Improving the mental health, healthy lifestyle choices, and physical health of Hispanic adolescents: a randomized controlled pilot study

The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on physical activity and sedentary behaviour in secondary school teachers: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Mid-March 2020, Belgium went in lockdown to combat the COVID-19-pandemic. Having to provide school-based day care and adapt to online teaching, while all social, cultural and sports events and activities were cancelled, secondary school teachers' physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) may have been affected considerably. This study investigates the impact of the first Belgian lockdown on PA and SB in Flemish secondary school teachers.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study was conducted throughout the 2019-2020 school year. PA and SB measured in March/April 2020 were compared with a pre-lockdown measurement in January/February 2020. Other pre-lockdown measurements (September/October 2019 and November/December 2019) and one other during-lockdown measurement (May/June 2020) allowed us to control for confounding. Validated questionnaires were used to assess participants' PA and SB. Generalized linear mixed models were applied in R.

RESULTS

Among 624 participants (77·2% females, 43·3 ± 10·3 years), increases were observed for total PA (+ 108 min/week; p = 0·047), moderate PA (+ 217 min/week; p = 0·001), domestic and garden PA (+ 308 min/week; p < 0·0001) and leisure-time PA (+ 131 min/week; p < 0·0001), whereas work-related PA (-289 min/week; p < 0·0001) and active transportation (-38 min/week; p =0·005) decreased. No differences were observed for walking (p = 1·0) and vigorous PA (p = 0·570). Increases were found for total SB (+ 972 min/week; p < 0·0001), work-related SB (+ 662 min/week; p < 0·0001) and leisure-time SB (+ 592 min/week; p = 0·0004), whereas transport-related SB (-290 min/week; p < 0·0001) decreased.

CONCLUSION

During the lockdown, we found in our sample that Flemish secondary school teachers showed an increase in SB that was 9 times as high as their PA increase. As a government, education network or school, it is crucial to sensitize, promote, and facilitate sufficient MVPA and/or walking, but likewise to discourage SB during pandemic-induced lockdowns.

Food and Nutrition Insecurity: Experiences That Differ for Some and Independently Predict Diet-Related Disease, Los Angeles County, 2022

BACKGROUND

National surveillance shows that food insecurity affects ≥1 in 10 Americans each year. Recently, experts have advocated for surveillance of nutrition and food insecurity. Nutrition security refers to the nutritional adequacy of accessible food and factors that impact one's ability to meet food preferences.

OBJECTIVES

This study presents representative estimates of food insecurity and nutrition insecurity for Los Angeles County, CA, United States; compares predictors of these constructs; and examines whether they independently predict diet-related health outcomes.

METHODS

In December 2022, a representative sample of Los Angeles County adults participating in the Understanding America Study (N = 1071) was surveyed about household food insecurity and nutrition insecurity over the past 12 mo. Data were analyzed in 2023.

RESULTS

Reported rates were similar for food insecurity (24%) and nutrition insecurity (25%), but the overlap of these subgroups was <60%. Logistic regression models indicated that non-Hispanic Asian individuals had higher odds of nutrition insecurity but not food insecurity. Moreover, nutrition insecurity was a stronger predictor of diabetes compared with food insecurity, and both constructs independently predicted poor mental health.

CONCLUSIONS

Food and nutrition insecurity affect somewhat different populations. Both constructs are valuable predictors of diet-related health outcomes. Monitoring nutrition insecurity in addition to food insecurity can provide new information about populations with barriers to healthy diets.

Effects of Two Group Prenatal Care Interventions on Mental Health: An RCT

INTRODUCTION

Perinatal depression and anxiety cost the U.S. health system $102 million annually and result in adverse health outcomes. Research supports that cognitive behavioral therapy improves these conditions, but barriers to obtaining cognitive behavioral therapy have prevented its success in pregnant individuals. In this study, the impact of a cognitive behavioral therapy-based intervention on anxiety, depression, stress, healthy lifestyle beliefs, and behaviors in pregnant people was examined.

STUDY DESIGN

This study used a 2-arm RCT design, embedded in group prenatal care, with one arm receiving a cognitive behavioral therapy-based Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment program and the other receiving health promotion content.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

Black and Hispanic participants (n=299) receiving prenatal care from 2018 to 2022 in New York and Ohio who screened high on 1 of 3 mental health measures were eligible to participate.

