Individual and contextual factors contributing to the development of mental and physical helath
INKOMET
INKOMET
Participation in the Inter-County Professional Development Conference for Primary School Teachers: “Body, Colour and Sound – The Triangle of Child Expression”
Members of the Department of Kinesiology within the Department of Social Sciences at the Faculty of Education, University of Osijek, participated in the Inter-County Professional Development Conference for Primary School Teachers entitled “Body, Colour and Sound – The Triangle of Child Expression”, held on 15 June 2026 in Slavonski Brod, Croatia.
Dr Daria Župan Tadijanov, Assistant Professor, delivered a lecture entitled “Can the Level of Balance Development Tell Us Something About the Child?”, presenting the importance of balance development during childhood and its relationship with a child’s overall physical and psychomotor development.
Jurica Lovrinčević, Senior Lecturer, and Patrik Petrov, Lecturer, conducted workshops entitled “Exercises for the Development of Balance” and “Balance Assessment Tests for Children of Early School Age”. Participants were introduced to practical activities and assessment procedures that can be applied in educational settings when working with children.
The lecture and workshops were developed within the framework of the project “Individual and Contextual Factors Contributing to Mental and Physical Health Development – INKOMET” (Project No. 581-UNIOS-48). The project is implemented under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Republic of Croatia and funded by the European Union through the NextGenerationEU programme.
Participation in the 4th International Scientific Conference – 4 Healthy Academic Society
Jurica Lovrinčević, Senior Lecturer and member of the Department of Kinesiology within the Department of Social Sciences at the Faculty of Education and Educational Sciences, participated in the 4th International Scientific Conference – 4 Healthy Academic Society, held from 27 to 28 May 2026 in Poreč.
As part of the conference, he presented an online paper entitled “The Association between Digital and Physical Activity and Students’ Mental Health,” co-authored with Assist. Prof. Daria Župan Tadijanov, Ph.D. The presentation introduced research findings on the relationship between digital and physical activity and students’ mental health, with particular attention to factors that contribute to its preservation and enhancement.
The presentation forms part of the activities of the project “Individual and Contextual Factors Contributing to the Development of Mental and Physical Health – INKOMET” (project code 581-UNIOS-48), implemented within the National Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Republic of Croatia and funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
Participation in the 3rd International Online Scientific Conference ICT in Life 2026
Assist. Prof. Dražen Rastovski, Ph.D., Assist. Prof. Daria Župan Tadijanov, Ph.D., and Patrik Petrov, Lecturer, from the Faculty of Education and Educational Sciences of the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek participated in the 3rd International Online Scientific Conference ICT in Life (ICTiL 2026), held virtually via the Zoom platform on 15 May 2026.
The theme of this year’s conference was Intelligent Development.
A paper entitled “The Role of Postural Stability in Identifying Risks for Neurological and Behavioral Disorders in Primary School Children” was presented at the conference. The paper addresses the neurological foundations of postural control in primary school-age children and examines its associations with neurobehavioural disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Particular emphasis was placed on contemporary ICT-based methods for assessing postural stability – stabilometry, baropodometry, and virtual reality – as tools enabling early, objective, and reproducible identification of risk markers in children.
The presentation forms part of the activities of the project “Individual and Contextual Factors Contributing to the Development of Mental and Physical Health – INKOMET” (project code 581-UNIOS-48), implemented within the National Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Republic of Croatia and funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
Science Day Held at FOOZOS: Assist. Prof. Daria Župan Tadijanov, Ph.D., Presents the INKOMET Project
On 14 May 2026, the Faculty of Education and Educational Sciences of the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek (FOOZOS) hosted its Science Day. The principal investigators of nine research projects had the opportunity to present their projects, outlining their objectives, results achieved to date, and plans for further development and collaboration.
Alongside distinguished guests from the Faculty of Teacher Education of the University of Zagreb and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Osijek, the Faculty’s own researchers also introduced participants to ongoing projects. Among them was Assist. Prof. Daria Župan Tadijanov, Ph.D., who presented the INKOMET project – “Individual and Contextual Factors Contributing to the Development of Mental and Physical Health.”
