Search Results (896)

This study investigates the effectiveness of contact and online biology teaching by assessing student performance and gathering perceptions from students, teachers, and parents. Conducted in autumn 2021 with 3035 students, 124 biology teachers, and 719 parents, this study combined post-instruction assessments of student performance in knowledge reproduction and conceptual understanding with questionnaires examining perceptions of contact and online biology teaching effectiveness across students, teachers, and parents. To investigate how various teaching-related factors influence perceived understanding of biological content, we applied a CHAID-based decision tree model to questionnaire responses from students, teachers, and parents. Results indicated that students value engaging, flexible instruction, sufficient time to complete tasks and support for independent thinking. Teachers emphasized their satisfaction with teaching and efforts to support student understanding. In contact lessons, students preferred problem-solving, teacher guidance, and a stimulating environment. In online learning, they preferred low-stress, interesting lessons with room for independent work. Parents emphasized satisfaction with their child’s learning and the importance of a focused, stimulating environment. This comparative analysis highlights the need for student-centered, research-based biology teaching in both formats, supported by teachers and delivered in a motivating environment. The results offer practical insights for improving biology instruction in different teaching modalities. Full article

Research highlights a growing demand for active, experiential learning methods in higher education, especially in teacher education. While the benefits of parental involvement (PI) are well-documented, Hungary lacks tools to effectively prepare teacher trainees for fostering family–school cooperation. This study addresses this gap by introducing a custom-designed board game as an innovative teaching tool. The game simulates real-world challenges in PI through a cooperative, scenario-based framework. Exercises are grounded in international and national research, ensuring their relevance and evidence-based design. Tested with 110 students, the game’s educational value was assessed via post-gameplay questionnaires. Participants emphasized the strengths of its cooperative structure, realistic scenarios, and integration of humor. Many reported gaining new insights into parental roles and strategies for effective home–school partnerships. Practical applications include integrating the game into teacher education curricula and adapting it for other educational contexts. This study demonstrates how board games can bridge theory and practice, offering an engaging, effective medium to prepare future teachers for the challenges of PI. Full article

Participation in organized sport is widely encouraged for youth development, yet positive outcomes are not guaranteed. Parents play a pivotal role in shaping young athletes’ experiences, requiring emotional support, interpersonal skills, and self-regulation. This study examines the meanings parents attribute to their children’s sports participation and how young athletes construct their experiences under parental and coaching influences. An interpretive phenomenological methodology involved semi-structured interviews with coaches, focus groups with parents, and open-ended questionnaires to young athletes. Seventeen players (M = 11.2 years, SD = 0.59), nineteen parents (M = 47.6 years, SD = 3.61), and two coaches from the same football club volunteered to participate in the study. Participants were selected through purposive sampling to ensure a homogeneous experience. The findings reveal that parental involvement balances support and pressure, while trust-building between parents and coaches significantly impacts the athletes’ experiences. The evolving role of technology and the importance of social dynamics within teams also emerged as critical factors. Intrinsic motivation, fostering emotional bonding through the sport, and adopting a developmental rather than purely competitive framework were emphasized factors identified as supporting positive youth sport experiences. These findings offer insights into how interconnected relationships among parents, coaches, and athletes influence children’s sports engagement and development. Full article