INTERVENTION

Participants were randomized into the manualized Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment cognitive behavioral therapy-based program, with cognitive behavioral skill-building activities delivered by advanced practice nurses in the obstetrical setting.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Outcomes included anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms using valid and reliable tools (Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and Perceived Stress Scale). The Healthy Lifestyle Beliefs and Behaviors Scales examined beliefs about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and reported healthy behaviors.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences between groups in anxiety, depression, stress, healthy beliefs, and behaviors. There were significant improvements in all measures over time. There were statistically significant decreases in anxiety, depression, and stress from baseline to intervention end, whereas healthy beliefs and behaviors significantly increased.

CONCLUSIONS

Both cognitive behavioral therapy and health promotion content embedded in group prenatal care with advanced practice nurse delivery improved mental health and healthy lifestyle beliefs and behaviors at a time when perinatal mood generally worsens.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study is registered with clinicaltrials.gov NCT03416010.

Demographic characteristics and mental health condition of Tehran Municipality employees during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a global health issue with various effects on the physical and mental state of the societies. The aim of this study was to identify the demographic characteristics and mental health condition of Tehran Municipality employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was performed on Tehran Municipality employees in 2020-2021. Participants were selected using stratified random sampling and were divided into COVID-19 and uninfected groups. Demographic characteristics, COVID-19 risk behaviors, General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), and Well- Being Social Inventory were filled for all participants.

RESULTS

A total of 510 participants (363 uninfected participants and 147 participants with COVID-19) were evaluated. The prevalence of female gender was significantly higher in COVID-19 group compared to uninfected group (p < 0.001). There was a significant difference between groups in terms of education level (p < 0.001), prevalence of excess weight (p < 0.001), and working sector (p < 0.001). The uninfected group mainly had low contact with clients (p < 0.001) and few underlying diseases (p = 0.004) compared to the COVID-19 group. The mean GHQ-28 and Well- Being Social Inventory were significantly higher in the uninfected group compared to the COVID-19 group (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively). The prevalence of no and low contact level was significantly higher in the high infection cluster compared to moderate and low infection clusters (p = 0.024).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study indicated that all workers should be educated about the significance of social distancing and follow the recommendations regardless of their level of contact with clients.

Associations of lifestyle with burnout risk and recovery need in Flemish secondary schoolteachers: a cross-sectional study

Teacher burnout and high recovery need are a topic of concern for educational institutions. This cross-sectional study assesses the association between lifestyle (including physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), dietary behavior and sleep), burnout risk and recovery need in 1878 secondary schoolteachers in Flanders. In September-October 2019, an online-questionnaire assessing burnout (i.e., emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, personal accomplishment), recovery need, PA-domains, SB-domains, dietary behavior (including fruit and vegetable intake and diet quality) and sleep during the week and the weekend was completed. Multiple linear regression models were applied. More emotional exhaustion was associated with more domestic and garden PA, work-related SB and sleep during the weekend, whereas higher scores of emotional exhaustion were associated with lower fruit intake, diet quality and less sleep during the week. More depersonalization was associated with more leisure-time PA and work-related SB and with lower fruit intake. Teachers showing more recovery need, showed more domestic and garden PA and work-related SB, but less leisure-time PA and sleep during the week. Future research should use longitudinal or experimental designs to get more insight into causality. Despite the low effect sizes, education networks and schools might benefit from promoting and facilitating a healthy lifestyle in secondary schoolteachers.

Effectiveness of an evidenced-based cognitive behavioral therapy intervention for adolescents in a school setting

PROBLEM

The adolescent years are a formative time when rapid hormonal and physical changes stimulate the developing mind. Exposure to poverty, abuse, violence, and lack of peer and social support causes an increase in vulnerability to the development of mental health problems. The COVID-19 pandemic has also exacerbated symptoms of depression and anxiety. Regardless of the risk factors, anxiety and depression continue to be significant health problems, affecting thousands of adolescents yearly in the United States. The first-line treatment recommendation for managing anxiety and depression symptoms is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). However, access to a provider for CBT treatment is not always an option for many reasons.

METHODS

This pilot evidenced-based practice project aims to increase access to skills acquired through CBT and improve adolescents' mental health by implementing a brief and evidenced-based CBT program in a school setting. The CBT program for this project is the Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment (COPE) for Teens program consisting of seven 50-55-min sessions. The COPE program was delivered to 22 students in a 7th-grade health class. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Modified for Adolescents measured anxiety and depression scores at baseline, post-intervention, and 2-month follow-up.

