(An item from the ISHN Member information service) An article in Issue #3, 2013 of the Journal on Emotional and Behavioral Disorders delves into the impact of lower socio-economic status (SES) on child development. The authors identify small but significant, and likely modifiable facts that affect literacy and language, aggression, and internalizing behaviours including depression. They suggest that "Given the small observed associations, policy makers and programmers may focus interventions on family and community factors that contribute to child and adolescent developmental outcomes across the socioeconomic spectrum". Read more>>
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(An item from the ISHN Member information service) A supplementary issue of Childhood Obesity explores the influence that parents have on their children's physical activity, eating habits and use of media such as TV, games and other screen time. Several articles in the special issue explore different styles of parenting, role modeling and child-parent communications and other aspects. Parenting/family development models are applied to food, activity and screen use. Mini-research agendas are described. The editorial for the issue notes that measurement issues need considerable work in this area. The articles all appear to be excellent and interesting but sometimes i wonder if researchers on one health issue ever read the similar research that has already been done by people working on other health issues. Parenting and parental influences have already been well-described and discussed in respect to sexual health, substance abuse and problem behaviours as well as in regards to youth development and family systems in general. How much of tbhis is really new or noteworthy? Read more >>
(An item from the ISHN Member information service) An article in the September 2013 issue of the Journal of Science & Medicine in Sport uses a segmentation strategy normally used for communications planning to segment youth by the nature of their leisure time activities. Data were from the National Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey in Australia were analyzed and profiles/clusters of youth leisure time activities were constructed. The researchers found that "For boys (n = 930), the Social tasker cluster was characterised by social interaction and chores & work, the Techno-active cluster by team sport and TV and the Techno-studious cluster by video games and study. Average daily pedometer steps, age and remoteness were significant cluster correlates. For the girls (n = 923), the Social screenie cluster was characterised by TV and social interaction, the Quiet actives cluster by quiet time and non-team sport and the Techno-studious cluster by video games and study. Pedometer steps, age, parental income and education, parent–child age difference, “extra foods”, fat and fruit intakes were significant correlates. Distinct sex-specific time use clusters and profiles exist among Australian youth. These findings may assist the development of targeted time use interventions to improve health and well-being." Read more>>
(An item from the ISHN Member information service) An article in Issue 33, 2013 of the Research Quarterly on Exercise & Sport promises some significant findings of an in-depth study of energy balance (caloric intake). This paradigm has influenced much of the thinking about body weight in recent years. The study examined 430 healthy young adults and tracked their energy intake and expenditures. Not surprisingly for this age group of 21-35, most participants gained weight during the year of the study, ranging from 2 to 10 lbs for women and between -1 and 12 lbs for men. The authors conclude in the abstract that "Resting metabolic rates well below the standard estimate suggest that the evaluation of the components of total energy expenditure will be impactful for our understanding of the roles of energy intake and expenditure on changes in energy utilization and storage." Perhaps the full article will explain that statement but it would appear to say that as we age, our resting metabolic rate slows and this may actually be the cause of weight gain. Consequently, if we reach an upper limit of physical activity (caused by time available in lour schedule), it may be better to focus on dietary chnages rather than the activity side of the energy balance equation. Read more>>
Canadian Report Recommends Systems Approach & Equity but Ignores Health Promotion, Schools9/23/2013 (An item from the ISHN Member information service) In 2004, Canada's federal government and all provinces & territories agreed to an accord that would reform the health system in Canada. Billions of dollars for health funding, primarily for health care, were committed by the federal government as a strategy to buy long lasting change and reform the system. A small part of that accord included some promises on health promotion, primarily with regard to immunization, coordinated responses to outbreaks of infectious diseases and the creation of a Public Health Agency of Canada. As well, first Ministers agreed that " In addition, governments commit to accelerate work on a pan-Canadian Public Health Strategy. For the first time, governments will set goals and targets for improving the health status of Canadians through a collaborative process with experts. The Strategy will include efforts to address common risk factors, such as physical inactivity, and integrated disease strategies. First Ministers commit to working across sectors through initiatives such as Healthy Schools." (The Accord was signed as Canadian governments also agreed to establish and intergovernmental consortium on school health promotion.)
