The Long-term tendencies towards changes in the physical

Transkrypt

HEALTH AND WELLNESS 2/2015
WELLNESS AND SOCIETY
CHAPTER XX
Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce,
Faculty of Health Sciences, Kielce, Poland
Uniwersytet Jana Kochanowskiego w Kielach
Wydział nauk o Zdrowiu, Kielce
GRAŻYNA NOWAK-STARZ, MAŁGORZATA MARKOWSKA,
TOMASZ WÓJCIK
The Long-term tendencies towards changes in the physical
development of children and young people
as the determinant of planning and organizing physical
education activities in Poland
Długofalowe tendencje zmian w rozwoju fizycznym dzieci i młodzieży
jako wyznacznik planowania i organizowania działań
wychowania fizycznego w Polsce
Key words: acceleration, education, biological development of children
Słowa kluczowe: akceleracja, edukacja, rozwój biologiczny dzieci
In Poland, in assumptions of the National Health Programme the effects of the
monitoring of physical development are regarded as an important measure of health
condition and significant element of its promotion. It is hard to imagine an effective
action of physicians, teachers of physical education without possessing the actual resources of knowledge about the process of ontogenesis, its genetic, paragenetic and
environmental conditions, as well as such factors as lifestyle, way of eating, the state
of health protection etc. Their jobs impose an obligation of monitoring, analysis and
evaluation of their patients and students’ physical form in order to create a proper
prosomatic and prohealth attitude.
Wellness and society
Radically different from social gradients, the type of socially caused variability of
biological traits in children and young people, is long-term tendency towards changes,
synonymously called intergeneration changes or secular trends. 1 The usually mentioned components of the quoted phenomenon are the following [1]: speeding–up of
biological development an maturation, which is called the acceleration 2, the change
of the order of some involution processes (growing old). Among them, the most important in auxology is consiredered the acceleration, that is speeding–up of biological
development and maturation causing intergeneration changes grounded on earlier
achievement of the succeeding development stages. The most often studied is a
change of the intensity of the acceleration of development rate as well as a change in
the final value of the trait.
Although the reasons for secular trends have been the subject of discussions and
descriptions in many countries for a long time [2-9], it is taken for granted that the
secular trends are mainly the result of the civilization advancement and above all
“(…)the improvement of the way of eating and decreasing burden of childhood illnesses’ [10]. In many countries secular trends intensified during the period of economic changes in the we fare of nations, which was exemplified by the rise in income
rate, consumption of animal protein and premature deaths. The inverse phenomenon
was also observed during the period of social crisis [3].
Poland belongs to the countries, where researches on the discussed phenomenon
have been done for years by many leading scientific centres, among others: The Institute of Anthropology PAN in Wrocław, The Institute of Human Ecology PAN in Warsaw, The Institute of Anthropology UAM and AWF in Poznań, The Institute of Anthropology UJ and AWF in Cracow, The Institute of Anthropology AWF in Warsaw,
The Institute of Paediatrics Propaedeutics AM in Lublin, The Institute of Anthropology UM in Łódź, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce
[11].
The phenomenon of changes relates to all development periods. The acceleration
is noticed as early as in the intrapubic period and infancy. In Poland the length of as
infant’s body increased on average by 2,23 cm and body mass by 20g within the last
60 years [4]. Similar differences are observed in the infancy and post-infant period,
although this period of development is in this respect the least recognized. The secular
changes also occur in a pre-school and school period [12-14]. In he research done in
Opoczno region [15] the difference in the body height of the adult people of this region
between years 1874-1889 and 2000 was 11,6 cm (162,2 cm in relation to 173,8 cm at
present). Similar differences are also observed in other regions of our country [7, 9].
1
The mentioned terms are equivalent. They were introduced in anthropology to describe phenomenon noticed during XX century in industrial Euro-American countries of the civilization circle It was based on the
proceeding process of gradual increase in an average body height (in each age group, from childhood to
early maturity) and at the same time a process of the gradual acceleration of the rate of the physiological
development in children was noticed.
2
In anthropology identifying the idea of the secular trend and acceleration is considered to be unfounded
and mistaken [1].
254
Grażyna Nowak-Starz, Małgorzata Markowska, Tomasz Wójcik
The Long-term tendencies towards changes in the physical development
of children and young people as the determinant of planning
and organizing physical education activities in Poland
The acceleration comprises many aspects of biological development and appears
not only in progressive morphological changes but also in changes of activity. The
acceleration of biological development is related to earlier development of skeletal,
