[Knowledge and attitude of pupils about the cancer problem -- a pilot study conducted amongst pupils in Northern Baden (author's transl)].
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Adolescent↗
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[On the oral health habits and dental caries prevalence of junior high school pupils. I. The tendencies of pupils taught oral health education in kindergarten].
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Adolescent↗
Pupils' perceptions of a good teacher: a developmental perspective from Trinidad and Tobago.
The study reports on a large-scale survey of pupils' perceptions of a good teacher in the Caribbean republic of Trinidad and Tobago. An essay-based, interpretive mode of research was used to elicit and identify constructs used by pupils between ages 7 and 17. The sample was a proportional, stratified, clustered, yet randomly selected representation of primary and secondary schools across the two islands. 1633 essays were content analysed and coded for age developmental comparison. Factor analysis showed no consistent underlying groupings of the 166 conceptual items by age, thus analysis was undertaken within logically constructed sets of items that are described: physical and personal characteristics of the teacher, quality of the relationship between teacher and pupil, control of behaviour by teacher, descriptions of the teaching process, and expected educational and other outcomes obtained by pupils due to teacher efforts. Results showed a general increase in number of conceptual items (and words per essay) by age, but this confuses four further criteria of item used. The four criteria were: age constancy, characteristics of younger pupils, characteristics of 11-13 year-olds, and characteristics of the oldest pupils. All ages perceived good teachers by physical presentation (clothing and appearance), teachers' care for pupils, descriptive teaching actions, and trustworthiness. Younger pupils focused on appearance, subjects taught, and assertion of physical punishment. Mid-aged pupils focused on the range of classroom control used by teachers (including distributive and retributive punishments), actions involved in the teaching process, and a growing awareness of the individual needs of pupils. Oldest pupils understood that good teachers must be well trained and highly motivated, should be sensitive and responsive to the needs of pupils, draw the pupils into the learning process, and have a major responsibility in preparing the pupil for the world of work and further education. Important aspects of the study show the link between pupils' conceptual reality and classroom environment, that pupils are very concerned about the relationship between themselves and teachers, and that the curriculum dominated approach to teaching does not meet pupil expectations.
Adolescent↗
The measurement of pupil cycling time.
PURPOSE: To assess the influence of pupil size on pupil cycling time (PCT), a measure which may be elongated in cases of neurological disease. METHOD: Clinically, pupil "cycling" is produced by focusing a slit-lamp beam on the pupil margin. A rhythmic contraction and dilation of the pupil is produced, as changes in pupil size alternately prevent and allow the light beam to reach the retina. In this study, however, the light beam was controlled electronically so that cycling could be produced around different pupil sizes. Measurements of the variation of PCT with pupil size were taken from 22 young normal subjects. RESULTS: PCT was seen to depend upon pupil size, increasing monotonically but non-linearly as size increased. The wave-form of pupil cycling is typically sawtooth, contraction being much faster than dilation. There was considerable variation amongst subjects in the range of pupil sizes where pupil cycling could be elicited. CONCLUSIONS: The results point to the need for a standardised procedure for the measurement of cycling time, because differences in clinical conditions will themselves influence pupil size, as will other external variables such as ambient light level. The results also bring into question neurological explanations for increased PCT in those diseases where pupil size is affected, because normal subjects have PCTs well beyond the accepted limits of normality when their pupils are enlarged.
