The Electronic Media Fast and Student Well-Being: An Exercise in Transformational Teaching

Introduction: In the past decade, use of screen media has increased dramatically among young adults. Statement of Problem: Mounting evidence suggests that high levels of media use are associated with a range of negative psychological outcomes. Literature Review: We present instructions for a four-day electronic media fast assigned in a course module on positive psychology. Drawing from student accounts and direct classroom observations, we illustrate student experiences that suggest substantial positive changes in learning, media habits, and well-being. Teaching Implications: An electronic media fast is an easily implemented class assignment which enables students to reflect on their media use and make adjustments to support their learning and well-being. It is appropriate for use in a range of undergraduate psychology courses including introductory psychology, social psychology, psychology of adolescence, and positive psychology. Conclusion: When undertaken with a flexible, sensitive, and collaborative approach, a media fast can be a powerfully transformative learning experience.

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High-dose electronic media use in five-year-olds and its association with their psychosocial symptoms: a cohort study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040848 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. e040848

Author(s):

Janette Niiranen ◽

Olli Kiviruusu ◽

Riitta Vornanen ◽

Outi Saarenpää-Heikkilä ◽

E Juulia Paavonen

Keyword(s):

Preschool Children ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Screen Time ◽

Media Use ◽

Well Being ◽

Electronic Media ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

High Dose ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Electronic Games

ObjectivesThis study investigated the frequency of electronic media (e-media) usage by preschool children and the risks of high-dose e-media use on young children’s psychosocial well-being.DesignLongitudinal associations between e-media use at 18 months and psychosocial symptoms at 5 years of age were studied, as well as cross-sectional associations between e-media use and psychosocial symptoms at 5 years.SettingBetween 2011 and 2017 in Finland.ParticipantsChildren aged 5 years (n=699).Primary and secondary outcome measuresChildren’s psychosocial symptoms were determined at the age of 5 years using the parent-reported questionnaires Five-to-Fifteen (FTF) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).ResultsBased on our results, 95% of the preschool children exceeded the daily recommended use of e-media set by health professionals. Our results indicate that increased screen time at 5 years of age is associated with a risk of multiple psychosocial symptoms (OR 1.53–2.18, 95% CI 1.05 to 3.34, p<0.05), while increased levels of e-media use at 18 months was only associated with FTF peer problems (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.41, p=0.03). Moreover, high-dose use of electronic games at the age of 5 years seems to be associated with fewer risks for psychosocial well-being than programme viewing, as it was only associated with SDQ hyperactivity (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.08 to 2.51, p=0.02).ConclusionIncreased screen time has multiple risks for children’s psychosocial well-being. These risk factors seem to be significant in the long term, and are related to problems in children’s socio-emotional development later on. Health professionals and paediatricians have an important role as communicators of the current research results on the safe usage time of e-media for families, and enhancing parents’ skills as regulators of children’s safe e-media use. More research is needed on the family conditions of high-dose e-media users.

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Effectiveness of a health literacy intervention based on transformative learning and incorporating positive psychology on health behavior and well-being of Thai families with NCDs risk

Journal of Public Health Research ◽

10.4081/jphr.2021.1935 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ungsinun Intarakamhang ◽

Ann Macaskill

Keyword(s):

Health Literacy ◽

Positive Psychology ◽

Health Behavior ◽

Transformative Learning ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Well Being ◽

Control Group ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Physiological Measurement

Background: Thailand has a higher global NCD mortality rate in comparison to the rest of the world, accounting for 75% and 71% of all deaths. WHO focused increasingly on health literacy (HL) in order to decrease NCDs. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an HL intervention utilizing transformative learning and positive psychology with mindfulness training in terms of changing levels of HL, health behavior (HB), and health outcomes. Design and Methods: The study was a randomized control trial from May to September 2019. The participants were a rural Thai population with low levels of HL, living in an area with high levels of NCDs. The 200 participants were cluster randomly allocated to an eight-week intervention, and the control group. The data were collected by Likert questionnaires and physical exams, and analyzed via ANOVA. Results: The intervention group mean scores for HL, psychological capital, HB, and family well-being increased from baseline to post-intervention, but decreased during the follow-up but were still significantly higher than the control group and baseline scores. The increases in HL and HB were matched by improvements in physiological measurement. The BMI scores of the intervention group decreased in each phase, while the control group scores remained largely unchanged. An intervention group had significantly lower fasting blood sugar than the controls at the intervention and in the follow-up. There was no interaction between social support and any other variables.Conclusion: This program demonstrated improvements in HL, HB and the well-being of Thai families at risk of NCDs in rural communities.

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Daily Evening Electronic Media Use and Sleep in Later Life

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.3288 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 914-914

Author(s):

Yijung Kim ◽

Shiyang Zhang ◽

Karen Fingerman

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Computer Use ◽

Television Viewing ◽

Media Use ◽

Later Life ◽

Well Being ◽

Electronic Media ◽

Falling Asleep ◽

Electronic Media Use

Abstract Sleep complaints and disorders are one of the most common disturbances to health and well-being in later life. Evening electronic media use has been shown to influence the subsequent quantity and quality of sleep, but most research focused on younger age groups who are more likely to use new media (e.g., social media) to replace or complement traditional mass media such as television. To investigate how different types of evening media use is related to sleep in later life, we used ecological momentary assessment data from the Daily Experiences and Well-being Study (N = 231; Mage = 73.61) to examine how evening computer use and television viewing affect subsequent sleep hours and perceived sleep quality. Across all evening assessments, 43% of the evenings were spent using computers, and 80% of the evenings were spent watching television. Findings from a series of within-between random effects models indicated that evening computer use and television viewing had independent associations with sleep quantity and quality. That is, older adults reported fewer hours of sleep, more difficulty falling asleep, and worse overall sleep quality on nights following the evening computer use. In contrast, evening television viewing was associated with feeling less tired the next day morning. The results highlight the continued presence of television viewing in older adults’ daily lives and their distinction from general computer use. The social context in which older adults watch television in the evening may potentially explain how different electronic media use influences sleep in later life.

