RSS feedhttps://psy.au.dk/en/The Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences is part of Aarhus BSS, one of the five faculties at Aarhus University. The department carries out research and teaching within all of the important fields of psychology and contributes with research and knowledge exchange for society at large. Researchers from the Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences are part of close national and international collaborations and have a strong tradition for collaborating with researchers from many different academic areas.en-gbThu, 28 Mar 2024 22:06:57 +0100Thu, 28 Mar 2024 22:06:57 +0100TYPO3 EXT:newsnews-13852Tue, 14 Nov 2023 09:05:36 +0100IRDF grant: Why is the number of young people who choose vocational education and training programmes declining?https://psy.au.dk/en/news-and-events/news/translate-to-english-vis/artikel/dff-bevilling-hvorfor-falder-antallet-af-unge-der-vaelger-en-erhvervsuddannelseProfessor Klaus Nielsen from the Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences at Aarhus BSS has received an IRFD grant of DKK 3.2 million from the fund earmarked for stronger research environments for vocational education. Klaus Nielsen's research is centred on: How does the Danish Elementary School shape how Pupils Come to Understand Vocational Education?In the future, Denmark is likely to have a shortage of skilled workers, and this shortage may stunt economic growth and significantly affect the welfare state. In recent years, the number of pupils who choose a vocational education and training programme as their upper secondary education has decreased significantly from 38.3 per cent in 2011 to 23.1 per cent in 2021.

"We can see that many pupils in 6th-7th grade consider taking a vocational education and training programme. However, once these pupils reach 8th-9th grade, they often choose to continue their education at an upper secondary school. We want to investigate why pupils change their mind about their choice of education," says Professor Klaus Nielsen.

The aim of this research project is to investigate one of the possible causes of the decline in applicants for vocational education and training in Denmark - namely the dominant perceptions of vocational education and training that circulate in primary and lower secondary schools. Research into educational transitions and young people's choice of upper secondary education in Denmark tends to focus on the formal aspects of school guidance, such as bridge-building, guidance and internships. However, only limited knowledge is available about how the informal school culture affects pupils’ choices for upper secondary education.

Three different primary and lower secondary schools will be selected for the project. One primary and lower secondary school located in a rural area, one in a medium-sized provincial town and one in a larger city in Denmark. Primary and lower secondary schools from different parts of the country were chosen as the number of pupils who choose vocational education and training programmes varies depending on the region. Data collection will consist of qualitative methods such as interviews, participant observations and questionnaires.

Read more

Further information

Professor Klaus Nielsen
Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences
Aarhus BSS

Email: klausn@psy.au.dk
Tel.: +45 87 16 58 32

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news-13767Fri, 13 Oct 2023 13:32:33 +0200Can we prevent anxiety in children?https://psy.au.dk/en/news-and-events/news/translate-to-english-vis/artikel/can-we-prevent-anxiety-in-childrenA new research study will investigate whether it is possible to prevent anxiety in children through an initiative called Cool Little Kids. The project is being supported by a grant of DKK 3,688,429 from TrygFonden.Cool Little Kids is a programme for children from 3-6 years who are at risk of developing an anxiety disorder, i.e. children who are behaviourally impaired and have at least one parent who experiences anxiety symptoms.

"Anxiety is the most common disorder among children and adolescents. Untreated anxiety disorder in children will often continue into adolescence and adulthood, with major consequences for the child's health, social life and educational opportunities. The costs of anxiety are high; in fact, anxiety costs Danish society more than depression, cancer and diabetes. It is therefore important to focus on prevention and early intervention to reduce the incidence of anxiety disorders," says Associate Professor Johanne Jeppesen Lomholt, CEBU (Centre for the Psychological Treatment of Children and Adolescents), Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Aarhus BSS, who is one of the researchers behind the study.

Risk factors

Various models have been developed focusing on the development of anxiety in children and adolescents. One risk factor that has been widely studied is behavioural inhibition in children. Studies have found that children with behavioural inhibitions have a significantly greater risk of developing anxiety. Research has also found that the occurrence of anxiety in parents and the parents' behaviour in relation to their child, in this context particularly over-involvement, are significant risk factors with respect to children developing anxiety. These risk factors are therefore an important focus with regard to prevention and early intervention.

The effect of Cool Little Kids has been investigated in several randomised controlled trials and results are good in both the short and long terms in reducing the development of anxiety. However, there is still a lack of research, especially into the long-term effects of Cool Little Kids.

Cool Little Kids has been translated and tested in Denmark in a small study, but the effect of the programme in a Danish context has not been studied. So far, no preventive anxiety programmes for toddlers have been widely implemented in Denmark, so implementation of the Cool Little Kids programme in Denmark would be very useful.

What the researchers are going to do

The first part of the project is a small feasibility study to evaluate the feasibility of the project and the users' experience of the programme. The next part of the project will be developed on the basis of this.

The following, and largest part of the project will be a randomised controlled study to compare the effect of Cool Little Kids with a control group who will receive the usual products and services for these children; usually from the municipal PPC (pedagogical-psychological counselling).

It is expected that 224 children will be enrolled, all of whom have behavioural inhibition scores and at least one parent who has serious anxiety symptoms.

The Cool Little Kids groups will be based at CEBU (Centre for the Psychological Treatment of Children and Adolescents) and they will be looked after by psychologists at CEBU.

 

More information

PhD, Associate Professor Johanne Jeppesen Lomholt
E-mail: johanhj@psy.au.dk
Phone: +4587165827
Mobile: +4540425989

 

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news-13662Thu, 14 Sep 2023 09:19:18 +0200Combating illness with more than medicinehttps://bss.au.dk/en/aarhus-bss-nyheder/show/artikel/combating-illness-with-more-than-medicineOver the years, both cancer patients and their relatives have benefited from the results of Professor Bobby Zachariae’s research into the psychological and delayed complications of life-threatening illness. For this research, he will now receive one of Aarhus University's oldest and most prestigious honorary awards, the Rigmor and Carl Holst-Knudsen Award for Scientific Research.Tine Bagger16946759581694675958