Background: Preterm infants and their families face a challenging experience during their stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Family-centered care emphasizes the importance of welcoming parents, involving them in their baby’s daily care, and supporting the development of parenting skills. NICU staff should support parents in understanding their baby’s needs and in strengthening the parent–infant bond. Although many tools outline what parents should learn, there is a limited structured framework to monitor their involvement in the infant’s care. Tracking parental participation in daily caregiving activities could support professionals in effectively guiding families, ensuring a smoother transition to discharge. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the adherence to and effectiveness of a structured tool for parental involvement in the NICU. This tool serves several key purposes: to track the progression and timing of parents’ autonomy in caring for their baby, to support parents in building caregiving competencies before discharge, and to standardize the approach of NICU professionals in promoting both infant care and family engagement. Methods: A structured template form for documenting parental involvement (“together TO-CARE template”, TTCT) was integrated into the computerized chart adopted in the NICU of Modena. Nurses were asked to complete the TTCT at each shift. The template included the following assessment items: parental presence; type of contact with the baby (touch; voice; skin-to-skin); parental involvement in care activities (diaper changing; gavage feeding; bottle feeding; breast feeding); and level of autonomy in care (observer; supported by nurse; autonomous). We evaluated TTCT uploaded data for very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants admitted in the Modena NICU between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2024. Staff compliance in filling out the TTCT was assessed. The timing at which parents achieved autonomy in different care tasks was also measured. Results: The TTCT was completed with an average of one entry per day, during the NICU stay. Parents reached full autonomy in diaper changing at a mean of 21.1 ± 15.3 days and in bottle feeding at a mean of 48.0 ± 22.4 days after admission. The mean length of hospitalization was 53 ± 38 days. Conclusions: The adoption of the TTCT in the NICU is feasible and should become a central component of care for preterm infants. It promotes family-centered care by addressing the needs of both the baby and the family. Encouraging early and progressive parental involvement enhances parenting skills, builds confidence, and may help reduce post-discharge complications and readmissions. Furthermore, the use of a standardized template aims to foster consistency among NICU staff, reduce disparities in care delivery, and strengthen the support provided to families of preterm infants. Full article

The C-terminus of the BoNT/A heavy chain (BoNT/AHC) mediates binding to its receptor, SV2, a critical step for toxicity. Antibody inhibition of this interaction enhances neuronal survival. We previously identified a functional anti-BoNT/AHC nanobody, HM. To extend its in vivo half-life, we designed and prepared two Fc-optimized nanoparticles, HM-Fc5 and HM-Fc6. Structural modeling (homology/docking) of the HM Fv-AHC complex predicted that HM engages key AHC residues (Tyr¹¹⁵⁵, Phe¹¹⁶⁰, Ile¹¹⁶¹, Val¹¹⁸⁴, Asn¹¹⁸⁸, Lys¹¹⁸⁹, Glu¹¹⁹⁰), which overlap with the SV2 binding site. This suggests HM’s protective mechanism involves blocking toxin-receptor binding and cellular entry. HM-Fc5 and HM-Fc6 retained the stability and function of the parental HM antibody while exhibiting prolonged in vivo half-life. These optimized nanobodies offer economical candidates potentially enabling longer dosing intervals, beneficial for prophylaxis or chronic disease treatment. Significance Statement: The purpose of the study is to design and prepare two Fc optimized nanoparticles, HM-Fc5 and HM-Fc6, and predict the key residues involved in the interaction between HMs and AHC. The experimental results showed that HM-Fc5 and HM-Fc6 have the same stability as the parent HM antibody but have a longer half-life in vivo. The key residues Tyr¹¹⁵⁵, Phe¹¹⁶⁰, Ile¹¹⁶¹, Val¹¹⁸⁴, Asn¹¹⁸⁸, Lys¹¹⁸⁹, and Glu¹¹⁹⁰ overlap with the SV2 binding site. Our experimental results indicate that these nanobody candidates are not only more economical and convenient, but may also have longer dosing intervals, providing strong evidence and reference for prolonging the in vivo half-life of nanomaterials. Full article

In this paper, we argue that what is sometimes at fault for the poor attendance and lack of engagement in schools observed from historically marginalized families is a missed opportunity to increase understanding or cultural relevance on the part of schools. In this paper, we use the construct of “counter stories” which has the potential to change the script on the instrumentalist demands of quantity versus quality in parent engagement. By providing examples of what we consider “quality” engagement techniques via the staff’s interpretation of their roles within one demographically rich early learning center, the strategies used to engage parents are documented. Counter-stories of practice show family-centrism as interpreted by school leaders. By describing one community context and its practices of building relationships with newcomer families, relationally driven parent engagement techniques are revealed. The authors highlight how inquiry-based methods surpass the generic approaches described in policy. When parent engagement “arises” from within parents’ motivations and informs authentic knowing (by teachers and school leaders), community systems are elevated. Professionals’ decisions about children and community groups that are informed by families’ knowledge are consequently meaningful and authentic. Full article

