Journal of Special Treatment, 2025. Vol.11(2)-full text

In our research, we examined the consideration of students’ special educational needs (SEN) in primary-level swimming education. The choice of topic was motivated by the increasing number of students with SEN and the importance of swimming instructors’ professional preparedness. Our aim was to explore the extent to which swimming instructors are able to accommodate the individual needs of SEN students, to identify the challenges they encounter during swimming instruction, and to map the differences between the swimming education of SEN and typically developing students, as well as the factors that support learning.The research method was an online questionnaire survey. A total of 77 professional swimming instructors participated in the study (n = 77). The results reveal that the majority of instructors do not possess specialized qualifications, and their knowledge is primarily based on personal experience. Although many feel adequately prepared, uncertainty occasionally arises in practice. Teaching swimming to children with SEN requires specific methodological tools, increased attention, and differentiated approaches. Additional difficulties include maintaining attention, discipline, and motivation. Providing differentiation and accommodating individual learning paces remain challenging, whereas small-group, play-based sessions promote more effective progress.

This study explores the association between special educational needs (SEN) and the level, mode, and intensity of parental involvement in Hungarian schools. Anchored in the principles of child-centered education and inclusive collaboration, the research investigates whether families of SEN students engage differently compared to their non-SEN counterparts, particularly when additional socio-economic disadvantages are present. A literature review revealed limited comparative analysis between SEN and non-SEN groups, prompting a focus on existing studies that examine parent-school relationships, primarily from the adult perspective. The empirical component utilizes a secondary analysis of the National Assessment of Basic Competences (NABC) database, drawing on longitudinal student-level data from the 2015 (Grade 6), 2017 (Grade 8), and 2019 (Grade 10) cohorts. A refined dataset tracks students on an uninterrupted educational path, allowing analysis of parental involvement indicators derived from five items in the background questionnaire. Findings suggest that while parental involvement generally declines over time, the decline is steeper among students with multiple disadvantages than those with SEN alone. Support with homework stands out as the most sustained form of involvement, although it remains limited for families with lower educational capital. Contrary to assumptions, SEN students receive substantial parental attention through secondary school, highlighting the potential for constructive alliances between teachers and families. However, PTA meeting attendance is markedly lower among parents of disadvantaged learners. The data also emphasize that students classified as both SEN and socioeconomically disadvantaged (LOW SES) exhibit the highest dropout risk, stressing the need for targeted interventions.

The aim of the study is to explore the health behavior, sports history, and relationship to sports and future professional values of sports science students at the University of Nyíregyháza, with particular emphasis on gender differences and the role of sports history in the development of career motivations and value orientations. During the study, we analyzed 118 self-completed questionnaires in SPSS format, processing the data in an R environment using basic statistical indicators, chi-square tests, and independent sample t-tests. Our results show that students lead health-conscious and active lifestyles, and risky health behaviors (e.g., smoking, excessive alcohol consumption) are rare. Gender differences are minimal, with the only significant difference being in sports activity, which was higher among men. Sports background did not directly influence career choice motivations or future sports goals, but it had a significant impact on value orientation: competitive sports experience resulted in stronger perseverance and discipline orientation, which is key in sports education, coaching, and recreation careers. The research shows that sports background represents not only physical but also psychological, motivational, and value capital, contributing to the development of sports training and the shaping of future generations' attitudes toward sports.

