Doctor, ask your perimenopausal patient about her physical fitness; association of self-reported physical fitness with cardiometabolic and mental health in perimenopausal women: the FLAMENCO project

Differences in quality of life and fitness level among men and women in the adulthood: a cross-sectional analysis

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to examine the associations between physical fitness components and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among adults stratified by sex and age. In addition, we aimed to examine whether these associations change based on socioeconomic, clinical, and biochemical characteristics.

METHODS

A total of 297 participants aged 47.41 (standard deviation: 9.08) years from the "Validity of a Model of Accelerated Vascular Aging as a Cardiovascular Risk Index in Healthy Adults: the EVasCu cross-sectional study" were included in this analysis. HRQoL, physical fitness, socioeconomic status (SES), waist circumference, and blood pressure were measured. Additionally, blood samples were extracted to determine cholesterol, triglyceride, and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) were estimated to test mean differences in physical and mental health-related health measures (HRQoL) between fitness categories (fixed factors) by sex and age categories.

RESULTS

The physical HRQoL was related to the levels of fitness parameters among women, independent of age, while for men, it was related to better levels of general fitness and cardiorespiratory fitness among men aged < 50 and men aged ≥ 50, respectively. In contrast, mental HRQoL was related to cardiorespiratory fitness only among women aged < 50 years; speed/agility and flexibility among men aged < 50 years; and general fitness, strength, and flexibility among men aged ≥ 50 years. These data did not change when SES, clinical variables, or biochemical determinations were included in the analyses, neither for the physical nor for the mental HRQoL.

CONCLUSION

Gender and age are important factors to be considered when analysing health indicators and influences in the population. In addition, SES, clinical characteristics, and biochemical parameters do not seem to influence the relationship between HRQoL and fitness.

Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Sleep Quality and Mental Health of College Students

Objective

In recent years, people's living standards have been greatly improved, but at the same time, it also brings many health problems, among which mental health problems and sleep problems of college students are important problems. The aim of the study is to explore the effect of physical activity intervention on college students' mental health and provide a new way of thinking for colleges and universities to carry out mental health interventions.

Methods

This paper focuses on the physical health problems of college students and explores the relationship between aerobic exercise, emotion, and sleep quality among college students. The SPSS statistical method was used to analyze the differences in aerobic exercise, emotion, and sleep quality among college students in terms of demographic variables; to explore the relationship between aerobic exercise, emotion, and sleep quality; and to construct a structural equation model using the relationship between them. Results/Discussion. This study explores the relationship between aerobic exercise and sleep quality and psychological health of college students, further analyzes the path model of the role of aerobic exercise and psychological health on sleep quality of college students, and verifies it through experiments, which proves to help universities and relevant departments understand the current situation of exercise and sleep quality of college students and provide timely and effective design of mandatory aerobic exercise courses for college students who lack exercise and have sleep problems. At the same time, it helps college students to understand their sleep situation and adjust their aerobic exercise courses according to their sleep status.

Health Status Stability of Patients in a Medical Rehabilitation Program: What Are the Roles of Time, Physical Fitness Level, and Self-efficacy?

BACKGROUND

Individuals' physical and mental health, as well as their chances of returning to work after their ability to work is damaged, can be addressed by medical rehabilitation.

AIM

This study investigated the developmental trends of mental and physical health among patients in medical rehabilitation and the roles of self-efficacy and physical fitness in the development of mental and physical health.

DESIGN

A longitudinal design that included four time-point measurements across 15 months.

SETTING

A medical rehabilitation center in Germany.

POPULATION

Participants included 201 patients who were recruited from a medical rehabilitation center.

METHODS

To objectively measure physical fitness (lung functioning), oxygen reabsorption at anaerobic threshold (VO2AT) was used, along with several self-report scales.

RESULTS

We found a nonlinear change in mental health among medical rehabilitation patients. The results underscored the importance of medical rehabilitation for patients' mental health over time. In addition, patients' physical health was stable over time. The initial level of physical fitness (VO2AT) positively predicted their mental health and kept the trend more stable. Self-efficacy appeared to have a positive relationship with mental health after rehabilitation treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed a nonlinear change in mental health among medical rehabilitation patients. Self-efficacy was positively related to mental health, and the initial level of physical fitness positively predicted the level of mental health after rehabilitation treatment.

CLINICAL REHABILITATION

More attention could be given to physical capacity and self-efficacy for improving and maintaining rehabilitants' mental health.

