Research in Education and Rehabilitation

SOPHROLOGY, PSYCHOSOMATICS, DEONTOLOGY AND CREATIVITY

Miroslav Prstačić — 2025-07-18

Ancient and contemporary reflections on Man’s consciousness, on psychosomatics, spirituality and man’s creative and/or destructive impulses can be considered as his permanent need to understand the sources, beginnings and meaning of existence, the miracles of nature and the connection between mind and body. The results of the study of the anthropological traits of perception, imagination, and creativity in various disciplines of art and science reveal that the experience of aesthetic pleasure arises from biological needs, the symbolic values of the object, and the distant analogies of archetypal images in the planetary mind of man. The archetypal primordial feature of the imagination contained in itself, probably as early as the Neolithic, an intuited germ of archaic humanism, which later, together with the discovery of consciousness for the concept of the soul and the sacred, would appear in the thought of Buddha, Lao-Tzu, Zoroaster, Christ and Mohammed, as well as in many other traditional beliefs and legacies in the human mind. In this context, culture can be considered as a way of life that encompasses beliefs and religiosity, rituals and various arts (music, theatre, poetry, painting, dance…) mentality and patterns of historically transmitted symbols. At the same time, speech is marked by all physical, psychosomatic, psycho-emotional and spiritual manifestations and is the origin of hermeneutics itself. On this path, hierarchical relations in science are manifested in the development of traditional and new scientific disciplines, in the constant discovery of enigmas about Man and the World, while the primordial and magical power of various arts constantly enters the metaphysical field of consciousness as a form of energetic, symbolic and aesthetic expression of the life potentials. Following the idea and reflections of Professor Caycedo in the sense of "Ut conscientia noscatur" / "That consciousness may be known," sophrology (an elegant neologism) is presented as an innovative thought and a complementary discipline (science and philosophy) of a new era. It focuses on studying the interconnectedness of mind, body, the nature of life potentials, and human creativity, utilizing holistically conceived deep-ecological, transcultural, psychosomatic, and trans-disciplinary approaches and methods with educational, prophylactic, and/or therapeutic goals. The content is considered within the framework of the following complementary themes: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince and Friedrich Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra; Sayings/proverbs in the culture of the Igbo people in Nigeria, rendered into verses in the form of Japanese haiku poetry; Sophrology – a complementary discipline of a new era on consciousness and creativity; Ut pictura poesis: excerpts from a Croatian-French clinical study in the field of psychosocial oncology, sophrology, and creative art therapy; Bioethics and deontology with a review of reflections on interdisciplinarity, art, the mission of the European consortium EcARTE, applied cognitive science (ACS), and related fields.

SOCIAL STATUS, STIGMATIZATION, AND INSTITUTIONAL INVISIBILITY OF SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES RESULTING FROM THE CRIME OF WARTIME RAPE

Midhat Čaušević — 2025-07-18

The paper addresses the issue of sexual violence during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a particular focus on the status and rights of rape victims. It analyzes the causes, consequences, and forms of sexual violence as a weapon of war, and highlights the numerous obstacles victims face in seeking justice and adequate reparations. Special emphasis is placed on the legal framework and institutional response, including domestic legislation, international standards, and the work of non-governmental organizations. Through a multidisciplinary approach, the paper examines the psychological, social, and legal aspects of trauma, as well as the societal stigmatization of surviving women. The aim of the paper is to emphasize the need for a systematic approach in recognizing and protecting the rights of victims of wartime sexual violence and to propose concrete recommendations for improving the legislative and institutional response.

