This study investigated the relationship between perceived worry and self-efficacy, with particular attention to job role in Australian school counsellors working in the New South Wales (NSW) Department of Education. Ninety-eight school counsellors (N = 98, Mage = 44.97, SDage = 10.89; 92% female) comprised the sample group, stratified across three job roles: Senior Psychologist Education, School Counsellor, and School Counselling in Training. Data collection tools were the Penn State Worry Questionnaire and the Psychologist and Counsellor Self-Efficacy Scale. Data were analysed using the Pearson product-moment correlation and a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). We found a weak negative association between perceived worry and self-efficacy of significance (p = .018). Findings demonstrated a significant effect (p < .001) of job role on the combined dependent variables although the effect was small. Examination of the between-subjects effects demonstrated that role had a significant effect for self-efficacy, but not for worry. Post-hoc analyses showed that individuals in roles of seniority reported higher self-efficacy and lower perceived worry when compared with counsellors in training. Future studies would likely benefit from a more comprehensive consideration of demographic data to ascertain other variables that may be contributing to levels of worry and self-efficacy.

The concept of resilience and mindfulness is becoming increasingly popular in schools worldwide in response to critical issues such as escalating teacher stress and burnout. This article explores the concept of mindfulness as a supportive practice to build resilience in times of stress in relation to reducing or preventing teacher burnout. It aims to provide practical strategies for psychologists and counsellors in schools to empower teachers with coping strategies when encountering stress. What current research literature reveals about the effectiveness of resilience and mindfulness for supporting the wellbeing of preservice and inservice teachers is discussed. Overall, the research shows that practising mindfulness to build resilience is beneficial because it helps teachers focus on the present and improves attention, self-awareness and emotional regulation, which can reduce stress and enhance wellbeing. However, further empirical studies are needed to provide deeper insights of these benefits for teachers. Recommendations for psychologists and counsellors in supporting teachers on practising mindfulness and resilience are provided.

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of training on learning disabilities (LD) on school counsellor candidates’ perceptions related to students with LD. The study group was comprised of 51 students in the Counselling and Psychological Guidance Department. The participants responded to an open-ended question: ‘Students with learning disabilities are like … Because …’. A content analysis technique was used in the analysis of the data. Based on the study results, it was determined that before being trained on LD, the majority of the participants considered students with LD as problematic or never progressing. Following the training, a majority of the participants started using metaphors indicating that students with LD may progress and learn.

This study investigated the effect of a mindfulness-based intervention on pathological symptoms in boys with externalised disorders. A total of 24 elementary school students with externalising disorders, diagnosed by completing the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), were randomly assigned to a mindfulness-based intervention for two months. One session per week was offered and each session lasted one hour (n = 12) or as a wait-list control group (n = 12). Data were analysed via a multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) test. Students from the intervention group showed greater reductions in rule-breaking behaviours than those in the wait-list control group. Also, there was clear superiority of the intervention relative to the wait-list control group for reducing both aggression and rule-breaking behaviours (effect size differences were d = −2.52 and d = −1.88 respectively). These positive results on outcome measures provide initial evidence for a mindfulness-based intervention as a treatment option for boys with externalising disorders.

Previous research has supported the importance of the interaction between family and school contexts for student adjustment to school. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of school engagement and academic self-concept in relation to family adaptability/cohesion, social acceptability and school adjustment. A sample of 268 5th- and 6th-grade students aged 11–13 years (131 males, 137 females) from elementary schools in Iran participated in this study. Results showed that school adjustment was positively related to family adaptability/cohesion, social acceptability, school engagement, and academic self-concept. Family adaptability/cohesion and social acceptability also positively correlated with school engagement and academic self-concept. In addition, the data provided a good fit for the hypothesised model of the mediating role of school engagement and academic self-concept in relation to family adaptability/cohesion, social acceptability, and school adjustment. The results showed that coherent and adaptable family systems and high social acceptability of students can affect school adjustment both directly and indirectly through school engagement and academic self-concept.

The current study examined elementary (or primary) school teachers’ knowledge of student anxiety and evidence-based anxiety reduction strategies, whether this knowledge was associated with their use of evidence-based anxiety reduction strategies in the classroom, and correlates of teacher knowledge and use of anxiety reduction strategies in the classroom. Fifty-one volunteer elementary teachers (98% female; 98% White) participated and completed questionnaires about: themselves and work-related factors (e.g., years of teaching experience, self-efficacy), knowledge of student anxiety and anxiety treatment (e.g., core manifestations of anxiety such as physiological arousal, behavioural avoidance, and anxious thoughts), and use of anxiety reduction strategies in the classroom (e.g., relaxation strategies, encouraging the use of coping self-talk, and gradual exposure to feared situations). Results indicated that the average score on the knowledge assessment was 57% and knowledge levels were unrelated to self-reported use of anxiety reduction strategies. The most robust correlate of knowledge of anxiety and use of anxiety reduction strategies was teachers’ perceived personal accomplishment. Findings suggest additional teacher training to increase knowledge about student anxiety and use of evidence-based anxiety reduction strategies in the classroom is warranted.

