School-based mindfulness programs (SBMPs) have shown a range of academic, emotional, and behavioral outcomes. However, heterogeneity in curricular content obscures accurate interpretation of results. To unpack the "black box" of SBMPs and better contextualize intervention outcomes, this investigation examined the practices, skills, and…

Many individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have deficits in conversation skills that can interfere with the development of personal and professional relationships. Further research is needed on efficient interventions for targeting conversation skills in adults with ASD and for evaluating the social validity of the outcomes. In this…

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a structured, playful activity program on the development of social skills in preschool aged children (4-6 years) during break time in the schoolyard of kindergarten. The participants were 40 pupils (26 toddlers and 14 pre-toddlers, 26 boys and 14 girls) from one Greek public kindergarten.…

Purpose: The study aimed to test whether improvement in fitness components, mediates the changes in Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) after exercise intervention in overweight and obese children. Methods and design: 170 obese and overweight children (121 exercise group and 49 control group) participated in a public exercise program based on…

Across the nation, many outdoor adventure education programs are becoming shorter in duration. The purpose of this study was to determine if instructors alter targeted course outcomes and course processes because of shorter amounts of student field time. Data collection involved interviews with staff from the Colorado Outward Bound School. Results…

The potential of music-making to foster an individual's social development has been widely explored. The objective of this review is twofold: (1) to examine the characteristics of group music-making initiatives aimed at promoting social skills; and (2) to analyse the impact that group music-making initiatives have on people's social development.…

As graduate and professional programs internationalize to provide students with global competencies and skills, more graduate students are participating in education abroad programs. Graduate students represent a growing portion of the total population participating in education abroad, with short-term, faculty-directed (STFD) programs expanding…

In developing college short term travel programs whether domestic or abroad it is essential for faculty to recognize the obstacles and challenges to ensure an enriching experience for students. Experiential learning was the guiding principle to teaching the curriculum; however, civility and respect became a lens in which to examine the qualitative…