Cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness and mental health in older adolescents: A multi-level cross-sectional analysis

The Mediating Role of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in the Association between a Negative Lifestyle and Poor Mental Health in Chilean Schoolchildren

BACKGROUND

A negative lifestyle has a reported relationship with psychological problems and deteriorated well-being. However, there is little information regarding the mediating role of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in this relationship.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the present study are twofold: first, to investigate the association between negative lifestyle, physical self-concept (PSC), and depression, and second, to assess the potential mediating role of CRF in this complex relationship.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 612 schoolchildren aged between 9 and 14 years from the Araucanía region (southern Chile). CRF was measured using the Leger test, and lifestyle, depression, and PSC were measured using validated questionnaires.

RESULTS

A negative lifestyle reported an inverse association with PSC (p < 0.001) and a positive association with depression levels (p < 0.001). The mediation analysis showed that CRF was positively related to PSC (p < 0.001) and inversely related to depression (p = 0.001); besides, the indirect effect CRF acted as a partial mediator in the association between a negative lifestyle and PSC (indirect effect = -1.15; SE = 0.01; 95% CI, -1.87, -0.55) and depression levels (indirect effect = 0.22; SE = 0.08; 95% CI, 0.08, 0.38).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, CRF in schoolchildren played a potential mediating role in the association between a negative lifestyle and depression and PSC.

The association between physical fitness and mental health among college students: a cross-sectional study

Introduction

Physical inactivity and mental health disorders are emerging threats to public health in China. Previous research on links between exercise and mental wellbeing have focused on clinical populations, with little evidence from the general population, particularly younger adults. We aimed to investigate associations between physical fitness and mental health in Chinese college students.

Methods

In this series, of cross-sectional observational studies, we enrolled 7,468 Chinese college students aged 16-24 years in 199 classes at Changzhou Vocational Institute of Engineering between Sept 1, 2017, and Jun 30, 2018. Exposures of interest were the students' physical fitness level, measured by the Chinese University Students Physique Test. The primary outcomes were mental health situations, measured by the University Personality Inventory (UPI). The multivariable linear regression models were used to assess the relationship between the levels of physical fitness and mental disorders symptoms.

Results

Completed mental health and physical fitness data were available for 6,724 participants aged 16-24 years. Compared with the failed group, the corresponding levels of difference in overall UPI scores were - 1.45 scores (95% CI: -2.45, -0.46; p < 0.01) for the passed group and - 2.95 scores (95% CI: -4.13, -1.77; p < 0.01) for the good group. Similar results were observed in the four different aspects of psychotic disorder symptoms.

Discussion

There was a significantly negative correlation between the level of physical fitness and phycological situations among Chinese college students. Our findings highlight the psychological situations of students with low physical fitness levels should be concerned.

Swim, Strength, or Combined Programs: Effect on Health-Related Physical Fitness in Adolescents With Down Syndrome

The adolescent population with Down syndrome (DS) appears to show higher levels of body fat and lower levels of cardiorespiratory fitness or muscle strength than their peers without disabilities. There is a need to create physical activity programs to improve these data. The aim of this research was to determine the effects of a 16-week swimming program, strength program, and combined program (swimming and strength training) on body composition and health-related physical fitness on adolescents with DS and to assess whether there are differences in the results of the different training programs. Forty-five adolescents (17 female and 28 male; average age 15.5 [1.53] years) with DS were recruited and randomized to three groups (swim [n = 15], strength [n = 15], and combined [n = 15]). Results showed that the swim group had significant improvements in all health-related physical fitness variables and there was an improvement in some body-composition variables (p < .05). The strength and combined groups obtained minor improvements in the variables analyzed. In summary, a 16-week swim program consisting of three sessions of 60 min is able to improve levels of body composition and health-related physical fitness in adolescents with DS. The swim training program seems to be more effective in improving body composition and health-related physical fitness than the strength or combined program. These findings could be useful in different special-education centers due to the predisposition shown by the population with DS to this sport modality.