THE ATTITUDES OF TEACHERS AND SPECIAL EDUCATORS TOWARDS THE USE OF COMPUTERS AND MODERN TECHNOLOGY IN TEACHING CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

Aleksandra Bašić — 2025-07-18

The goal of education is to provide favorable conditions for creativity, cooperation, actualization, and flexibility in order to prepare students for active work and functioning in society. This is especially important for inclusive education as students with potential. It is necessary that teachers have a positive attitude towards their use of technology in the education process. Our disabilities need specific support that will ensure equality of opportunity and enable them to reach their full aim was to determine the attitudes of class and subject teachers and special educators towards the use of modern technology in working with students with developmental disabilities. We surveyed 248 teachers and special educators. Attitudes were examined using a modified Scale for Assessing Teachers' Attitudes towards Computers Questioner. The results indicate that special educators working with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) had higher scores on the dimensions of usefulness (t = 3.14, p <0.01) and immersion (t = 2.10, p <0.05). Subject-teachers who had experience with children with ASD had less interest (t = -2.14, p <0.05) and less confidence in the usefulness of computers (t = -2.54, p <0.05). In general, attitudes of all sample groups were positive, when it comes to computer use with children with disabilities. This research shows that there is interest among teachers to implement and integrate modern technology in educational system in the Republic of Serbia. Future research should focus on the impact on motivation and effects of computer use in different school subjects on children’s knowledge.

ASSESSMENT OF PHONOLOGICAL AWARENESS IN CHILDREN WITH MILD INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY

Bojan Bogdanovski — 2025-07-18

Children with mild intellectual disability need highly professional treatment in order to achieve maximum functioning in the performance of daily activities in society. Phonological awareness as a prerequisite for healthy and correct speech-language development, in children with mild intellectual disability, is not sufficiently examined by special educators and speech and language pathologist in their daily practice. The aim of this research is to assess phonological awareness in children with mild intellectual disability. For the purposes of this research, 50 children with mild intellectual disability and a control group of 50 children with typical development are included. The groups are composed of students from the second to the fifth grade who attend classes in the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia. For the purposes of this research, the “SLP.Bojan - Test for Assessment of Phonological Awareness” was used as an instrument. The results show that students with mild intellectual disabilities have a significant impairment of phonological awareness compared to students with typical development. We conclude that phonological awareness, as a prerequisite for the healthy development of a large number of important segments in the child's development, should be promptly and always assessed by special educators and speech-language pathologists, as well as its disorders should be promptly and appropriately treated.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR INFLUENCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN ADULTS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT

Nevenka Mravlinčić — 2025-07-18

Visual impairment significantly affects the quality of life of individuals who experience it, limiting their daily activities, social interactions, and emotional well-being. Physical activity is often cited as an important factor in improving quality of life, but its relationship with individuals with visual impairment has not been sufficiently explored. This study aimed to examine the importance of physical activity on the quality of life in adults with visual impairment. The research was conducted on a sample of 160 adults with visual impairment from Zagreb and the Zagreb County. Data were collected using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the Impact of Vision Impairment (IVI) questionnaire. Statistical analysis included correlation and regression methods to determine the relationship between variables. The study found a significant association between physical activity and quality of life in adults with visual impairment. Moderate physical activities, particularly those related to household tasks and work, were positively associated with emotional well-being and the independence of participants. On the other hand, increased sedentary behavior and limited mobility negatively affected perceived quality of life. Physical activity plays a key role in improving the quality of life of adults with visual impairment. Promoting adapted forms of physical activity could contribute to greater independence and psychological well-being in this population.

CURRICULUM DESIGN FOR DEVELOPING 21ST-CENTURY SKILLS: A CASE STUDY OF AN ISLAMIC HIGH SCHOOL

Dewi Sinta — 2025-07-18

Education in the 21st century requires a curriculum responsive to students' needs in developing skills relevant to the times. This study aims to explore the curriculum design for 21st-century skills development in an Islamic high school in West Bandung Regency, Indonesia. The selection of this school as the research subject is based on its curriculum development, which allegedly equips students with several skills, including 21st-century skills. This study employed a qualitative approach with a case study design. Data was collected through observation, interviews, and document analysis. Data analysis techniques included reduction, display, verification, and conclusion drawing. The results indicate that this school implements a combined (parallel) curriculum design combining the Emancipated Curriculum, Typical School Curriculum, Cambridge Curriculum, and Islamic Boarding Curriculum integrated with the Child-Friendly School, Adiwiyata School, and Disaster Safe Education Unit programs. This curriculum design places much emphasis on project-based learning, the use of digital media, lots of religious material, environmental awareness movements, and habituation activities. The application of this curriculum design plays a vital role in developing 21st-century skills in terms of competitiveness, piousness, leadership, management, critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, collaboration, communication, foreign language skills, digital literacy, entrepreneurship, caring attitude, environment, and awareness of sustainable lifestyle. This finding implies the importance of adopting a holistic approach in curriculum design to develop students prepared to face the demands of the modern world. The study contributes insights into best practices in curriculum design for developing 21st-century skills in senior high schools.

