Description:
BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether the hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype (HTWP) can be used to identify those at most risk of cardiometabolic disorders. OBJECTIVES: The utility of the HTWP as a useful predictor of cardiometabolic risk in youth stratified by body mass index was assessed. METHODS: Three hundred and eighty-seven children (12-17.5 years) were used within this cross-sectional study. Participants were classified as normal weight or overweight/obese according to the International Obesity Task Force criteria. The HTWP phenotype was defined as having a waist circumference >/=90th percentile for age and gender with concomitant triglyceride concentrations >/=1.24 mmol L(-1) . Cardiometabolic risk profiles were compared using MANCOVA. RESULTS: Normal weight participants with the HTWP had significantly higher levels of C-reactive protein 2.6 +/- 0.4 vs. 1.6 +/- 0.3 mg L(-1) (P < 0.05) and cardiometabolic risk scores (1.3 +/- 0.3 vs. -0.7 +/- 0.2 and 2.1 +/- 0.4 vs. -0.5 +/- 0.2; both P < 0.05) compared with those of a normal weight without the HTWP. Overweight/obese participants with the HTWP had significantly higher C-reactive protein levels (3.5 +/- 0.6 vs. 2.6 +/- 0.5; P < 0.05) as well as both cardiometabolic risk scores (1.6 +/- 0.6 vs. 0.9 +/- 0.2 and 2.2 +/- 0.6 vs. 0.8 +/- 0.2; both P < 0.001) when compared with overweight/obese participants without the HTWP. CONCLUSIONS: The HTWP may serve as a simple and clinically useful approach to identify youth at increased cardiometabolic risk.
Description:
The present study examined the physiological impact of a school based sprint interval training (SIT) intervention in replacement of standard physical education (SPE) class on cardio-respiratory fitness (CRF) and glucose homeostasis during the semester following summer vacation. Participants (n=49) were randomly allocated to either intervention (SIT; n=26, aged 16.9 +/- 0.3 yrs) or control group who underwent standard physical education (SPE; n=23, aged 16.8 +/- 0.6 yrs). CRF (VO2max) and glucose homeostasis were obtained prior-to and following 7 weeks of SIT exercise. Significant group x time interaction was observed for CRF (P < 0.01) with non-significant trends for fasting insulin (P= 0.08), and HOMA-IR (P=0.06). CRF decreased (P < 0.01) in SPE such that POST intervention CRF was significantly lower (P< 0.05) in SPE. Fasting plasma glucose (P < 0.01), insulin (P< 0.01) and HOMA-IR (P< 0.01) increased significantly amongst SPE. The main finding of the present study is that 7-weeks of SIT exercise is an effective method of maintaining (but not improving) CRF and fasting insulin homeostasis amongst school-going adolescents. SIT exercise demonstrates potential as a time efficient physiological adjunct to standard PE class in order to maintain CRF during the school term.
Description:
Recent research indicates that rural Australian adolescents experience a number of barriers to their health, and in particular, their sexual health. Consequently, the present study aimed to examine levels of sexual health knowledge, sexual activity, condom use and attitudes towards condoms in a rural, adolescent population. In addition, the research tested a comprehensive model of condom use. One hundred and thirty six 15 to 19 year old students, 51 males (M age = 16.75, SD =.74 ) and 85 females (M age = 16.73, SD = .85), from schools in five towns of population not more than 6000 residents completed a survey package that included demographic information, a Sexual Health Knowledge Scale, the Condom Attitudes Scale and the Adolescent and Young Adult contraceptive Self-efficacy Scale. Results indicated that overall knowledge levels were low, with males knowing significantly less than females. Sixty-five percent of the participants had engaged in sexual intercourse, with over half of those reporting being inconsistent users or non-users of condoms. Within the context of the model, knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy and intention to use condoms, all contributed to predicting condom use. Results suggest that rural adolescents require education and assistance to obtain and use condoms in a non-threatening environment.
Description:
Recent research indicates that rural Australian adolescents experience a number of barriers to their health, and in particular, their sexual health. Consequently, the present study aimed to examine levels of sexual health knowledge, sexual activity, condom use and attitudes towards condoms in a rural, adolescent population. In addition, the research tested a comprehensive model of condom use. One hundred and thirty six 15 to 19 year old students, 51 males (M age = 16.75, SD =.74 ) and 85 females (M age = 16.73, SD = .85), from schools in five towns of population not more than 6000 residents completed a survey package that included demographic information, a Sexual Health Knowledge Scale, the Condom Attitudes Scale and the Adolescent and Young Adult contraceptive Self-efficacy Scale. Results indicated that overall knowledge levels were low, with males knowing significantly less than females. Sixty-five percent of the participants had engaged in sexual intercourse, with over half of those reporting being inconsistent users or non-users of condoms. Within the context of the model, knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy and intention to use condoms, all contributed to predicting condom use. Results suggest that rural adolescents require education and assistance to obtain and use condoms in a non-threatening environment.
