place at baseline (children in school year 1) and each primary school year thereafter includes device-based measures of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and questionnaires to measure mental health (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) and educational attainment (ratings from ‘below expected’ to ‘above expected levels’). The primary outcome is the mean change in MVPA minutes from baseline to year 6 during the school day among the intervention group compared with controls. We will use multilevel linear regression models adjusting for sociodemographic data and participation in TDM. The study is powered to detect a 10% (5.5 min) difference between the intervention and control group which would be considered clinically significant.Ethics and disseminationEthics has been approved from Imperial College Research Ethics Committee, reference 20IC6127. Key findings will be disseminated to the public through research networks, social, print and media broadcasts, community engagement opportunities and schools. We will work with policy-makers for direct application and impact of our findings.

scholarly journals The Analysis of Mathematics Academic Burden for Primary School Students Based on PISA Data Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Wang
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Mathematics Anxiety ◽  
Questionnaire Survey ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Mathematical Literacy ◽  
Primary School Students ◽  
School Students ◽  
The Relationship

To explore the impact of academic burden on the physical and mental health of primary school students, combined with the results of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) report in 2018, the relationship among the development of mathematical literacy, mathematics academic burden, and the physical and mental health of primary school students is studied. First, the relationship between mathematical literacy and mathematics anxiety is analyzed, and related influencing factors and measurement methods of mathematics anxiety are introduced. A questionnaire is then designed for primary school students’ mathematical stress, and the reliability and validity of the designed questionnaire are tested. Finally, a questionnaire survey is conducted on students, parents, and teachers in the third, fourth, and fifth grades of three standardized public primary schools. The results of the questionnaire survey show that students, teachers, and parents have a general understanding of the mathematics academic burden of primary school students at this stage. A total of 70% of teachers believe that primary school students have a heavy mathematics burden; 50% of parents think that primary school students are under heavy academic stress; 70% of primary school students believe that the heavy mathematics burden leads to reduced sleep time and extracurricular activities, which has a serious impact on the physical and mental health of primary school students. This research provides a reference for improving the current balance between education and students’ physical and mental health in China.

scholarly journals The primary school as a therapeutic community

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelley MacDonald ◽  
Gary Winship
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Therapeutic Community ◽  
Dynamic Interactions ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Content Type ◽  
School Work ◽  
School Counselling ◽  
School Counsellor

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to consider the changes underway in the delivery of services to children and young people in schools, not least that OFTSED will soon be routinely carrying out an assessment of mental health provision in schools. This paper considers the policy context to these changes and the recent initiatives that are informing the evolution of initial teacher training. Alongside the changes in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services there are an increasing number of schools developing counselling and psychotherapy services. How can the School counsellor look to develop a who school as therapeutic community. Design/methodology/approach – A case narrative is presented of a seven-year-old child who was referred to the school counselling service. The narrative draws attention to the array of dynamic interactions, from peers to teachers to parents which the school counselling manager encountered. Findings – It is argued that it is necessary for the school counsellor to have a framework for understanding how all parts of the school work together and it is proposed that we might usefully consider the primary school as a therapeutic community. Originality/value – There are a raft of policy changes and practices in recent years that have altered the landscape of early intervention and the mental health agenda in primary schools. This paper captures this debates and consider how therapeutic community ideology is positioned as an opportunity to think more expansively about mental health in primary schools.

Life, lifestyle and location: examining the complexities of psychological distress in young adult Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 541-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Davison ◽  
T. Nagel ◽  
G. R. Singh
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Self Harm

Mental health is fundamental to an individual’s health and well-being. Mental health disorders affect a substantial portion of the Australian population, with the most vulnerable time in adolescence and young adulthood. Indigenous Australians fare worse than other Australians on almost every measure of physical and mental health. Cross-sectional data from young adults (21–27 years) participating in the Life Course Program, Northern Territory, Australia, is presented. Rates of psychological distress were high in remote and urban residing Indigenous and urban non-Indigenous young adults. This rate was more pronounced in young women, particularly in Indigenous remote and urban residing women. Young adults with high psychological distress also had lower levels of positive well-being, higher perceived stress levels, experienced a higher number of major life events and were at an increased risk of suicidal ideation and/or self-harm. This study supports the need for a continued focus on early screening and treatment at this vulnerable age. The significant association seen between psychological distress and other markers of emotional well-being, particularly risk of suicidal ideation and/or self-harm, highlights the need for a holistic approach to mental health assessment and treatment. A concerted focus on improving the environs of young adults by lowering levels of stress, improving access to adequate housing, educational and employment opportunity, will assist in improving the emotional health of young adults.