Cardiorespiratory fitness and circadian rhythms in adolescents: a pilot study

Although cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), an important marker of youth health, is associated with earlier sleep/wake schedule, its relationship with circadian rhythms is unclear. This study examined the associations between CRF and rhythm variables in adolescents. Eighteen healthy adolescents (10 females and 8 males; Mage = 14.6 ± 2.3 yr) completed two study visits on weekdays bracketing an ambulatory assessment during summer vacation. Visit 1 included in-laboratory CRF assessment (peak V̇o2) using a ramp-type progressive cycle ergometry protocol and gas exchange measurement, which was followed by 7-14 days of actigraphy to assess sleep/wake patterns and 24-h activity rhythms. During Visit 2, chronotype, social jetlag (i.e., the difference in midsleep time between weekdays and weekends), and phase preference were assessed using a questionnaire, and hourly saliva samples were collected to determine the dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) phase. All analyses were adjusted for sex, pubertal status, and physical activity. Greater peak V̇o2 was associated with earlier sleep/wake times and circadian phase measures, including acrophase, UP time, DOWN time, last activity peak (LAP) time, and chronotype (all P < 0.05). Peak V̇o2 was negatively associated with social jetlag (P = 0.02). In addition, the mixed-model analysis revealed a significant interaction effect between peak V̇o2 and actigraphy-estimated hour-by-hour activity patterns (P < 0.001), with the strongest effects observed at around the time of waking (0600-1000). In healthy adolescents, better CRF was associated with an earlier circadian phase and increased activity levels notably during the morning. Future studies are needed to investigate the longitudinal effects of the interactions between CRF and advanced rhythms on health outcomes.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In healthy adolescents, better cardiorespiratory fitness, as assessed by the gold standard measure [laboratory-based assessment of peak oxygen consumption (V̇o2)], was associated with earlier circadian timing of sleep/wake patterns, rest-activity rhythms and chronotype, and less social jetlag. These findings highlight the close interrelationships between fitness and rhythms and raise the possibility that maintaining higher cardiorespiratory fitness levels alongside earlier sleep/wake schedule and activity rhythms may be important behavioral intervention targets to promote health in adolescents.

Mediating effects of sleep on mental health in older adolescents: Findings from the Burn 2 Learn randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

Our study explored the mediating effect of sleep-related variables on older adolescents' mental health in the context of a school-based physical activity intervention.

METHODS

We evaluated the Burn 2 Learn (B2L) intervention using a cluster randomized controlled trial, which included two cohorts. Participants for this sub-study were from the second cohort, which included 292 older adolescents (16.0 ± 0.5 years) from 10 secondary schools in New South Wales, Australia. Teachers at intervention schools delivered two high-intensity activity breaks (approximately 10 mins) per week to students during academic lessons. Participants completed measures of mental health (i.e., perceived stress and internalizing problems) and hypothesized mediators (i.e., sleep duration, sleep latency, awakenings, and daytime sleepiness) at baseline (February-April 2019) and post-intervention (August-September 2019). Single mediation analyses were conducted to explore the potential mediating effects of sleep variables on mental health outcomes using a product-of-coefficient test.

RESULTS

We observed a small statistically significant effect for perceived stress (β = -0.11, SE = 0.034, p = 0.002), but not for internalizing problems (β = 0.02, SE = 0.051, p = 0.760). There were no significant intervention effects for sleep-related variables. Several sleep-related variables were associated with mental health outcomes but no mediated effects were found.

CONCLUSION

The B2L intervention had a small beneficial effect on perceived stress, however our mediation analyses suggest this was not explained by changes in sleep-related variables. Markers of sleep were associated with mental health constructs, highlighting the importance of sleep for good psychological health. However, in the context of a physical activity intervention, effects on mental health may be driven by other behavioral, neurobiological, or psychosocial mechanisms.

Arsenic disrupts extracellular vesicle-mediated signaling in regenerating myofibers