This study examines the association between psychosocial adjustment and future expectations in early adolescence. This research tries to fill some gaps in the literature on how current adjustment might be an antecedent of early adolescents’ future expectations. Participants were 781 students (mean age = 12.37 years). Data were collected in 11 schools. The results revealed statistically significant correlations between self-esteem, life satisfaction, self-efficacy, emotional and behavioural problems, educational and social adjustment, and future expectations. The structural equation model confirmed a positive relation between psychosocial adjustment and these adolescents’ future expectations. The main contribution of this research is to further our comprehension of the development of adolescents’ future expectations and the way in which psychosocial adjustment has an impact on such development. Future expectations are an important protective factor for healthy development in adolescence, as thinking about the future motivates everyday behaviour and influences choices, decisions and future activities.

Starting from the importance and purpose of school counselling, the article highlights the content-methodical specifics and assumptions of effective counselling work with students, and gives a brief overview of the practice of school counselling in Serbia. On that basis, this study aimed at examining school counsellors’ experiences in counselling elementary/primary school children (e.g., reasons for counselling, ways of implementation and difficulties). A sample of 81 school counsellors participated in a semistructured interview. The results show that undesirable behaviour and learning difficulties are the most common reasons for counselling, initiative is mainly coming from teachers or counsellors, and individual work and corrective counselling are more common. The difficulties respondents mentioned mainly related to the students’ personalities. The experiences of practitioners imply that the counselling practice insufficiently appreciates the importance of an integrative-systematic approach in student counselling. In this regard, the conclusion provides some recommendations that could contribute to improving the practice of counselling in schools in Serbia.

This study aimed to determine the predictive power of the theory of planned behaviour in predicting the intention and behaviour of positive thinking in school students. A cross-sectional study was performed on 367 high school male students in Iran. Data were gathered using a researcher-made questionnaire whose validity and reliability had been confirmed before. Descriptive and inferential analysis (univariate and multiple logistic regression models, Pearson correlation) was performed using SPSS software V.20. AMOS version 22 was used to perform the path analysis. According to the results, the construct of attitude was the most important construct in predicting positive thinking intention. Finally, the theory of planned behaviour constructs could predict 36% of intention variance and 20% of behaviour variance of positive thinking. Since the construct of attitude is one of the most powerful constructs in predicting student positive thinking intention in male teens, it is recommended that more attention be paid to this construct in educational programs to improve the mental health of male high school students. The results of this study can help psychologists and counsellors, families, and teachers improve students’ mental health.

In Iran, a large number of adolescents compete every year to enter university, given the better job opportunities that may exist after graduation. The hope of having more education affects students’ academic engagement. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between academic hope and academic engagement with the mediating role of academic buoyancy, using the Academic Hope Scale, Academic Buoyancy Scale, and Academic Engagement Scale. The participants in the study were 353 Iranian students in the last year of high school who had applied to enter university in 2019. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling procedures. The results showed that there was a direct significant relationship between academic hope (p ≤ .01, β = 0.19) and academic buoyancy (p ≤ .01, β = 0.25) with academic engagement. There was a direct and significant relationship between academic hope and academic buoyancy (p ≤ .01, β = 0.33). And academic buoyancy partially mediated the relationship between academic hope and academic engagement. The discussion concerns the potential benefits of implementing interventions designed to enhance academic hope to increase learners’ academic engagement.

This study aimed to investigate the reasons for school absenteeism among students studying at different types of high schools, and school counsellors’ practices and proposed solutions for reducing school absenteeism. This was a qualitative research conducted with a phenomenological design. The study group was formed using criterion sampling, one of the purposive sampling methods. The research was conducted in Turkey during the 2018–2019 academic year with 21 school counsellors working at different types of high schools and having at least 5 years of experience. The school counsellors were asked four questions on school absenteeism using a semistructured interview form. Each interview took 30–45 minutes and interview notes were taken synchronously. According to the research findings, poor academic outcomes, parental involvement, school management and school schedules, as well as health issues and a lack of social activities are the main factors influencing school absenteeism. Potential solutions that can be offered by school counsellors include increasing family involvement, improving the school climate, addressing health issues, planning new social activities and offering flexible syllabus options for students.

