To review the longitudinal trajectories – and the factors influencing their development – of mental health problems in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Systematic review methods were employed. Searches of six databases used keywords and MeSH terms related to children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, mental health problems, and longitudinal research. After the removal of duplicates, reviewers independently screened records for inclusion, extracted data (outcomes and influencing factors), and evaluated the risk of bias. Findings were tabulated and synthesized using graphs and a narrative. Searches identified 94,662 unique records, from which 49 publications were included. The median publication year was 2015. Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder were the most commonly included population in retrieved studies. In almost 50% of studies, trajectories of mental health problems changed by < 10% between the first and last time point. Despite multiple studies reporting longitudinal trajectories of mental health problems, greater conceptual clarity and consideration of the measures included in research is needed, along with the inclusion of a more diverse range of populations of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

AIM: To test the method of engaging co-researcher adolescents in data collection and explore stated motives for their selection of social media material related to COVID-19.

METHODS: Twenty-three adolescents, 13-19-years old, in Sweden participated as co-researchers collecting material from their social media related to COVID-19. Specifically, they motivated their selection of social media material in field notes. Their motives were explored using content analysis.

RESULTS: Adolescent co-researchers understood and performed the task well, providing insight into the social media exchanges of adolescents during the pandemic. An overarching theme for the motivation for their selection emerged: Social media is an important tool for adolescents' communication and information exchange during COVID-19. Four categories were identified: Keeping track of the talk of the town; Recognition of personally relevant topics; Adolescents as information consumers; Social media as a means for expressing feelings, advice and existential reflections. Co-researchers reported challenges relating to the quality of pandemic-related information available to adolescents.

CONCLUSION: Including young people as co-researchers on matters relevant to them was successful. This study also underlines the need to consider the role of social media in information exchange during crises and to co-produce health communication with adolescents to meet their specific needs.

Frida Lygnegård, barnforskare med fokus på barns rättigheter samtalar med Maja Björkebäck, Hållbarhetsstrateg mänskliga rättigheter – fokus barnrätt i Jönköpings kommun.

Samtalet rör hur också hur Maja i sin roll som hållbarhetsstrateg arbetar lokalt i Jönköping med att stärka barns rättigheter och implementeringen av barnkonventionen. Medverkar gör också Elvira Gnisterhed, ÅK 8 vid Rosenlundsskolan i Jönköping.

Background: There is a lack of evidence-based knowledge in paediatric occupational therapy about the effectiveness of interventions using daily activities as a treatment modality in improving children’s participation.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of occupation-based and occupation-focused interventions in improving participation in everyday occupations for young children with a disability.

Material and methods: A systematic review based on Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and critical appraisal tools was conducted. Six databases were searched for quantitative intervention studies aimed at improving participation in everyday occupations of young children with a disability through the use of everyday occupation.

Results: The search yielded 3732 records, of which 13 studies met inclusion criteria. Ten studies met methodological quality criteria and were included in the synthesis, five randomised controlled trials and five quasi-experimental studies, involving a total of 424 children with a mean age of 6.5 years. The studies were classified into cognitive (n = 5), context-focussed (n = 2) and playgroup interventions (n = 3). Study quality ranged from low to moderate, only one study was rated high quality.

Conclusions and significance: Occupation-based and occupation-focused interventions may have a positive effect on participation in everyday occupations for young children with a disability, but study design, risk of bias and insufficient reporting limit confidence in the body of evidence.

Ingress: Inför valet i september vill jag belysa tre viktiga områden som rör barn och ungdomar. Det handlar om rätten till en trygg uppväxt, en jämlik skola och god psykisk hälsa. I texten nedan beskriver jag mer varför en trygg uppväxt är så viktigt.

Ingress: Att involvera den målgrupp som forskningen berör har under senare år blivit alltmer vanligt. Att målgruppen själv involveras kan innebära större träffsäkerhet i insatser som görs baserat på de resultat som forskningen kommit fram till då målgruppen själva varit involverade. När det gäller forskning som rör barn och ungdomar möjliggör detta också ur barnrättssynpunkt att de ges möjlighet att göra sin röst hörd.

Ingress: Vi får dagligen ta del av rapporter om hur människor flyr från kriget i Ukraina. Många av dessa är kvinnor och barn. SVT Nyheter rapporterade 16 mars, 2022 om att ungefär 70 000 barn om dagen har nu flytt från kriget i Ukraina. Detta motsvarar ungefär ett barn i sekunden enligt James Elder, talesperson på Förenta Nationernas barnfond, Unicef.

Ingress: Dagligen hör vi om brott mot barn i olika former och trots att det finns många initiativ i skolor och i fritidsverksamheter och i andra för barn viktiga miljöer behöver vi fortsätta jobba för att utbilda, informera och uppmärksamma alla barns rätt till en uppväxt fri från våld.

Ingress: Julen är här igen. Ytterligare ett år har gått och vi har handskats med fortsatta utmaningar som kanske mer än någonsin också avspeglas på våra barn och ungdomar. I och med att Internet är en så naturlig del av mycket unga barns liv, öppnas dörren till den digitala världen i tidig ålder där barn konsumerar och interagerar i filmer, chattar, spel och sociala medier.

Ingress: Nu har vi krig i Europa. Rädda barnen skriver att 7.5 miljoner barn är i fara. Barn är helt beroende av den närmaste miljö som skapar deras vardag. Att ha mat, tillgång till lugna vuxna, en skolväg som är trygg till och från skolan och att inte behöva oroa sig.