This study presents the partial results of research exploring the autonomy and self-determination opportunities of adults with disabilities. Our present study presents the results of a set of questions concerning identification and, in connection with this, the possibility of taking responsibility and making decisions (guardianship), as well as independence in activities related to everyday life, such as dressing, transportation, and the use of information and communication tools. The uniqueness of our research lies in the fact that we examine the realization of autonomy from two different perspectives: that of the person with a disability and that of the family caregiver, primarily the mother. We use a qualitative method, semi-structured interviews, to explore the possibilities for people with disabilities to exercise autonomy and self-determination. Our goal is to find out whether persons with disabilities consider themselves adults, whether they have the opportunity to make independent decisions and take responsibility, and how they assess their own skills and abilities in various activities related to everyday life. A further aim is to explore whether families identify their relatives with disabilities as adults, how they relate to their efforts to achieve autonomy, and whether they help them to achieve autonomy; if so, how, and in what ways do they support the realization of autonomy? According to our research findings, people with disabilities have limited autonomy. They experience greater freedom of self-determination in the areas of self-service and self-care activities related to everyday life. The responses of people with disabilities reveal a need for autonomy, a desire for independence, and a desire for self-determination. The attitude of family members towards the autonomy of their relatives with disabilities is contradictory in many areas, and they tend to strive for control. The view of disability continues to be characterized by an ability-centered and deficit-oriented approach.

The individual patterns and levels of foreign language proficiency are shaped by a complex system of interrelated factors that influence outcomes. In today’s world, the target language use takes place in entirely different contexts and forms – partly due to digitalization. This study explores the language proficiency patterns of secondary school students, including the language they speak, the types of these languages, their self-reported level of English proficiency, and the number of English language exams taken. It also examines the everyday forms of target language use. The analysis draws on two waves of a national Hungarian survey (Hungarian Youth 2016, N=1548, Hungarian Youth 2020, N=1587), enabling a comparison of data. In the case of the 2020 dataset, two regression models were run to explain, respectively, the level of English proficiency at or above the intermediate level and the possession of English language certificates. The result indicates the dominance of the English language and its increasing prevalence between 2016 and 2020, while the number of spoken languages showed a slight decline. At the same time, a positive change was observed in the level of language proficiency regarding the languages spoken. Proficiency in English at or above the intermediate level is embedded in a broad set of explanatory variables, including parental education, financial situation, and various forms of language use (e.g. watching films or movies). The factors influencing the possession of language certificates differ from those explaining general language proficiency.

Resilient living involves following characteristics that develop effective adaptive mechanisms in the individual. These mechanisms can contribute effectively to coping with the negative stressors we face in our daily lives. These characteristics should be examined not in a static way, but through the constantly changing internal and external conditions. In our research, we sought to answer the question of the relationship between the components of students' physical activity and their psychological coping strategies at the Faculty of Child Education and Special Education, University of Debrecen. Two validated questionnaires were used in the study. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to measure physical activity, and the Hungarian adaptation of the 25-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) was used to measure resilience characteristics. The study was conducted in February 2025 (n=303, correspondence n=188, full-time n=115). Studies have shown that the type of sporting activity students participate in influences their coping skills. All of the factors related to resilience are positively associated with respondents' sporting activities. In seven of the twenty-five questions, a significant correlation was found between stronger coping skills and the type of sporting activity undertaken in the present. Unsurprisingly, the strongest associations were found for perseverance, overcoming difficulties, initiative in problem solving, positive self-image and maintaining a good mood when comparing those who regularly engaged in sporting activities with their inactive peers. The same results were obtained when the components of physical activity (factors related to work/transport/household/leisure sports) were also compared separately with factors related to mental resilience. Overall, some types of household work and higher levels of sporting activities (competitive and recreational) have a positive effect on individuals' coping skills.

This study investigates the evolving dynamics of ethical leadership within Jordan’s public sector, focusing on the Ministry of Water and Irrigation as a representative case. Through an ethnographic methodology involving in-depth interviews and participant observation, the research explores how leaders navigate the intersection of traditional socio-cultural norms and modern managerial frameworks. The findings reveal that ethical leadership in Jordan operates within a hybrid moral system, where formal values such as procedural fairness and institutional accountability coexist with—and are often challenged by—informal obligations tied to tribal loyalty, kinship networks, and communal expectations. Gender and generational shifts further complicate this ethical landscape, as younger and female leaders increasingly advocate for transparency, meritocracy, and gender equity. The study highlights the necessity of adopting a culturally responsive, pluralistic understanding of ethical leadership that reflects the complex realities of Jordanian organizations. These insights have practical implications for leadership development programs and contribute to the broader discourse on ethical leadership in non-Western contexts.