SATISFACTION OF USERS OF SERVICES IN SPA SPAS IN THE FEDERATION OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Amer Ovčina — 2025-07-18

It can be stated that quality is an integral part of our daily life. All people constantly insist on quality in certain areas of life, which indicates that quality can be found in all segments in which a person work. The main objective of this study is to examine the satisfaction of clients/users with the services of spa centers. The basic research methods used are: synthesis, analysis, induction and deduction, comparative and statistical methods. The collection of primary data was carried out through an online survey, which contains a standardized scale (SERVQUAL). The correlation analysis confirms the general objective, so it can be concluded that the Pearson coefficient is -0.158, from which it follows that there is a very weak negative correlation between these two variables. It is concluded that sociodemographic factors do not at all influence the attitude of respondents about the quality of service of spa resorts. But, Pearson coefficient indicates a high degree of correlation between respondents' satisfaction with the quality of service in spa resorts and other factors. There is a very high degree of correlation between respondents' satisfaction with service quality and other factors - 81%, which have an impact on the respondents' satisfaction with the quality of service in the spa: the first contact in the spa, the reason for coming to the spa, the distance from home to the spa, travel time and the manner the therapy is introduced.

PRAXICON: INTEGRATING SENSORY, CONCEPTUAL, AND MOTOR SYSTEMS IN A NEW THERAPEUTIC MODEL FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

Veselin Medenica — 2025-07-18

This paper describes the structure, theoretical background, and the development of Praxicon – Helping Children Build Action Foundations for Daily Functioning and Learning, a new therapeutic model developed by Veselin Medenica and Lidija Ivanović. The model is intended for children with developmental disabilities who have difficulties in imitation, symbolic gesture, and functional tool use. Praxicon, based on Roy’s conceptual-productive model of praxis, integrates the key developmental theories of Vygotsky, Piaget, and Thelen into a structured intervention that targets the perceptual, conceptual, and motor systems. The methodology for describing the intervention follows the TIDieR (Template for Intervention Description and Replication) framework to ensure transparency and replicability. The development process is further supported by the MRC Framework for Complex Interventions, with additional structuring through Intervention Mapping. A logic model depicts the expected pathways of change, linking therapeutic activities to improvements in action planning, symbolic understanding, and functional participation in everyday and school-related tasks. Although the model has not yet been empirically tested, this article provides a comprehensive and systematic narrative of the intervention, highlighting its potential advantages, theoretical coherence, and readiness for feasibility trials. The authors also reflect critically on the model’s limitations and the future steps needed for its validation and implementation.

SWALLOWING DISORDER IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE - CHARACTERISTICS, EVALUATION AND TREATMENT

Mila Bunijevac — 2025-07-18

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disease of the basal ganglia in the central nervous system, which is caused by the collapse of dopamine receptors. It represents a neurodegenerative disease characterized by tremors, bradykinesia, numbness and loss of reflexes, but also secondary symptoms of dysarthria and dysphagia. Swallowing disorder is one of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and in certain situations it can be the first symptom that patients experience without being diagnosed with Parkinsonism. Abnormalities in the form of chin rigidity and difficulty holding the head and neck while eating are observed in patients with severe disease. Dysmolarity, impulsive behavior during food intake and impaired tongue motility are also present. The clinical examination is the beginning of the diagnostic procedure where it is important to determine the degree of difficulty in swallowing, that is, which part of the physiological oropharyngeal process is dominantly affected or the esophagus. Dysphagia therapy is carried out with medication or through speech therapy treatment. Speech therapy treatment includes bolus modification, postural strategies, swallowing maneuvers, thermotactile stimulation (TTS), and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). Early detection and adequate treatment of swallowing disorders can alleviate or avoid complications such as aspiration, malnutrition and dehydration, which increase the degree of mortality and impair the quality of life of patients with dysphagia. Therefore, the treatment of patients with Parkinson's disease should be approached very seriously and in an interdisciplinary manner in order to provide adequate support and improve the quality of life.

