Reducing suicide risk among adolescents : treatment and intervention

Adolescent suicide is very disturbing. Formulating effective prevention and treatment can be elusive. Counselors must become aware of many factors when assessing and treating adolescent suicide ideation and attempts. Facts about suicide and how suicide interfaces with other mental disorders will be examined

Physical Activity Levels at Work and Leisure Among Kindergarten Workers

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Physical activity level of kindergarten staff working with toddlers and older children in Norway

BACKGROUND: Research suggests that one-third of Norwegian adults satisfy national health recommendations for physical activity, but little knowledge exists regarding activity levels in different occupations. OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the level at which kindergarten staff fulfil these health recommendations, and examines differences in physical activity levels of staff working mainly with toddlers (1–3 years) and older children (4–6 years). The study also investigates physical activity level during working time and leisure time. METHODS: Physical activity levels among 43 kindergarten staff members were measured utilizing accelerometers and questionnaires. RESULTS: The results demonstrate that 86% of kindergarten staff satisfy the health recommendations for physical activity. Moreover, kindergarten staff working with older children were significantly more physically active than staff working with toddlers. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity level during working time was found to be of major significance for fulfilling the health recommendations among kindergarten staff working with toddlers.publishedVersionPaid Open Acces

Activity Videos Effect on Four-, Five- and Six-Year-Olds’ Physical Activity Level in Preschool

Physical activity provides positive health benefits for preschool children. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of physical activity videos on the physical activity levels of children aged 4, 5 and 6 in preschool time. Two preschools served as a control group, and four served as intervention groups. The study included 110 children aged 4–6 years, all wearing accelerometers in the preschool for two weeks. In the first week, both the control group and the intervention group carried out their ordinary activities. In the second week, the four preschools in the intervention group used the activity videos, while the control group continued their ordinary activities. The main finding is that the activity videos only increased the 4 year olds’ physical activity in MVPA (moderate to vigorous physical activity) from pre-test to post-test. Furthermore, the results show significantly increased CPM (counts per minute) in preschool among 4- and 6-year-old children in the interventions group from pre-test to post-test. However, the children in the control group did not have a significant change in their CPM or MVPA from pre-test to post-test. Our findings indicate that the use of activity videos may increase preschool children’s activity levels at preschool, but that the videos need to be developed differently depending on the age of the children.publishedVersio

Differences between Norwegian male and female preschool staff physical activity levels and their influence on PA levels of children

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Barnehagen som arena for barns fysiske aktivitet - En mixed methods studie av 4-6 åringers og ansattes fysiske aktivitetsgrad i barnehagen, ansattes syn på fysisk aktivitet, og det pedagogiske miljøets kollektive bevissthet og praksis for å fremme aktivitet blant barna

Avhandling (Ph.d.) – Nord universitet, 2021publishedVersio

An Exploration of Child–Staff Interactions That Promote Physical Activity in Pre-School

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Parents’ inadequate estimate of their children’s objectively physical activity level

This study aimed to investigate parents’ estimation of their preschool children’s leisure-time physical activity (PA) and the correlation between parents’ reported participation in PA with their children in leisure time and their children’s PA levels. A total of 244 Norwegian preschool children aged 4–6 and their parents were enrolled in the study. According to standard protocols, the children’s PA level was measured with Actigraph GT1M accelerometers. The parents completed a questionnaire that provided information about their estimation of their children’s PA and their reported participation in their children’s PA. Correlation analyses and scatter plots showed no significant association between parents’ estimation of their children’s PA level at leisure time and the children’s objectively measured PA level. Only 5% of the parents estimated their children’s PA level correctly. In general, the parents overestimated their children’s PA levels by three times. Furthermore, the results found no significant correlation between children’s PA levels at leisure time and parents’ reported participation in PA with their children. Our findings indicate that parents’ self-estimation of their children’s PA is inaccurate, which is problematic. Considering that the PA levels of many children are too low to fulfill internationally established health recommendations, parents’ ‘wrong’ perception about their children’s PA urgently needs to be addressed and rectified.publishedVersio

The Importance of Parents’ Income and Education Level in Relation to Their Preschool Children’s Activity Level at Leisure

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