School attendance problems experienced by children are a concern across Canadian educational systems. Higher rates of attendance issues exist among children who experience emotional and behavioural difficulties, which places them at heightened risk for poor educational outcomes. Frequently explored in educational research are variables related to school attendance problems among the general child population, however, a shortage of literature exists that explores these elements among children with emotional and behavioral difficulties. To address this void, this mixed-methods study explored child and educational elements that surrounded the school attendance problems of a sample of children receiving mental health services at a community clinic. Together, analyses of data gathered from the CANS, SDQ, and client files indicated that dynamic and reciprocal relationships existed among children’s emotional, behavioural, social, and academic difficulties which contributed to their attendance and overall educational experiences. These results corroborate existing research related to school attendance problems, however, provide unique insights into the profiles of this particular population and how their needs can be better met to promote more positive school experiences.

Background: European studies on determinants and factors associated with problematic smartphone use (PSU) in children and adolescents are still sparse. This study reports the current amount of PSU symptoms and the presence of (clinically relevant) PSU in German children and adolescents. We also investigated associations between sociodemographic factors, different smartphone usage patterns, and daily smartphone usage time and the amount of PSU symptoms in this group. In addition, associations of PSU symptoms and high smartphone usage times (> 2 h/day) with behavioural problems, quality of life (QoL), and school performance were investigated. Methods: Within the framework of the LIFE Child study, 564 children and adolescents aged 10–18 years provided information on PSU symptoms (using the Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale), daily smartphone usage time, smartphone activities, behavioural strengths and difficulties (using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire), QoL (using the KIDSCREEN-27), and school performance. Multiple regression analyses were applied to assess associations. Results: In the present sample, PSU was present in 13 children (2.3%). Older age, female gender, high daily smartphone usage time of > 2 h, and intensive smartphone use for social networking, gaming, or watching video clips were significantly associated with more PSU symptoms. Children and adolescents reporting more PSU symptoms also showed lower QoL, more behavioural difficulties, and poorer school performance, independently of age, gender, socio-economic status, and daily smartphone usage time. In contrast, daily smartphone usage time per se showed only weak or non-significant associations with these aspects of health and behaviour. Conclusion: Intensive smartphone use for entertainment may increase the risk of developing PSU symptoms. Furthermore, the results indicate that PSU symptoms (more than long smartphone usage times per se) are associated with more behavioural difficulties and poorer QoL

The study aimed to examine the extent of indigenous play or teret-teret, as a psychotherapeutic technique to assist young adolescents in their adjustment from socio-emotional and behavioural difficulties. Following a mixed-methods, the study was conducted in three phases. The qual then QUANT in the main study followed by QUANT - QUANT and finally qual was employed. Two hundred ninety-nine participants, with 13 in Phase 1; 221 in Phase 2, and 65 in Phase 3, were involved in the study. Thirteen participants were purposively selected based on their experiences and merits for Phase 1, while 221 were selected through multilevel probability sampling techniques for Phase 2. Among the 65 participants for Phase 3, five were selected randomly whereas 60 were selected purposely. Three data-gathering instruments, comprising in-depth interviews, archive analysis, and questionnaires were employed. This design explored the quality of 62 manifestations of indigenous teret-teret for use in psychotherapy. The qualitative phenomenological study confirmed teret-teret as a relevant psychotherapeutic technique, practised in Ethiopia for the adjustment of young adolescents who experience socio-emotional and behavioural difficulties. The intervention study revealed statistically significant differences between the participants who received teret-teret psychotherapy and those who did not receive teret-teret psychotherapy. It was found that teret-teret psychotherapy advanced the socio-emotional and behavioural competencies of the participants. The cross-sectional survey study verified a 43% prevalence rate of composite SEBD, with 50% being anxiety/depression, 45% somatic complaints, 44% attention problems, 43% delinquency, and 42% aggression, respectively. Implications were discussed about applying indigenous child-friendly stories, teret-teret, as psychotherapeutic