Alain Guerrien

Quality of life in overweight and obese children and adolescents: a literature review

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to present a literature review on quality-of-life (QOL) assessment in overweight or obese children and adolescents in order to identify the most affected dimensions and better understand associated factors.MethodsThe ERIC, FRANCIS, MEDLINE, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, and Academic Search Premier databases were searched for articles reporting cross-sectional QOL studies in obese children and adolescents published in English before January 2013. The reference lists of retained articles were also screened.ResultsAmong the 34 articles retained for the analysis, only three did not report lower QOL among obese youth. Clinical populations appeared to be more affected than the general population. Several variables were associated with QOL such as self-image, bullying, bodily pain, quality of food intake, physical activity, screen time, parents’ educational level, and weight status.ConclusionsIdentifying variables associated with lower QOL in obese children and adolescents offers new perspectives for prevention and care. Further research is needed to better elucidate these findings. Better understanding QOL is a key element essential for the treatment for childhood and adolescent obesity.

Orientation motivationnelle et symptomatologie dépressive chez la personne âgée

This article is focused on motivation and depression in later life. For about 20 years, research on the motivation of elders has underlined the importance of the cognitive evaluation of life contexts, notably in terms of self-determination. This cognitive evaluation determines the motivational orientation for daily activities (notably the levels of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation). The purpose of this research was specifically to study the relationships between the existence of four types of motivation (intrinsic, self-determined extrinsic, nonself-determined extrinsic and amotivation) and the consequences for adaptation and well-being. The study, therefore, focused on the possible links between motivation and geriatric-depression level and explored the nature of this link. Forty persons aged 60 or over (31 women: 80.48+/-9.24; nine men: 80.56+/-9.48) who live in nursing homes (20 elderly) or in their own homes (20 elderly) were enrolled. Elderly persons were assessed with specific and standardized tools: the Elderly Motivation Scale (EMS, in the French version: EMPA) and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). For the statistical analyses of the results, correlations and Mann-Whitney test were used. We found that in elderly people, the motivational styles (the four types of motivation) can be reliably measured and are related to geriatric depression. First, significant positive links were noticed between intrinsic motivation and depression scores and between self-determined extrinsic motivation and depression scores. Conversely, significant negative links were noticed between nonself-determined extrinsic motivation and depression scores and between amotivation and depression scores. The most self-determined elders presented low-depression levels, whereas the more nonself-determined elders showed high-depression levels. Moreover, motivational styles significantly differed in the two groups (depressive or not depressive). The most depressive elders showed significantly lower-intrinsic and self-determined motivation levels. Our results support the hypothesis that motivational styles are related to important aspects (adaptation, well-being and depression) of the life of elderly people. Self-determination theory appears of high interest in research on aging and especially on the determinants of well-being in the elders.

Conséquences d’une catastrophe naturelle touchant le lieu de travail sur l’épuisement professionnel : Le cas du personnel d’un hôpital gériatrique

Resume Suite a une tornade de force 4 survenue le 03 aout 2008, la ville d’Hautmont et son centre hospitalier ont ete particulierement touches. Dans la litterature, la survenue de catastrophes naturelles et leurs consequences destructrices sont associees a l’emergence de troubles psycho-traumatiques : etat de stress post-traumatique (ESPT). L’objectif de cette etude etait de rechercher l’impact psychologique d’une catastrophe naturelle survenue en situation de travail en termes d’ESPT et d’epuisement professionnel, chez une population particulierement vulnerable, les personnels hospitaliers. Cette recherche a porte sur un groupe de 38 personnels hospitaliers, un an apres la survenue de la Tornade d’Hautmont. Les resultats de cette recherche montrent que cette catastrophe naturelle s’accompagne de plusieurs consequences. En effet, plusieurs cas d’ESPT et d’epuisement professionnel sont retrouves, aucun effet sur le niveau de stress au travail n’est releve.

A New Understanding of Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents with Obesity: Contribution of the Self-determination Theory

Purpose of ReviewPreservation of Quality of Life (QOL) is now a major determinant of obesity management, but little is known about variables predicting QOL. Identifying these predicting variables of QOL would provide further understanding of the QOL concept and help draw clinical implications. The Self-determination Theory (SDT) is a promising understanding perspective of the QOL.Recent FindingsThe SDT postulates that well-being and motivation are determined by the satisfaction of three needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Many researches have confirmed the relationships between these SDT’s needs and well-being, but this theory has little been applied to the problem of QOL in obese children and adolescents.SummaryLiterature results and theoretical implications of the SDT in understanding of QOL in youth obesity are discussed. New clinical applications could be drawn: in children with obesity, interventions promoting high satisfaction of the SDT’s needs could improve their QOL and help them break the vicious circles of overweight.

Développer les compétences psychosociales des élèves pour lutter contre le harcèlement scolaire: Une revue de la littérature.

L’objectif du présent article est de proposer un état des lieux des programmes d’intervention visant à lutter contre le harcèlement scolaire et dont le but est de développer certaines compétences psychosociales des élèves (par ex., empathie, affirmation de soi). Dans un tel contexte, il s’agit de clarifier l’état des connaissances sur le sujet pour la période de 2004 à 2015 en complétant les revues précédemment publiées. Une revue narrative systématique a été réalisée afin d’examiner et de synthétiser la littérature en anglais et en français portant sur les programmes d’intervention visant à développer les compétences psychosociales en vue de réduire les comportements de harcèlement et de victimisation. Cette revue a été effectuée au moyen de mots-clés désignant le harcèlement scolaire dans les bases de données ERIC, FRANCIS, REPERE, MEDLINE, PsycArticles, PsycINFO et Academic Research Premier. Sur les 11 articles inclus dans la revue de la littérature, 6 ont mis en évidence des changements significatifs dans les attitudes de harcèlement ou de victimisation des élèves à la suite de la mise en œuvre de programmes d’intervention. Plus précisément, 63 % des programmes ont permis de faire diminuer les comportements de harcèlement des élèves, et 50 % ont permis de réduire les comportements de victimisation des élèves. Les programmes les plus efficaces sont ceux qui développent à long terme une ou deux compétences psychosociales de façon ludique en ciblant le harcèlement scolaire. Les résultats de cette revue montrent donc qu’il existe un intérêt certain à développer les compétences psychosociales des élèves dans le cadre des programmes de lutte contre le harcèlement scolaire. The purpose of this article is to propose a French language inventory of the effectiveness of school bullying interventions that aim to enhance the social skills of students. A systematic narrative review of papers published between 2004 and 2015 was carried out using ERIC, FRANCIS, REPERE, MEDLINE, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO and Academic Research First. Of the 11 articles included in the literature review, 6 showed significant changes in bullying behaviours or in the victimization of students. Specifically, 63 % of the studies showed a significant decrease in intimidation and 50 % showed a decrease in victimization. The most effective programs were those that focused on developing 1 or 2 social competencies using play. Overall, findings indicate that there is value in implementing such antibullying programs.