Description:
Objective: This study examined the bifactor models of ADHD in three groups: adolescents from the general community (n = 214), adults from the general community (n = 366), and a clinic sample (n = 245). Method: For the adolescent sample, mothers provided ratings of the ADHD symptoms, and their teachers provided ratings for Emotional Symptoms, Conduct Problems, Hyperactivity, Peer Problems, and Prosocial Behavior. For the adult sample, all adults completed self-ratings of the ADHD symptoms and measures for depression, anxiety, and stress. For the clinic-referred sample, mothers provided ratings of the ADHD symptoms, and they were diagnosed for ADHD, Conduct Disorder/Oppositional Defiant Disorder, anxiety disorders, and depression disorders. Results: The findings for all samples supported the bifactor model, and there were differences in the way the general and specific factors correlated with the external variables. Conclusion: The findings support the validity of the bifactor model. (J. of Att. Dis. 2013; XX(X) 1-XX).
Description:
In this article, the author presents a review of his extended research engagement with disadvantaged young people and their education. He challenges the dominant neoliberal model of school reform based on business values and the ‘managerial school’ as alien to educational values. He introduces various stages of research he and his colleagues have undertaken over the past two decades, showing the importance of an authentic engagement with young people’s lives, the characteristics of schools which reach out to disadvantaged students and the importance of transformative pedagogy and community involvement.
Description:
Despite their direct relevance to studies of literacy practices, zines (pronounced 'zeens') have scarcely featured in the literature of educational research. Where zines have been taken seriously as a focus of inquiry it has mainly been within studies of popular/youth culture (cf. Chu 1997; Duncombe 1997; Williamson 1994). This chapter is intended to provide a modest redress of the silence with respect to zines within literacy studies generally and the New Literacy Studies in particular. We believe anyone interested in the nature, role and significance of literacy practices under contemporary conditions has much of value to learn from zines and, especially, from thinking about them from a sociocultural perspective. Indeed, we think their significance extends beyond a focus on literacy per se to pedagogy at large. For immediate purposes we begin from the premise that zines are an important but under-researched dimension of adolescent cultural practices and provide fertile ground for extending our understanding of new literacies and digital technologies.
Description:
A 1997 Victorian government report identified a major decline in many of the indicators of well-being of young people over the past three or four decades. In response to mounting concerns, the Kennett government launched the Framework for Student Support Services in Victorian Government Schools. The authors suggest that a thorough review of this Framework is necessary and should take into account lessons learned from American efforts at school reform.
Description:
This study sought to determine whether weight status influences the association among children's fundamental movement skills (EMS) and physical activity (PA). Two hundred forty-eight children ages 9-12 years participated. Proficiency in three object-control skills and two locomotor skills was examined. Accelerometers objectively assessed physical activity. Body mass index was calculated to determine weight status. Correlations between physical activity and FMS proficiency were evident among boys and girls. No significant interaction was apparent when examining FMS proficiency scores, PA variables, and weight status. Future studies should examine a broader range of skills and types of activities to better characterize this relationship and to inform the promotion of movement skill proficiency and PA.
Description:
A model of monitoring interactions was proposed that is based on behavioural principles and places episodic parent-adolescent interactions at the centre of analysis for monitoring. The process-monitoring model contends that monitoring is an interactive process between parents and their adolescents, nested within a socialsetting. In the model it is proposed that monitoring occurs in discrete episodes that change over the course of adolescent development. To explain monitoring interactions it is essential to expand research to include a functional assessment of monitoring exchanges between parents and adolescents and to also measure thequality of parent-adolescent relationships, consider adolescent age and development, parental characteristics, and the context of the family.
Description:
A model of monitoring interactions was proposed that is based on behavioural principles and places episodic parent-adolescent interactions at the centre of analysis for monitoring. The process-monitoring model contends that monitoring is an interactive process between parents and their adolescents, nested within a socialsetting. In the model it is proposed that monitoring occurs in discrete episodes that change over the course of adolescent development. To explain monitoring interactions it is essential to expand research to include a functional assessment of monitoring exchanges between parents and adolescents and to also measure thequality of parent-adolescent relationships, consider adolescent age and development, parental characteristics, and the context of the family.