Maladaptive perfectionism and controlled motivation are vulnerability factors for burnout. This study examined the relationships between two aspects of perfectionism (high standards, discrepancy), four academic motivational orientations (intrinsic, identified, introjected, extrinsic), and academic burnout. The target population was 12th graders in South Korea, and a total of 950 participants were recruited using cluster sampling. Data were collected from three waves of longitudinal study. In particular, the mediating role of academic motivation (T2) in the link between perfectionism (T1) and academic burnout (T3) was tested using structural equation modelling. The results indicated that introjected motivation mediated the relationship between perfectionism and burnout. Specifically, both high standards and discrepancy were positively associated with introjected motivation, and in turn, introjected motivation was positively associated with burnout. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

The study adopted an ex post facto design to investigate background variables as predictors of utilisation of Web 2.0 applications in counsellor education. The population included 28 counsellor educators in the Department of Guidance and Counselling of the sampled university. Background variables and the Web 2.0 Utilisation Questionnaire (BVW2.0UQ) was used to gather data, which were analysed using means, standard deviations and multiple regression analysis. Findings of the study indicated, among others, that the extent of utilisation of Web 2.0 applications in counsellor education was low, and that the joint influence of the background variables on the extent of utilisation of Web 2.0 applications in counsellor education was not statistically significant.

Currently, Australia’s school counsellors are increasingly being called upon to respond to adolescent mental health needs. Through semistructured interviews with seven school counsellors working with adolescents, this qualitative study aimed to capture the lived experiences of this group of practitioners. By adopting a phenomenological approach and using thematic analysis, this study provides insight into their profession: the current ambiguity surrounding their role; the opportunities and obstacles they face; as well as the often-present tension between stakeholders including parents, other school staff and external agencies. The findings of this study indicate that school counsellors are challenged by the need to be advocates not only for their students but also for themselves and their roles within the school context.

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the initial psychometric properties and cultural adaptation of the School Belongingness Scale (SBS) in a sample of Iranian adolescents. Participants included 324 students, ranging in age between 12 and 18 years (M = 14.68, SD = 1.39). Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that responses to the Farsi version of the SBS were characterised by a two-factor measurement model, and latent variable path analysis results revealed this measurement model was predictive of adolescents’ responses to measures of social, emotional, and behavioural problems (e.g., emotional problems, conduct problems), academic achievement, and prosocial behaviour. These results provide initial evidence suggesting that the scale is psychometrically adequate to measure Iranian students’ sense of belonging at school.

Bullying continuously attracts the interest of school communities, government policy makers and researchers. The present study enquires into the role of basic psychological needs in perpetrating and victimisation behaviour of children and youth in the social contexts of school and family in a cross-sectional research design. Specifically, this study focuses on the direct effects that basic psychological needs might have on bullying behaviour and bullying victimisation. It was found that basic psychological needs, forged in the relationships with family and school members, could predict bullying victimisation in each social context. Bullying perpetrations could be predicted only by bullying victimisation stemming from each social context, whereas bullying behaviours in school could also be directly predicted by the basic psychological needs developed in the family. Furthermore, path models verified the multiple influences of family functioning on school relationships. Findings of the present study may contribute to designing effective school interventions and to reforming antibullying guidelines for teachers and parents with respect to the basic psychological needs of the children or adolescents who have been victimised.

In the current study, the source of self-efficacy beliefs of school counsellors and enhancement strategies were investigated using a qualitative approach. A phenomenological research design was used in the current study. Nineteen school counsellors from Turkey participated in the study (11 of them female). For data collection, a semistructured interview technique was used, and for data analysis, thematic and content analyses were undertaken, resulting in particular themes and categories. Sources of school counsellor self-efficacy and likely enhancement strategies were collected under five themes: counselling skills, management of group behaviour, working with resistant students, consultation, and assessment techniques by using content analysis. Results were discussed in line with the literature and suggestions were given.

It is not unusual for school counsellors to be involved in trauma-aware education practice; however, their role is not uniformly defined in the literature nor consistently applied in professional settings. Trauma-aware education is relatively new but rapidly growing in Australia and beyond. It involves supporting students in a neuroscience-informed manner to address the impacts of complex trauma on their capacities to feel safe, to relate, to emotionally regulate, and to learn. Twenty-six school counsellors completed questionnaires, and eight of those joined focus group discussions to explore the role of school counsellors in trauma-aware practice in Queensland, Australia. Drawing on the voices of practitioners, the present report discusses categories of practice that are prioritised by school counsellors and recommends supports to effectively undertake trauma-aware practice in school settings.