Psychology in the Schools

doi: 10.1002/pits.22977pmid: N/A

Jiang, Yunpeng; Feng, Yang; Qi, Jianhao; He, Ru; Chao, Miao

doi: 10.1002/pits.23267pmid: N/A

To investigate how bullying victimization affects academic performance and the mediating effects of social anxiety and short video addiction among adolescents, a questionnaire survey was conducted on 2055 secondary school students in China. A Structural Equation Model was employed to analyze the data. The results showed that bullying victimization, social anxiety, short video addiction, and academic performance correlated significantly with each other. Bullying victimization directly influenced academic performance, and indirectly affected academic performance through the independent mediator of short video addiction, and the chain mediation of social anxiety and short video addiction. This study provides a novel perspective on understanding the underlying mechanisms through which bullying victimization impacts academic performance, emphasizing the importance of addressing the adverse effects of bullying among adolescents.

Flores, Marta; Sala‐Bars, Íngrid; Ortiz, Maite; Duran, David

doi: 10.1002/pits.23259pmid: N/A

This paper investigates whether Reciprocal Peer Observation is an effective practice for promoting Teacher Professional Development. It focuses on analysing the Improvement Goals transfer processes stemming from teachers' own educational approach, which teachers identify during Reciprocal Peer Observation. A total of 230 teachers, paired together, conducted a second classroom observation, focused on a specific Improvement Goals to assess the extent of their transfer. The findings indicate that Improvement Goals transfer to classroom practice occurs predominantly. The study analyses predictive and facilitating factors that contribute to this process. The results reveal that collaborative culture and collective agency are predictive factors for transfer. Similarly, personal factors arising from reflection and awareness of one's own practices, alongside the support of the partner, could promote the identified processes of improvement. In conclusion, Reciprocal Peer Observation can be regarded as a highly effective practice for identifying Improvement Goals and transferring them to the classroom, benefiting Teacher Professional Development.

Chen, Yoke Y.; Ting, Chuong H.; Ghazali, Siti R.; Ling, Ang A.

doi: 10.1002/pits.23258pmid: N/A

With the increasing prevalence of mental health issues among children, there is a growing need to implement school‐based preventive programs for emotional well‐being in Malaysia. Super Skills for Life (SSL) is a transdiagnostic preventive program designed based on the cognitive‐behavioral therapy concept to address emotional problems among children. This study examined the effectiveness of the M‐SSL program in reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms as well as other psychological issues such as social competency, worries, cognitive and emotional regulation in a sample of Malaysian children between the ages of 10 and 12. A quasi‐experimental preintervention and postintervention research design was conducted. A total of 165 primary school children (M = 10.9, SD = 0.72) were recruited with 88 of them randomly assigned to the intervention group. All of them were asked to complete a questionnaire consisting of demographic data, the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Revised, Spencer Children's Anxiety Scale, Strength and Difficulties Questionnaires, Social Skills Questionnaires and Cognitive Emotional Regulation Questionnaires. Children in the M‐SSL group significantly reported lower levels of depressive scores during follow‐up assessment compared to the children in the control group. They also showed significant improvement in their depressive subscale scores, social worries scores, and the way they perceived an event as compared to the control group. These findings provide initial support for the effects of M‐SSL, suggesting that it is a valuable resource for the prevention of depressive symptoms and for improving social worries among children.

Liu, Di; Mao, Yiwen; Lory, Catharine; Lei, Qingli; Zeng, Yingying

doi: 10.1002/pits.23261pmid: N/A

Computation is foundational to learning many mathematics concepts, as well as a functional skill in everyday life. Yet students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have challenges in learning computation skills. The current study aimed to provide quantitative and descriptive analyses of single‐case experimental studies on computation interventions for students with ASD. Our systematic search and screening procedures yielded a total of 16 eligible studies for the final analyses. An analysis of publication bias indicated an absence of publication bias in the included studies. Tau‐U was used to calculate the overall intervention effect, resulting in an omnibus effect of 0.90 (95% CI [0.81, 1.00]), indicating a medium effect. Moderator analyses showed that variables such as study design, participant characteristics, intervention characteristics, and target skills did not moderate intervention effects. However, some evidence‐based practices were identified to significantly moderate maintenance effects. Implications for researchers and practitioners are discussed.

He, Guohao; Hua, Tian; Liang, Fang; Su, Aoxue

doi: 10.1002/pits.23264pmid: N/A

Although the growth mindset is essential to students' math achievement, its mechanism of influence remains uncertain, particularly for college students. Accordingly, this study explored the relationship between college students' growth mindset and their math achievement, as mediated by their self‐efficacy and reasoning ability. The study data were gathered by surveying 576 undergraduates taking various undergraduate programs at a Chinese university. Our results showed that (1) students' growth mindset did not directly predict their math achievement; (2) self‐efficacy mediated the relationship between students' growth mindset and their math achievement; and (3) the growth mindset affected students' math achievement through the chain‐mediation of self‐efficacy and reasoning ability. Overall, the finding that the growth mindset indirectly benefits Chinese college students' math achievement provides invaluable guidance to higher education professionals aiming to develop more effective math programs. Moreover, the mediating effects of self‐efficacy and reasoning ability were also theoretically important to better understand the potential influence mechanism of the growth mindset on college students' math achievement.