FINDINGS

Results indicate clinically significant improvements in anxiety and depression scores and showed participant satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

COPE in the school setting offers a low-risk solution to improving behaviors and emotional intelligence. COPE is a cost-effective solution to the mental health provider shortage.

Key factors affecting health promoting behaviors among adolescents: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Health-promoting behaviors have been noticed recently as one of the most critical factors in raising life expectancy, which can be formed during adolescence. Thus, the current scoping review aimed to identify the key factors affecting health-promoting behaviors among adolescents.

METHODS

In this scoping review, we searched multiple English online databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, ProQuest, and Scopus, for articles published between 1977 and 2020. All eligible studies describing health-promoting behaviors in adolescents were included. We followed the JBI guideline for conducting a scoping review and increasing the study's rigor. Extracted data were synthesized through inductive approaches.

RESULTS

A total of 3199 articles were identified during the first phase. After the screening process, 20 articles were found eligible for final inclusion. Educational factors (individualized education and school health promotion programs), Economic factors (income, economic incentives and national health insurance), Social factors (support system, responsibility and peers), Spiritual, Psychological and Personal factors (gender, family structure, patterns of living, and medical problems) were found effective in health-promoting behaviors among adolescents.

CONCLUSIONS

Health-promoting behaviors among adolescents require careful consideration. The current review identified some fundamental factors affecting health-promoting behaviors in adolescents. Based on the findings, it is recommended that policymakers and healthcare providers develop several interventions based on identified factors to increase adolescent's health-promoting behaviors among adolescents.

Prenatal Exposure to Gestational Diabetes Mellitus is Associated with Mental Health Outcomes and Physical Activity has a Modifying Role

Background

Studies suggest a link between prenatal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) exposure and poor mental health outcomes. We examined associations between prenatal GDM exposure and depressive and anxiety symptoms in children and assessed physical activity as a potential modifier of these associations.

Method

Seventy children (AgeM(SD): 12(2.0), 56% GDM, 59% female) and their parents completed surveys: Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC), Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and 3-day physical activity recall (3DPAR). Associations between mental health measures with GDM exposure and interactions between GDM exposure and child moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were assessed using regression.

Results

GDM-exposed children had higher anxiety (p = 0.03) and internalizing symptoms (CBCL) (p = 0.04) than unexposed children. There was an interaction between GDM exposure and child MVPA on anxiety (p = 0.02), internalizing (p = 0.04) and externalizing symptoms (p = 0.004). In the low MVPA group, GDM exposed children had more depressive (p = 0.03), anxiety (p = 0.003), and internalizing symptoms (p = 0.03) than unexposed children. In the high MVPA group, there were no group differences except with externalizing symptoms (p = 0.04).

Conclusion

Prenatal GDM is associated with higher anxiety and internalizing symptoms in children. Child MVPA modified the relationship between GDM exposure and mental health outcomes suggesting that physical activity during childhood could mitigate the negative mental health outcomes associated with prenatal GDM exposure.

Identifying and responding to depression in adolescents in primary care: A quality improvement response

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends adolescent depression screening and subsequent follow-up for those scoring at-risk. The current study assessed the outcomes of a Quality Improvement (QI) project that implemented these guidelines during annual well-child visits in a network of pediatric practices. This project used a two-stage screening process. First, adolescents were screened with the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC-17). Second, adolescents who screened at-risk on the PSC-17 were asked to complete the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). QI-participating providers received training on how to categorize the severity of their patient's depression based on PHQ-9 cut-off scores and clinical interview, and to implement and document appropriate options for follow-up. Patients in the QI group were significantly more likely to be screened with both the PSC-17 (93.8% vs. 89.1%, p < .001) and the PHQ-9 (54.8% vs. 16.4%, p < .001) compared to those in the non-QI group. Of the 80 adolescents in the QI group at-risk on the PSC-17 and with a completed PHQ-9, 65 (81.3%) received at least one type of referral for mental health, ranging from behavioral health services to lifestyle interventions. Findings support the feasibility of adolescent depression screening and referrals within pediatric primary care.