Chronic exposure to environmental arsenic is a public health crisis affecting hundreds of millions of individuals worldwide. Though arsenic is known to contribute to many pathologies and diseases, including cancers, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, and neurological impairment, the mechanisms for arsenic-promoted disease remain unresolved. This is especially true for arsenic impacts on skeletal muscle function and metabolism, despite the crucial role that skeletal muscle health plays in maintaining cardiovascular health, systemic homeostasis, and cognition. A barrier to researching this area is the challenge of interrogating muscle cell-specific effects in biologically relevant models. Ex vivo studies investigating mechanisms for muscle-specific responses to arsenic or other environmental contaminants primarily utilize traditional 2-dimensional culture models that cannot elucidate effects on muscle physiology or function. Therefore, we developed a contractile 3-dimensional muscle construct model-composed of primary mouse muscle progenitor cells differentiated in a hydrogel matrix-to study arsenic exposure impacts on skeletal muscle regeneration. Muscle constructs exposed to low-dose (50 nM) arsenic exhibited reduced strength and myofiber diameter following recovery from muscle injury. These effects were attributable to dysfunctional paracrine signaling mediated by extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from muscle cells. Specifically, we found that EVs collected from arsenic-exposed muscle constructs recapitulated the inhibitory effects of direct arsenic exposure on myofiber regeneration. In addition, muscle constructs treated with EVs isolated from muscles of arsenic-exposed mice displayed significantly decreased strength. Our findings highlight a novel model for muscle toxicity research and uncover a mechanism of arsenic-induced muscle dysfunction by the disruption of EV-mediated intercellular communication.

Individual and combined impact of physical fitness on health-related quality of life during adolescence: DADOS Study

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the individual and combined impact of physical fitness components at baseline on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) at 24-month follow-up in adolescents. This longitudinal research included 199 adolescents (13.9±0.3 years at baseline) from the DADOS study. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed using the 20-m shuttle run test. Muscular strength was assessed using the standing broad jump test. Motor competence was assessed using the 4 × 10-m shuttle run test. A physical fitness z-score was calculated as the mean of the z-scores values of each fitness test. A fitness index ranging from 0 to 3 was created according to the number of physical fitness components in which participants achieved high levels according to normative values. HRQoL was evaluated by the KIDSCREEN-10 questionnaire. Linear regression analyses showed that cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, and the physical fitness z-score at baseline were individually associated with HRQoL at follow-up (β ranging from 0.123 to 0.183; all p < 0.05). Moreover, logistic regression analysis revealed that adolescents with a fitness index ≥1 at baseline were more likely to achieve high HRQoL at 24-month follow-up, compared with their peers with an index of 0 (OR ranging from 3.554 to 9.087; all p < 0.05). Our results revealed an individual and cumulative positive impact of physical fitness at baseline on HRQoL at 24-month follow-up. These findings underline the key role of promoting the enhancement of overall physical fitness components in order to improve adolescents' health and well-being.Highlights Adolescents with high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and motor competence will benefit from a greater physical and mental well-being over the time.The more physical fitness components with optimal levels, the greater likelihood of reaching better HRQoL over the time.Public health authorities should focus on the promotion of multiple physical fitness components to increase adolescent's likelihood of achieving greater HRQoL over the time.

The Mediating Role of the Muscle Quality Index in the Relation of Screen Time and Abdominal Obesity with Health-Related Quality of Life in Chilean Schoolchildren

Screen time (ST) and abdominal obesity have a negative effect on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, there is little information regarding the mediating role of the muscle quality index (MQI) in these relationships. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between HRQoL, physical status (i.e., anthropometrics and fitness), lifestyle (i.e., ST and physical activity), and the MQI, and then to determine the potential mediating role of the MQI in the relation of ST and abdominal obesity with HRQoL in Chilean schoolchildren. The cross-sectional study included 750 schoolchildren (girls, n = 332 and boys, n = 418) aged between 10 and 14 years (11.73 ± 1.08 y). MQI, lifestyle, fitness parameters, waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) and HRQoL were measured. HRQoL presented a significant correlation with WtHR (r: -0.19), VO2_max (r: 0.20), physical activity after school (r: 0.26), ST (r: -0.26) and MQI (r: 0.15). According to MQI, the high-MQI group reported higher HRQoL than the low-MQI group (low MQI: 36.10 ± 3.63 vs. high MQI: 37.43 ± 4.00, p < 0.001). In the mediation model, ST and abdominal obesity were negatively linked to HRQoL; the indirect effect confirmed that MQI is a partial mediator in the relation between ST and HRQoL (indirect effect = -0.04; SE = 0.02; 95% CI: -0.09, -0.01) and in the relation between abdominal obesity and HRQoL (indirect effect = -1.81; SE = 0.83; 95% CI: -3.41, -0.40). In conclusion, MQI is related to better HRQoL in schoolchildren, and the negative relation of ST and abdominal obesity with HRQoL is mediated by MQI.