Adolescent↗
Change in pupil size after implantation of an iris-fixated toric phakic intraocular lens.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes in pupil size after implantation of an iris-supported toric phakic intraocular lens (TPIOL) for correction of myopia and hyperopia with astigmatism. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany. METHODS: Twenty-two myopic eyes and 9 hyperopic eyes were included in the study. The mean age of the 2 groups was 34 years and 40 years, respectively. The scotopic pupil size was measured with a handheld infrared pupillometer (Colvard, Oasis Medical) before and 6 months after implantation of the TPIOL. All examinations were performed under scotopic conditions after 2 minutes of dark adaptation with the fellow eye covered. Intraindividual comparisons were made between preoperative and postoperative pupil sizes. The relationship between implanted IOL power and postoperative pupil width in each group was studied to determine whether lens magnification could lead to misinterpretation of the results. The difference between horizontal and vertical postoperative pupil diameters was assessed in eyes with horizontally aligned IOLs to determine the potential mechanical effect of the TPIOL on pupil size. RESULTS: The mean scotopic pupil diameter decreased significantly from 4.7 mm (range 3.0 to 6.0 mm) preoperatively to 3.6 mm (range 2.0 to 5.0 mm) postoperatively in myopic eyes and from 5.0 mm (range 4.0 to 6.0 mm) to 4.0 mm (range 2.0 to 5.0 mm) in hyperopic eyes. No significant correlation between the power of the TPIOL and the postoperative pupil size diameter was found, confirming that the IOL did not distort measurements of pupil size. Comparing horizontal and vertical pupil diameters under medical mydriasis revealed reduced pupil size in the axis of enclavation. CONCLUSIONS: The scotopic pupil diameter decreased by a mean of 1.1 mm in myopic eyes and 1.0 mm in hyperopic eyes after implantation of the iris-supported TPIOL. Postoperative pupil size was not related to IOL power, patients' emotional states, or other factors. The slightly smaller pupil diameter in the axis of enclavation suggests that this fixation method restricts pupil size under scotopic conditions, which could reduce the incidence of postoperative photic phenomena.
Adult↗
Pupil size before and after phacoemulsification in nondiabetic and diabetic patients.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes in pupil size before and after phacoemulsification surgery in nondiabetic and diabetic patients and determine whether there is an association between preoperative pupil size and postoperative pupil size. SETTING: Hayashi Eye Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan. METHODS: In this study, 315 nondiabetic patients and 71 diabetic patients scheduled for phacoemulsification were recruited consecutively. The pupil area and pupil diameter were measured preoperatively and approximately 3 days and 1 month postoperatively using an infrared pupillometer and Colvard pupillometer, respectively. The simple association between preoperative and postoperative pupil size and between pupil size and age were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean pupil area in the nondiabetic group and diabetic group decreased significantly 3 days postoperatively and returned to approximately preoperative levels at 1 month. Strong associations were found between preoperative pupil area and diameter and the area and diameter at 3 days and 1 month in both groups. Younger age was weakly associated with larger pupils in the nondiabetic group. The pupil size in the diabetic group was smaller than in the nondiabetic group, although the difference was not significant preoperatively. The pupil size became smaller with increasing severity of diabetic retinopathy. CONCLUSIONS: Pupil size decreased immediately after phacoemulsification but returned to approximately preoperative levels by 1 month postoperatively in nondiabetic and diabetic patients. There was a strong association between preoperative and postoperative pupil size. The pupil size in diabetic patients was significantly smaller than in nondiabetic patients postoperatively.
Adolescent↗
Measurement of the spatial shift of the pupil center.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the pupil center as an anatomic landmark for excimer laser treatments. SETTING: Sekal-Microchirurgia-Rovigo Centre, Rovigo, Italy. METHODS: Pupillometry with the Costruzione Strumenti Oftalmici S.R.L. (CSO) pupil-measuring module (incorporated in Eye Top videokeratoscope) was performed in 52 patients with a diagnosis of myopia and in 25 patients with a diagnosis of hyperopia. Measurements both in mesopic and photopic conditions consisted of pupil diameters, spatial shift of the pupil center, and the distance between the pupil center and keratoscopic axis. RESULTS: The mean pupil diameter in photopic conditions of illumination in myopic eyes was 3.52 mm +/- 0.56 (SD), while in mesopic conditions it was 5.37 +/- 0.78 mm; in hyperopic eyes the mean photopic pupil diameter was 3.01 +/- 0.46 mm, while the mean mesopic diameter was 5.12 +/- 0.48 mm. The mean spatial shift of the pupil center in myopic eyes was 0.086 mm (maximum 0.269 mm), while in the hyperopic eyes it was 0.095 mm (maximum 0.283 mm). The mean distance between the pupil center and keratoscopic axis in myopic eyes was 0.226 +/- 0.13 mm (maximum 0.75 mm), while in hyperopic eyes it was 0.45 +/- 0.19 mm (maximum 0.8 mm). CONCLUSIONS: The mean of the measured pupil sizes was greater in myopic eyes than in hyperopic eyes. The spatial shift of the pupil center, as the pupil dilates, was relatively small in all groups; therefore, the pupil center is a good anatomic landmark for both traditional refractive surgery and wavefront-guided treatments. The mean distance between the keratoscopic axis and pupil center was greater in the hyperopic group than in the myopic group. Therefore, centration of any laser treatment on the basis of the keratoscopic analysis should be done carefully, especially in hyperopic eyes and in cases in which the pupil center is meaningfully shifted from keratoscopic axis, even in photopic conditions of illumination.