Reliability and validity of the Healthy Fitness Measurement Scale Version 1.0 (HFMS V1.0) in Chinese people

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the reliability and validity of Healthy Fitness Measurement Scale Version 1.0 (HFMS V1.0) for different population cohorts in the city of Guangzhou, Guangdong, China and to provide evidence and tools for further evaluation of healthy fitness of Chinese population and related factors.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Urban neighbourhood and Medical University.

PARTICIPANTS

Elderly people (n=393; mean age 68.27±6.38 years; 53.18% male), university students (n=390; mean age 19.29±1.29 years; 38.21% male) and urban residents (n=393; mean age 32.23±9.41 years; 44.78% male).

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcomes were evaluated the reliability and validity of HFMS V1.0 by internal consistency evaluation, split-half reliability, test-retest reliability, convergent and discriminant construct validity, and factor analysis.

RESULTS

The Cronbach's α coefficients for HFMS V1.0 were all greater than 0.85 for overall scale of total samples and three individual groups, and the split-half reliability and intragroup correlation coefficients were both greater than 0.70 (p<0.01). The correlation of each item, dimension and subscales ranged from 0.52 to 0.91 (p < 0.01). A total of 10 factors were screened by exploratory factor analysis with the cumulative contribution rate of 61.40%, basically consistent with the theoretical structure of scale. The confirmatory factor analysis indicated good fit: CMIN/DF=3.45, root mean square error of approximation=0.05, GFI=0.91, AGFI=0.90, IFI=0.90, comparative fit index=0.90.

CONCLUSION

HFMS V1.0 showed acceptable reliability and validity in the test of healthy fitness of general population in Guangzhou. This scale could be a reliable measurement tool for evaluation of healthy fitness and potential risk factors.

Physical Exercise and Mental Health: The Routes of a Reciprocal Relation

Sport participation and exercise practice are considered to be beneficial for mental status, yielding an improved mood and better quality of life. On the other hand, good mental fitness is thought to lead to better physical status and sport performance. The key aim of this narrative review is to provide an unstructured overview on the topic with special considerations on the role of mental and physical health to summarize the evidence on their reciprocal influence. While very few papers describe the role of mental health measures in affecting physical performance, more evidence is available concerning the effect of exercise and sport in improving mental health outcomes. Furthermore, there is a consistent role of depressive and anxiety symptoms in influencing the risk of sport injury in either recreational or elite athletes. Moreover, the importance of investigating mental health issues in elite and retired athletes is highlighted. On the basis of the available literature, several biases were found to affect the provided evidence mainly because of the complexity of a proper study design in this field.

Associations of physical performance and physical activity with mental well-being in middle-aged women

Background

To investigate whether physical performance is independently of physical activity (PA) associated with positive and negative dimensions of mental well-being in middle-aged women.

Methods

Data were drawn from the Estrogenic Regulation of Muscle Apoptosis (ERMA) study in which women 47 to 55 years were randomly selected from the Finnish National Registry. They (n = 909) participated in measurements of physical performance (handgrip force, knee extension force, vertical jumping height, maximal walking speed, and six-minute walking distance). Both mental well-being (the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Short Form and the Satisfaction with Life Scale) and PA were self-reported. Associations between variables were analysed using multivariate linear regression modelling adjusted for body height, fat mass %, menopausal status and symptoms, marital status, parity, employment status, self-reported mental disorders, and use of psycholeptics and psychoanaleptics. PA was then entered into a separate model to explore its role in the associations.

Results

In the adjusted models, significant positive associations of six-minute walking distance with positive affectivity (B = 0.12, p = 0.002) and life satisfaction (B = 0.15, p = 0.033) were observed. No significant associations were observed between physical performance and depressive symptoms or negative affectivity. PA was positively associated with positive affectivity and life satisfaction and negatively with depressive symptoms across all the physical performance variables.

Conclusions

Of the physical performance dimensions, aerobic component was associated with positive mental well-being independently of PA level. In relation to other physical performance components, the results point to the benefits of physical activity for mental well-being.