Portuguese Physical Literacy Assessment - Observation (PPLA-O) for adolescents (15-18 years) from grades 10-12: Development and initial validation through item response theory

Introduction

Aims of these studies were to develop the Portuguese Physical Literacy Assessment Observation instrument (PPLA-O) to assess the physical and part of the cognitive domain of Physical Literacy (PL) through data collected routinely by Physical Education (PE) teachers; and to assess the construct validity (dimensionality, measurement invariance, and convergent and discriminant validity) and score reliability of one of its modules [Movement Competence, Rules, and Tactics (MCRT)].

Methods

Content analysis of the Portuguese PE syllabus and literature review were used for PPLA-O domain identification. Multidimensional Item Response Theory (MIRT) models were used to assess construct validity and reliability, along with bivariate correlations in a sample of 515 Portuguese grade 10-12 students (M _age = 16, SD = 1).

Results

PPLA-O development resulted in an instrument with two modules: MCRT (22 physical activities) and Health-Related Fitness (HRF; 5 protocols); both assessed with teacher-reported data entered in a spreadsheet. A two correlated dimensions Graded Response Model (Manipulative-based Activities [MA], and Stability-based Activities [SA]) showed best fit to the MCRT data, suggesting measurement invariance across sexes, and adequate to good score reliabilities (MA = .89, and SA = .73). There was a moderate to high correlation (r = .68) between dimensions, and boys had higher scores in both dimensions. Correlations among MCRT scores and HRF variables were similar in magnitude to previous reports in meta-analysis and systematic reviews.

Conclusions

PPLA-O is composed of two modules that integrate observational data collected by PE teachers into a common frame of criterion-referenced PL assessment. The HRF module uses data collected through widely validated FITescola® assessment protocols. The MCRT makes use of teacher-reported data collected in a wide range of activities and movement pursuits to measure movement competence and inherent cognitive skills (Tactics and Rules). We also gathered initial evidence supporting construct validity and score reliability of the MCRT module. This highly feasible instrument can provide Portuguese grade 10-12 (15-18 years) PE students with feedback on their PL journey, along with the other instrument of PPLA (PPLA-Questionnaire). Further studies should assess inter and intra-rater reliability and criterion-related validity of its two modules.

Physical Activity and Physical Fitness in Adolescents after the COVID-19 Lockdown and One Year Afterward

The purpose of this study was to analyze the changes in physical activity and physical fitness between the beginning of the first academic year after a confinement (November 2020) and the beginning of the second academic year after a confinement ("new normality": November 2021) in a cohort of adolescents. Moreover, the evolution of physical fitness after controlling for physical activity was examined. A total of 687 students (M = 15.35, SD = 1.677) from a high school located in a rural town in northern Spain gave information on their physical activity (PA) levels in two different periods. Linear mixed models were used to examine these changes. The results indicated that vigorous physical activity (VPA) and the metabolic equivalent of task (MET) significantly increased between the two periods. A growth tendency of several components of fitness (upper body power, strength endurance, cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, and eye-hand coordination) was also observed. Finally, the results indicated that belonging to a sports club and getting involved in more VPA better explained the development in cardiovascular and muscle fitness between the two time points. Thus, the results of this study highlighted the relevance of membership in a sports club and vigorous PA in order to mitigate the potential negative effect of social distancing measures on physical fitness.

Association between Physical Fitness, Physical Activity Level and Sense of Coherence in Swedish Adolescents; An Analysis of Age and Sex Differences

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between physical fitness, physical activity, and sense of coherence (SOC) in Swedish adolescents (n = 2028 males, n = 1287 females) aged 14 to 18 using a cross-sectional design.

METHODS

Using the Swedish Physical power Mental harmony and Social capacity (FMS) student profile, participants performed physical tests measuring their cardiovascular ability (CV) and muscular strength. Questionnaires were used to measure physical activity levels (PA), the participation in organized physical training, sedentary behavior (SB), screen time, and SOC value. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to analyze the association between SOC and independent variables.

