Browsing by Author "Aydoner Bektas, Selen"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3

Positioning School Readiness as Ecological Fit: The School Readiness Ecological Approach (SERA) for Occupational Therapy and Education
(Routledge Journals, Taylor & Francis Ltd, 2026) Aydoner Bektas, Selen
Traditional perspectives on school readiness have emphasized child-level competencies such as cognitive, language, and behavioral skills. While important, the narrow focus overlooks the ecological systems - families, teachers, and communities - that shape children's adaptation to school. The participation-oriented perspective of occupational therapy has also been largely absent from the discourse. The School Readiness Ecological Approach (SERA) reframes school readiness as a matter of ecological fit rather than merely a set of children's skills. Based on Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory and the Person - Environment - Occupation model, SERA conceptualizes readiness as the outcome of dynamic exchanges between children, families, educators, schools, and policy environments. SERA addresses key gaps by: (1) shifting focus from isolated child attributes to participation in real-life contexts; (2) integrating occupational therapy's holistic perspective into readiness; and (3) providing a multi-level framework to guide research, practice, and policy. SERA emphasizes four domains - child, family, educational environment, and community - as interconnected contributors to school readiness trajectories. As a conceptual bridge across education, health, and social systems, SERA will broaden theoretical scope, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and promote inclusive, and sustainable strategies. Reconceptualizing school readiness as ecological fit will help move beyond deficit-based views and support more equitable and effective school transitions.
Citation - WoS: 1
Citation - Scopus: 1
The Role of Sensory Processing Patterns on Mental Health in Healthy Adults
(Sage Publications Inc., 2025) Ercan Dogu, Selma; Aydoner Bektas, Selen
Introduction: There are individual differences in processing sensory information. Growing evidence indicates that differences in sensory processing may contribute to a greater risk of developing mental ill-health issues. This study aimed to explore the relationship between sensory processing patterns and depression, anxiety, and stress in healthy adults. Method: This cross-sectional study included 341 healthy adults, aged between 18 and 60. Participants completed a sociodemographic form, the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21. Results: Sensory sensitivity, low registration, and sensory avoidance had positive moderate correlations with depression, anxiety, and stress (p < 0.001); sensory sensitivity was negatively correlated with stress (p < 0.05). Regression models indicated that both sensory sensitivity and low registration patterns were predictors of depression, anxiety, stress, and the total score of Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21. The sensory avoidance predicted depression, while the sensory seeking pattern was linked only to stress. Conclusion: Passive self-regulation strategies (sensory sensitivity and low registration) may play a role in experiencing mental ill-health issues. In contrast, active self-regulation strategies (sensory avoidance and sensory seeking) may help protect against these mental health challenges. Occupational therapists can help clients manage mental health issues better by addressing sensory processing patterns. However, more evidence is required. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
The Influence of Leisure Screen Time on Sleep Patterns and Feeding Behaviors in Primary School Children
(Routledge Journals, Taylor & Francis Ltd, 2026) Aydoner Bektas, Selen; Bumin, Gonca
The increasing use of screen-based devices in children's daily lives has raised concerns about their effects on health behaviors such as sleep and feeding. This study investigated the relationship between leisure screen time and sleep and feeding problems in primary school children. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 322 children aged 7-10 years and their parents. Parents completed questionnaires measuring children's daily leisure screen time, sleep patterns, and feeding behaviors. Results showed that weekend leisure screen time (M = 149.4 minutes/day) was higher than weekdays. Significant positive correlations were found between leisure screen time and both total feeding problem scores (weekdays: r = 0.22; weekends: r = 0.25, p < .01) and sleep disturbances (weekdays: r = 0.29; weekends: r = 0.32, p < .01). The most affected areas were selective eating and sleep initiation/maintenance. Regression analysis revealed that weekend leisure screen time significantly predicted feeding problems (beta = 0.22, p = .001) and sleep disturbances (beta = 0.27, p < .001), explaining 8% and 12% of the variance, respectively. The findings indicate the importance of managing children's screen time - particularly on weekends - to support healthier sleep and eating patterns and guide family-based interventions.