AGREEMENT BETWEEN CHILD AND PARENT REPORTS ON QUALITY OF LIFE IN CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY: ASSOCIATIONS WITH FUNCTIONAL DOMAINS, PSYCHOSOCIAL HEALTH, AND THE IMPACT OF SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS

Alma Glinac — 2025-07-18

This study examines the agreement between health-related quality of life assessments in children with cerebral palsy and their mothers, analyzes the relationship between functional domains (daily activities, mobility, pain, fatigue, nutrition, communication) and psychosocial health of the child from the perspectives of both children and mothers, and investigates the impact of maternal education level and family socioeconomic status on the psychosocial health of children as assessed by their mothers. The study involved 61 children with cerebral palsy, aged 5 to 18 years, along with their mothers who were the primary caregivers. Data were collected using validated instruments, including the PedsQL 4.0 and PedsQL 3.0 questionnaires, completed by both the children and their mothers. Socioeconomic status was determined using the Hollingshead index, and statistical analysis—descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Spearman’s correlation)—was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics 25. The results showed significant differences in quality of life assessments between children and their mothers, particularly in the domains of daily activities, school activities, mobility, and balance. Daily activities, mobility, and nutrition were correlated with the psychosocial health of children according to the children’s self-reports, while, according to mothers’ assessments, the strongest correlations were observed for daily activities and nutrition. Socioeconomic status and maternal education level did not have a significant association with the psychosocial health of children in this sample. The findings highlight the importance of considering the child’s perspective and focusing interventions on daily functioning.

DEPRESSION IN PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

Milena Nikolić — 2025-07-18

The conducted research aimed to examine the level of depression among parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The sample included 100 participants evenly divided into two groups: 50 parents of children with intellectual disabilities and 50 parents of children with autism spectrum disorder. To assess the level of depression, the Depression subscale from the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS) was used. For testing the hypothesis, nonparametric statistics were applied since the results deviated from a normal distribution. To test differences in dichotomous variables such as the child’s gender, age, type of developmental disability, and the parent’s gender, the Mann-Whitney U test was used. For testing differences in polytomous variables (the number of children in the family), the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used. To examine the relationships between variables, Spearman’s correlation coefficient (Spearman’s rho) was used. The study found that the sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, and type of disability) of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities do not affect the level of depression in parents. Characteristics of the family (number of children) and parents (gender) do not affect the occurrence of depression in parents. The research also determined that there is no statistically significant relationship between the level of depression and satisfaction with types of support, as the results showed no correlation. Although there are no statistically significant differences, there are individual differences in relation to the observed variables, which indicates the need for further examination in future research.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LOCOMOTORS TRAINING ON GAIT & LOWER LIMB STRENGTH WITH BODY WEIGHT IN SPINAL CORDED INCOMPLETE INJURY PATIENTS- A CASE REPORT

Muslim Khan — 2025-07-18

Incomplete spinal cord injury patients (SCI) highly prioritize walking restoration irrespective of the level, severity, age, gender & the time after lesion. Walking restoration in patients with incomplete SCI has been extensively studied. For functional & mobility restoration, physical rehabilitation is currently the main intervention worldwide. Strategies adopted worldwide for the physical rehabilitation of SCI patients includes robotic assisted gait training, functional electrical stimulation (FES), Epidural stimulation, spinal surface stimulation, treadmill training with & without body weight support. This case report is an attempt to find out the effectiveness of the of locomotors training on gait & lower limb strength with body weight in spinal cord incomplete injury patients. A patient with incomplete SCI age 43years, ASIA score-C was treated with body weight support for 9 months (January, 2019-october, 2019) in the physiotherapy department of the King hospital, Swat. The outcome measures used were ASIA scale, Manual muscle testing (MMT) for lower extremity, Spinal cord injury functional ambulation inventory (SCI-FAI ) and walking Index for SCI-11 (WI-. SCI-11). The study results showed positive improvement in lower extremity strength & gait parameters (spatial & temporal parameters) on SCI –FAI, however, Score on WI-. SCI-11 & assistive device scale was not improved. This case report results can be concluded that locomotors training is highly effective in incomplete SCI patients in improving their functional mobility & restoration.