RESULTS

The regression analyses explained a small, shared variance between SOC and the independent variables in boys (4.3%) and girls (3.3%). SB showed a positive association with SOC both in girls (β = 0.114, p = 0.002) and boys (β = 0.109, p = 0.013). Abdominal strength was positively associated, while VO₂max was inversely associated, with SOC (β = 0.113, p = 0.022; β = -0.109, p = 0.026, respectively) in boys. Girls had poorer fitness than boys did across all age groups except at age 18. PA levels decreased from age 14 to 18 in girls and boys, but without differences between sexes. Abdominal strength decreased from age 14 to 18 in girls and boys. In general, girls had lower SOC than boys across all age groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Poor sedentary behavior was significantly associated with weaker SOC for both genders, indicating overall physical activity as the most important factor for stronger SOC. However, emotional support in vulnerable environments may have a bigger impact than physical activity or sedentary behavior on the SOC value for adolescents.

Compared With Girls, Boys' Psychological Symptoms Are More Likely to Be Influenced by Lifestyle in Chinese Middle School Students

Purpose

To explore the relationship between Chinese middle school students' lifestyles and psychological symptoms and compare the differences between genders.

Method

Using the method of stratified cluster sampling, 14,356 students aged 13–18 years from 8 cities in China were selected as participants. The Multidimensional Sub-health Questionnaire of Adolescents was used to estimate psychological symptoms. Chi-square test and Logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the relationship between lifestyle and psychological symptoms.

Results

The psychological symptom detection rate of Chinese middle school students was 21.37%. The detection rate of psychological symptoms for boys was 22.1%, which was significantly higher than for girls (20.64%, χ² = 4.608, P < 0.05). According to the Logistic regression analysis, factors that have a positive correlation with the demonstration of psychological symptoms (P < 0.01) include: how the students go to school (by foot or on the vehicle) (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.07–1.25); inadequate time for sleep (OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.28–1.72); video watching time ≥2 h/d (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.13–1.39); never exercise (OR = 2.39, 95% CI: 2.07–2.76); never participate in extracurricular exercises (OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.27–1.66); have breakfast occasionally (OR = 1.35, 95% CI:1.22–1.50); never have breakfast (OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.62–2.24); always have snacks (OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.13–1.44); always drink sugared beverages (OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.22–1.55); picky with food occasionally (OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.11–1.33).

Conclusions

There was a positive correlation between unhealthy lifestyle and the occurrence of psychological symptoms, and boys are more easily influenced by lifestyles than girls.

Is Subjective Age Associated with Physical Fitness in Community-Dwelling Older Adults?

Although subjective age has been associated with a range of health-related outcomes, there has been little systematic study on the relationship between the subjective age and physical fitness in a given population. The purpose of this study was to determine the prospective association between subjective age and physical fitness in community-dwelling older adults. A sample of 276 older people who lived in the community was studied. Subjective age was measured by a face-to-face interview. Grip strength, balancing on one leg with eyes open, the 30 s chair stand test, 4 m habitual walk, and 6 min walk test were measured to reflect physical fitness. Results indicated that the felt younger older adults had a higher level of physical fitness compared to their felt older and felt the same counterparts. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that all the measured physical fitness items were significantly associated with subjective age in older men. All of the measured physical fitness items except for the 4 m habitual walk were remarkably related to subjective age in older women. The findings suggest that subjective age is closely associated with physical fitness in community-dwelling older adults. Much attention should be paid to the promotion of physical fitness to improve the subjective age of older adults.

The effect of school year and summer break in health-related cardiorespiratory fitness: A 2-year longitudinal analysis

This study aimed to assess the trends of health-related cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) during two school years with a 3-month summer break in children and adolescents. A 2-year longitudinal study, including 440 6th to 8th graders (218 boys), mean age 12.3 years, was conducted. The Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) was used to assess CRF. Physical activity was measured using accelerometers. Repeated measures linear models were used to analyses differences and trends in VO2peak and health-related CRF. Overall differences between time-point VO2peak were significant for both boys (p<0.001) and girls (p=0.003). Pairwise comparisons showed that VO2peak improved from the beginning to the end of the same school year for boys (school-year 1: 1.53 ml/kg/min, 95%CI=0.98, 2.09; school-year 2: 1.81 ml/kg/min, 95%CI=1.28, 2.34) and girls (school-year 1: 0.85 ml/kg/min, 95%CI=0.43, 1.27; school-year 2: 1.05 ml/kg/min, 95%CI=0.73, 1.36), while, differences in CRF during summer break were not significant. However, significance was only maintained for girls when performing monthly adjusted analysis. Improvements in CRF were observed during school year and remained unchanged during summer break. These findings provide relevant information for the health education community, suggesting the need for additional efforts to counteract the summer break effects on CRF, especially for girls.