An Adaptation of the COPE Intervention for Adolescent Bullying Victimization Improved Mental and Physical Health Symptoms

OBJECTIVE

One in five children report experiencing bullying. Bullying in childhood affects the physical and emotional health and functioning of youth with immediate consequences, including depression, anxiety, somatic complaints, and suicidal ideation. Schools overwhelmingly are tasked with addressing bullying; however, school-based programs are often focused on preventing bullying from occurring. There is a paucity of evidence-based interventions for adolescents who have directly experienced bullying and suffer from adverse health outcomes, especially when they present to the mental health setting.

METHODS

This pre-experimental study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of the MINDSTRONG to Combat Bullying Program for adolescents who have experienced bullying with concurrent mental health symptoms.

RESULTS

Twenty adolescents and their parent dyads enrolled in the MINDSTRONG to Combat Bullying program. Significant reductions were found over time in adolescent self-reported depressive, anxiety and somatic symptoms as well as bullying victimization frequency, with large positive effect sizes for the intervention. Significant increases in adolescent personal beliefs also were found.

CONCLUSIONS

Although several of the intervention sessions needed to be rescheduled and many of the adolescents did not complete their weekly skills building homework, MINDSTRONG to Combat Bullying was found to be a highly acceptable intervention for adolescents that was effective in reducing physical and mental health symptoms as well as perceptions of bullying victimization.

Back to Basics: Lifestyle Interventions for Adolescent Depression

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After completing this activity, practitioners will be better able to:• Discuss and better understand the recently adopted screening standards for adolescents with depression and the potential advantages of using "lifestyle medicine"• Set up a process for providing effective interventions for the increased number of patients with adolescent depression• Design or update their toolbox of treatment options for adolescents with depression based on the new literature and increased demand.

ABSTRACT

Recently adopted quality standards recommend that pediatricians screen adolescents for depression and that they document follow-up plans for those who screen positive. As a result of these new recommendations, pediatricians and other pediatric providers, as well as psychiatrists and other mental health professionals, may face an increasing number of referrals and a growing need for effective interventions for adolescent depression. Given the widely acknowledged scarcity of traditional mental health resources, the current study reviewed the rapidly expanding array of evidence-based, but nontraditional, interventions applicable to outpatient pediatric and mental health care settings. Many of these interventions come from a lifestyle medicine framework. Lifestyle medicine interventions are congruent with the cultures of pediatrics and outpatient psychiatry, and offer additional evidence-based tools for providers managing adolescent depression. These interventions can be implemented individually or within group or community settings, and may be used in conjunction with more common interventions such as psychotherapy or psychotropic medications.

The Effect of Autonomy and Self-Control on Changes in Healthy Lifestyles of Inactive College Students through Regular Exercise

This study aimed to verify the influence of autonomy and self-control as psychological factors on the changes in lifestyles of inactive college students by participating in regular exercise. A total of 188 university students in Seoul, Korea, taking physical fitness classes for 5 weeks held three times a week participated in the surveys. Surveys were conducted in the first session (T1) and 15th session (T2) of the classes. Autonomy in exercise participation and self-control were measured at T1, and healthy lifestyle was measured at both T1 and T2. A paired t-test was used to measure the changes in healthy lifestyle between two time points, and hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to determine the effect of autonomy in exercise participation and self-control measured at T1 on the healthy lifestyle score at T2. According to the analysis, participants' healthy lifestyles were improved with a statistically significant difference between pre- and post-exercise. Furthermore, the levels of autonomy and self-control before the fitness classes positively influenced the participants' healthy lifestyle after the classes even when the influence of healthy lifestyle measured before the classes was controlled. Thus, it was confirmed that autonomy for participation and self-control are important to change one's healthy lifestyle through regular exercise participation.

Lifestyle medicine for anxiety symptoms: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Lifestyle medicine (LM) is gaining increasing attention as a treatment option for anxiety, but the current state of evidence has not yet been systematically examined.

METHODS

Six electronic databases were systematically searched from inception to February 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effects of multicomponent LM interventions on anxiety symptoms with either care-as-usual, waitlist, no intervention, or attention control group on anxiety symptoms were identified.

RESULTS

A total of 53 RCTs with 18,894 participants were included for qualitative synthesis, in which 45 RCTs with data available were included for meta-analysis. Multicomponent LM intervention was significantly more effective than the control groups in reducing anxiety symptoms at immediate posttreatment (d = 0.19, p < .001) and at short-term follow-up (d = 0.29, p < .001). However, no significant difference at medium-term was found (p = .14), whereas more studies are needed to study the long-term effects. The subgroup analyses suggested that baseline anxiety symptoms was a significant moderator, suggesting that those with moderate level of baseline anxiety symptoms appeared to have greater improvements (d = 0.66, p < .05).