This study in the history of criminal law examines a homicide case from the eighteenth-century legal practice of the Free Royal City of Debrecen that has not yet been explored in detail. Drawing on archival documents relating to the criminal proceedings initiated before the city’s magistracy in 1768, the study reviews the main phases of the process, reconstructs the arguments of the prosecution and the defence, and analyses how the defendant’s criminal responsibility was assessed in light of evidence indicating that he suffered from a mental disorder. Beyond clarifying the significance of the defendant’s mental state from a criminal law perspective, the case also provides an opportunity to explore the contemporary concept of lucidum intervallum in greater depth and to highlight evidentiary challenges associated with proving it in eighteenth-century criminal proceedings.

This study examines Hungarian educational policy measures implemented between 2015 and 2025 to improve the academic success of Roma students. Education is viewed not only as a means of knowledge transmission but as a key driver of social mobility and equality. Roma students face complex challenges rooted in social disadvantage, cultural differences, and systemic issues such as segregation and institutional discrimination. The paper provides an overview of major interventions, including compulsory early childhood education, the Complex Instruction Programme (CIP), community-based tanoda initiatives, the Útravaló Scholarship Programme, and Roma Special Colleges. While these programmes have yielded positive local outcomes—such as improved cooperation, reduced dropout rates, and enhanced access to higher education—their long-term impact is limited by underfunding, project-based approaches, and lack of systemic integration. The study adopts a critical perspective, highlighting the need for sustainable strategies, teacher training in inclusive pedagogy, community involvement, and comprehensive monitoring systems. Recommendations include strengthening teacher education, promoting integrated social support, and ensuring Roma participation in decision-making. The findings underscore that only systemic, long-term measures can effectively reduce educational inequalities and foster genuine social inclusion for Roma communities.

This narrative review examines the long-term effects of music therapy on individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID), including those with comorbid conditions. A systematic search of Scopus and Web of Science identified 684 records, with empirical studies meeting strict longitudinal and methodological criteria retained. The review is structured around five key dimensions: (1) participant characteristics, including ID severity and co-occurring conditions; (2) research designs and methodologies; (3) types of music therapy interventions and their comparative long-term efficacy; (4) targeted cognitive, emotional, and social abilities; and (5) the overall long-term effectiveness of music therapy. Additionally, the review investigates contextual variables and processes of change, offering a nuanced perspective on the long-term impact of music therapy. Findings reveal significant gaps in the literature, particularly the scarcity of longitudinal and follow-up studies, thereby limiting conclusive insights into sustained benefits. This review underscores the pressing need for robust, long-term research to strengthen the evidence base and optimize the use of music therapy in clinical and educational settings. Such efforts are essential for enhancing cognitive functioning, emotional regulation, social interaction, and overall well-being among individuals with ID.

In this study, the determinative effects of prejudice-based disadvantage factors frequently emphasised in relation to Roma living in Hungary are analysed. For this purpose, the individual life stories of protagonists appearing in documentary films produced in the AntRom Filmműhely (University of Debrecen), as well as the analysis of community processes observed in various local societies, are utilised. The aforementioned disadvantage factors (e.g. ethnic origin, gender, family and socio-cultural background, education, labour-market status, housing) are understood to shape, both individually and collectively, the expectations and future opportunities of the individuals concerned. The aim of the study is to make visible how, and under what conditions, a life different from the “expected” can be realised.

The study presents the adaptation and investigation of an art program tailored to the developmental focus of children/students with intellectual disabilities. Klára Kokas's music reception method is well-known to music teachers. The structure of the ritual-like sessions is constant, while the content varies, and it includes several creative elements—creative singing, improvisational dance, and visual creation. With modifications, this technique may be suitable for the language development of students with intellectual disabilities. From the art program, the improvisational movement and dance—among the creative components of the Kokas method—were retained, following motivating and engaging preliminary singing that differed from the original Kokas instructions. Instead of creative singing, the emphasis was placed on incorporating ritual elements adopted from folk tradition, which are tailored to the structure of the specific abilities of the participants. The musicality and cathartic effect of folk rhymes and children's games do not contradict Kokas pedagogy; rather, they harmonize with it. Their repetition provides security for the participants, and the recurring elements act with the joy of recognition. Visual creation was omitted due to time constraints imposed by the 45-minute school class structure. The study is based on modern theoretical frameworks, e.g., the principle of transfer, the theory of Embodied Cognition, and the OPERA theory.