The association between duration of muscle exercise and psychological symptoms is higher in boys than in girls: A cross-sectional study based on Chinese college students during COVID-19

OBJECTIVE

The COVID-19 pandemic has had many negative effects on the physical and mental health of college students. Although many studies have analyzed the association between muscular fitness and psychological symptoms in children and adolescents, research during the COVID-19 pandemic is limited. Our study focused on analyzing the association between duration of muscle exercise and psychological symptoms among Chinese college students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHOD

A four-stage stratified whole-group sampling method was used to investigate basic demographic information, duration of muscle exercise and psychological symptoms in 5,559 college students aged 19-22 years in China. Chi-square test (categorical variables) and one-way ANOVA (continuous variables) were used to compare the psychological symptoms of college students with different durations of muscle exercise. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the association between duration of muscle exercise and psychological symptoms.

RESULT

The detection rate of psychological symptoms among Chinese college students was 9.0%; the detection rate was 10.7% for boys and 7.6% for girls. The proportions of duration of muscle exercise at <30 min/d, 30-60 min/d, and >60 min/d were 75.0%, 20.4%, and 4.6%, respectively. After adjusting for relevant confounding variables, taking Chinese college students with duration of muscle exercise >60 min/d as the reference group, duration of muscle exercise <30 min/d was positively correlated with the occurrence of psychological symptoms (OR: 4.19, 95%CI: 1.82, 9.61) (P < 0.001). In emotional symptoms (OR: 4.56, 95%CI: 1.99, 10.44), behavioral symptoms (OR: 3.44, 95%CI: 1.79, 6.60), social adaptation difficulties (OR: 3.04, 95%CI: 1.62, 5.68) dimensions, there is also a positive correlation (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The negative association between duration of muscle exercise and psychological symptoms among Chinese college students also suggests that longer duration of muscle exercise among college students is associated with a lower prevalence of psychological symptoms. The association between duration of muscle exercise and psychological symptoms was higher in boys compared to girls.

Bi-directional relationships between physical activity and mental health among a large sample of Canadian youth: a sex-stratified analysis of students in the COMPASS study

Objective

The aim of this research was to examine the bidirectional association between self-reported symptoms of mental disorder and physical activity among a large sample of Canadian secondary school students over time.

Methods

Linked survey data were obtained from 28,567 grade 9 to 12 students across Canada participating in two waves of the COMPASS Study (2017–18; 2018–19). Autoregressive cross-lagged models were run to examine the reciprocal relationships between self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and symptoms of depression (CESD-10) and anxiety (GAD-7). Models were stratified by gender, and accounted for grade, ethno-racial identity, and school-level clustering.

Results

Autoregressive associations show that neither symptoms of anxiety nor depression, at baseline, were predictive of mean MVPA at follow-up – consistent for the full sample and among both males and females. Higher MVPA among males at baseline was associated with lower symptoms of both anxiety (β = − 0.03, p = 0.002) and depression (β = − 0.05, p < 0.001) at follow-up. However, among females, higher MVPA at baseline was associated with greater symptoms of anxiety (β = 0.03, p < 0.001), but not symptoms of depression (β = 0.01, p = 0.073), at follow-up.

Conclusion

In our large sample of Canadian secondary school students, associations between physical activity and symptoms of mental disorder were not bi-directional, and these relationships differed in males and females. This study illustrates the complex nature of the relationship between physical activity and symptoms of mental disorder among youth. While results support the benefits of promoting physical activity among males to prevent or manage internalizing symptoms, the relationship among females warrants further investigation.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12966-021-01201-z.

Longitudinal Associations of Healthy Behaviors on Fitness in Adolescents: DADOS Study

INTRODUCTION

This study aims to investigate the individual and combined associations of physical activity, sedentary time, diet, and sleep at baseline on cardiorespiratory fitness at 24-month follow-up in adolescents.

METHODS

The DADOS (Deporte, ADOlescencia y Salud) prospective cohort study was performed between 2015 and 2017. Analyses were conducted in 2020 and included 189 adolescents aged 13.9 (SD=0.3) years at baseline. Vigorous physical activity, total sedentary time, and sleep duration were evaluated by GENEActiv accelerometer. Sleep quality and adherence to a Mediterranean diet were evaluated by questionnaires. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed by the 20-meter shuttle run test. A healthy lifestyle index was created by including positive scores for each individual behavior, and 3 categories of achievement (≤1, 2, ≥3) were established.