Willemse, T. Martijn; Nelen, Monique J. M.; Blonk, Anita

doi: 10.1002/pits.23266pmid: N/A

Despite the fact that research shows that collaboration between families and schools contribute to academic achievement, social‐emotional development and sense of well‐being of students, many schools struggle to establish family‐school partnerships. The current study explores keys to success and challenges in engaging families to the design and implementation of School Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS). In a two‐step systematic assessment, consisting of an online survey (n = 27 participants) and five focus group interviews with administrators and members of SWPBIS leadership teams in schools for primary education (n = 15 participants), we found that all 27 participating schools considered partnerships and communication with parents important. However, most participating schools did not have a policy or strategic planning for engaging families, nor did they systematically evaluate their actions. Schools used one‐way approaches of communicating with parents and found it hard to adapt their communication to a diverse population of new parents and parents already familiar with SWPBIS. Schools did not communicate about what was achieved by implementing SWPBIS in their school. Including families in the SWPBIS leadership team was often considered challenging. Input from families on SWPBIS was not collected, nor did schools gather information about family's needs, (cultural) backgrounds to develop strategies for engaging families. Further research on actual school practices in engaging families is recommended.

Tsega, Tigist Wuhib

doi: 10.1002/pits.23265pmid: N/A

The main purpose of this research was to identify ethical decision‐making approaches in school counseling. The study focused on the experiences of secondary school counselors in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A concurrent triangulation mixed methods design was used for getting a complete understanding of ethical decision‐making approaches of school counseling. Forty participants were involved in the quantitative part of the study, while six participated in the qualitative part of the study. For the quantitative aspect, a survey was utilized, and the data were analyzed using tables, frequencies, and percentages. The result showed that participants used variety of approaches to deal with ethical challenges for school counseling, including open discussion, personal sense of morality, and respecting code of students' discipline. However, the least percentage (22.5%, n = 9) has observed for using of code of ethics in counseling profession. In the qualitative part, semi‐structured in‐depth interviews were used to explore the experiences of ethical decision‐making and the meaning of those experiences for secondary school counselors currently practicing at Addis Ababa city. Qualitative data were analyzed by using thematic analysis technique. The major ethical decision‐making approaches identified in school counseling were (a) building a good relationship and guaranteed confidentiality, (b) referral linkage, (c) training for students and collaboration, and (d) life experience and personal sense of morality. The most common meanings attributed to dealing with ethical challenges in school were the urge to share information with to get personal relief, feeling of stress, and gain personal satisfaction from acts of compassion. Implications are forwarded to support school counselors in taking an action for professional development and to promote quality of school counseling practices.

Kahan, Sara; Rahill, Stephanie

doi: 10.1002/pits.23262pmid: N/A

One of the roles of school psychologists is consultation, an indirect service delivery method in which the consultant (i.e., the school psychologist) supports students' academic, behavioral, and social‐emotional functioning through collaborating with teachers and parents. Conjoint Behavioral Consultation (CBC), also known as Teachers and Parents as Partners (TAPP), is unique in that teachers and parents work together during the consultation process to improve elementary, middle, and high school students' functioning. This study evaluted the effects of CBC for children in early childhood when conducted via remote delivery. A nonconcurrent multiple baseline across participants design was used to evaluate the efficacy of CBC at improving outcomes for children in early childhood at home and school. Additionally, teacher and parent acceptability of CBC and CBC provided remotely were assessed. Participants included four parent‐teacher‐student triads. Results found CBC to improve difficulties for preschool children across settings. Additionally, CBC acceptability via remote delivery was high for both parents and teachers.

Takyi Mensah, Elijah; Chen, Mingkun; Ntim, Seth Yeboah; Shen, Tingyu; Asanga, Arnold Amasiya; Aboagye, Michael Osei; Gabrah, Antoinette Yaa Benewaa

doi: 10.1002/pits.23268pmid: N/A

The quest to flourish academically and acquire skills needed for job opportunities has brought people from different cultures and countries to closely interact. Using Vygotsky's sociocultural theory, this study examines the relationship between international students' intercultural sensitivity and academic adaptation and the mediating role of general health. A one‐way analysis of variance and structural equation model were conducted to assess the differences and relationships between the constructs, utilizing 338 respondents. The findings showed that male, doctoral, and English‐taught students reported significantly higher academic adaptation. Students who have no or less COVID‐19 related issues reported higher general health. Further, the regression results revealed that intercultural sensitivity is related to academic adaptation, and general health partially mediated the intercultural sensitivity and academic adaptation relationship. These findings demonstrate that intercultural sensitivity nurtures students' self‐esteem and mental toughness, which allow them to reap good health outcomes that impact academic adaptation. The practical implications and limitations of the study have been discussed.