LIMITATIONS

Minimal anxiety symptoms at baseline contributed to the floor effect and influenced the degree of improvement. The included RCTs had a high risk of bias in general with potential publication bias detected.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this meta-analysis provided support for the positive effects of multicomponent LM interventions for anxiety symptoms. Future research is needed to determine the long-term effects of multicimponent LM and the optimal baseline anxiety severity.

Development and modelling of a school-based mental health intervention: the co-production of the R.E.A.C.T. programme

The lack of effective school-based interventions for addressing mental health issues and psychological well-being in young people, particularly those with stakeholder involvement, for reducing test anxiety in adolescents has caused a call for interventions to be developed through the process of co-production with the key stakeholders, i.e. teachers and students. The purpose of this paper is to present the development and modelling of a coproduced school-based intervention to improve mental health and psychological well-being in adolescents in the post-primary setting. The intervention was developed through a six step co-production model. This included an extensive evidence review, interviews (n = 7), focus groups (n = 6), observations in three school settings and initial modelling of the intervention programme and resources in the co-research partner school. Findings were used to identify the preferred structure and content of the intervention. A six-week intervention for 12–14 year olds was co-produced along with relevant teacher resources and student work books. The intervention consisting of a psycho-educational component and physical activity component underpinned by cognitive, behavioural and self-regulation theories aimed to reduce test anxiety and improve psychological well-being. The co-production model was a successful series of six steps used to create and refine the intervention. The programme represents a theoretically informed intervention comprising multiple components. This study contributes to a better understanding of the determinants of mental health issues among young people and how an intervention can be effectively co-produced. The results suggest that a feasibility study is warranted with teachers delivering the programme.

The Effect of Interventions That Target Multiple Modifiable Health Behaviors on Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression in Young People: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

PURPOSE

This meta-analysis aimed to determine the effect of interventions targeting multiple modifiable health behaviors (i.e., physical activity/sedentary behaviors, nutrition/diet, sleep, substance use) on depression and anxiety in young people.

METHODS

A search of electronic databases from inception until May 2020 was conducted. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that explicitly targeted at least two modifiable health behaviors, measured anxiety or depression at baseline and after intervention using a validated instrument, and included participants with an average age between 12 and 25 years were included. The effect of interventions was synthesized using random effects meta-analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 14 RCTs reporting on depression and six RCTs reporting on anxiety were included in the quantitative synthesis. Results showed that although interventions targeting multiple modifiable health behaviors did not produce significant reductions in symptoms of depression (g¯ = -.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [-.34, .02], 95% prediction interval [PI] = [-.80, .48], very low certainty evidence) or anxiety (g¯ = -.55, 95% CI = [-1.36, .26], 95% PI = [-3.48, 2.83], very low certainty evidence) across all young people, there was a significant difference in the effect of interventions on depression based on intervention type (Q = 8.37, df = 2, p = .012). Specifically, interventions targeting multiple modifiable health behaviors delivered to groups of young people with an elevated risk of depression had a favorable effect (g¯ = -.28, 95% CI = [-.52, -.05], 95% PI = [-1.04, .47]) on symptoms of depression compared with controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Although not universally effective, this meta-analysis establishes the potential efficacy of targeted interventions aiming to improve multiple modifiable health behaviors to address depression in young people at elevated risk of depression. More research is needed to understand the effect of such interventions on symptoms of anxiety in young people.

A Text Messaging-Enhanced Intervention for African American Patients With Heart Failure, Depression, and Anxiety (TXT COPE-HF): Protocol for a Pilot Feasibility Study

BACKGROUND

African Americans have a higher incidence rate of heart failure (HF) and an earlier age of HF onset compared to those of other racial and ethnic groups. Scientific literature suggests that by 2030, African Americans will have a 30% increased prevalence rate of HF coupled with depression. In addition to depression, anxiety is a predictor of worsening functional capacity, decreased quality of life, and increased hospital readmission rates. There is no consensus on the best way to treat patients with HF, depression, and anxiety. One promising type of treatment-cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-has been shown to significantly improve patients' quality of life and treatment compliance, but CBT has not been used with SMS text messaging reminders to enhance the effect of reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in racial and ethnic minority patients with HF.