RESULTS

Performing high vigorous physical activity and low screen time at baseline were individually associated with the likelihood of achieving high cardiorespiratory fitness at follow-up (OR=3.33 and 3.09, respectively). ANCOVA indicated that adolescents with a healthy lifestyle index ≥3 at baseline showed higher cardiorespiratory fitness at follow-up than those with a healthy lifestyle index of 2 and ≤1 (74.4 [SE=1.5] vs 68.9 [SE=1.4] and 67.8 [SE=1.5] laps, respectively; p<0.01). Adolescents with a healthy lifestyle index ≥3 at baseline were more likely to have high cardiorespiratory fitness at follow-up (OR=3.10) than their peers with ≤1.

CONCLUSIONS

The results showed a cumulative impact of baseline health-related behaviors on cardiorespiratory fitness at 24-month follow-up in adolescents. These findings underline the key role of promoting a healthy lifestyle to improve adolescents' health.

Healthier Minds in Fitter Bodies: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Association between Physical Fitness and Mental Health in Youth

BACKGROUND

Physical fitness is an important marker of current and future health status, yet the association between physical fitness and indicators of mental health in youth has not been systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this work was to systematically review and meta-analyze the association between physical fitness components (i.e. cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, speed-agility, flexibility and fitness composite) and mental health indicators (i.e. psychological well-being and psychological ill-being) in preschoolers, children and adolescents.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

Systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus from database inception to May 2020.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Studies (cross-sectional, longitudinal and intervention designs) were included if they measured at least one physical fitness component and one mental health indicator in healthy youth (2-18 years).

RESULTS

A total of 58 unique studies (52 cross-sectional, 4 longitudinal and 4 intervention studies) met all eligibility criteria and were included. There was a significant positive overall association between physical fitness and mental health in children and adolescents (pooled r = 0.206, p < 0.001). We found suggestive evidence of moderation by age group, fitness components and socioeconomic status (all p < 0.08). No relevant studies focusing on preschoolers were identified. Evidence based on longitudinal and intervention studies was limited.

CONCLUSION

We observed a small to medium sized positive association between physical fitness and overall mental health in youth. However, as the majority of studies were cross-sectional, additional longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to provide evidence of causation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO registration number CRD42017080005.

Implementation at-scale of school-based physical activity interventions: A systematic review utilizing the RE-AIM framework

School-based interventions can increase young people's physical activity levels, but few are implemented at-scale (i.e., the expanded delivery of efficacious interventions under real-world conditions into new/broader populations). The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework can be used to describe the extent to which interventions have been implemented at-scale. The aim of our review was to determine the extent to which studies of school-based physical activity interventions implemented at-scale reported information across the RE-AIM dimensions. We conducted a systematic search of seven electronic databases to identify studies published up to June 2019. A total of 26 articles (representing 14 individual studies) met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Eleven studies reported actual or estimated number of students exposed to the intervention; however, the representativeness of these students was rarely reported. Nine studies reported the intervention effect on the primary outcome during scale-up. Ten studies reported the rate of participating schools/teachers; however, none reported on the characteristics of adopters/nonadopters. Eight studies reported intervention fidelity. Eleven studies described the extent to which the intervention was sustained in schools. There was considerable variability in the reporting of RE-AIM outcomes across studies. There is a need for greater consistency in the evaluation, and reporting of, school-based physical activity interventions implemented at-scale.

"It's Just Not Something We Do at School". Adolescent Boys' Understanding, Perceptions, and Experiences of Muscular Fitness Activity

BACKGROUND

English youth typically do not sufficiently engage in the types and intensities of physical activity that develop muscular fitness. The aim of this study was to use a combination of qualitative techniques to explore adolescent boys' understanding, perceptions, and experiences of physical activity and the role muscular fitness plays within boys' physically active lifestyles.

METHODS

Focus group interviews with a write, draw, show, and tell activity were conducted with 32 adolescent boys aged 14-16 years from 3 secondary schools. Three separate sources of data (frequency counts, verbatim transcripts, and visual data) were generated and were pooled together and triangulated. Data were analysed deductively, first using the Youth Physical Activity Promotion model as a thematic framework, and then inductively.

