scholarly journals Operationalization of self-regulation in the early years: comparing policy with theoretical underpinnings

Author(s):  
Heather Braund ◽  
Kristy Timmons

AbstractResearch has consistently demonstrated that self-regulation is essential for the development and preservation of health and well-being in the early years and across the lifespan. Based on the emerging literature on the important role of self-regulation in promoting healthy child development, policymakers have made efforts to include self-regulation skills in practice and policy documents worldwide. Despite efforts to include self-regulation skills in early years curriculum documents, there is limited understanding by teachers, scholars, and policymakers of what self-regulation is and how best to support it in the day-to-day classroom. This limited understanding is perpetuated by a lack of a unified definition of self-regulation. Thus, it becomes important to examine these efforts in a critical way. In Ontario, where the research was completed, a revised play-based full-day kindergarten program was introduced in 2016. In this research we use a qualitative document analysis approach to compare the conceptualization of self-regulation in Ontario’s revised play-based kindergarten program with theory-driven models of self-regulation from empirical research. Analysis was iterative, and themes emerged based upon a coding scheme developed by the research team. Results suggest that co-regulation has a powerful influence on student learning. In addition, the policy document de-emphasizes behavioral regulation and expands cognitive regulation to include more than inhibitory control. Lastly, the kindergarten program discusses metacognition in relation to the use of language to articulate one’s thinking with little attention to goal-directed behaviors. In this paper, explicit recommendations for policymakers and practitioners are provided to ensure that emerging conceptualizations of self-regulation are promoted in early years curricula. Further, empirical evidence is needed to support why it is necessary to understand emerging conceptualizations of self-regulation and outline implications for current early years curricula.

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 37-52
Author(s):  
Japji Anna Bas

In Ontario, kindergarten children haverecently begun to eat lunch at school with theimplementation of the full-day kindergartenprogram. To date, there are no regulations toaddress the particular needs of young childrenin the school eating environment. Drawing ona year-long three-phase study that followed acohort of 21 children as they transitioned fromfull-day childcare to full-day kindergarten,this study explores the impact of staff trainingand staff relationships on the well-being ofkindergarten students. Findings suggest that thepresence of an early childhood educator (ECE),a minimum staffing of two adults per room, anda collaborative approach between teacher andECE have a positive impact on child well-being.


Author(s):  
Daniela Di Santo ◽  
Calogero Lo Destro ◽  
Conrad Baldner ◽  
Alessandra Talamo ◽  
Cristina Cabras ◽  
...  

AbstractPositivity (i.e., the individual tendency to positively approach life experiences) has proven to be an effective construct applied in positive psychology. However, individuals’ self-regulation may have contrasting effects on positivity. We specifically examined whether positivity could be partially explained through two aspects of motivation concerned with self-regulation: locomotion (i.e., a motivational orientation concerned with movement) and assessment (i.e., a motivational orientation concerned with comparison and evaluation). Furthermore, based on previous literature that found a link between these aspects and narcissism, we examined whether “adaptive” and “maladaptive” dimensions of narcissism could mediate the effects of locomotion and assessment on increased or decreased positivity. Narcissism was defined by previous research as adaptive or maladaptive insofar as it leads or does not lead to increased psychological well-being. We estimated a mediation model with multiple independent variables and multiple mediators in a cross-sectional study with self-reported data from 190 university students. We found that both locomotion and assessment were associated with adaptive narcissism, which in turn was positively associated with positivity. However, assessment was also associated with maladaptive narcissism, which in turn was negatively associated with positivity. Relationships between aspects of self-regulation, narcissism, and positivity can have significant implications which will be discussed.


2021 ◽  
pp. 147797142110373
Author(s):  
Anna Sverdlik ◽  
Sonia Rahimi ◽  
Robert J Vallerand

University students’ passion for their studies has been previously demonstrated to be important for both their academic performance and their personal well-being. However, no studies to date have explored the role of passion for one’s studies on both academic and personal outcomes in a single model. The present research sought to determine the role of passion in adult university students’ self-regulated learning and psychological well-being (Study 1), as well as the process by which passion shapes these outcomes, namely academic emotions, in Study 2. It was hypothesised that harmonious passion would positively predict both self-regulated learning and psychological well-being in Study 1. Furthermore, the mediating role of academic emotions between passion and outcomes was tested using a prospective design over time in Study 2. Results provided support for the proposed model. Implications for future research and practice focusing on the role of passion in facilitating adaptive emotions, use of self-regulation and well-being in adult students are discussed.


