http://hdl.handle.net/10788/1 2017-07-08T16:35:08Z http://hdl.handle.net/10788/3291 School victimisation of disadvantaged children and association with depression and health related quality of life: The Baseline picture Hyland, John; Hyland, Pauline; Comiskey, Catherine Background: While bullying victimisation research in primary and post-primary schools is plentiful, investigation into victimisation rates and associated correlates within disadvantaged primary schools is negligible. Objectives: The aim of this paper is to present analysis of baseline data from the longitudinal ‘Healthy Schools’ programme. Method: A sample of 458 children from DEIS-Band 1 primary schools in the greater Dublin region participated. Incidences of victimisation were analysed, employing both a general measure of victimisation, and specific questions on bullying behaviours (e.g. Teasing, Name calling). In addition, victimisation rates were categorised and differences were explored with regard depression and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Results: Frequency of victimisation (33.8%) was relatively consistent with current literature in Irish primary school. As expected, victimisation predicted higher scores on depression (p< .001) and lower scores on all five subscales of HRQoL, Physical Well-being (p = .044), Psychological Well-being (p < .001), Autonomy and Parent Relations (p = .015), Social Support and Peer Relations (p < .001), and School Environment (p = .027). Conclusion/Importance: Interesting discussion points from the baseline data include the consistency of victimisation trends compared to current trends in general primary school victimisation literature. Moreover, the large differences in depression and HRQoL across victimisation categories is a cause for concern. Author keywords: Bullying, depression, health related quality of life, disadvantaged 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10788/3290 Coping with bullying: Strategies used to deal with traditional and cyber bullying in Irish post-primary school Hyland, Pauline; Lewis, Christopher Alan; McGuckin, Conor; Hyland, John Recent research in the field of traditional and cyber bullying has explored the coping strategies employed by victims of bullying (Machmutow et al., 2012) in response to hypothetical scenarios. However, the focus of the current research was to extend this research to examine the actual methods utilised by adolescents. Furthermore, the incidence rates of cyber and traditional bully/victim problems and their associated psychological variables were assessed. A sample of 1,335 13 to 19 year old post-primary school students in Ireland completed measures assessing traditional and cyber victimisation and bullying, methods of coping with bullying and a number of psychological variables. Results indicated that adolescents were involved in both cyber (75.7%) and traditional (84.9%) bully/victim problems, and that the effects of victimisation on mental health can be mediated by coping strategies adopted by the individual. Consequently, the coping strategy adopted may lessen the significant impact to mental health for those that these experience victimisation. Future research should address the effectiveness of coping strategies further. This may help to reduce potential future involvement in bullying and associated psychological effects. Author keywords: Bullying, coping, cyberbullying, mental health 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10788/3289 Body Image Dissatisfaction in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Disease type, Treatments, DASS and General Happiness Walsh, Caroline; Hyland, Pauline This study aimed to examine the association between body image dissatisfaction (BID) in patients of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with factors relating to their disease and emotional states. This was a mixed study of cross-sectional and correlational design. Participants (n = 111) completed a self-reporting questionnaire on demographics, disease type, disease activity, drug therapies and surgical procedures. A depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS) and a general happiness scale were also included. Qualitative questions (n = 4) addressed the interference IBD had on the patient’s daily life. The results found a significant difference in BID in patients with Crohn’s disease, moderate to severe disease activity and cortisol steroid drug therapy. BID was found to predict DASS and general happiness in patients. Depression and anxiety were found to predict BID revealing a bi-directional relationship. Qualitative analysis suggested that 71.1% of patients had concerns over their appearance and 80.8% of patients reported that these concerns had affected their lives. The presence of BID, negative emotions and the interference these have on patients functioning should be considered in the treatment of IBD. Author keywords: Mental health, body image, inflammatory bowel disease 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10788/3258 The health of academic psychology Murphy, Jonathan For those starting out in academia, it is an arduous climb, often with uncertain perspective; a career ladder moving in the wind, with few rungs, dangling from a helicopter being piloted by non-academic managers. And from this precarious position, it is expected you offer students the best learning environment. 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10788/3247 Reading recovery : an intervention to accelerate literacy levels and attitudes towards reading and writing Hearty, Aibhin The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of “Reading Recovery” as an early intervention for literacy, and to measure the correlation between attitudes and literacy levels. A quasi-experimental analysis using a between group design, measured the effects of the intervention across a twelve week period. Four participants received the intervention, and six participants did not. Reading Recovery and standardised assessments measured reading comprehension, fluency, phonemic awareness, and writing accuracy. The experimental group improved significantly across three time points, and scored significantly higher than the control group in most assessments at time three. Attitudes towards reading and writing significantly improved with rising literacy scores for experimental participants. Reading Recovery was successful in improving literacy scores and attitudes, and should be considered for broader research across Irish schools. Author keywords: Education, literacy, intervention 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z