muscular and nervous systems owing to which the conditions of mastering by an individual complex physical efficiencies and forming habits of required motor coordination also improve.
Premature sitting, standing–up and walking enrich children’s motor experiences,
improve coordination and form motor habits earlier. Faster motorial development allows children to establish social contacts easier, take part in motor games, and during
the school period participate in sports competitions and develop their efficiency more.
It can be assumed that the faster development of physical efficiency is a positive phenomenon from the point of view of general child’s development, and then also mental
and social development.
The indications of faster motor development are also observed in later development periods, that is in school time, adolescence and after that [12, 16].
According to M.Markowska [17], modern young people are generally more efficient than years before, however, the secular trend of motor changes is smaller than
the trend of the development of somatic traits. Moreover, different motorial traits do
not indicate not alike tendencies of changes. In strength tests the average results of
boys during more than ten years have not improved, and in older age groups they even
get worse. With the passage of time much increase in the agility of boys and girls
appears. However, the spinal flexibility tested by learning the trunk forward deteriorates (the international test of physical efficiency). According to the author a decrease
in endurance and efficiency is observed in contemporary young people.
J.Raczek [18] also writes about the regressive tendencies of the development of
physical efficiency on the basis of the results of the research done three times within
twenty years 1965-1985 (1965-1975-1985) on pupils aged between 8-18. The comparison of the results indicates that there is still the acceleration of physical development and enlargement in body size. The increase in body size is relatively bigger than
its weight, which causes leptosomisation of the body-building. The secular changes
in somatic development are not reflected, according to the author, in the trends of
physical efficiency. Negative trends of development were also noticed for the efficiency defined with VO2 max indicator.
According to some authors [19] from the research done till 1973 it appeared that
the secular trend of physical development went together with an analogous phenomenon within the scope of physical efficiency. From much later research it results that
the trend of secular somatic development is accompanied by unfavourable changes in
physical efficiency (they were observed after 1974). From the research done in Cracow in 1974 – 1993 [19] it appears that most motorial traits of the youth got worse
distinctly, especially the explosive strength, agility and speed, which is demonstrated
by the findings comparative to somatic traits. Greater intensification of the phenomenon is observed among girls. In the light of the results of the research done by Mleczko
255
and Ozimek [16] also in Cracow region, the observed in contemporary city populations extension of unfavourable tendencies in motorial development, their revealing
in structural, morphological and functional predispositions, as well as in motorial abilities poorly controlled genetically, can be taken as a proof of very small stimulus used
within the framework of school physical education.
It seems, as the authors point out, that the above notice should be supplemented
with a negative estimation of the effects of pedagogical work at schools within the
scope of forming the habits of systematic participation in different forms of physical
education apart from physical load applied within the framework of school lessons.
The phenomenon of the acceleration of development is of importance not only
biologically but also socially. It is remarked that besides the positive consequences,
negative effects are also observed. The acceleration of development causes that now
maturation comprises a shorter period of individual development than before.
Nowadays, the distinct tendency to aging of societies is observed-it is the result of
lower and lower birth–rate and the increase in life–expectancy. Prognoses say that
between years 2000 and 2020 the number of the age group of 65-90 years old will
increase from 16% to 21% of the whole UE population, whereas the number of 15-24
year-olds will drop to 11% [New impulses for European young people 2002]. This
lack of balance between the number of younger and older people will also bring about
quality changes in intergeneration relations. Financial pressures on the social welfare
system will be merely one of the aspects of these challenges. It should be for-seen that
in the XXI century we will observe the increase in the number of the people with
many health problems, growing number of people requiring care at home, increase in
the percentage of ill among the population of the poor, but among other things, we
will also witness changes in the model of the lifestyle of young people. The above
tendencies will have a bearing on changes relating a family both in its structure and
model. The priority for young population, nowadays, is acquiring qualifications, nextwork career, which influences the decision about setting–up a family and having children. Very often such a decision it is made very late, or some informal relationships