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Electronic Media Use and Adolescent Health and Well-Being: Cross-Sectional Community Study

Academic Pediatrics ◽

10.1016/j.acap.2009.04.003 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 307-314 ◽

Cited By ~ 103

Author(s):

Megan Mathers ◽

Louise Canterford ◽

Tim Olds ◽

Kylie Hesketh ◽

Kate Ridley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Adolescent Health ◽

Media Use ◽

Well Being ◽

Electronic Media ◽

Community Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Electronic Media Use ◽

Health And Well Being

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Early Childhood Electronic Media Use as a Predictor of Poorer Well-being

JAMA Pediatrics ◽

10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.94 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 168 (5) ◽

pp. 485 ◽

Cited By ~ 78

Author(s):

Trina Hinkley ◽

Vera Verbestel ◽

Wolfgang Ahrens ◽

Lauren Lissner ◽

Dénes Molnár ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Media Use ◽

Well Being ◽

Electronic Media ◽

Electronic Media Use

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THE ROLE OF SCHOOLS IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

EPRA International Journal of Research & Development (IJRD) ◽

10.36713/epra7526 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 451-455

Author(s):

Ishita Kapur

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Transformative Learning ◽

Youth Development ◽

Learning Experience ◽

Well Being ◽

School Design ◽

Academic Goals ◽

Adolescent Outcomes ◽

Community Stakeholders ◽

Strategic Relationships

Great schools have the power to change lives. They transform the process of guiding students towards benchmark success into a transformative learning experience that helps young people chart a course for a bright future. This type of education is purposefully designed to foster creativity and critical thinking. It’s a place where students are introduced to ideas that inspire them and encouraged to investigate possible career paths in which those ideas could take flight. A great school is one where students understand that true learning, learning that matters to them and helps them connect to their goals, occurs. Three essential priorities are critical in assisting educators in designing innovative schools that strive to be great for all students: young people must be at the centre of any school design process; great practise must be deployed with the needs of students in mind; and schools must grow alongside students, practising iteration to meet emerging challenges. Given the demands on school staff and government regulations that place a premium on academic accomplishment, focusing on holistic adolescent outcomes and school outcomes that improve both adolescent psychosocial well-being and societal well-being remains a priority. The key to making youth development in schools a success is to take a system-wide approach to efforts and outcomes, as well as to form strategic relationships with key community stakeholders who share a same goal of fostering positive youth development. Great schools make learning easier by making these developmental milestones fundamental to their mission and smoothly incorporating them into academic goals.

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Electronic Media and Early Childhood: A Review

Klinische Pädiatrie ◽

10.1055/a-1335-4936 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Frank W. Paulus ◽

Eva Möhler ◽

Franziska Recktenwald ◽

Amélie Albert ◽

Volker Mall

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Knowledge Transfer ◽

Psychosocial Development ◽

Media Use ◽

Well Being ◽

Electronic Media ◽

Emotional And Behavioral Problems ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Utilization Data ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background This review summarizes the state of knowledge of use of new media on the development in early childhood in 6 sections: descriptive utilization data, psychosocial and emotional development, cognition and language, motor development, nutrition and sleep, and influence of parental media consumption. Methods The review is based on a literature search of this topic in peer-reviewed journals. We included 87 articles, books, and book chapters. The used literature data bases were ERIC, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO and PSYNDEX. Results Manifold studies describe in young children’s utilization data the pervasive nature of digital exposure and impressive usage times and availability. They confirm adverse influences of electronic media use (television, video games) on children’s emotional and behavioral problems and well-being, e. g. on physical activity, sleep and obesity. In general a positive effect in sense of knowledge transfer of age could be found for high quality educational media, however predominantly the impact of media use at younger age was negative. Conclusions High frequent media use in early childhood is likely to have a negative impact on psychosocial development, positive effects such as knowledge transfer may be seen beyond the age of 18 months. As parental media use is a strong predictor of child media habits, reducing parental media use and enhancing parent–child interactions might be important areas to address when trying to change the media behavior of young children. In view of the scarcity of studies for early childhood, it is advisable to use digital play and communication devices cautiously and restrictively in this vulnerable development phase.

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Guilty Pleasure No More

Journal of Media Psychology Theories Methods and Applications ◽

10.1027/1864-1105/a000223 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 126-136 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Robin L. Nabi ◽

Debora Pérez Torres ◽

Abby Prestin

Keyword(s):

Stress Management ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Media Use ◽

Well Being ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Positive Role ◽

Individual Difference Variables ◽

Relative Value ◽

Management Techniques ◽

Managing Stress

Abstract. Despite the substantial attention paid to stress management in the extant coping literature, media use has been surprisingly overlooked as a strategy worthy of close examination. Although media scholars have suggested media use may be driven by a need to relax, related research has been sporadic and, until recently, disconnected from the larger conversation about stress management. The present research aimed to determine the relative value of media use within the broader range of coping strategies. Based on surveys of both students and breast cancer patients, media use emerged as one of the most frequently selected strategies for managing stress across a range of personality and individual difference variables. Further, heavier television consumers and those with higher perceived stress were also more likely to use media for coping purposes. Finally, those who choose media for stress management reported it to be an effective tool, although perhaps not as effective as other popular strategies. This research not only documents the centrality of media use in the corpus of stress management techniques, thus highlighting the value of academic inquiry into media-based coping, but it also offers evidence supporting the positive role media use can play in promoting psychological well-being.

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