LK20s kompetansemål i religion og etikk-faget

Religionsvitenskap mastergradsoppgaveRELV350MAHF-RELVMAHF-LÆH

Effects of school-based physical activity interventions on mental health in adolescents: The School in Motion cluster randomized controlled trial

Purpose To investigate the effects of two school-based physical activity interventions on mental health in Norwegian adolescents. Methods Students from 29 lower secondary schools in Norway (n = 2084; 14–15 years; 49% female) were cluster-randomized into either a control group or one of two intervention groups (M1 and M2). Two interventions based on different theoretical frameworks aimed to increase physical activity in school by approximately 120 min per week, throughout a 29-week intervention period. M1 consisted of 30 min physically active learning, 30 min physical activity and one 60 min physical education lesson. M2 consisted of one physical education lesson and one physical activity lesson, both focusing on facilitating students’ interest, responsibility and social relationships. The self-report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was used to assess mental health. Physical activity was measured by accelerometry. Linear mixed effects models were used to examine the effects of the interventions. Results No effects were found for the overall study population. Interaction effects warranted subgroup analyses: M1 showed favorable results in the subgroup with the highest levels of psychological difficulties at baseline (b = −2.9; −5.73 to −0.07; p = .045) and in the immigrant subgroup (b = −1.6; −3.53 to 0.27; p = .093). M2 showed favorable results in the immigrant subgroup (b = −2.1; −4.36 to 0.21; p = .075). Conclusions The two interventions did not improve mental health in the full study population. However, results indicated beneficial effects among immigrants and those with poor mental health at baseline. More research is needed due to missing values and the results should therefore be interpreted with caution.publishedVersio

The process evaluation of a school-based physical activity intervention: influencing factors and potential consequences of implementation

Purpose This paper evaluates the implementation of a school-based physical activity intervention and discusses how the intervention outcomes can be influenced by the implementation. Design/methodology/approach In four of the nine lower secondary schools in which the intervention was conducted, the authors examined implementation fidelity, adaptation, quality, responsiveness and dose received. The authors conducted focus group interviews with teachers (n = 8) and students (n = 46) and made observations. Dose delivered was examined quantitatively, with weekly registrations. Findings Results showed that two out of four schools made few and positive adaptations, implemented the intervention with high fidelity and quality and responded positively. Four main factors were found to influence implementation: frame factors, intervention characteristics, participant characteristics and provider characteristics. Research limitations/implications A cross-sectional design was used and may not represent implementation throughout the whole school year. Practical implications In terms of large-scale implementation, the intervention may be generalizable. However, intervention criteria such as adequate facilities and a flexible timetable may be unattainable for some schools. The intervention can be adapted without compromising its purpose, but adaptations should be a result of cooperation between students and teachers. Originality/value Process evaluations on this topic are rare. This study adds to a limited knowledge base concerning what factors may influence implementation of school-based physical activity interventions for adolescents.publishedVersio

School-based physical activity interventions, physical fitness and mental health among adolescents: Effects, associations and lessons learned from the School in Motion study

This thesis is part of the School in Motion study. School in Motion was initiated by the Norwegian government because of the political demand for more knowledge regarding possible approaches to increase adolescent physical activity. The reason for the demand was a report depicting 15-year-olds as among the most sedentary populations in Norway. This is concerning because physical activity can have a preventive function against non-communicable diseases, psychological difficulties and mental disorders. Norwegian schools are given extended responsibilities for their students’ physical and mental health. Physical activity can contribute in this purpose, therefore, finding feasible approaches to increase physical activity in school is an important research topic. The School in Motion study was a cluster randomized controlled trial involving 29 lower secondary schools in Norway. The participants were 2084 9th graders (14-15 years old) from schools located in western, south western, southern, and eastern parts of the country. The study aimed to implement two separate intervention models for increased physical activity and physical education in school, in order to evaluate their effects on physical activity, physical health, mental health, learning and learning environment. Intervention model 1 included weekly, 30 minutes of physical activity, 30 minutes of physically active academic lessons, and one additional physical education lesson. Intervention model 2 included two weekly physical activity lessons in which students were encouraged to pursue their own activity interests, in groups they formed themselves. The aims of this thesis were to elucidate different aspects of the relationship between school-based physical activity interventions, physical fitness and mental health among adolescents, and the feasibility of school-based PA interventions in lower secondary school. The data that are presented in this thesis are the basis of four separate papers. The first paper analyzed baseline data to examine the cross-sectional association between physical fitness and mental health. The results showed a small, inverse association between cardiorespiratory fitness and mental health, while no association was found between mental health and body composition or muscular strength. The second paper presents data from a qualitative study that aimed to elucidate how intervention model 2 was implemented, and what influenced the implementation. The results showed large differences in how the intervention was implemented. Specifically, two out of four investigated schools implemented the intervention adequately, one school implemented the intervention partially adequate and the last school failed at several implementation aspects. Four main factors were responsible for influencing implementation: frame factors, intervention-, participant-, and provider characteristics. The results elucidate the challenge of implementing a complex physical activity intervention in schools, i. e., complex contexts, and expecting the implementation process to be similar for the schools. The third paper examined the effect the interventions had on mental health, by using a cluster randomized controlled trial design. The results showed no intervention effects on the overall population. However, subgroup analyses indicated that intervention model 1 was beneficial for those with high levels of psychological difficulties at baseline, and both intervention models were beneficial for the immigrant subgroup. The results also indicated that intervention model 2 had a negative effect on a subscale of psychological difficulties, peer relationships, within the subgroups non-immigrant girls, and those with “borderline” psychological difficulties at baseline. The fourth paper presents associations between the one-year change in physical fitness components and mental health status. Subgroup analyses showed an inverse association between change in cardiorespiratory fitness and mental health status among boys; an inverse association between change in muscular strength and mental health status among immigrants; and an association between change in cardiorespiratory fitness and mental health among girls with high socioeconomic status. The results indicate that the associations between physical activity, physical fitness and mental health among adolescents depend on different mechanisms that are specific to certain subgroups. The findings of this thesis add nuance to a research field characterized by relatively few studies, small sample sizes, cross-sectional designs and little qualitative knowledge. In summary, this thesis suggests that improving cardiorespiratory fitness can be beneficial for mental health promotion among adolescent boys; and that improving muscular strength can be beneficial for mental health promotion among adolescent immigrants. Moreover, school-based PA programs can be useful for mental health promotion among adolescents with high levels of psychological difficulties and among adolescent immigrants. Regarding the implementation of physical activity programs in schools, this is feasible. However, a successful implementation depends to a large degree on schools’ facilities and frame factors, thus, the physical activity programs should have flexible designs to secure an optimal fit in each individual school. The new Core curriculum in Norway for primary and secondary education specifies that physical and mental health is to be an important interdisciplinary topic in school. The knowledge generated through this thesis can contribute to the development of this interdisciplinary topic, and to the ongoing discussion about the role of physical activity and mental health in school

Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in Norway : calculations for the Low Emission Commission

Denne rapporten beskriver numeriske modellberegninger som er foretatt for Lavutslippsutvalget (LUU). Oppdraget har gått ut på å beregne effekter i norsk økonomi og effekter på klimagassutslipp av en konkret tiltakspakke utarbeidet av LUU. LUU antar blant annet at tiltakene fases inn i løpet av en lang tidsperiode, og at andre land ikke implementerer noen nye politikktiltak på miljøområdet. 14 tiltak er del av LUUs pakke, sammen med antakelser om kostnader, produktivitetsøkninger og utslippsreduksjoner. Det har ikke vært noen del av Statistisk sentralbyrås (SSBs) prosjekt å foreta noen vurdering av disse tallene. SSBs beregningsmodell MSG-6, som er en generell likevektsmodell, er brukt i analysen. For noen av tiltakene er ikke denne beregningsmodellen så godt egnet for analysen. Derfor er svært forenklede fremgangsmåter benyttet for å få implementert disse tiltakene. Innfasingen av de 14 politikktiltakene til LUU, kalt lavutslippbanen, blir sammenliknet med en referansebane som i høy grad er basert på Finansdepartementet (2004). Sammenlikning av lavutslippsbanen med referansebanen viser at klimagassutslippene på lang sikt (dvs. i 2050) er redusert fra 66,9 til 20 millioner tonn CO2-ekvivalenter. Det er imidlertid slik at det meste av denne utslippsreduksjonen er bestemt eksogent, dvs. før modellberegningene, siden LUUs politikktiltak dreier seg om påbud om implementering av ny (og mindre forurensende) teknologi for de større forurenserne i norsk økonomi. Sammenliknet med referansebanen øker bruttonasjonalproduktet (BNP) med 0,1 prosent og privat konsum reduseres med 0,1 prosent i 2050 (målt i faste 1999-priser). Dette er små endringer. Økningen i BNP skyldes LUUs tiltak ”energieffektivisering i boliger”, "energieffektivisering i næringsbygg" og "effektivisering av transportarbeidet". Disse tiltakene innfører produktivitetsøkninger. Den positive effekten på BNP av disse produktivitetsøkningene oppveier den negative effekten på BNP av utvalgets kostnader knyttet til alle tiltakene. Det er større effekter på næringsnivå. __ Abstracts: This report describes numerical model calculations undertaken for the Low Emission Commission (LEC). The task has consisted in calculating the effects on the Norwegian economy and on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of a concrete policy package drawn up by LEC. Important assumptions made by LEC are that the policy measures are phased in over a long time period and that other countries do not implement any new environmental policy measures. 14 policy measures are part of LEC's package, together with assumptions regarding costs, productivity increases and emission reductions. Evaluation of these assumptions has not been part of Statistics Norway's task. Statistics Norway's computable general equilibrium (CGE) model MSG-6 is employed in the calculations. Concerning some of the policy measures, the CGE model is not very suitable for the analysis. Therefore, very simplified procedures have been employed in order to implement these policy measures. The phasing in of LEC's 14 policy measures, called the low emission scenario, is compared with a baseline scenario, which is to a high degree based on Ministry of Finance (2004). Comparing the low emission scenario with the baseline scenario shows that GHG emissions in the long run (i.e. 2050) are brought down from 66.9 to 20 million tons of CO2-equivalents. However, most of this emission reduction is determined exogenously, i.e. before the model calculations, since LEC's policy measures are characterised by command and control regarding implementation of new (and less pollutive) technologies covering the major pollutants in the Norwegian economy

