Parental Evaluation of the Socio-Personal Adjustment of High Ability Students in a Cluster Grouping Program

High ability students have differential cognitive characteristics that require a specific educational response to develop their full potential. Cluster ability grouping is one of the available approaches to respond to their training. One of the main criticisms of this teaching method, also supported by the big-fish-little-pond effect (BFLPE), is that high ability students may show a decrease in their self-concept. The aim of this research is to present the evaluation carried out by parents of primary school high ability students on the effect of an educational cluster grouping program on their personal and social adjustment, comparing these variables before the beginning of the school year and at the end of it. Approximately 100 students’ parents of the Educational Centre for Highly Ability Pupils participated in the evaluation. The instrument used for the evaluation was the Socialization Battery (BAS-2) for parents. The results showed that parents observed some improvements, either due to an increase in the scales measuring positive socialization variables or a decrease in the scales measuring negative socialization variables. The most substantial improvements are found in the second and third grades. We conclude that the results do not support the big-fish-little-pond effect (BFLPE).

Birthweight Differences in Adolescent Monozygotic Twins Influence Androgens, Psychological Morbidity, and Health-Related Quality of Life

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Adverse prenatal conditions can exert a long-lasting impact in later life. <b><i>Patients and Methods:</i></b> Thirty-eight post-pubertal monozygotic twin pairs (16 female pairs) with divergent birthweight (bw) due to twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome were examined at a median of 15.1 years. Auxological and endocrine parameters were measured. To evaluate effects of intra-twin bw and hormone differences on mental health, adolescents and their parents completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), identifying psychological problems. Twins answered the questionnaire on health-related quality of life (HrQoL, KIDSCREEN-52). <b><i>Results:</i></b> Parents attributed a higher number of psychological challenges to the formerly smaller twins, for example, total difficulties (8.8 vs. 6.5, <i>p</i> = 0.009). Differences in bw were associated with differences in parental evaluation of problems, for example, peer relationship problems (<i>r</i> = −0.57 and <i>p</i> = 0.0001). In contrast, bw differences did not affect subjects’ self-assessment of psychological factors but on physical well-being (<i>r</i> = 0.42, <i>p</i> = 0.017). The formerly smaller discordant twins showed significantly lower HrQoL regarding psychological well-being (24.9 vs. 26.6, <i>T</i>_1,15 = −2.2, and <i>p</i> = 0.043) and moods and emotions (29.8 vs. 32.0, <i>T</i>_1,15 = −2.3, <i>p</i> = 0.039). Higher concentrations of androstenedione were linked to greater psychological well-being (<i>r</i> = 0.39 and <i>p</i> = 0.036) in all twin pairs. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Our results show that the prenatal environment leading to bw differences exerts a long-lasting impact on diverging parental evaluation of mental health. Formerly smaller discordant twins showed significantly lower HrQoL regarding psychological well-being and moods and emotions. Higher androstenedione concentrations were linked to greater psychological well-being.

Children’s Behaviour Questionnaire Very Short Form (CBQ VSF) and its adaptation to the population of the Czech Republic

This study provides information on the adaptation of the CBQ VSF (Children’s Behavior Questionnaire Very Short Form) temperament description questionnaire. Objectives: The aim of the study was to adapt the CBQ VSF temperament questionnaire to the Czech child population for possible distribution to child psychologists for research purposes. Materials and methods: The data were obtained from a representative sample of parents of 840 children, 442 boys (53%) and 398 girls (47%), between the ages of 3 and 7 years. Results: The tool was tested in terms of its factor structure and the internal consistency and attributes of each item, all with respect to the age and gender of children in the target group. Scales were created for boys and girls and stratified by age and gender. Upon the completion of the work, the CBQ VSF questionnaire was adapted for use in research activities targeting the Czech population. Study limits: The results are based on the parental evaluation, but this was entirely consistent with the process of creation of the original tool.

How universal are universal preschool health checks? An observational study using routine data from New Zealand’s B4 School Check

ObjectivesWe aimed to estimate how many children were attending a universal preschool health screen and to identify characteristics associated with non-participation.DesignAnalysis of population-level linked administrative data.ParticipantsChildren were considered eligible for a B4 School Check for a given year if:(1) they were ever resident in New Zealand (NZ),(2) lived in NZ for at least 6 months during the reference year, (3) were alive at the end of the reference year, (4) either appeared in any hospital (including emergency) admissions, community pharmaceutical dispensing or general practitioner enrolment datasets during the reference year or (5) had a registered birth in NZ. We analysed 252 273 records over 4 years, from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2015.ResultsWe found that participation rates varied for each component of the B4 School Check (in 2014/2015 91.8% for vision and hearing tests (VHTs), 87.2% for nurse checks (including height, weight, oral health, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire [SDQ] and parental evaluation of development status) and 62.1% for SDQ – Teacher [SDQ-T]), but participation rates for all components increased over time. Māori and Pacific children were less likely to complete the checks than non-Māori and non-Pacific children (for VHTs: Māori: OR=0.60[95% CI 0.61 to 0.58], Pacific: OR=0.58[95% CI 0.60 to 0.56], for nurse checks: Māori: OR=0.63[95% CI 0.64 to 0.61], Pacific: OR=0.67[95% CI 0.69 to0.65] and for SDQ-T: Māori: OR=0.76[95% CI 0.78 to 0.75], Pacific: OR=0.37[95% CI 0.38 to 0.36]). Children from socioeconomically deprived areas, with younger mothers, from rented homes, residing in larger households, with worse health status and with higher rates of residential mobility were less likely to participate in the B4 School Check than other children.ConclusionThe patterns of non-participation suggest a reinforcing of existing disparities, whereby the children most in need are not getting the services they potentially require. There needs to be an increased effort by public health organisations, community and whānau/family to ensure that all children are tested and screened.