Author(s):  
Ingunn Hagen ◽  
Stine Kofoed ◽  
Usha Nayar

In this chapter, we will address how Yoga may contribute to psychological wellbeing. The chapter will be based on review of relevant literature in the backdrop of the theoretical framework of Self-Efficacy developed by Albert Bandura in his comprehensive ‘social cognitive theory of human motivation and learning'. Illustrations are included from our study: “Yoga to promote young people's mental health and well-being?” First, we will address some current social tendencies that contribute to everyday stress and challenges to people's general wellbeing. Second, we aim to have some conceptual clarification related to the concepts in our title “Yoga for psychological wellbeing”. Third, we will address how Yoga may function as a tool for self-regulation and its relationship with self-efficacy. Fourth, we will describe how Yoga is perceived as a mean to cope with stress. We will discuss how different people use Yoga to cope with stress, and how this partly relates to the role of Yoga as a tool for self-regulation.


2019 ◽  
pp. 171-186
Author(s):  
Barbara B. Biesecker ◽  
Kathryn F. Peters ◽  
Robert Resta

The field of genetic counseling has historically valued the role of research. More recently, graduate programs have raised the standards for student thesis projects so that a greater percent are of publishable quality. The profession has acknowledged key research gaps, such as a lack of consensus on the primary client outcomes of counseling. Further, the National Society of Genetic Counselors has endorsed the importance of evidence that may be used to guide practice. Herein we present the role of genetic counselors as researchers and discuss approaches to designing research studies to answer key service delivery questions and patient-reported outcomes. To frame research in genetic counseling, health behavior and social psychology theories offer models for identifying key variables likely to predict client decisions and their outcomes. To date, studies in genetic counseling have been framed by the self-regulation model and the theory of planned behavior. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials in genetic counseling identified psychological well-being and gain in knowledge as the most prevalent patient outcomes. Evidence can be used to predict decisions to undergo genetic testing or follow up on results.


2017 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 1261-1280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joacim Hansson

Purpose The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to make a contribution to the theoretical understanding of documents and documentary agency in society through examples from a defined institutional and professional setting; and second, to create an understanding for the role of ethical codes in the process of defining and developing modern librarianship. Design/methodology/approach This study analyses the role of documentation carrying content of professional ethics in the formulation of modern librarianship. This is done through a series of example documents of various kinds, such as founding charters, peer handbooks and ethical codes systematically analysed through the use of document theory and theory on institutional change. Findings The findings of this study suggest that documents pronouncing ethical self-regulation within librarianship play a primarily legitimising role in situations where new types of libraries emerge or when libraries adapt to social change. The study proposes legitimacy as a key aspect of documentality, thus supplementing the established understanding of the concept. Originality/value This study is the first to analyse the role of ethical codes in libraries using document theory. It brings new knowledge to the role of ethical self-regulation in librarianship over time and in different institutional contexts. In suggesting a developed definition of documentality, it contributes to the theoretical understanding of the role of documents and documentation in institutions and in society at large.


2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Leggett ◽  
Linda Newman

WESTERN DISCOURSES OF EARLY childhood pedagogy promote a play-based approach to learning, growth and development. However, play is a contested concept. Educators' understandings can vary from allowing freedom for children to play without interference, through to a range of adult engagement levels. The Australian Early Years Learning Framework adopts a play-based approach to children's growth and development, though says little about adult roles or intentionality in play. This paper draws from recent research that explored educators' beliefs and understandings of their roles as intentional teachers within indoor and outdoor learning environments. Findings highlighted differences between role and responsibility perceptions whereby educators shifted roles from teacher to supervisor between contexts. Drawing on Vygotsky's sociocultural approach that regards play as a social event and the leading source of development, promoting cognitive, emotional and social development in young children (Connery, John-Steiner & Marjanovic-Shane, 2010), we believe that a re-examination of the role of the educator in children's play requires specific attention. Finally, based on the research, we contest the notion of ‘free play’. This paper suggests that by acknowledging the role of the educator as an intentional teacher both indoors and outdoors, and emphasising the complexity of the educator role, a more robust definition of play that is reflective of contemporary early childhood contexts and curricula can evolve to strengthen educator understanding and practice.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
C M A De Bot ◽  
C Boemaars ◽  
J A J Dierx