In this article, I take up Pushor’s conceptualization of ‘walking alongside,’ of accompanying families on their journey to educate their children, as an alternative to the ways in which educators have stood over parents as authorities with more knowledge. I detail the parent and grandparent knowledge approaches to schooling. I make my ways of thinking, doing, and being visible by storying moments of my lived experiences as a nēhiyaw in education, a parent and grandparent, a teacher and assistant professor. I share aspects of my cultural knowledge through nēhiyawēwin-Cree language when it comes to visiting, gratitude, and storytelling with the aim of adding a nēhiyaw voice to the field of research and literature on family engagement. Full article

Much U.S. research supports the effectiveness of parenting education delivered via the home visiting method. Home visitors are essential to reaching fathers in this context, but not all have favorable attitudes toward father engagement or feel confident working with fathers. Given that father involvement is important for a wide range of child and adolescent outcomes and that fathers benefit from parenting education, it is important to better understand the forces that shape home visitors’ attitudes toward fathers, and thus their subsequent efforts to include them in publicly funded programming. Using survey data from 95 home visitors in Tennessee, this study explores whether home visitors’ beliefs about fathers and attitudes toward father engagement vary as a function of home visitor or agency characteristics. Results suggest training in social work, reporting father-friendly organizational attitudes and behaviors at one’s agency, and reporting supervisor support specifically for father engagement relate to various favorable fathering attitudes. Home visitors’ strategies to engage fathers in home visiting are presented, including strategies for before, during, and after the home visit. Overall, family service agency administrators are in key positions to make decisions that can improve agency father-friendliness, home visitor attitudes toward fathers, and subsequent outcomes for fathers, mothers, and children. Full article

This study investigates the impact of family engagement on student reading achievement in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) using counterfactual explainable artificial intelligence (CXAI) analysis. Drawing data from 24,600 students in the UAE PISA dataset, the analysis employed Gradient Boosting, SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations), and counterfactual simulations to model and interpret the influence of ten parental involvement variables. The results identified time spent talking with parents, frequency of family meals, and encouragement to achieve good marks as the strongest predictors of reading performance. Counterfactual analysis revealed that increasing the time spent talking with parents and frequency of family meals from their minimum (1) to maximum (5) levels, while holding other variables constant at their medians, could increase the predicted reading score from the baseline of 358.93 to as high as 448.68, marking an improvement of nearly 90 points. These findings emphasize the educational value of culturally compatible parental behaviors. The study also contributes to methodological advancement by integrating interpretable machine learning with prescriptive insights, demonstrating the potential of XAI for educational policy and intervention design. Implications for educators, policymakers, and families highlight the importance of promoting high-impact family practices to support literacy development. The approach offers a replicable model for leveraging AI to understand and enhance student learning outcomes across diverse contexts. Full article

Extended reality (XR)-based rehabilitation is an emerging therapeutic approach that combines real and virtual environments to enhance patient engagement and promote motor and cognitive recovery. Its clinical utility in children with cerebral palsy (CP), particularly regarding gross motor skills, balance, and psychosocial well-being, remains underexplored. This preliminary study aimed to evaluate the potential effects of XR-based rehabilitation on gross motor function, balance, parental stress, and quality of life in children with cerebral palsy. Thirty children with cerebral palsy were randomly assigned to an extended reality training group (XRT, n = 15) or a conventional physical therapy group (CPT, n = 15). Both groups received 30 min sessions, three times per week for 6 weeks. Outcome measures included the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88), Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS), Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Parenting Stress Index (PSI), and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), assessed pre- and post-intervention. A 2 (group) × 2 (time) mixed ANOVA was conducted. The XR group demonstrated improvements in GMFM-88, PBS, and FIM scores, with decreased PSI and increased PedsQL scores. Although most interaction effects were not statistically significant (GMFM-88: η² = 0.035, p = 0.329; PBS: η² = 0.043, p = 0.274), a marginal interaction effect was observed for PSI (p = 0.065, η² = 0.059), suggesting a potential benefit of XR-based rehabilitation in reducing parental stress. This preliminary study indicates that XR-based rehabilitation may provide beneficial trends in motor function and psychosocial health in children with CP, particularly in reducing parental stress. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings. Full article