THE EFFECTS OF THE TOMATIS METHOD ON ATTENTION OF A CHILD WITH ATTENTION-DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER: A CASE STUDY

Zlata Avdić — 2025-07-18

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the entire personality and is most often diagnosed during school age. The Tomatis Method involves neurosensory brain stimulation through unique listening programs. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of the Tomatis Method on the attention of a child with ADHD. The listening program was tailored to the child's specific needs and was administered by a certified Tomatis practitioner. Each treatment cycle lasted 14 days. The assessment was conducted at four time points: before and after the first cycle, and before and after the second cycle of the Tomatis treatment. A software-based assessment tool specifically designed to evaluate components of executive functions was used to measure attention. The collected data were processed using IBM SPSS Statistics 21 software for statistical analysis. Basic statistical parameters were calculated. The results showed improvements in attention-related abilities, including increased response accuracy and faster reaction times.

PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

Senad Mehmedinović — 2025-07-18

The aim of this research was to determine differences in the levels of anxiety, depression, perceived stress, and quality of life among parents of children with different developmental difficulties (intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, and cerebral palsy). The sample consisted of 104 parents, the majority of whom were female (85.6%). Most parents reported that their child had an autism spectrum disorder (45.2%), while the rest reported Down syndrome (29.8%) and cerebral palsy (25.0%). The following instruments were used for the purposes of the research: Demographic Data Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Family Quality of Life Scale (FQoL), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Statistical data analysis was conducted using univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed that parents of children with cerebral palsy exhibit statistically significantly higher levels of anxiety, depression, and perceived stress compared to parents of children with autism and Down syndrome. These findings confirm previous research on the impact of the complexity of motor impairments on the psychological state of parents and highlight the need for targeted psychosocial support for this population. On the other hand, the study did not show statistically significant differences in the perception of overall quality of life among parents, regardless of the type of their child's difficulty. This result implies that factors such as family support, adopted coping mechanisms, and the degree of acceptance of the situation may play a key role in maintaining the subjective sense of life homeostasis.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION THROUGH TIME: A HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF IDEAS AND THEIR IMPACT ON CONTEMPORARY EDUCATIONAL PRACTICE

Lidija Črnko — 2025-07-18

The article explores the historical development of ideas in community education and their influence on contemporary lifelong learning practices. Community education combines formal and informal approaches to foster social cohesion, democratic values, and sustainable development, based on principles of participation, local relevance, and connecting individuals with their environment. The article focuses on the analysis of key community education models, including Danish folk high schools, the American community school movement, British village colleges, and French sociocultural animation. Grundtvig's philosophy of "schools for life" in Denmark emphasizes individual cultural and personal growth in a democratic context, while American community schools, founded during the Great Depression, integrate social justice and local problem-solving. In Britain, village colleges connected education with the everyday life of communities, while French socio-cultural animation links education with cultural empowerment. The article also provides insight into Freire's critical pedagogy and Dolci's maieutic method as examples of emancipatory approaches that promote collective reflection and social transformation through dialogue. The author concludes that community education transcends traditional educational models by encouraging active participation, social justice, and sustainable development. This contribution enhances the understanding of key historical, cultural, and social influences shaping modern concepts of community education and raises questions about future possibilities for their development.

ADDRESSING DAILY LIVING SKILLS, HEARING HANDICAPS, AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN CLINICAL PRACTICE

Juliana Bell — 2025-07-18

To explore how qualitative responses from adults who are deaf and hard of hearing contribute to a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the predictive quantitative relationship between age, gender, hearing handicap, and instrumental activity of daily living performance. Mixed-methods research design utilizing a concurrent triangulation strategy. The survey was conducted on a web-based platform. Participants had one month to respond. 636 adults aged 18-64 with hearing loss and English proficiency were recruited through convenience sampling. Measures included two open-ended questions to understand the participants' lived experiences, the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults, Assessment of Quality of Life-8D, and Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale. Qualitative thematic analysis revealed varied impacts on quality of life and daily living performance, with adaptive strategies and assistive devices playing crucial roles. Quantitative analysis indicated significant correlations between hearing handicap, instrumental activities of daily living, and quality of life. This study highlights the need to comprehensively address daily living skills, hearing handicaps, and quality of life in clinical practice. Clinical practitioners must adopt a multifactorial approach when working with adults who are deaf or hard of hearing. Future research should determine effective intervention approaches.

