The effects of participation in a socio-psychoeducational resource centre programme on the school behaviour of primary school boys with behavioural and emotional problems

This study examined the relationship between child and family factors, treatment approaches, and behavioural outcomes in a socio-psychoeducational resource centre for children with behavioural and emotional problems. Twenty four boys aged between five and twelve years on entrance to the centre were rated on “A Children\u27s Behaviour Questionnaire for Completion by Teachers - Child Scale B” (Rutter, 1967). Data was also collected on the following variables: reading achievement, intelligence, problem severity, problem type, family disturbance, family involvement, and child living situation. On the basis of the type of problem the boys presented with they were selected for an additional therapy programme. Baseline data was collected from the referring school, on entrance to the programme, at six, monthly intervals whilst enrolled in the centre, on exit from the programme, and at follow-up three to four years after exit from the programme. Descriptive statistics or the child and family variables at entrance, exit, and follow-up are reported. Data on the main outcome variable was analysed using repeated measures ANOVA and multiple regression analyses. Results show that the S.P.E.R. Centre had behavioural improvement similar to other published studies. The older, more intelligent boys, and those selected for regular individual therapy sessions, tended to fare best

The young school-age assessment of attachment (YSAA): Development and preliminary validation

This manuscript describes the development and preliminary validation of a new assessment procedure called the Young School-age Assessment of Attachment (YSAA). The tool has clinical as well as research relevance in that it identifies the attachment strategies of children aged 5-7 years as well as recognising attachment related problems for this age group. The YSAA is a representational procedure that uses line drawings of a child teddy in attachment-related situations. The stimulus cards, probes, and administration procedures were piloted and refined in the initial stages of this study. The children\u27s narratives that were generated from this procedure were examined for discourse markers derived from the Dynamic Maturational model of analysing the Adult Attachment Interview (Crittenden, 1999-2004). Enough markers in five memory systems were generated for reliable classifications to be made. A preliminary validation study of the YSAA in a normal population was conducted with 158 children over two years with two data gathering points. Classifications of the YSAA transcripts generated by the children at age 6 years demonstrated strong concordance with classifications made on the Preschool Assessment of Attachment (PAA) (Crittenden, 1995) classifications at age 5 years. There was significant agreement between the YSAA classifications and the sensitive attonement of mother-child dyads on a task that involves the co-construction of episodes as measured by the Autobiographical Emotional Events Dialogue (AEED) (Koren-Karie, Oppenheim, Haimovich, & Etzion-Carasso, 2003). The potential clinical relevance of the YSAA was encouraging as classifications on the YSAA matched parental identification of major problems. They did not, however, predict children\u27s relationships with their teachers (Pianta, 1991) or child behaviour problems as identified by Achenback CBCL (Acenbach, 1991). The results are discussed in the light of current issues raised in the research literature with regard to the use of representational measures with young school-age children. The limitations of this study are highlighted and discussed, conclusions drawn, and suggestions made for future research directions

Autoethnography and severe perineal trauma—an unexpected journey from disembodiment to embodiment

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of research reporting on the physical and emotional experiences of women who sustain severe perineal trauma (third and fourth degree tears). When the researcher identifies with the group being researched, autoethnography can allow an insight into the experiences of the marginalised group through the telling of a personal story. The aim of this paper is to share the journey travelled by an autoethnographer who on examining the issue of severe perineal trauma came to understand the challenges and rewards she experienced through this reflective and analytic process. METHODS: A transformative emancipatory approach guided the design, data collection and analysis of findings from this study. For this paper, a multivocal narrative approach was taken in presenting the findings, which incorporated the words of both the autoethnographer and the twelve women who were interviewed as a component of the study, all of whom had sustained severe perineal trauma. RESULTS: As an autoethnographer, being a member of the group being researched, can be confronting as the necessary reflection upon one’s personal journey may lead to feelings of vulnerability, sadness, and emotional pain. The transformation from disembodied to embodied self, resulted in a physical and emotional breakdown that occurred for this autoethnographer. CONCLUSION: Autoethnographers may experience unexpected emotional and physical challenges as they reflect upon their experiences and research the experiences of others. When incorporating a transformative emancipatory framework, the hardships are somewhat balanced by the rewards of witnessing ‘self-transformation’ as a result of the research