techniques to help young adolescents who display socio-emotional and behavioural difficulties at schools and in community settings. / Inhloso yocwaningo kwabe kukuhlola izinga lomdlalo weshashalazi kumbe i-teret-teret, njengendlela yokusoconga ingqondo (psychotherapeutic technique)ukunceda abantu abasha abasesigabeni sobujongosi (adolescents) nokulawula isimo sabo ukusukela kwizinkinga zenhlalakahle yabantu ngokwemizwanangendlela yokuziphatha. Uma kulandelwa uhlelo lwezindlela ezivangene (mixed-methods design), ucwaningo lwenziwe ngokwehlukaniswa izigaba ezintathu: Isigaba soku-1: Uhlelo lwengxoxo (Qualitative)–idizayini yefenomenoloji (phenomenological design), Isigaba sesi-2: Uhlelo lwamanani (Quantitative) – idizayini yesaveyi (survey design) kanyeneSigaba sesi-3: Uhlelo lwamanani (Quantitative) – idizayini engenelelayo. Abadlalindima abangamakhulu amabili namashumi ayisishiyagalolunye, ngesigaba se 13 eSigabeni soku-1; 221 kuSigaba sesi-2 naku 65 eSigabeni sesi-3,zonke zazibandakanyekile ocwaningweni. Abadlalindima abayishumi nantathu babekhethwe ngenhloso ngenxa yolwazi lwabo kanye nomsebenzi wabo oncomekayo eSigabeni soku-1, kanti aba-221 babekhethwe ngokusebenzisa indlela yesampuli ebizwa nge-multilevel probability sampling techniques kwiSigaba sesi- 2.Hlangana nabadlalindima abangama 65 beSigaba sesi-3, abahlanu bakhethwe kuyo yinoma kuphi kanti aba60 bakhethwe ngenhloso. Amathuluzi amathathu okuqoqa idatha, aqukethe izinhlolovo ezijulile, ukuhlaziywa kwama-akhayivu, kanye nemibhalo equkethe imibuzo yizinto ezisetshenzisiwe. Le dizayini beyihlola izinga lemisebenzi engama 62 eveziwe yendabuko teret-teretngokusetshenziswa kuhlelo lokusocongwa kwengqondo. Ucwaningo olugxile kwifenomenoloji yengxoxo iqinisekise umdlalo we teret-teret njengendlela efanele yokusocongwa kwengqondo, okuyingqubo elandelwa ezweni lase-Ethiopia ngenhloso yokushintsha isimo sabantu abasha abasesigabeni sobujongosi abahlangabezana nobunzima kwinhlalakahle yabantu ngokwemizwa kanye nezinkinga ezimayelana nokuziphatha. Ucwaningo olungenelelayo luveze ngokwamanani imehluko egqamile phakathi kwabadlalindima abafumene ukusocongwa ngokomqondo ngomdlalo we teret-teret kanye nalabo abangakaze bathole ukusocongwa ngokomqondo ngeteret-teret. Kutholakele ukuthi ukusocongwa komqondo ngeteret-teret kuthuthukise inhlalakahle yabantu nangezimpawu ezikhombisa ukuziphatha kahle kwabadlalindima. Ucwaningo olubizwa nge-cross-sectional survey lufqinisekise 43% yezinga lokutholakala kwezinkinga zenhlalakahle yabantu ngokwemizwa nangokuziphatha (SEBD),okuyi-50% yezinga lentukuthelo/ingcindezi yengqondo, i-45% yezikhalo, i-44% yezinkinga ezidinga ukuxazululwa, i-43% yezinga lokuphambana nomthetho kanye ne-42% yokuba nolunya,kanjalo nje. Okuchazwayo lapha kuxoxiwe mayelana nokusebenzisa izindatshana zendabuko ezijabulisa izingane, teret-teret, zisebenza njengamasu okusoconga ingqondo ukunceda abantu abasha abasesigabeni sobujongosi abakhombisa izinkinga ezimayelana nenhlalakahle yabantu ngokwemizwa nangokuziphatha ezikoleni kanye nasezindaweni zemiphakathia. / Die doel van die studie was om ondersoek in te stel na die mate waarin inheemse spel of teret-teret, as ʼn psigoterapeutiese tegniek ingespan word om jong adolessente by te staan in hul aanpassing van sosio-emosionele en gedragsprobleme af. ʼn Gemengde-metodes-ontwerp is gebruik en die studie is in drie fases uitgevoer: Fase 1: Kwalitatief–fenomenologiese ontwerp, Fase 2: Kwantitatief – opname-ontwerp enFase 3: Kwantitatief – ʼn intervensie-ontwerp. Twee-honderd-nege-en-negentig deelnemers, met 13 in Fase 1; 221 in Fase 2 en 65 in Fase 3,is by die navorsing betrek. Dertien deelnemers is doelgerig gekies op grond van hul ervarings en meriete vir Fase 1, terwyl 221 deur meervlakkige waarskynlikheidsteek proefnemingstegniekegekies is vir Fase 2. Uit die 65 deelnemers vir Fase 3, is vyf ewekansig gekies, terwyl 60 doelbewus gekies is. Drie instrumente is ingespan vir data-insameling, naamlik diepte-onderhoude, argiefontleding, en vraelyste. Hierdie ontwerp het die gehalte van 62 manifestasies van inheemse teret-teret vir gebruik in psigoterapie ondersoek. Die kwalitatiewe fenomenologiese studie het bevestig dat teret-teretʼn relevante psigoterapeutiese tegniek is wat in Etiopië beoefen word vir die aanpassing van jong adolessente metsosio-emosionele en gedragsprobleme. Die intervensiestudie het statisties beduidende verskille getoon tussen die deelnemers wat teret-teret-psigoterapie ontvang het en dié wat nie teret-teret-psigoterapie ontvang het nie. Daar is bevind dat teret-teret-psigoterapie die sosio-emosionele en gedragsvaardighede van die deelnemers verbeter het. Die deursnee-opname het ʼn 43%-voorkomskoers van saamgestelde sosio-emosionele en gedragsprobleme (SEBD) getoon,met 50% daarvan angs/depressie, 45% somatieseklagtes, 44% aandagprobleme, 43% oortredings, en 42% aggressie,onderskeidelik. Implikasies is bespreek met betrekking tot die toepassing van inheemse, kinderviendelike stories, teret-teret, as psigoterapeutiese tegnieke om jong adolessente te help wat sosio-emosionele en gedrags probleme by skole en in gemeenskapsituasies toon. / Psychology of Education / Ph. D. (Psychology of Education)