or the choice of being single become options. It goes together with the growing phenomenon of patologization of a family life together with troubles in bringing–up children and forming behaviour patterns.
And finally, the medical aspect of the issue, which like the considered before aspects arouses some worries about the value of the acceleration.
Many years ago J.Bogdanowicz [20] in Polish Paediatrics claimed that as a result
of the acceleration a lymphatic system in children develops faster, but it undergoes an
earlier regression as well. Short-sight-edness among children and teenagers also appears earlier, as well as the allergization of air passages. The accelerated maturation
of children and young people may lead to ‘pressure’, that is to appearing more and
more often illnesses related to maturity, namely diabetes, rheumatism, gastric and duodenal ulcers, nephrolithiasis, today we can also add tumorous diseases. However, the
author makes it clear that all these suspicion were not the subject of the statistic analysis at that time.
256
After several years, it can be stated that the number of people ill with these disseases has increased considerably, the age of the appearing has fallen, but it is difficult
to say explicitly whether it is the result of the acceleration of the development of children and young people, if during the time there were many factors connected, for
example with pollution, the development of civilization, as well as the technicalization of life, the effect of the magnetic field etc.
However, it should be stressed that the observations made by J.Bogdanowicz [20]
many years ago are of auxiology interest today. Many representatives of this discipline
treat this issue seriously making it the subject of interdisciplinary studies.
It is proper to mention here RM Malina [9] who reviewed the results of the research of some aspects of the secular trends, which appeared in body growth , maturation and forming physical efficiency during a development. The areas of interest
were mainly USA, Europe and Japan where the increase in body height and mass
among children and young people, reduction in the age of reaching maturity and enlargement of the final body height have been observed for a few generations. The
secular trend in relation to the body height in many developed countries has already
stopped, however, what is alarming, body mass still continues to increase. Leading to
a greater number of overweight and obese people.
Moreover, the latest findings concerning shorter periods of time also indicate
changes independent of body size, but related to the changes of a lifestyle, modifications of school curricula, decreasing physical activity and increase in the amount of
time spent on television and video entertainment.
It should be stressed that the acceleration of physical development does not proceed simutaneously with reaching psychological, social and intellectual maturity. This
discordance of development, together with the impairement of educational influence
of a family, secularization of life and biologization and even technicalized attitude
towards the sphere of procreation, caused distinct fall in the average age of the beginning of sexual life. In the moral transformation of teenagers and the spread of liberal
attitude of the society a great role is played by mass media (TV, erotic literature and
pornography, commercials).
The changes in development and maturation of children and the youth have reflection in didactic and educational work of school. It refers mainly to school curriculum
and upbringing programmes, alterations in school-books and literature, as well as in
the methods of influence. In pedagogical practice a child must be perceived as an
entity, physical, mental, social and health integrity. Such action requires that a teacher
should know the characteristics of development process in order to be able to diagnose the development abilities of every pupil and influence these factors of social
environment which can affect the development of a child stimulatingly.
Against the background of the presented problems, a question is raised to what
exent should modern school take into account the phenomenon of the acceleration of
development and maturation while realizing didactic and educational activities? The
answer seems to be easy, basing on the main lines of the Reform of Education, school
has to modify educational process by introducing stimulating methods in different
257
spheres of biological and psychological development in order to take advantage of the
increasing abilities of adaptation of modern children. The principle of individualization, taking into account different rate and intersex differenciation of biological development as well as environmental conditions should be employed in an educational
process.
REFERENCES
1. Malinowski A.: Norma biologiczna a rozwój somatyczny człowieka. Warszawa
1987.
2. Tanner J.M.: Earlier maturation in man, Sci. Am. 1968; 218: 21-27.
3. Brundtland G.H. i wsp.: Height, weight and menarcheal age of Oslo schoolchildren during the last 60 years. Ann. Hum. Biol. 1980; 7: 307-322.
4. Dutkiewicz W.: Zjawiska trendów sekularnych i akceleracji rozwoju dzieci i młodzieży na Kielecczyźnie. Kielce 1991.
5. Hauspie RC. i wsp.: Secular changes in growth and maturation. An update, Acta
Paediatr., 1997; Suppl. 423: 20-27.
6. Jaeger U.: Secular trend in Germany, [in:] Secular growth changes in Europe, E.B.
