International Journal of School Health
Volume:7 Issue: 4, Autumn 2020

It is a widely acknowledged fact that the future lies in the hands of the next generation whose success is mainly dependent on education. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the structural model of students’ motivation based on the teacher-student relationship, school attachment, and metacognitive awareness by academic optimism. The method of correlation was structural equation modeling. The structural equation modeling correlation was the method used in this research. The statistical population of this study consisted of 500 students selected from all male and female high schools in 22 districts of Tehran in the academic year 2017-2018. The Harter Academic Motivation Questionnaire (MIT), Teacher-Student Relationship, Attachment to the Motown School, Mokhtari and Richard Metacognitive Awareness, Academic Optimism were responded. For data analysis, we used Pearson’s correlation with SPSS software version 20 and path analysis with Amos software. The level of significance was P>0.01. The results showed that the relationship between teacher-student with academic motivation by mediator role of academic optimism was significant (total effect=0.633, P=0.002), (direct effect=0.286, P=0.002), and (indirect effect=0.377, P=0.002). Furthermore, Attachment to school had a positive association with academic motivation. Finally, the relationship between metacognitive awareness with academic motivation by mediator role of academic optimism was significant (Total effect=0.351, p <0.001). Given the findings of the present study on the importance of the mentioned variables in students’ academic motivation, it is suggested that school principals provide positive, active, and vibrant school environment by developing optimistic beliefs in students. Provide students with academic motivation.

Low back pain (LBP) is a common condition that often appears in childhood. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between LBP and factors related to physical activity among Iranian school-age children and adolescents.

This cross-sectional study included 4,644 school-age children and adolescents living in Bandar Abbas City. Participants and their parents responded to a questionnaire on back pain and physical activity; the questionnairewas developed based on previous studies. In multiple logistic regressions, we investigated the correlation between LBP and physical activity-related exposure variables during lifetime.

21.4% of the children reported a history of LBP at present or in the past. According to the findings of this study, LBP was associated with age and sex; there were positive and negative relationships between currently active (CA) and previously active (PA) participants (OR=1.285. P=0.012 and OR=0.66. P=0.014, respectively). LBP also negatively correlated with the amount of time spent on physical activity .

According to the results, age and sex could be predictors for LBP; specific levels of physical activity were associated with reduced risk of LPB. Based on these associations, children and adolescents must be motivated to participate in physical activity; also, future studies should investigate the optimal amount and type of physical activity for back health in this age group.

Adjustment is considered as one of the most important signs of mental health and well-being; it refers to any kind of healthy or unhealthy, conscious or unconscious attempt to prevent or weaken the stressors and ability to tolerate hard situations. One of the variables probably involved in adolescent adjustment is the family communication patterns which include two important dimensions: conversation pattern and conformity pattern. The present study aimed to explain the relationship between the family communication patterns and adolescent adjustment and investigate the predictive role of family communication patterns. This study is correlational research and the study population consisted of all male and female students of the high schools in Shiraz, Iran, during the academic year of 2019-2020. Sample size was determined by Cochran formula with a significance level of 0.05. Through multistage sampling method, six schools from each of the four districts were selected; three classes were then chosen from each high school. Finally, five to six random students were selected from each class to answer the questionnaires. The sample consisted of 380 high school students (210 girls and 170 boys). We used the family communication patterns questionnaire; it is a self-report scale examining the agreement or disagreement level of the respondents based on a five-point Likert scale regarding 26 items on family communication. Multidimensional adjustment scale was further applied. This scale includes 15 items and five components, namely personal, social, educational, occupational, and family. The extracted data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics including Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression statistics in SPSS version 21. Conformity communication pattern had a significant negative relationship with adjustment (Beta=-0.48, P=0.001); meanwhile, there was a significant positive relationship between conversation pattern and adjustment (Beta=0.36, P=0.001), both predicting 55% of the variance in adolescents adjustment. The dimensions of family communication patterns predicted adolescent adjustment and conversation communication pattern had positive and conformity communication pattern had negative relationship with adolescent adjustment.

Gynaecological problems of adolescents occupy a special and very important place in the spectrum of gynaecologicaldisorders. Keeping this background in mind, this study was done to find the gynaecological problems of the adolescents attendinggynaecological OPD and emergency with the aim to study type of problems, causative factors and treatment modalities. It is a cross-sectional study done in outpatient department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Department of HamdardInstitute of Medical Sciences & Research over a period of one year. Data was collected with the help of a pre- designed, pretestedquestionnaire after taking proper informed written consent from the unmarried adolescent females with age 11-19 years.Quantitative data is tabulated in numerical value as percentages. In our study, most of the adolescents were the students of primary or secondary level educational status. The maincomplaint by adolescent girls in our study was menstrual problems (n=124,75.1%) including irregularity in flow, bleeding, bleeddays, occurrence of menses and pain. Menstrual problem was followed by vaginal discharge (n=43, 26%). The main diagnosiswas PCOD which was in 23 girls followed by vaginal discharge in 17 participants and urinary tract infection in 16 girls. A very empathetic attitude and special attention should be given to the adolescent population.