PROFESSIONAL BURNOUT IN SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY PRACTICE

Samra Jusufbašić — 2025-07-18

The “burnout” syndrome is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It is also referred to as a disease of the modern age. It most commonly occurs after an individual experiences emotional exhaustion and an inability to meet constant demands, leading to a loss of interest and motivation in their work. The profession of a speech and language therapist is considered a helping profession that can lead to burnout syndrome. The main aim of this research was to examine the level of professional burnout in speech and language therapy practice. The sample consisted of 69 speech and language therapists of both genders, employed in various institutions. The results showed that 31 therapists (44.8%) exhibited varying degrees of professional burnout, ranging from mild burnout to burnout requiring professional assistance, while 38 therapists (55.1%) showed no signs of professional burnout. No statistically significant difference in the level of professional burnout was found in relation to the gender of the therapists, but a statistically significant difference was found in relation to the age of the therapists. The results indicated that there is no difference in the level of professional burnout in relation to years of service, nor a statistically significant correlation between the level of professional burnout and the type of institution where the therapists are employed, working hours during the week, or the number of treatments conducted during the working day. Taking care of the mental health of speech and language therapists is a very important factor that contributes to the quality and efficiency of conducting speech and language prevention, assessment, diagnostics, and treatment.

THE APPLICATION OF SOCIAL MARKETING IN SOCIAL WORK

Ljubinka Lazić — 2025-07-18

The paper presents the practical significance and application of social marketing in social work. Aimed at improving the quality of life for individuals and communities, social marketing and social work are closely connected. Social marketing, on the one hand, uses marketing techniques to change behavior, while social work, on the other hand, focuses on providing support in addressing issues such as poverty, crime, or social exclusion. By combining marketing strategies with the approach of social work, it is possible to create and implement social programs that meet the needs of users while also having an attractive element for target groups. This paper addresses social marketing as a tool that social workers can use in their professional practice to respond to complex social problems such as social exclusion or to create conditions for desirable (re)socialization and improved lives through education, prevention, and support. The purpose of the paper is to highlight the ideas and principles of social marketing and the importance of its implementation in social work, promoting socially responsible behavior and the prevention of deviance in society.

MOTIVATING UNDERGRADUATES ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND RETENTION THROUGH BUZZ GROUP STRATEGY IN EKITI STATE, NIGERIA

Tunji Henry Ogunyebi — 2025-07-18

This paper examined the motivational effects of buzz group strategy in motivating undergraduates’ performance and retention in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The study adopted a quasi-experimental pre-test, post-test, control group design. Three null hypotheses were generated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The sample for this study comprised 120 selected 200 Level students from the three public universities in Ekiti through purposive sampling technique. The instrument that was used for the study was Science Education Performance Test (SEPT). It is a self-designed instrument that consisted of information on bio-data of the respondents and 40 multiple-choice items. Expert judgments were used to ensure face and content validity. Split-half method was used to determine the reliability and reliability Coefficient of 0.74 was obtained. The data were analyzed using inferential statistics of t-test. The study found out that there was a significant difference between the posttest performance means scores of students exposed to buzz group strategy and conventional strategy. It was also revealed in the study that there was no significant difference between the posttest performance and retention means scores of students exposed to conventional strategies. Based on this finding, it was recommended among other things that the state government should organize a seminar among the lecturers in universities on the effective use of buzz group strategies in their various classes to enhance learning outcomes.