A review of progress after ten years was part of the accord and the Health Council of Canada was created and mandated to prepare it, along with other regular reporting. The full report notes that the progress has been dismal and recommends a totally new approach based on a systems approach and with an emphasis on equity. What is even more disappointing, along with the poor results achieved in Canadian's health and the health care system, is the absence of any attention, even in this mandatory decade review, of any real understanding that health care does not produce any improvements in health. If we are to improve the health of Canadians, we will need major new investments in health promotion. And, of course, as noted in the Ministers' promises, we need to do that through inter-sectorial action through settings such as schools. (An item from the ISHN Member information service) As I travel daily on the web, I am noticing more and more organizations who are selecting and posting titles of articles and resources much like we do for ISHN members. An article in the July 2013 issue of Food Science Education is another example of that, where a regular column has been started that identifies articles from other journals, reports and resources and simply lists the titles and web links. Read more>>
(An item from the ISHN Member information service) An article in Issue #2, 2013 of Qualitative research on Sport, Exercise & Health reports that the youth development program for young golfers, First Tee, appears to develop life skills and other positive aspects among youth. The article reports on the initial evaluation of the program that examined inter-personal and self-management skills. The authors state that "Findings provide initial data-based evidence that The First Tee is having a positive impact on promoting youth development in the golf context and in the transfer of life skills to other domains" Read More>>
(An item from the ISHN Member information service) An article in the September 2013 Issue of Public Health Nutrition documents the value of a low-cost snack provided in a school-feeding programs in Kenyan school children. The study compared three types of snacks and found that "The Meat and Plain Githeri (i.e. githeri + oil) groups showed the greatest declines in the probability of a morbidity outcome (PMO) for total and severe illnesses, malaria, poor appetite, reduced activity, fever and chills. The Meat group showed significantly greater declines in PMO for gastroenteritis (mainly diarrhoea) and typhoid compared with the Control group, for jaundice compared with the Plain Githeri group, and for skin infection compared with the Milk group. The Milk group showed the greatest decline in PMO for upper respiratory infection. For nearly all morbidity outcomes the Control group had the highest PMO and the least decline over time." Read more>>
(From the ISHN member news/research service) Researchers are increasingly focused on repeated and prolonged student absences as a primary cause for student academic difficulties. A recent report in the US indicates that student health and safety problems are often causes of these absences. By concentrating our health and social programs on students who are missing school, we can ensure that these programs are better integrated with the priority concerns of education systems. The US report notes that "Chronic absence is a national crisis, dragging downachievement for students across the country. An estimated 5 million to 7.5 million students in the United States are missing so much school that they are academically at risk.In some communities and schools, more than one out of four children are chronically absent.Most school systems report on overall attendance and miss the fact that much of the absences are actually affecting a minority of students who mss classes often. In Utah, a 2012 statewide analysis showed that 13.5percent of all students were chronically absent and that those chronically absent in any year between 8th and 12th grades were 7.4 times more likely to drop out of high school".The US report explains that "Many students cannot get to school because of chronic health conditions; inadequate access to medical, mental health or dental care; unstable or poor-quality unhealthy housing; unreliable transportation; or a lack of effective family and community supports and service delivery. This is especially true for children living in poverty or involved in the foster care or juvenile justice systems. An analysis by the University of Utah found that students who were homeless were 2.5 times more likely to be chronically absent. In addition, environmental conditions, such as mold and lead poisoning, can make children more susceptible to absenteeism. Sometimes poor attendance occurs when students are avoiding going to school because of bullying, academic difficulty, dangerous routes to and from school, an unhealthy school climate, punitive disciplinary practices or the lack of effective instruction. Teacher absenteeism can prompt some children to avoid school. Analyzing chronic absence data by classroom can help reveal if the problem is school-wide or concentrated in particular classrooms. In some cases, it is not the student alone who is demonstrating aversion. Poor attendance could be a reflection of a parent’s negative experiences with school and their lack of confidence that their child’s experience will be different. The US reports calls for an inter-agency response to the problem of prolonged or repeated absences for some students. This is a great opportunity for health, safety & social development programs to be more relevant to educators in achieving their core objectives. Read More>>
(From ASCD) Discover how the learning environment, instruction, and teacher attributes combine to cultivate resilience. Although research indicates that resilient students most likely have personal characteristics like social competence and a sense of purpose, it is helpful to consider additional aspects that contribute to resilient students' achievement: the learning environment, instructional pedagogy, and teacher dispositions. Learning environments that foster resilience are academic, supportive, and promote opportunities for success (Schussler & Collins, 2006). Students not only perceive that they are welcome in class but also feel comfortable asking questions. For at-risk learners, especially, research suggests that students have a strong need to perceive that an environment is caring, respectful, and supportive. Fostering resilience requires instruction that is student-centered and engaging,Although educators tend to believe that struggling students have a preference for less complicated tasks, research indicates that they instead favor assignments that spark curiosity and encourage thinking. Teachers who contribute to resilient students' positive learning experiences express high expectations, are competent in their content areas, and challenge students to do their best. Read More>>
(An item from the ISHN Member information service) Several articles in Issue #4, 2013 of the Journal of School Nursing provide insights into school-located immunization programs. The editorial notes that: " The development of immunizations is considered 1 of the 10 great accomplishments of public health in the first decade of the 21st century (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly, 2011). School nurses are inextricably associated with the substantial declines in vaccine-preventable diseases, and five of the original research articles in this issue provide evidence of the actual and potential school nursing contributions." The articles examine immunization programs in different contexts, including minority communities, private schools and other contexts. Another examines how five school districts in the USA strengthened their programs in diverse ways. Read more>>
SHPPS is a national survey periodically conducted to assess school health policies and practices at the state, district, school, and classroom levels. SHPPS was conducted at all levels in 1994, 2000, and 2006. The 2012 study collected data at the state and district levels only. School- and classroom-level data collection will take place in 2014. SHPPS assesses the characteristics of eight components of school health: health education, physical education and activity, health services, mental health and social services, nutrition services, healthy
and safe school environment, faculty and staff health promotion, and family and community involvement. The trends from the surveys over time are almost always positive as indicated from the items selected below:
For the full results and several specific reports on the survey..Read More>> |
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