Reduksjon av klimagassutslipp i Norge : beregninger for Lavslippsutvalget

Ved bruk av materiale fra denne publikasjonen skal Statistisk sentralbyrå oppgis som kilde. Artiklene er tilgjengelig på internett: www.ssb.no/oaSSB har fått en konkret tiltakspakke fra Lavutslippsutvalget (LUU) med antakelser om kostnader, effektiviseringer (gevinster) og utslippsreduksjoner som følge av påbud om innføring av ny og mindre forurensende teknologi. SSB har så ved hjelp av likevektsmodellen MSG-6 beregnet makroøkonomiske effekter i norsk økonomi og effekter på klimagassutslipp i Norge gitt denne informasjonen fra LUU. En viktig antakelse gjort av LUU er at tiltakene fases inn i løpet av en lang tidsperiode. SSBs beregninger viser at effektene på bruttonasjonalproduktet (BNP), privat konsum og bruttorealinvesteringer er små sett i forhold til situasjonen uten implementering av LUUs tiltak. Det er større effekter på næringsnivå. Som følge av påbudet om innføring av ny og mindre forurensende teknologi, reduseres klimagassutslippene fra om lag 67 til 20 millioner tonn CO2-ekvivalenter i 2050

Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in Norway : calculations for the Low Emission Commission

Denne rapporten beskriver numeriske modellberegninger som er foretatt for Lavutslippsutvalget (LUU). Oppdraget har gått ut på å beregne effekter i norsk økonomi og effekter på klimagassutslipp av en konkret tiltakspakke utarbeidet av LUU. LUU antar blant annet at tiltakene fases inn i løpet av en lang tidsperiode, og at andre land ikke implementerer noen nye politikktiltak på miljøområdet. 14 tiltak er del av LUUs pakke, sammen med antakelser om kostnader, produktivitetsøkninger og utslippsreduksjoner. Det har ikke vært noen del av Statistisk sentralbyrås (SSBs) prosjekt å foreta noen vurdering av disse tallene. SSBs beregningsmodell MSG-6, som er en generell likevektsmodell, er brukt i analysen. For noen av tiltakene er ikke denne beregningsmodellen så godt egnet for analysen. Derfor er svært forenklede fremgangsmåter benyttet for å få implementert disse tiltakene. Innfasingen av de 14 politikktiltakene til LUU, kalt lavutslippbanen, blir sammenliknet med en referansebane som i høy grad er basert på Finansdepartementet (2004). Sammenlikning av lavutslippsbanen med referansebanen viser at klimagassutslippene på lang sikt (dvs. i 2050) er redusert fra 66,9 til 20 millioner tonn CO2-ekvivalenter. Det er imidlertid slik at det meste av denne utslippsreduksjonen er bestemt eksogent, dvs. før modellberegningene, siden LUUs politikktiltak dreier seg om påbud om implementering av ny (og mindre forurensende) teknologi for de større forurenserne i norsk økonomi. Sammenliknet med referansebanen øker bruttonasjonalproduktet (BNP) med 0,1 prosent og privat konsum reduseres med 0,1 prosent i 2050 (målt i faste 1999-priser). Dette er små endringer. Økningen i BNP skyldes LUUs tiltak ”energieffektivisering i boliger”, "energieffektivisering i næringsbygg" og "effektivisering av transportarbeidet". Disse tiltakene innfører produktivitetsøkninger. Den positive effekten på BNP av disse produktivitetsøkningene oppveier den negative effekten på BNP av utvalgets kostnader knyttet til alle tiltakene. Det er større effekter på næringsnivå. __ Abstracts: This report describes numerical model calculations undertaken for the Low Emission Commission (LEC). The task has consisted in calculating the effects on the Norwegian economy and on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of a concrete policy package drawn up by LEC. Important assumptions made by LEC are that the policy measures are phased in over a long time period and that other countries do not implement any new environmental policy measures. 14 policy measures are part of LEC's package, together with assumptions regarding costs, productivity increases and emission reductions. Evaluation of these assumptions has not been part of Statistics Norway's task. Statistics Norway's computable general equilibrium (CGE) model MSG-6 is employed in the calculations. Concerning some of the policy measures, the CGE model is not very suitable for the analysis. Therefore, very simplified procedures have been employed in order to implement these policy measures. The phasing in of LEC's 14 policy measures, called the low emission scenario, is compared with a baseline scenario, which is to a high degree based on Ministry of Finance (2004). Comparing the low emission scenario with the baseline scenario shows that GHG emissions in the long run (i.e. 2050) are brought down from 66.9 to 20 million tons of CO2-equivalents. However, most of this emission reduction is determined exogenously, i.e. before the model calculations, since LEC's policy measures are characterised by command and control regarding implementation of new (and less pollutive) technologies covering the major pollutants in the Norwegian economy