EATING HABITS OF THIRD-AGE PERSONS

Branimir Mikić — 2025-07-18

The conducted research aimed to determine the dietary habits of elderly people. The research was conducted on a sample of 237 respondents differentiated by gender, 133 males and 104 females and by age 65 - 89 years. Data processing was done in the SPSS program and descriptive and comparative statistics were used to obtain data. Descriptive parameters were created for the analysis of the factual state of the respondents. The collected data were analyzed using the Microsoft Excel 2007 tool, and are presented in tables. It is evident that the health status of the respondents worsens with age, and dietary habits change in a positive sense with age. Given that the world's population is aging, it is necessary to emphasize attention to certain needs and challenges faced by many older people. Nutrition is an important element of health in the elderly population and affects the aging process. Although it is a study on a relatively small number of subjects, in comparison with a larger European study, it becomes relevant for proving the present problem of malnutrition among elderly patients. It is necessary to take all measures to increase the awareness of health workers about this problem in order to successfully prevent it or stop it in time. Looking at the entire sample of respondents globally, we can conclude that overall, a significant number of respondents do not pay enough attention to the structure of foods in their diet and water consumption. In line with previous research, the results of this study highlight the importance of dietary habits in creating a healthy lifestyle and preventing chronic non-communicable diseases.

EXPLORING THE ROLE OF FAMILY INVOLVEMENT IN SUPPORTING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES: EARLY RESULTS

Sanja Selimović — 2025-07-18

Train4Inclusive is a European initiative co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme, designed to promote physical activity among children with disabilities aged 6 to 18, by involving family members in sport education and organized activities. This article presents an overview of the project, its objectives, methodology, and preliminary findings based on a Likert-scale survey conducted after five months of implementation across seven partner countries. Results show significant improvements in physical coordination, water confidence, social interaction, and parental engagement, underscoring the importance of a holistic, family-centered approach to physical development and inclusion. There is limited research on structured physical activity programs, especially swimming, where children with disabilities train together with their parents. This study contributes to filling that gap.

EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR ADDRESSING AUTISTIC BEHAVIOURS AND LEARNING BARRIERS: SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Medina Vantić-Tanjić — 2025-07-18

The paper aims to identify and analyze effective strategies aimed at managing autistic behavior and learning barriers. A qualitative analysis of the relevant scientific and professional literature published in the last decade was carried out, and after screening, 41 papers were included in thematic analysis. Strategies are divided into six categories: Behavioral interventions and behavior management, Education of children and youth with ASD and the empowerment of educators, Teaching social skills, Sensory integration therapies, Digital and assistive technologies, and Transition support. All included strategies are evidence-based practices (EBPs). The literature review confirms that there is no universal approach in working with children and youth with ASD. Still, successful intervention is based on the application of a combination of strategies adapted to the individual needs of students, the educational environment, and developmental goals. Despite the multitude of strategies at a given setting's disposal effective implementation of EBPs is often thwarted by system, school, and individual factors such as limited resources, training, as well as consistency across environments. By addressing these challenges in a comprehensive manner—through inclusive pedagogy, adaptive technology, and collaborative support systems—we can bridge the research-practice gap and provide rich, enabling learning experiences for students with autism spectrum disorders.

EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS IN CHILDREN ON THE MOVE

Lejla Kuralić-Čišić — 2025-07-17

This scientific research work investigates the social and legal protection of unaccompanied and separated children from the population of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in the municipality of Velika Kladuša from 2019 to 2022. The research is based on data collected from government records, reports from non-governmental organizations and interviews with key actors, including social workers, lawyers and representatives of civil society organizations. The research reveals that unaccompanied and separated children in Velika Kladuša face significant challenges in accessing social and legal protection. Many of these children experience trauma, violence and exploitation during the journey, but also in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and continue to face significant risks and vulnerabilities upon arrival. Despite the established legal and political frameworks for the protection of these children, the ability of institutions and services to respond to their needs is limited, and many children fall through gaps in the system. The research highlights the need for increased resources, funding and training for institutions and service providers working with unaccompanied and separated children. It also highlights the importance of a holistic, child-centred approach to social and legal protection, which takes into account the specific needs and vulnerabilities of this population. Ultimately, this research provides important insights and recommendations for improving the social and legal protection of unaccompanied and separated children in the municipality, and contributes to broader efforts to ensure the rights and well-being of all children on the move.