Adolescent↗
Comparison of Colvard pupillometer and infrared digital photography for measurement of the dark-adapted pupil diameter.
PURPOSE: To investigate the accuracy of pupil diameter measurement using the Colvard pupillometer and to determine the learning curve for inexperienced examiners. SETTING: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA. METHODS: In this population study, subjects with normal pupillary behavior were tested by 1 of 2 investigators (examiner A, examiner B). After 5 minutes of dark adaptation at 1 lux, digital infrared pupil photography of the right eye was performed, followed by measurement of the horizontal pupil diameter and vertical pupil diameter with the Colvard pupillometer. The photographs were digitally analyzed to determine the horizontal and vertical pupil diameters. During phase I of the study, examiners were masked to the results of infrared pupil photography; during phase II, they reviewed the infrared pupil photography results after each testing session. Bland-Altman plots were created to detect measurement bias; results were graphed by subject test sequence to assess learning. A test difference of less than +/-0.5 mm was considered clinically acceptable. RESULTS: Fifty-nine subjects were tested in phase I, of whom 39 had adequate infrared pupil photography for analysis; 40 were tested in phase II, of whom 34 were included. The mean age of the analyzed subjects was 27 years (range 18 to 44 years). For all subjects, the infrared pupil photography median horizontal pupil diameter was 7.09 mm +/- 0.75 (SD) (range 5.44 to 8.79 mm); the median vertical pupil diameter was 7.22 +/- 0.79 mm (range 5.45 to 9.10 mm). Examiner A initially had a negative bias (Colvard pupillometer value less than infrared pupil photography value) for both horizontal and vertical pupil diameter measurements, which resolved during phase I after 23 subjects were tested; 18 of the final 19 subjects tested (11 phase I, 8 phase II) showed a test difference of less than 0.5 mm for all readings. The pupil diameter did not affect the bias. Examiner B had a strong positive bias that persisted throughout the study. Testing 26 subjects in 5 sessions during phase II did not improve the accuracy. During the final testing session, 3 of 8 subjects had a test difference of 0.5 mm or more in at least 1 dimension. The pupil diameter did not affect the bias. CONCLUSION: The Colvard pupillometer is susceptible to user errors causing unidirectional bias and seems to have a steep and variable learning curve.
Adolescent↗
Current action for skin cancer risk reduction in English schools: pupils' behaviour in relation to sunburn.
In a random sample of schools distributed throughout all areas of England, 2703 primary school pupils from 46 schools and 2692 secondary school pupils from 32 schools were surveyed regarding behaviour in the sun, and opinions and experience of sunburn. Seventy percent (1879) of primary and 36.5% (982) of secondary pupils recalled hearing about protecting themselves from the sun at school. Primary school pupils who recalled they were told to 'stay in the shade' were more likely say they did so; 27.3% (739) of primary and 20.7% (556) of secondary school pupils reported getting sunburnt; and 53.2% (393/739) primary school pupils and 52.5% (292/556) secondary school pupils reporting sunburn said their sunburn peeled. The most common time both primary and secondary pupils said they got sunburnt at school was at lunchtime (mid-day break); the next most common time was during sports day. Pupils saying they did not protect their skin because they wanted a tan were more likely to report sunburn (41.7% primary and 29.5% secondary) than those giving other reasons. Primary school pupils who said they used sun screen frequently (285/847) were more likely than 'never users' (178/813) to report sunburn, as were secondary school pupils (53/192 and 264/1565 for frequent and 'never users', respectively). Dark- and light-skinned pupils at primary school (27.3 and 27.4%, respectively) were equally likely to say they had been sunburnt. At secondary school, only 10.6% of dark-skinned compared with 22.3% of light-skinned pupils reported sunburn. The last two findings might be related to cultural behaviours and are discussed later. Pupils of all ages need encouragement to protect their skin at mid-day break, to use sunscreens correctly and be aware of alternative sun-protection methods. Education is needed which challenges the notion that a 'tan is beautiful' and uses social teaching methods to empower pupils to carry out sun protection in real life.
