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This study focused on associations between teachers’ flexibility and their use of evidence-based strategies in inclusive education in a sample of N = 119 teachers. Flexibility showed direct effects on teachers’ attitudes towards the achievement of mainstream students and students with learning difficulties, attitudes towards social benefits of inclusion for students with emotional and behavioral disturbances, and on teachers’ self-efficacy regarding the support of students’ social skills. Furthermore, indirect effects of flexibility on intentions and behavior regarding the support of social skills were found. The findings emphasize the importance of teachers’ flexibility in the realization of inclusive education.

ObjectiveCumulative evidence indicates that childhood maltreatment (CM) is linked to self-reported asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, the relation between CM and objective measures of lung function as determined by spirometry has not yet been assessed.MethodsMedical histories and spirometric lung function were taken in 1386 adults from the general population. Participants also completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire for the assessment of emotional, physical and sexual abuse as well as emotional and physical neglect.Results25.3% of the participants reported at least one type of CM. Among them, use of medication for obstructive airway diseases as well as typical signs and symptoms of airflow limitation were significantly more frequent than in the group without exposure to CM. Although participants with CM had numerically lower values for FEV1, FVC and PEF than those without, these differences were non-significant when accounting for relevant covariates like age, sex, height and smoking. Likewise, there were no differences in the FEV1/FVC ratio nor in the frequency of airflow limitation regardless of its definition. No specific type of CM was related to spirometrically determined parameters of lung function.ConclusionsOur findings call into question the association of CM with obstructive lung diseases as indicated by prior research relying on self-reported diagnoses. We consider several explanations for these discrepancies.

Background: Cumulative evidence suggests that both traumatic stress and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are cross-sectionally and prospectively linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, their association with proxy markers of atherosclerosis has hardly been investigated. Objective: The objective of this general population study was to relate traumatic stress and PTSD to carotid plaque and intima-media thickness (cIMT). Methods: 3119 adults from the general population were assessed regarding their traditional cardiovascular risk factors, and an ultrasound of the carotid arteries was performed in each participant. Based on a PTSD interview, every participant was assigned to one of three groups: no trauma; trauma, but no PTSD; and trauma with PTSD. The sample was stratified into five age groups. Results: Trauma exposure was reported by 54.5% of the sample and 2.0% had PTSD. Traumatized participants had increased odds of self-reported CVD events compared to those without trauma exposure, even when accounted for CVD risk factors and other covariates (odds ratio [OR] = 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-2.22). This association was driven by those aged 70 years or older. Only in those aged 40 to 49 years, there was an association between cIMT and PTSD. There were no further associations between carotid plaque or cIMT and traumatic stress or PTSD. Conclusions: Our findings in concert with prior research suggest that the association between traumatic stress, PTSD and atherosclerosis as well as its clinical endpoints is complex and remains inconclusive. Asociación de estrés traumático y trastorno de estrés postraumático con aterosclerosis carotÍdea: hallazgos en población general Antecedentes: La evidencia acumulada sugiere que tanto el estrés traumático como el trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT) están vinculados de manera transversal y prospectiva con la enfermedad cardiovascular (ECV). Sin embargo, apenas se ha investigado su asociación con marcadores indirectos de aterosclerosis. Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio de población general fue relacionar el estrés traumático y el TEPT con la placa carotídea y el grosor de la íntima-media (GIMc). Métodos: Se evaluó a 3119 adultos de la población general respecto a factores de riesgo cardiovascular tradicionales y se realizó una ecografía de las arterias carótidas en cada participante. Basado en una entrevista de TEPT, cada participante fue asignado a uno de tres grupos: sin trauma; trauma, pero no TEPT; y trauma con TEPT. La muestra se estratificó en cinco grupos de edad. Resultados: El 54,5% de la muestra informó exposición al trauma y el 2,0% tenía TEPT. Los participantes traumatizados tenían mayores probabilidades de eventos de ECV autoreportados en comparación con los sin exposición al trauma, incluso cuando se tienen en cuenta los factores de riesgo de ECV y otras covariables (razón de posibilidades [OR] = 1,51; intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%: 1,03-2,22). Esta asociación fue mayormente determinada por personas de 70 años o más. Solo en los...