The development of adolescents living in the child protection system is often shaped by early traumatic experiences, losses, and unstable attachment patterns, which may result in heightened emotional stress and impaired self-regulation. The aim of the present study is to present a group-based intervention focusing on stress management and the development of self-awareness among adolescents aged 14–18. The group work was designed to reduce tension, increase awareness of personal resources, and enhance coping skills. The theoretical framework of the program was grounded in the self-regulatory model of personality, the psychodynamic approach to group development, and the group development model proposed by Amundson et al. (2013). International research findings—particularly meta-analyses on the group-based application of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT)—support the effectiveness of group interventions. Our experiences indicate that a structured group setting facilitated emotional expression, self-reflection, and the experience of social support, thereby contributing to the adolescents’ personality development and psychological well-being.

An important feature of folk culture is that it is not passive and receptive, but active, creative, and dynamic. The folk games we know today have been shaped over generations into what we know them as today, as children have actively used and shaped them. In order for folk games to be used for educational and traditional purposes, researchers had to find a systemization principle that would allow all types of folk games to be included in a unified system. The systematization principles that emerged examined several aspects of the studied material: classification according to text, melody, spatial form, age, and geography. 1. György Kerényi found a unified system for all types of folk games in the game plot, and in Volume I of the Hungarian Folk Music Collection, he also published a classification based on the game plot, following Pál Járdányi's musical order.  2. The classification according to Klára Gazda can be found in the ethnographic monograph entitled Gyermekvilág Esztelneken (The World of Children in Esztelnek). 3. However, from the 1980s onwards, due to the more than fifteenfold increase in the amount of game material, it became necessary to review the principles applied and the order of games. Instead of the sometimes rambling plot, it was more practical to consider the essence of the game, the "melody core," as the basis. Katalin Lázár, a researcher at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Musicology, has compiled a new classification system for folk games that is still in use today. 1. Games with props; 2. Movement games; 3. Mental games; 4. Matching games; 5. Nursery rhymes; 6. Reading games. Singing games can be found among movement games, intellectual games, matchmaking games, and nursery rhymes. Our folk games differ in structure and sound from the verse structure of adult melodies, "because children's songs end where adult songs begin."

Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is a behavioural pattern that, based on available descriptions, can manifest itself in extreme, anxiety-ridden resistance to expectations and oppositional behaviour. In terms of its described "symptoms," it may overlap with many areas of autism spectrum disorder, which is why it became the focus of our study, as PDA is not part of the official diagnostic systems (DSM-5, ICD-11) and is therefore often confused with other disorders, primarily autism, oppositional defiant disorder, or ADHD, and its indiscriminate use can be particularly misleading. This kind of confusion or potential misinterpretation not only causes diagnostic problems but can also hinder the development of appropriate educational and therapeutic interventions for those affected. Based on the principles of inclusive education, every student has the right to support tailored to their individual needs. However, PDA currently falls outside the categories of special education and psychological care, so children are believed to be affected, and their families are often marginalised or may not receive adequate diagnosis-based intervention until later. This study argues that a scientific approach to PDA, its recognition and interpretation, is not only an ethical issue but can also be understood from the perspective of fairness, pedagogical flexibility, and social inclusion. Based on our findings, it can be argued that the "diagnosis" of PDA should be the subject of scientific research. The aim of this study is to analyse the findings of available sources to determine what we can understand by PDA and how it can be considered as a separate behavioural profile type.

Review of Roland Hegedűs' book of "Learning Disabilities and School Performance"