Abstract Background The current WHO definition of health seems to no longer meet the changes in the current Dutch health system. An alternative approach which puts emphasis on health, not disease, is Positive Health. This focus shifts the emphasis on improving resilience and well-being rather than the perspective on what is lacking in health. In 2014, this new definition of Positive health was included in the professional profile ’physiotherapist’ of the Royal Dutch Association for Physiotherapy. This study examines the attitude of physiotherapists to Positive Health and to what extent they experience this concept in their current working practice. Methods A mixed method study was used, with a quantitative and qualitative method. A survey was completed by 276 physiotherapists and 7 semi-structured interviews were conducted among physiotherapists. Results Positive health was considered positive by 68% of the physiotherapists that health is seen as a dynamic concept rather than static, and 60.5% consider it important that the emphasis is on self-regulation. However, physiotherapists wonder if all patients have the ability to self-manage skills. The qualitative analysis shows that all therapists find the new definition positive and that it covers all aspects of health. Conclusions In general, physiotherapists are positive about the definition of positive health. Positive health can help physiotherapists in their work with clients and other professionals because of the multidisciplinary approach. Key messages Positive health can help physiotherapists to promote health in their clients. Positive health can stimulate cooperation between physiotherapists and client to increase self-management.


Author(s):  
Deane H. Shapiro

Spiritual, religious, and secular traditions emphasize the importance of control over one’s thoughts, feelings and behavior, and the relevance of meditation in achieving this control. Meditation practices, in particular, can be understood as one strategy amongst others for achieving self-regulation. While the main focus in Western psychology has been on active instrumental control, other traditions have emphasized the importance of a more accepting/yielding mode of control. This chapter distinguishes between different forms of control and how some of these may be enhanced by meditation practices. While over-control and passive resignation can have negative consequences for a person’s well-being, there is evidence for the beneficial role of the active/assertive and positive accepting/yielding modes of control. Selecting the most appropriate meditation strategy for a particular person is dependent upon a wide range of factors, including the person’s control profile, their sensory orientation, and their belief systems. The chapter concludes with the description of the author’s personal journey in exploring meditation and theories and practices of control—and a note of gratitude.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ligiana Pires Corona ◽  
Flavia Cristina Drummond Andrade ◽  
Tiago Silva Alexandre ◽  
Tábatta Renata Pereira Brito ◽  
Daniella Pires Nunes ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Anemia is the most common hematological abnormality among older adults, and it is associated with decreased physical performance. But the role of hemoglobin in the absence of anemia remains unclear. Thus, this study aimed to assess the impact of hemoglobin levels on physical performance in Brazilian older adults without anemia. Methods The study is longitudinal in that it relies on two waves of the Saúde, Bem-Estar e Envelhecimento (SABE; Health, Well-being, and Aging) study: 2010 and 2015–2016. Mixed-effects linear regression was used to determine the effects of the hemoglobin concentrations on the Short Physical Performance Battery-SPPB over time among the 1,020 who had complete data and did not have anemia in 2010. In the follow-up, there were 562 without anemia. Analyses were stratified by sex. Results In analyses adjusted for age, education, grip strength, comorbidities, and body mass index, hemoglobin levels were positively associated with physical performance scores among older women (β = 0.15, p < 0.05) and men (β = 0.18, p < 0.05) without anemia. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that higher hemoglobin levels were associated with better physical performance among older men and women without anemia. This finding is important because, in clinical practice, most health professionals focus on the World Health Organization definition of anemia. Our study suggests the importance of hemoglobin levels among older adults, even those without anemia.


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