Adolescent↗
Influence of pupil size, anisocoria, and ambient light on pilocarpine miosis. Implications for supersensitivity testing.
BACKGROUND: This study determines how pupil size, anisocoria, and ambient light influence miotic responses to dilute pilocarpine. The aim is to establish whether mechanical properties of the iris affect miotic behavior using a cholinergic agonist and, if so, to define a more specific clinical definition of supersensitivity testing for suspected tonic pupil disorders. METHODS: The right pupil of 42 normal subjects was first dilated with phenylephrine to create an experimental anisocoria. Then, pilocarpine 0.1% was placed in both eyes. Net constriction of the larger right pupil was determined by subtracting the amount of pilocarpine-induced constriction of the control left pupil from the amount of pilocarpine-induced constriction of the experimental right pupil. Pupil diameters were measured in room light and darkness. RESULTS: In only a few subjects, the larger right pupil became smaller than the left pupil after pilocarpine administration. Net constriction of the right pupil was greater when determined in room light than in darkness. The amount of net constriction of the right pupil showed good correlation with the degree of baseline anisocoria when evaluated in room light, but not so in darkness. CONCLUSION: Pupil size, degree of anisocoria, and light conditions influence the amount of pilocarpine-induced change in anisocoria. If a patient's larger pupil becomes the smaller pupil in darkness after dilute pilocarpine is applied to both eyes, then it is likely that such a response occurred independent of mechanical properties of the iris, and likely represents a supersensitive response. Ophthalmology.
Adolescent↗
[Calculating the localization and dimension of the real pupil in keratoconus with ray tracing of corneal topography data].
BACKGROUND: It is crucial to center surgical procedures for optical indications on the pupil or the optical axis of the eye. In keratoconus the pupil appears to be dislocated due to optical aberrations of corneal topography. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the real pupil structure from the virtual image using exact raytracing techniques. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-eight patients with keratoconus (46 with mild and 42 with severe clinical signs) and a control group of 40 normal subjects were included in this study. Topographic height data were calculated from refraction data of a commercially available topographer (TMS-1) using a local approximation algorithm and a convex surface was modelled using a subdivision scheme. For the posterior corneal surface we postulated an aspherical surface with a central radius of curvature of 6.5 mm using Navarro's model eye. At the virtual pupil outline a bundle of parallel rays were intersected with the anterior and posterior corneal surface and refracted into the anterior chamber. The intersections of these rays with the pupil plane was defined as the real pupil outline. We assessed the amount and direction of pupil dislocation, the ratio between the virtual and real pupil size for each group and correlated these parameters with the central corneal power. RESULTS: The size of the virtual pupil exceeded the reference value of the real pupil in the normal group by 11%, in the group with mild keratoconus by 19% and in the group with severe keratoconus by 35%. The center of the virtual pupil was decentered 0.06 mm in the normal group, 0.49 in the group with mild keratoconus and 1.24 mm in the group with severe keratoconus. Whereas the direction of decentration was randomly in the normal group, we measured a preferred decentration to the inferior quadrants in mild keratoconus and a systematic decentration to the temporal inferior quadrant in severe keratoconus. Correlation of the optical dislocation did not correlate with central corneal power in any group. CONCLUSIONS: In keratoconic eyes the pupil outline is distorted and dislocated due to optical aberrations of the cornea. Exact raytracing technique allows the calculation of the real pupil outline from the virtual image and the topographic height of both corneal surfaces. Knowledge about the real pupil position may have an impact on adequate centration of keratorefractive surgery and penetrating keratoplasty.