Background/Objectives: Sexual health research involving young adolescents remains scarce despite rising rates of early sexual debut, pregnancies, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in this population. We explored community stakeholders’ perspectives on engaging young adolescents in sexual health research in Western New York to inform strategies for engaging young adolescents in sexual health research. Methods: This qualitative descriptive study was conducted from April 2022 to June 2023. Seventeen community stakeholders, including health education teachers, youth counselors, and adolescent health providers, participated in semi-structured in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis, managed by MAXQDA 2020. The rigor and trustworthiness of the data were ensured through triangulation with observations, peer debriefing, team analysis, and respondent validation. Results: Participants were predominantly female (94.1%), 52.9% Black/African American, 41.2% White, and 5.9% Caucasian–Indian American, and aged 23–59 years. Four themes emerged: perspectives on conducting sexual health research with young adolescents, recruitment strategies, sexual health questions appropriate for young adolescents, and building readiness for participation in sexual health research. Participants reported the need for sexual health research with young adolescents and recommended building a trusting relationship and involving schools, parents, and trusted community organizations in the research process. Suggested research questions included those related to awareness of sex, STIs, available resources, experiences with sexual education, and desired support. The findings also revealed the need to initiate sexual health conversations early when children start asking questions, as a foundation for meaningful participation in sexual health research. Conclusions: The findings suggest that sexual health research with young adolescents is feasible and necessary, with implications for the design of developmentally appropriate sexual health research and interventions grounded in trust and community collaboration. Future research should explore the perspectives of caregivers and young adolescents to inform studies and programs that are attuned to young adolescents’ developmental needs. Full article

Background: Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) who engage in alcohol and substance abuse face more significant health and social consequences compared to the general population. This study evaluated the prevalence and associated factors of alcohol abuse and substance use among AGYW in Namibia. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of programmatic data from AGYW aged 10–24 who participated in the Determined, Resilient, Empowered AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe (DREAMS) component of the Reducing HIV Vulnerability: Integrated Child and Youth Health (REACH) Project HOPE Namibia from March to December 2024. Data analysis was conducted employing chi-squared tests alongside binomial and multinomial logistic regression. Results: Among the 19,662 participants included in this analysis, 2068 (10.5%) abused alcohol and/or substances in the previous six months. Participants who were HIV-negative or did not know their status (AOR = 1.57, 95% CI (1.15–2.14), and AOR = 1.50, 95% CI (109–2.07), respectively), from outside Windhoek, those who had failed or repeated school in the previous year (COR = 1.77, 95% CI (1.54–2.05)), those not disabled (AOR = 1.27, 95% CI (1.06–1.52)), those who had dropped out of school or had completed their studies, and those with no adult emotional support (AOR = 1.25, 95% CI (1.11–1.40)), were more likely to have abused alcohol and/or substances recently. In contrast, participants who were not depressed were less likely to have recently abused alcohol and substances. Conclusions: The prioritization of strategies to identify AGYW experiencing depression and to provide them with treatment is essential. Moreover, it is important to encourage parents and guardians to provide emotional support to AGYW, as it prevents them from abusing alcohol and substances. Full article

