By Heather Deckard
The theme of the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) Annual Conference in San Diego, CA June 30- July 1 this year was From Evidence to Action. It was a great experience to represent the Dove Self Esteem Project (DSEP) as an exhibitor to share a range of curriculum-relevant teaching resources, developed in collaboration with educators and students. The DSEP tools take evidence to action and are proven to make a positive impact in body-confidence.
The DSEP Teachers program Confident Me[1] has been proven to:
· Improve body image
· Boost self-esteem
· Reduce social impairment (likelihood of opting out)
The DSEP lessons and materials were well received by school nurses from all over the US – many of whom shared they could use this project to augment their puberty lessons. Research shows that one in five high school students reported being bullied on school property. [2] We know that young people are bullied for a number of reasons, but appearance, including body shape, weight, and skin, are common. The school nurses we met with reported needing something on this topic for their middle school and high school students, as bullying, low self-esteem, and access to social media can impact student’s health and ability to learn. Those that do not teach were happy to pass the information onto their Health or Physical Education teachers.
The Evolution and Change One Thing films created by DSEP are engaging and impactful assets shared through the Confident Me! Toolkit, well-liked by educators and teachers, alike. Remember, the program is absolutely no cost! Find the programs here: www.dove.com/selfesteem
Cairn Guidance has partnered with the Dove Self-Esteem Project to reach young lives with self-esteem curriculum across the country.
[1] Diedrichs, P.C., Atkinson, M.J., Steer, R.J., Garbett, K.M., Rumsey, N. & Halliwell, E. (2015). Effectiveness of a brief school-based body image intervention ‘Dove Confident Me: Single Session’ when delivered by teachers and researchers: Results from a cluster randomised controlled trial. Behaviour Research & Therapy, 74, 94-104. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2015.09.004
[2] Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. High School Survey, 2015. Retrieved from https://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline/App/Default.aspx
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