Adult↗
Correlation of pupil sizes measured with a mesopic infrared pupillometer and a photopic topographer.
PURPOSE: To determine if videokeratography-based pupil measurements are an accurate method of estimating pupil size under mesopic conditions. METHODS: Sixty patients who had a preoperative work-up for refractive surgery participated in the study. A single observer obtained detailed pupil measurements with the Colvard pupillometer under standardized lighting conditions. The same observer recorded pupil size measurements obtained automatically when corneal topographic analysis was performed with Humphrey videokeratography. RESULTS: The Colvard pupillometry low light group was statistically different (P < .0001) from the Humphrey videokeratography automatic pupil measurement group. We calculated the value at which the Humphrey pupil measurements can accurately predict which patients would have pupil diameters > or = 6.5 mm under low mesopic conditions. By adding a constant of 2.6 mm to the Humphrey videokeratography pupil measurement, 100% of patients with a pupil diameter > or = 6.5 mm under low mesopic conditions were detected (sensitivity 100%). However, the ability to correctly reject those patients who do not have pupil diameters > 6.5 mm under low mesopic conditions was lower at 55% (specificity). CONCLUSION: Videokeratography units can be used as a rapid, simple, and accurate method of predicting pupil size under mesopic conditions for potential refractive surgery patients and can provide a permanent record of pupil size. Care should be taken when relying on topography pupil sizes and more accurate measurements of mesopic and scotopic pupil sizes should be obtained.
Adult↗
Extreme responsiveness of the pupil of the dark-adapted mouse to steady retinal illumination.
PURPOSE: To measure the dependence of the size of the pupils of mice on steady retinal illumination. METHODS: Anesthetized C57BL/6 mice aged 7 to 8 weeks were placed in a ganzfeld chamber in darkness, and in monochromatic (510 nm) and white light whose intensity was varied more than 6 log units. The pupils of the mice were photographed with an infrared video camera and recorded on videotape and the pupil areas determined by digital image analysis of the video recordings. RESULTS: Fully dark-adapted murine pupils had an area of 2.29 +/- 0.35 mm2. The minimum pupil size at saturating intensity was 0.10 +/- 0.05 mm2. The steady state pupil area declined to half its dark-adapted maximum when ganzfeld luminance was 10(-5) scotopic candela (scot. cd) per meter squared. Pupil area declined to 20% of the dark-adapted magnitude at approximately 10(-3) scot. cd/m2. CONCLUSIONS: The mouse pupil can regulate retinal illumination by a factor exceeding 20. The neural circuitry that determines steady state murine pupil size is extremely sensitive to retinal illumination and under these experimental conditions is controlled almost exclusively by rod signals. This follows, because the ganzfeld illuminance (10(-5) scot. cd/m2) that causes the pupil to constrict to half its dark-adapted value corresponds to only approximately 0.01 photoisomerization per rod per second, whereas 80% reduction in pupil area occurs at approximately 1 photoisomerization per rod per sec. Based on this extreme responsiveness to steady illumination, the hypothesis is proposed that the murine pupil functions to protect a retinal circuit that can become saturated at extremely low photon capture rates. General principles of dark-adapted retinal circuitry support the identification of the first three neurons in the circuit as the rod, the rod bipolar, and the AII-amacrine. The rod and rod bipolar neurons do not approach saturation at the intensities at which the pupil constricts, however, and it seems unlikely that the AII-amacrine does. Thus the retinal neurons protected from saturation by the mouse pupil constrictions are probably ganglion cells with large receptive fields that have sustained responses.
Animals↗
Consumption, knowledge and attitudes of high school pupils towards alcohol and alcoholism: the Israeli experience.