Academic success in Cameroon is more focused on the pedagogical aspects of classical subjects such as mathematics and English. Physical and sports education is only a recreational activity in the Cameroonian school context. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between physical fitness (cardiorespiratory fitness and motor skills) and academicperformance.

In this cross-sectional study, a total of 643 pupils with a mean age of 12.4±1.3 years were included. The cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2pic) was measured using the 20 m shuttle run test. Motor skills (e.g. speed and agility) were assessed with 4x10 m shuttle test. The students ‘academic performance in trimestral average, science and literacy was evaluated based on school records.

Boys had significantly higher anthropometrics (height and weight) and performance parameters (VO2pic and duration). As far as teaching disciplines are concerned, significant differences also existed between the genders. There was no significant association in terms of VO2pic and literacy (r=0.017; P=0.6625), english (r=0.052; P=0.1879), and mathematics (r=0.070; P=0.0767) subjects. However, in science (r=0.080; P=0.0418) and trimestral average (r=0.087; P=0.0273) subjects, a significant association with VO2pic was found. Besides, significant relationships were observed between the duration of the physical and sport education activity and the academic performance. Higher VO2pic values were found in younger students (r=0.252;P=0.0001). For all grades, VO2pic decreased with age.

The minor effects of physical fitness on academic performance among young Cameroonian pupils were linked to specific socio-cultural and socio-economic contexts. This study showed the beneficial effects of extra-curricular activities on academic performance.

Finding factors or conditions that could increase the level of physical activity in students is a controversial topic concerning school health. We conducted the current research to investigate the effects of perceived autonomy support in physical education class on intrinsic motivation and intention to participation of high-school students in leisure-time physical activity. Gender differences were also reported. This study utilized a descriptive-correlation approach. Our participants comprised 400 high school students, including 100 tenth-grade boys, 100 eleventh-grade boys, 100 tenth-grade girls and 100 eleventh-grade girls, from Aliabad Katoul, Golestan, Iran, in 2019. The data was collected using standard questionnaires. We employed structural equation method to examine the associations between variables, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) to examine the gender differences. Descriptive statistics showed that boys and girls of the same grade had almost identical age. The results of path analysis revealed that perceived autonomy support positively influenced psychological need satisfaction and intrinsic motivation (T=1.96 and T=2.09, respectively). Moreover, psychological need satisfaction positively affected intrinsic motivation in physical education class (T=15.23). Furthermore, intrinsic motivation in physical education class was transferred to intrinsic motivation in leisuretime (T=6.82). Intrinsic motivation in leisure-time positively affected the inclination to perform physical activity outside school (T=7.05). Finally, boys were observed to have higher perceived autonomy, higher motivation and be more willing to do physical activity compared to girls (p <0.001). Perceived autonomy support plays an important role in motivating students to be physically active. We discussed our results based on the self-determination theory. Practical and clinical implications were presented to physical education teachers and physicians.

Postural control can be affected by hyperlordosis and the effect of core training on postural control has yet to be established in students with hyperlordosis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of core stabilization exercises on balance indices in girls with hyperlordosis.

In this controlled laboratory study, we divided 32 girls (14-15 years old) with hyperlordosis inTehran schools into experimental and control groups in 2018. The experimental group received two core exercise sessions per week for a period of eight weeks. Before and after exercises, we evaluated the balance indices of center of pressure (COP) and time to stabilization (TTS). To analyze the data, statistical analysis of the t-test was used via SPSS software.

We observed significant differences in the COP indices of R.AP (P=0.038) and V.AP (P=0.001) and TTS indices of vertical (P=0.012), antroposterior (P=0.032), and mediolateral directions (P=0.001) before and after stability exercises in the experimental group; however, no significant difference was found in R.AP (P=0.221), R.ML (P=0.192), V.AP (P=0.461), and V.ML (P=0.195) in the control group. Furthermore, the results implied a significant difference in the COP indices of R.AP (P=0.001) and V.AP (P=0.023) and the TTS indices of vertical (P=0.001), antroposterior (P=0.001), and mediolateral directions (P=0.001) between the two groups in the post-test condition.

The study findings revealed that the eight weeks of core stabilization exercises could be considered as an appropriate training method for improving the postural control for 14-15-year-old girls with hyperlordosis.