Association of Self-Reported Physical Fitness with Pregnancy Related Symptoms the GESTAFIT Project

We explored the association of physical fitness (PF) with pregnancy-related symptoms, at the 16th and 34th gestational weeks (g.w.). The International Fitness Scale and the Pregnancy Symptoms Inventory were employed to assess self-reported PF and pregnancy-related symptoms, respectively. At the 16th g.w. greater self-reported overall PF was associated with lower incidence of urinary frequency (p = 0.020); greater overall PF, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), muscular strength and speed-agility were associated with lower incidence of tiredness-fatigue (all, p < 0.05); greater overall PF and speed-agility were associated with lower incidence of poor sleep (both, p < 0.05); greater CRF and flexibility were associated with lower limitations by tiredness-fatigue (both, p < 0.05); and greater flexibility was associated with lower limitations by poor sleep (p = 0.021). At the 34th g.w. greater self-reported overall PF, CRF and muscular strength were associated with lower incidence of tiredness-fatigue (all, p < 0.05); greater CRF was associated with lower incidence of poor sleep (p = 0.019); and, greater flexibility was associated with lower incidence of increased vaginal discharge (p = 0.023). Adequate levels of PF, especially CRF, may help women to cope with the most endorsed pregnancy-related symptoms and its limitations, especially tiredness-fatigue and poor sleep.

The association of physical fitness with mental health in children: A serial multiple mediation model

There is growing interest in the association between physical fitness and mental health. This study aimed to extend current knowledge by investigating the potential mediating roles of resilience and anxiety in the association between physical fitness and mental health in children. A total of 269 children were selected by stratified random sampling from three primary schools in China. Physical fitness was scored using the Chinese National Student Physical Fitness Standard. Resilience, anxiety, and mental health data were collected using the following questionnaires: Resilience Scale for Chinese Adolescents, Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children, and the Mental Health Test. The PROCESS macro developed by Hayes was used to conduct serial multiple mediation analysis. We found that physical fitness, resilience, anxiety, and mental health were significantly correlated. Children with higher physical fitness had lower mental health problems; however, this statistical significance was not detectable after controlling for resilience and anxiety. Serial multiple mediation analysis revealed that the association of physical fitness with mental health was partially mediated by resilience and anxiety. These results indicate that the positive association of physical fitness with mental health in children may be changed through resilience and anxiety, which appear to play serial multiple mediating roles in this association. These findings contribute to deeper understanding of the associations between these factors and suggest that promoting physical fitness independent of considering resilience and anxiety may be insufficient to achieve good mental health in children.

Associations between Health-Related Physical Fitness and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Overweight and Obese University Staff

PURPOSE

This cross-sectional study examined the associations between health-related physical fitness (HPF) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in overweight and obese university staff.

METHODS

A total of 340 university staff (109 women, mean age 43.1 ± 9.7 years) with overweight (n = 284) and obesity (n = 56) were included. The HPF indicators included skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), body fat percentage (BFP), grip strength (GS), sit-and-reach test (SRT), and vital capacity index (VCI). CVD risk factors were measured, including uric acid (UA), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and glucose (GLU).

RESULTS

BFP, SMI, and GS were positively associated with UA level (β = 0.239, β = 0.159, β = 0.139, p < 0.05). BFP was positively associated with TG and TG/HDL-C levels (β = 0.421, β = 0.259, p < 0.05). GS was positively associated with HDL-C level (β = 0.244, p < 0.05). SRT was negatively associated with GLU level (β = -0.130, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In overweight and obese university staff, body composition, muscle strength, and flexibility were associated with CVD risk factors. An HPF test may be a practical nonmedical method to assess CVD risk.

Association between muscle strength and sleep quality and duration among middle-aged and older adults: a systematic review

PURPOSE

To examine the relationship between sleep quality and duration and muscle strength among community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted from March 2020 until May 2020. Searches were done for peer-reviewed and English-written articles reporting results of studies in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and in article references lists. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses was used as well as the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) to appraise the methodological quality.

RESULTS

Twenty-one cross-sectional, three prospective studies and a total of 92,363 subjects were included. The majority of the included studies are classified as "high quality". Handgrip strength is the main method of muscle strength assessment. Sleep assessment is usually conducted using subjective measures, such as validated sleep scales or self-reported questionnaires. Actigraphy, as an objective measure, is used less often. Most studies support strong evidence on the association between weak muscle strength and poor sleep quality and duration among middle-aged and older adults; whereas the results for the gender-specific association and the impact of short or long sleep duration were inconclusive.

CONCLUSION

This review has identified strong evidence on the relationship between sleep quality and duration and muscle strength among middle-aged and older adults. Health professionals should consider this relationship as a component of geriatric assessment in community practice and geriatric settings. Future rigorous research with a combination of subjective and objective measurements is needed to explore whether gender and specific sleep duration are related to muscle strength.