Five hundred nine high school pupils from Holon (a city in the center of Israel) were surveyed about their consumption, knowledge and attitudes towards alcohol use and alcohol dependence. Two hundred fifty-nine pupils attended a vocational high school and 253 attended an academic high school. Forty percent of the pupils attending the academic school reported that they had drank beer between one to nine times during the last 2 months. In comparison with 72% of the vocational pupils, 42% of the academic pupils and 47% of the vocational pupils drank other alcoholic beverages (such as hard liquor, cognac, whisky or vodka) between one to nine times during the last 2 months. Boys drank alcohol more frequently than girls did. An earlier mean age of beer consumption was found among pupils in the vocational schools-12.8 years; as opposed to pupils in the academic school-13.4 years. Knowledge of most pupils concerning alcoholic beverages and its potential harmful effects was lacking and pupils in the academic school showed a higher level of knowledge in comparison with the vocational pupils. Pupils in the vocational school had more liberal attitudes concerning recurrent consumption of alcoholic beverages than pupils in the academic school. Among the three leading reasons for drinking in the two schools were helping foster a sense of belonging, wish to feel like an adult and desire to forget daily anxieties and conflicts. Pupils in vocational schools are a target population with a higher risk for consuming alcoholic beverages. Discussion groups should be held in school and include personal stories of recovering alcoholics.
Adolescent↗
Aberrations induced in wavefront-guided laser refractive surgery due to shifts between natural and dilated pupil center locations.
PURPOSE: To determine the aberrations induced in wavefront-guided laser refractive surgery due to shifts in pupil center location from when aberrations are measured preoperatively (over a dilated pupil) to when they are corrected surgically (over a natural pupil). SETTING: Center for Visual Science and Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA. METHODS: Shifts in pupil center were measured between dilated phenylephrine hydrochloride (Neo-Synephrine [2.5%]) and nonpharmacological mesopic conditions in 65 myopic eyes treated with wavefront-guided laser in situ keratomileusis (Technolas 217z, Bausch & Lomb). Each patient's preoperative and 6-month postoperative wave aberrations were measured over the dilated pupil. Aberrations theoretically induced by decentration of a wavefront-guided ablation were calculated and compared with those measured 6 months postoperatively (6.0 mm pupil). RESULTS: The mean magnitude of pupil center shift was 0.29 mm +/- 0.141 (SD) and usually occurred in the inferonasal direction as the pupil dilated. Depending on the magnitude of shift, the fraction of the higher-order postoperative root-mean-square wavefront error that could be due theoretically to pupil center decentrations was highly variable (mean 0.26 +/- 0.20 mm). There was little correlation between the calculated and 6-month postoperative wavefronts, most likely because pupil center decentrations are only 1 of several potential sources of postoperative aberrations. CONCLUSIONS: Measuring aberrations over a Neo-Synephrine-dilated pupil and treating them over an undilated pupil typically resulted in a shift of the wavefront-guided ablation in the superotemporal direction and an induction of higher-order aberrations. Methods referencing the aberration measurement and treatment with respect to a fixed feature on the eye will reduce the potential for inducing aberrations due to shifts in pupil center.
Adult↗
Pupil responses to stimulus color, structure and light flux increments in the rhesus monkey.
Visual stimuli that isolate pupil color and pupil grating responses in human vision have been used to investigate the properties, of stimulus-specific pupil responses in the rhesus monkey. We measured and compared pupil responses to light flux increments, isoluminant chromatic stimuli, and gratings of equal and lower space-averaged luminance. The parameters investigated were luminance contrast and chromatic saturation. The results demonstrate clearly the existence of pupil color, pupil grating and pupil light reflex responses in the rhesus monkey. Comparison of pupil color and pupil grating responses of equivalent amplitude reveals similar onset response latencies. However, both are approximately 40 ms longer than the corresponding pupil light reflex latency. In general these pupil responses are qualitatively similar to those observed in humans. However, when compared to equivalent human data, pupil onset response latencies are some 80-100 ms shorter and the pupil shows more rapid recovery from constriction.
Adult↗
National campaign effects on secondary pupils' bullying and violence.