scholarly journals The impact of the economic crisis on the mental health of Portuguese primary-school children

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
D Costa ◽  
M Cunha ◽  
C Ferreira ◽  
A Gama ◽  
A M N Rodrigues ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Financial Crisis ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Public Health Programs ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Objective To measure the impact of the economic crisis on the mental health correlates of Portuguese children attending primary school during 2016. Methods Cross-sectional analysis of primary school-aged children and their parents (n = 1157), conducted in public and private schools of three Portuguese districts. Parent reports of children mental health symptoms (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire - SDQ) and children self-reports of health-related quality of life (KIDSCREEN-27) and depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales, Children version - DASS-C), were compared according to a set of yes/no questions on how the economic crisis changed the normal aspects of routine life (e.g. During the financial crisis did you had to use savings? Started buying cheaper food?). Linear regression models were fitted for the SDQ, the KIDSCREEN-27 and the DASS-C as dependent variables adjusted for children sex, socioeconomic status and district of residence. Results Affirmative answers to the crisis impact questions were associated with more frequent psychosocial functioning problems in children, with poorer self-reported health-related quality of life and with more frequent symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. Conclusions Portuguese children mental health correlates show significant worse scores for those whose parents declared having to change daily routine habits as a result of the recent macroeconomic financial crisis, compared to those who did not change habits. Public Health programs should be developed to mitigate the potential negative impact of the financial crisis to the mental health of children. Key messages A negative impact on children mental health was observed as a result of the economic crisis. Public health programs designed to mitigate the impact of the economic crisis should include primary-school aged children.

The glass is not half empty: optimism, pessimism, and health among older adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. Barnett ◽  
Ellen A. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Life Orientation Test ◽  
Health And Well Being

ABSTRACTObjectives:Optimism and pessimism are distinct constructs that have demonstrated independent relationships with aspects of health and well-being. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether optimism or pessimism is more closely linked with physical and mental health among older adults.Design:Cross-sectional survey.Participants:Community-dwelling older adults (N = 272) ages 59–95 in the southern United States.Measurements:The Life Orientation Test—Revised and the Short Form 8.Results:At the bivariate level, optimism was associated with higher physical health and mental health, while pessimism was associated with lower physical health and mental health. Multiple-regression analyses as well as comparison of correlation coefficients found that pessimism was more closely associated with physical health and mental health than optimism.Conclusions:These results add to the literature suggesting that, in terms of older adults’ health and well-being, avoiding pessimism may be more important than being optimistic.

Bryant’s Empathy Index: Structure and Measurement Invariance across Gender in a Sample of Primary School-Aged Children

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz Lucas-Molina ◽  
Alicia Pérez-Albéniz ◽  
Marta Giménez-Dasí ◽  
Gema Martín-Seoane
Keyword(s):  
Primary School ◽  
Measurement Invariance ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Index Structure ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Confirmatory Factor Analyses ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
Three Factor

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to examine the dimensional structure and measurement invariance of Bryant’s Index of Empathy for Children and Adolescents (IECA) (Bryant, 1982) across gender in a representative sample of primary school-aged children in Spain. The sample consisted of 2,050 children (50.80% girls), with a mean age of 9.80 years (SD = 1.24), recruited from 27 primary schools. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted. The model that presented the best fit indices was Lasa, Holgado, Carrasco, and del Barrio’s (2008) three-factor model: Understanding Feelings, Feelings of Sadness, and Tearful Reaction. The levels of internal consistency for the subscales ranged from .76 to .83. In addition, the results partially support the measurement invariance of the IECA across gender. When the latent means of the empathy dimensions were compared across gender, statistically significant differences were found. These results coincide with those found in the literature showing the multidimensionality of the IECA. Specifically, the findings support its three-factor structure and its invariance across gender, making it a very useful instrument for exploring the expression of empathy in primary school children.

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