RESULTS

Physical activity was frequently associated with organised sport, and most boys were unaware of current UK physical activity guidelines. Co-participation was frequently reported as a reinforcing factor to physical activity.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a perceived lack of opportunity to participate in muscular fitness activities, particularly in school, and knowledge of how to conduct muscular fitness activities was limited. The contribution of physical education was highlighted as being key to facilitating exposure to muscular fitness activities.

Is physical fitness associated with the type of attended school? A cross-sectional analysis among 20.000 adolescents

BACKGROUND

While academic achievement has been associated with physical activity, the present work questions the potential association between the physical fitness level of adolescents and the type of school they attend, ranging from academic to technical schools.

METHODS

20,228 young French students from 76 schools (9,196 females), mean age 15.8±1.8 years, performed the Diagnoform© test. This dataset includes two higher education institutions (n=870), 37 general high schools (n=13,125), 18 professional-oriented high schools (n=3,569), 5 agricultural high schools (n=132), 2 vocational training centers (n=202) and 12 rural vocational training centers (n=1,137).

RESULTS

In higher education institutions and general high schools, girls showed better performances for all physical tests. A decreasing Quotient of overall Physical fitness Condition (QPC) was observed for both genders from urban higher education schools to rural and technical institutions (p<0.001). The proportion of total variance accounting for within institution variation is strong (intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) 0.20 [0.15; 0.27] for QPC).

CONCLUSIONS

The lower physical fitness level observed here among students from technical or training schools places them at higher risks for the development of future chronic diseases. These results suggest that specific interventions are needed depending on the educational setting.

Physical fitness reference standards for Chinese children and adolescents

To develop age- and sex-specific physical fitness reference standards and express the age- and sex-related differences using standardized effect sizes for Chinese children and adolescents. A total of 85,535 children and adolescents (48.7% girls) aged 7–18 years were recruited from six geographical divisions of China using a stratified randomized cluster sampling method. Seven physical fitness items including grip strength, standing long jump, 30-s sit-ups, sit and reach, 50-m dash, 20-s repeated straddling, and 20-m SRT were measured following a standardized procedure. Percentile curves for each physical fitness test were calculated using the LMS. Age- and sex-related differences were expressed as standardized effect sizes. We observed that the performance improved with age along with the analyzed percentiles in all tests. Boys had higher values compared to girls in all the physical fitness items except for sit and reach test, where girls showed better performance in all analyzed percentiles. Also, the sex differences increased with ages except sit and reach. There is a need for a differentiated approach in the physical education class in terms of adjustment of physical activity based on sex, level of fitness abilities in China.

Associations between fitness, physical activity and mental health in a community sample of young British adolescents: baseline data from the Fit to Study trial

OBJECTIVES

To examine relationships between fitness, physical activity and psychosocial problems among English secondary school pupils and to explore how components of physically active lifestyles are associated with mental health and well-being.

METHODS

A total of 7385 participants aged 11-13 took a fitness test and completed self-reported measures of physical activity, attitudes to activity, psychosocial problems and self-esteem during the Fit to Study trial. Multilevel regression, which modelled school-level cluster effects, estimated relationships between activity, fitness and psychosocial problems; canonical correlation analysis (CCA) explored modes of covariation between active lifestyle and mental health variables. Models were adjusted for covariates of sex, free school meal status, age, and time and location of assessments.

RESULTS

Higher fitness was linked with fewer internalising problems (β=-0.23; 95% CI -0.26 to -0.21; p<0.001). More activity was also related to fewer internalising symptoms (β=-0.24; 95% CI -0.27 to -0.20; p<0.001); the relationship between activity and internalising problems was significantly stronger for boys than for girls. Fitness and activity were also favourably related to externalising symptoms, with smaller effect sizes. One significant CCA mode, with a canonical correlation of 0.52 (p=0.001), was characterised high cross-loadings for positive attitudes to activity (0.46) and habitual activity (0.42) among lifestyle variables; and for physical and global self-esteem (0.47 and 0.42) among mental health variables.

CONCLUSION

Model-based and data-driven analysis methods indicate fitness as well as physical activity are linked to adolescent mental health. If effect direction is established, fitness monitoring could complement physical activity measurement when tracking public health.