Career Path Trends of Alumni from a U.S. TESOL Graduate Program

As English expands across the world, quality English teachers are increasingly needed. However, reports that even degree-holding TESOL professionals have a hard time obtaining stable employment are prevalent. This study sought to provide empirical evidence about career paths in TESOL based on survey responses from 250 alumni of a well-established U.S. university TESOL graduate program who had successfully completed their course of study and had worked during a 35-year period since the program’s inception. The results indicate that TESOL graduates spend about half of their career time in TESOL-related employment. Most are involved in teaching, but jobs in administration, materials development, or testing are more likely to be full-time and offer benefits. Graduates spend little time in EFL positions, but these jobs are the most likely to be fulltime and offer benefits. The majority of graduates report salary satisfaction, indicating that perhaps the field attracts those who are not looking for stable, full-time employment. These findings can guide students planning their own careers in TESOL and assist faculty who advise TESOL students and design teacher-preparation programs. In addition, the results contribute significantly to the small body of literature focused on TESOL employment

Examining Ecological Constraints on the Intergenerational Transmission of Attachment Via Individual Participant Data Meta-analysis

Parents\u2019 attachment representations and child\u2013parent attachment have been shown to be associated, but these associations vary across populations (Verhage et al., 2016). The current study examined whether ecological factors may explain variability in the strength of intergenerational transmission of attachment, using individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis. Analyses on 4,396 parent\u2013child dyads (58 studies, child age 11\u201396 months) revealed a combined effect size of r =.29. IPD meta-analyses revealed that effect sizes for the transmission of autonomous-secure representations to secure attachments were weaker under risk conditions and weaker in adolescent parent\u2013child dyads, whereas transmission was stronger for older children. Findings support the ecological constraints hypothesis on attachment transmission. Implications for attachment theory and the use of IPD meta-analysis are discusse

Conceptual comparison of constructs as first step in data harmonization: Parental sensitivity, child temperament, and social support as illustrations

This article presents a strategy for the initial step of data harmonization in Individual Participant Data syntheses, i.e., making decisions as to which measures operationalize the constructs of interest - and which do not. This step is vital in the process of data harmonization, because a study can only be as good as its measures. If the construct validity of the measures is in question, study results are questionable as well. Our proposed strategy for data harmonization consists of three steps. First, a unitary construct is defined based on the existing literature, preferably on the theoretical framework surrounding the construct. Second, the various instruments used to measure the construct are evaluated as operationalizations of this construct, and retained or excluded based on this evaluation. Third, the scores of the included measures are recoded on the same metric. We illustrate the use of this method with three example constructs focal to the Collaboration on Attachment Transmission Synthesis (CATS) study: parental sensitivity, child temperament, and social support. This process description may aid researchers in their data pooling studies, filling a gap in the literature on the first step of data harmonization. • Data harmonization in studies using combined datasets is of vital importance for the validity of the study results. • We have developed and illustrated a strategy on how to define a unitary construct and evaluate whether instruments are operationalizations of this construct as the initial step in the harmonization process. • This strategy is a transferable and reproducible method to apply to the data harmonization process

Intervenções obstétricas durante o trabalho de parto e parto em mulheres brasileiras de risco habitual

Este artigo avaliou o uso das boas práticas (alimentação, deambulação, uso de métodos não farmacológicos para alívio da dor e de partograma) e de intervenções obstétricas na assistência ao trabalho de parto e parto de mulheres de risco obstétrico habitual. Foram utilizados dados da pesquisa Nascer no Brasil, estudo de base hospitalar realizada em 2011/2012, com entrevistas de 23.894 mulheres. As boas práticas durante o trabalho de parto ocorreram em menos de 50% das mulheres, sendo menos frequentes nas regiões Norte, Nordeste e Centro-oeste. O uso de ocitocina e amniotomia foi de 40%, sendo maior no setor público e nas mulheres com menor escolaridade. A manobra de Kristeller, episiotomia e litotomia foram utilizada, em 37%, 56% e 92% das mulheres, respectivamente. A cesariana foi menos frequente nas usuárias do setor público, não brancas, com menor escolaridade e multíparas. Para melhorar a saúde de mães e crianças e promover a qualidade de vida, o Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) e, sobretudo o setor privado, necessitam mudar o modelo de atenção obstétrica promovendo um cuidado baseado em evidências científicas