Background: Youth tobacco use remains a significant public health concern, particularly in urban communities disproportionately burdened by health disparities. In Baltimore City, where tobacco-related harms are elevated, understanding the relationship between tobacco use—including e-cigarettes—and mental health among high school students is essential for guiding equitable prevention and cessation strategies. The CEASE (Communities Engaged and Advocating for a Smoke-free Environment) program, in collaboration with the American Lung Association’s Not On Tobacco (N-O-T) initiative, developed an online school-based survey to inform community-responsive interventions. Aims: This study aimed to examine the associations between cigarette use, including conventional cigarette use, and self-rated mental health among high school students in Baltimore City. Methods: High school students in Baltimore City completed an anonymous online survey that assessed demographic characteristics, tobacco knowledge and use, mental health, and related behaviors. Self-rated mental health was dichotomized as poor versus fair/good. Tobacco use categories included current use of e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes. Logistic regression models were used to examine associations between tobacco use and self-rated mental health, adjusting for age, gender, race, and parental education. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. Results: No statistically significant associations were found between self-rated mental health and e-cigarette use and conventional tobacco use after adjusting for covariates. Conclusions: The absence of a significant association may reflect unique aspects of the social context in Baltimore City, where youth may not use tobacco products as a coping mechanism for mental health challenges. Alternatively, it may be due to limitations in measurement, particularly the use of a single-item mental health assessment. These findings should be considered preliminary. Future research using more comprehensive mental health measures and larger samples is warranted to further explore these complex relationships. Full article

Background/Objectives: Asthma is a prevalent chronic condition affecting approximately 300 million people globally. Despite advancements in treatment protocols, poor adherence to asthma medication remains a significant issue, often leading to severe complications, especially in children. This study aimed to identify factors influencing medication adherence among parents of children with asthma, using constructs from the theory of planned behaviour to better understand and improve adherence. Methods: This cross-sectional study employed a survey incorporating constructs from the theory of planned behaviour, demographic variables, and other adherence-related factors. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were applied to explore the relationship between these factors and adherence to asthma medications. Results: Out of 152 parents who visited the survey link, 150 were eligible. The average age was 35.58 ± 9.913 years; most participants were married (82%) and female (62.6%). Multivariate linear regression analysis of the parents’ factor showed parental attitude (β = 0.38, p < 0.001) and subjective norms (β = 0.34, p < 0.002) were significantly associated with parents’ intention to adhere to asthma medications. Conclusion: The study found that parental attitudes and subjective norms significantly impact the intention to adhere to asthma medication. Improving adherence is crucial for effective disease management, reducing healthcare costs, and enhancing the quality of life for children and their families. Interventions should focus on educating parents about the importance of adherence and engaging more family members to positively influence adherence through strengthened subjective norms. Full article

Background: Childhood obesity disproportionately affects Hispanic families in the U.S. Although parenting practices and interventions appear to be viable approaches to lower the risk of childhood obesity, there is limited information on which parenting practices would be relevant and culturally appropriate for Hispanic families. This study aimed to document the health-related factors that impact Hispanic parenting practices to inform evidence-based parenting interventions to improve child health outcomes and reduce the risk of childhood obesity. Methods: We conducted cross-sectional, formative research guided by the COREQ checklist. Hispanic parents of elementary school-aged children were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling. Eligible parents completed a brief sociodemographic survey, the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire (CFPQ), and an individual semi-structured interview. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were analyzed using a coding-based thematic approach. Results: Seventeen parents (88.2% female) participated in the study, and the majority reported Spanish as their preferred language (70.6%). According to parent-reported data, the children’s (52.9% female) mean age was 8.4 ± 1.5 years, and over half were classified as having overweight or obesity. The CFPQ analysis indicated that parents scored highest on subscales related to encouraging healthy eating and eating variety, a finding that was reinforced by interview data. Qualitative analysis identified four key themes: 1. parenting roles, routines, and strategies for promoting culturally appropriate and healthy meals; 2. beliefs of children’s health and weight; 3. beliefs on physical activity and screen time; and 4. environmental and social factors affecting access to healthy food and physical activity. Conclusions: Both quantitative and qualitative results emphasize that parents engage in healthy eating guidance and eating variety and are aware of the factors that impact parenting practices and their children’s health. To improve child health outcomes and reduce the risk of childhood obesity among Hispanic families, parenting interventions need to be culturally responsive and address the factors that influence parenting practices. The findings from this study highlight four key areas to prioritize when designing or adapting parenting interventions to lower the risk of childhood obesity among Hispanic families. Full article