The INKOMET project investigates factors influencing the mental and physical health of primary school-age children, with particular emphasis on children with chronic illnesses – most notably type 1 diabetes. A multidisciplinary approach is applied, integrating psychological, kinesiological, and biomedical perspectives, alongside the development of new measurement instruments, including a tensionometric platform for the early detection of neuropathy, and the use of modern smart devices. The project runs for 48 months (from October 2025) and is carried out in collaboration with primary schools in the City of Osijek, the Osijek Association of Young Diabetics, and a number of sports and kinesiology organisations in Osijek-Baranja County.
The project is funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, within the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (National Recovery and Resilience Plan).
Faculty of Education and Educational Sciences Osijek at SportAnalytik
Faculty staff actively participated in SportAnalytik, a professional event held on 9 May 2026 in Osijek.
Assist. Prof. Daria Župan Tadijanov, Ph.D., delivered a professional lecture entitled “Individual and Contextual Factors of Children’s Health,” in which she presented a multidimensional approach to understanding children’s health, considering both individual and contextual factors that shape health outcomes in childhood.
Assist. Prof. Dražen Rastovski, Ph.D., Assist. Prof. Daria Župan Tadijanov, Ph.D., and Patrik Petrov, Lecturer, jointly presented the PhysioSensing platform for balance assessment. A static analysis protocol was demonstrated during the session, and participants had the opportunity to be tested on the platform themselves, providing direct insight into postural stability parameters.
The participation of our faculty staff in this event reflects the Faculty of Education and Educational Sciences’ ongoing commitment to advancing research and professional practice and to the active exchange of knowledge within the scientific and professional community.
Baropodometric Platform Acquired within the INKOMET Project
Within the framework of the INKOMET project, a Physio Sensing baropodometric platform has been acquired, representing an important instrument for the further implementation of project activities focused on the assessment of functional characteristics of the lower extremities, postural stability, and their relationship with physical and mental health.
This equipment will enable more precise and objective data collection relevant to understanding the biomechanical and functional characteristics of individuals, which are directly aligned with the thematic framework of the project “Individual and contextual factors contributing to mental and physical health development.” The analysis of parameters obtained through baropodometric measurements may contribute to a more comprehensive insight into the relationship between motor patterns, postural control, and overall physical functioning, and, indirectly, to a better understanding of the factors influencing the maintenance and enhancement of health.
The acquisition of this platform represents a significant step in strengthening the project’s research infrastructure and opens up additional opportunities for the implementation of high-quality and interdisciplinary-oriented activities.
FOOZOS Signs Cooperation Agreements with Partner Associations and Organizations
On 13 March 2026, at the Faculty of Education of the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, cooperation agreements were signed within the framework of the project “Individual and Contextual Factors Contributing to the Development of Mental and Physical Health (INKOMET).”
The agreements were signed by the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Emina Berbić Kolar, PhD, in the presence of representatives of associations, communities, and sports organizations.
The signing ceremony was attended by Associate Prof. Maja Brust Nemet, PhD, Vice Dean for Science; Assistant Prof. Pavao Nujić, PhD, Vice Dean for Study Programs and Development; and the Project Leader, Assistant Prof. Daria Župan Tadijanov, PhD. On this occasion, the Project Leader presented the project and its objectives, emphasizing the importance of inter-institutional cooperation in the fields of sport, kinesiology, and education, as well as its contribution to strengthening scientific research and educational activities.
This collaboration represents an important step in strengthening partnerships between the academic community, sports organizations, and civil society associations. Particular emphasis is placed on the exchange of knowledge and experience, as well as the development of joint programs and initiatives aimed at children, youth, and the wider community.
Cooperation agreements were signed with representatives of the following organizations:
The established cooperation contributes to the strategic goal of strengthening connections between the academic community, the economy, educational institutions, and civil society organizations, while also promoting national and regional identity and culture. Through these formal partnerships, the project encourages the implementation of applied scientific activities and the practical application of scientific knowledge in educational and sports initiatives. In doing so, it supports the development of joint projects and activities tailored to the needs of the local community, while reinforcing the link between science, education, and society.
The project is funded by the European Union – Recovery and Resilience Facility.