BACKGROUND: Research on pupils' bullying (1991) and violence (1993) motivated the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science to initiate a national campaign on school safety. The government campaign was undertaken from 1995 to 2000. AIM: To test for differences in secondary pupils' bullying and violence before and after the campaign while controlling for different contextual variables. SAMPLES: In 1991, a representative survey on bullying was conducted in 36 secondary schools with 1,055 pupils from Year 2 and 4 classes (age range 13-16 years). In 1993, a survey on violent behaviour took place in 71 secondary schools with 1,998 pupils from Year 3 and 4 classes (age range 14-16 years). In 2000, a survey on bullying and violence was conducted in 60 secondary schools with 9,948 pupils from Year 1 to 6 classes (age range 12-18 years). METHODS: The data from pupils in identical school years were compared with respect to bullying (1991-2000) and violence (1993-2000). The statistical relations were analysed in two stepwise multiple regression analyses. Year of investigation (1991- 2000, 1993-2000) was the respective dependent variable. The independent variables were pupils' bullying or violence scores, sex, school year, contextual lesson, school, and community variables. RESULTS: In both regression analyses, the contextual lesson and school variables discriminated between the measurement years. Also, compared with 1991, the pupils in 2000 scored lower for being a bully and higher for being bullied directly. Compared with 1993, the pupils in 2000 scored lower for being a victim of intentional damage to property or emotional violence, lower for being a perpetrator of disruptive behaviour in school, and higher for being a perpetrator of intentional damage to property. CONCLUSIONS: The differences between the contextual variables measured before and after the campaign reflect changes in educational and instructional situations. Independent of these differences, the national campaign appears to have helped improve the awareness of pupils' social behaviour and elicit, in particular, a decrease in pupils' violent behaviour. However, more specific pedagogical and preventative support for pupils socially at risk appears to be needed to have a more prosocial impact on the behaviour of secondary school pupils.
Adolescent↗
Secondary school pupils' perceptions of burnout among teachers.
BACKGROUND: Numerous studies examined teachers' self-reports concerning their occupational burnout. Given that pupils are in a prime position to assess teachers' burnout, due to their intensive daily contact with their teachers and because some of pupils' behaviours can induce stress, the present study focuses on a relatively unexplored topic, namely the meanings that adolescents attach to burnout among their teachers. AIMS: This study was aimed at examining pupils' perceptions regarding burnout among their teachers, and to investigate the possible recommendations that the pupils would suggest to different constituents of the educational system for coping with burnout among teachers. SAMPLE: A total of 297 Israeli secondary school pupils (approximately 57% girls and 43% boys) studying in 12 tenth grade classes (mean age 15 years 8 months, SD = 0.42 years) participated in this study. METHODS: A questionnaire dealing with pupils' perceptions of burnout among teachers was administered. It included four sections. The first part asked for background of the pupils (sex and age). Next, pupils were asked an open-ended question in which they need to describe the most salient behaviour of a burned-out teacher in the classroom and to indicate the proportion of burned-out teachers among those teaching them. The third section consisted of a list of 14 items describing potential characteristics of burned-out teachers. The respondents were asked to indicate the extent to which, in their opinion, each of the descriptors characterized burned-out teachers. In addition, pupils were asked three open-ended questions in which they were required to describe the most salient way for (a) the students, (b) the teachers themselves and (c) the school principal to cope with teachers' burnout. RESULTS: Findings showed that the most frequently mentioned characteristics of burned-out teachers were: teachers who 'feel that working with pupils for a full day is an oppressive effort', 'feel wiped out at the end of a teaching day', 'feel that teaching is turning them into impatient persons' and 'feel that teaching frustrates them'. No differences were found between girls' and boys' perceptions of burned-out teachers: both emphasize the psychological exhaustion of teachers as the most salient characteristic of burnout among teachers. Pupils suggest that the better ways for coping with this phenomenon include a more positive behaviour of the pupils themselves towards teachers, that burned-out teachers quit their jobs and that better work conditions be offered to them by the educational authorities. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings allude to the importance of analyzing interactional phenomena like burnout among teachers from the perspectives of different actors in the school arena and allow us to broaden our understanding of pupils' perceptions of teachers. Suggestions for further research and for the development of methodological refinements are discussed.
Adolescent↗