Bodzsar, C. Susanne (eds.), Eötvös Lorand University Press, Budapest 1998.
7. Hulanicka B.: Zmieniająca się wysokość ciała dzieci szkolnych w Polsce. Główne problemy i kierunki rozwiązań systemowych. Cz. III, J. Szymborski (ed.), Warsaw 2002.
8. Bielicki T. i wsp.: Transformacja ustrojowa w Polsce w świetle antropologicznych
badań 19-letnich mężczyzn. Monographs of the Institute of Anthropology 23,
Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Anthropology, Wrocław 2003.
9. Malina RM.: Secular trends in growth, maturation and physical performance: A
review. Przegląd Antropologiczny-Anthropological Review 2004; 67: 3-31.
10. Bielicki i wsp.: Nierówności społeczne w Polsce: antropologiczne badania poborowych trzydziestoloeciu1965-1995. Wrocław 1997.
11. Dutkiewicz W. i wsp.: Normy i wskaźniki rozwoju fizycznego i motorycznego na
Kielecczyźnie. Kielce 2004.
12. Nowak-Starz G., Socio-economic conditioning of physical development of children
aged 0-18 in Świętokrzystkie Region. Scripta Periodica 2000; 3.
13. Nowak-Starz G.: Physical development of children at the moment of birth and the
age of 18 in terms of socio-economic factors in Swietokrzyskie Region. [W:] International Anthropological Congress „Anthropology and Society”. Praga 2003.
14. Nowak-Starz G.: State of health and lifestyle of adolescents from the swietokrzyskie region. 3 X International Congress of Auxology „Human Growth in Sickness
and in Health” under the high patronage of the President of the Republic of Italy.
Centro Edizioni Studi Auxologici. Firenze 2004.
258
15. Dutkiewicz W. et al.: Physical development and motoric aptitude of children and
adolescents from Świętokrzystkie Region in comparison to other regions. W: Movement and Health. Olomouc 2001.
16. Mleczko E. i wsp.: Rozwój somatyczny i motoryczny młodzieży krakowskiej między 15 a 19 rokiem życia z uwzględnieniem czynników środowiskowych. Kraków 2000.
17. Markowska M., Biologiczne i społeczne kryteria wyboru kierunku kształcenia ponadpodstawowego. Kielce 2002.
18. Raczek J.: Motoryczność człowieka, poglądy, kontrowersje i koncepcje. [W:] Motoryczność dzieci i młodzieży. Cz. I. Pod red. J. Raczka. Katowice 1986.
19. Szopa J. i wsp.: Zmiany sprawności fizycznej dzieci i młodzieży miasta Krakowa
w latach 1974-1983 na tle trendu sekularnego wysokości ciała. Wychowanie
Fizyczne i Sport 1986; 1.
20. Bogdanowicz J.: Akceleracja (Trend sekularny). Pediatra Polska 1967; 3.
ABSTRACT
The changes in development and maturation of children and the youth have reflection in didactic and educational work of school. It refers mainly to school curriculum
and upbringing programmes, alterations in school-books and literature, as well as in
the methods of influence. In pedagogical practice a child must be perceived as an entity,
physical, mental, social and health integrity. Such action requires that a teacher should
know the characteristics of development process in order to be able to diagnose the
development abilities of every pupil and influence these factors of social environment
which can affect the development of a child stimulate. Against the background of the
presented problems, a question is raised to what extent should modern school take into
account the phenomenon of the acceleration of development and maturation while realizing didactic and educational activities? The answer seems to be easy, basing on the
main lines of the Reform of Education, school has to modify educational process by
introducing stimulating methods in different spheres of biological and psychological
development in order to take advantage of the increasing abilities of adaptation of modern children. The principle of individualization, taking into account different rate and
intersex differentiation of biological development as well as environmental conditions
should be employed in an educational process.
STRESZCZENIE
Zmiany w rozwoju i dojrzewaniu dzieci i młodzieży mają odbicie w pracy dydaktycznej i wychowawczej w szkole. Odnosi się to głównie do nauczania i programów
wychowawczych, zmian w szkolnych podręcznikach, jak również do metod oddziaływania. W praktyce pedagogicznej dziecko musi być postrzegana jako podmiot psychofizycznej integralności społecznej i zdrowotnej. Takie działanie wymaga, aby nauczyciel znał charakterystykę procesu rozwoju, aby być w stanie zdiagnozować umie259
jętności rozwoju każdego ucznia i określić wpływ czynników środowiska społecznego, które mogą oddziaływać stymulująco na rozwój dziecka.Na tle przedstawionych
problemów, powstaje pytanie, w jakim stopniu nowoczesna szkoła powinna uwzględniać zjawisko przyspieszenia rozwoju i dojrzewania podczas realizacji zajęć dydaktycznych i edukacyjnych? Odpowiedź wydaje się prosta, w oparciu o główne założenia
reformy oświaty, szkoła powinna zmodyfikować proces kształcenia poprzez wprowadzenie metod stymulujących w różnych sferach rozwoju biologicznego i psychologicznego, w związku z rosnącymi możliwościami adaptacji nowoczesnych dzieci. W procesie edukacyjnym powinna być stosowana zasada indywidualizacji, biorąc pod
uwagę zróżnicowanie typu biologicznego rozwoju, a także warunki środowiska .
Artykuł zawiera 20555 znaków ze spacjami
260

The Long-term tendencies towards changes in the physical

Transkrypt

Podobne dokumenty

Vila Gale Nautico - eSKY.pl

godziny lekcyjne - Liverpool Polish School

ISSUE 1/2015

effect of high acceleration exposure on visual