Description:
Empirical evidence supports parental monitoring as a moderator of adolescent problem behaviours. A methodical review shows that monitoring has been measured using self-report questions based on parental knowledge of adolescent free-time use; however, inconsistencies in the definition of monitoring have created confusion. A process model of parental monitoring is proposed. This proposed model conceptualises monitoring interactions in a temporal sequence. It proposes that parental monitoring occurs in two distinct stages: before the adolescent goes out and when they return home. Parental and adolescent responses to monitoring interactions impact on future monitoring episodes. The proposed model demonstrates that a functional understanding of parent and adolescent monitoring behaviours is essential to clinical prevention and intervention. [Author abstract]
Description:
Empirical evidence supports parental monitoring as a moderator of adolescent problem behaviours. A methodical review shows that monitoring has been measured using self-report questions based on parental knowledge of adolescent free-time use; however, inconsistencies in the definition of monitoring have created confusion. A process model of parental monitoring is proposed. This proposed model conceptualises monitoring interactions in a temporal sequence. It proposes that parental monitoring occurs in two distinct stages: before the adolescent goes out and when they return home. Parental and adolescent responses to monitoring interactions impact on future monitoring episodes. The proposed model demonstrates that a functional understanding of parent and adolescent monitoring behaviours is essential to clinical prevention and intervention. [Author abstract]
Description:
Taking account of the issues of youth alienation and disengagement described in this study, the main intent of the present research was to explore the ways in which teachers and schools are reinventing themselves for young adolescents.
Description:
Chapter looks at young people's reasons for leaving school early, and how teachers of young adolescents were attempting to re-invent themselves in ways that engaged students. It presents a framework of school reform that has emerged out of the research.
Description:
School settings are an essential source of physical activity for adolescents because they provide curricular, co-curricular opportunities in addition to time during scheduled breaks. There has been limited previous research examining the physical activity behaviour of adolescents during break periods. Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the inter-day variability of adolescent's physical activity (PA) during school lunchtime periods. Methods: Participants (n = 40) from yr 8 to 10 (mean age = 14.5 ± 0.8 yrs) wore a SPI-Elite Global Positioning System (GPS) unit during five lunchtimes during a school week. Heart rate (HR), speed, distance, global position, and G force were measured for each participant and reported across a range of play spaces including a cricket net area, grassed oval, quadrangle, basketball/netball court area and seated shaded area for each participant across the five days. Analyses were performed on time periods randomly selected from three days for windows of 20 min+. Time spent within the various play spaces was determined by overlaying GPS data with Google Earth images of the school playground. Results: Independent samples t-tests revealed males (mean = 2.5 ± .97 km) covered a greater distance compared to females (mean = 1.5 ± .73 km) at the p < 0.01 level. Males also displayed significantly higher HR than did females during lunch breaks, at the p < 0.01 level. Students spent significantly more time and covered the greatest distance on the oval (grassed area) when compared to other play spaces (p < 0.01), and girls spent significantly more time in the seated shaded area than did males (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences for inter-day variability of average time, distance, HR, speed or G force within adolescent students’ physical activity during lunchtimes. Conclusions: The results suggest adolescents’ physical activity during lunch breaks is relatively stable across days. There are a number of feasibility issues relating to the use of GPS technology within the context of school settings and these are discussed. Future physical activity interventions targeting adolescents should consider the nature of the play space and may need to be tailored differently for males and females.
Description:
This paper seeks to review the current international health-promoting sports club (HPSC) research, drawing together findings based on case studies from various countries to illustrate the status of HPSCs. In addition, future challenges for HPSC research and implementation are considered. The review includes six case studies from five countries. In summary, there are two major research themes in this area, namely 'research into HPSC activity' and 'research into HPSC networks'. The first theme investigates the extent to which sports clubs and/or national sports organisations invest in health promotion (HP) - both in policy and practice. The latter theme is driven by an intention to widen the scope of HPSCs to reach novel internal actors, like parents, siblings, etc., and/or external non-sporting bodies, like communities, schools, etc. The future challenges for HPSC research require a better understanding of the motives, barriers and capacities of sports clubs and coaches. Sports organisations, clubs and coaches generally support the intent of the HPSC concept, but even with the best evidence- or theory-based HP programmes/guidelines/standards, nothing will happen in practice if the nature and capacities of sports clubs are not better acknowledged. Therefore, a call for embracing implementation science is finally made to enhance implementation.