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of our study are to (1) adapt and modify the Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment (COPE) curriculum for delivery to patients with HF by using an SMS text messaging component to improve depression and anxiety symptoms, (2) administer the adapted intervention to 10 patients to examine the feasibility and acceptability of the approach and modify it as needed, and (3) examine trends in depression and anxiety symptoms postintervention. We hypothesize that patients will show an improvement in depression scores and anxiety symptoms postintervention.

METHODS

The study will comprise a mixed methods approach. We will use the eight steps of the ADAPT-ITT (assessment, decision, administration, production, topical expert, integration, training, and testing) model to adapt the intervention. The first step in this feasibility study will involve assembling individuals from the target population (n=10) to discuss questions on a specific topic. In phase 2, we will examine the feasibility and acceptability of the enhanced SMS text messaging intervention (TXT COPE-HF [Texting With COPE for Patients With HF]) and its preliminary effects with 10 participants. The Beck Depression Inventory will be used to assess depression, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory will be used to assess anxiety, and the Healthy Beliefs and Lifestyle Behavior surveys will be used to assess participants' lifestyle beliefs and behavior changes. Changes will be compared from baseline to end point by using paired 2-tailed t tests. An exit focus group (n=10) will be held to examine facilitators and barriers to the SMS text messaging protocol.

RESULTS

The pilot feasibility study was funded by the Academy for Clinical Research and Scholarship. Institutional review board approval was obtained in April 2021. Data collection and analysis are expected to conclude by November 2021 and April 2022, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The study results will add to the literature on the effectiveness of an SMS text messaging CBT-enhanced intervention in reducing depression and anxiety among African American patients with HF.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/32550.

Empowerment Approaches in Childhood Weight Management: A Systematic Review

Empowerment interventions facilitate individuals, organizations, and communities to gain better control over their health. They are distinctly different from traditional behavior change models and encourage participants to set their own health priorities and agenda. Current evidence suggests empowerment interventions are efficacious for smoking, sexual, and mental health outcomes. However, empowerment in childhood obesity (which remains a global public health challenge) is underresearched. This review systematically analyzed the evidence for empowerment approaches in childhood weight management. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed. A search strategy was applied to six databases from inception to May 25, 2021. Evidence was appraised using The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Quality Criteria Checklist and National Health and Medical Research Council Levels of Evidence. Of the 9274 articles identified, 29 articles describing 14 programs met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-five studies rated positive and four rated neutral. Overall, the evidence body rated "B." Seventy-two percent of the 3318 participants were from priority populations, highlighting the unique ability of empowerment interventions to engage those most in need. Results demonstrate small to large improvements in participant body mass index with effect sizes ranging from 0.08 to 1.13. Throughout the literature, empowerment was measured inconsistently and usually with a surrogate marker. All studies were set in America or Canada. This review suggests empowerment should be further investigated in childhood weight management. Empowerment interventions represent a unique opportunity to meaningfully integrate self-determination to clinical childhood weight management practice and overcome current barriers related to priority population engagement.

Ethnicity and Self-reported Depression Among Hispanic Immigrants in the U.S

Viewed to be healthier than ethnic Hispanics born in the United States, Hispanic immigrants represent numerous subgroups with clearly heterogeneous geographic, cultural, structural, and social origins. This study asked how the factors length of U.S. residency, social status, lifestyle, and health care might explain self-reported depression within 5 large, discrete subgroups comprising immigrants from, in turn, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and other nations in Central and South America. The study also examined ethnicity's potential role moderating self-reported depression's associations. With pooled data from National Health Interview Surveys 1999-2015, it evaluated each ethnic group separately. Self-reported depression was associated generally with lengthening residence in the U.S., with being female, with poverty, with unemployment, with lack of education, and with lifestyle and health-care factors. These associations were not uniform across ethnic groups, however. Where self-reported depression is concerned, descriptive results suggest the proverbial health advantage may largely accrue specifically to Hispanic immigrants of Cuban and of Central/South American origin.

Do Healthy Dietary Interventions Improve Pediatric Depressive Symptoms? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Dietary recommendations have been proposed as a way of impacting current and future mental health. There exists a limited body of conflicting literature related to pediatric nutritional interventions and depression. This meta-analysis aims to determine the efficacy of child and adolescent dietary interventions on depression. Systematic searches in electronic databases and gray literature were conducted. After screening 6725 citations, 17 studies were included in this systematic review. Quality assessment was performed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool for Quasi-Experimental Studies. A meta-analysis of Hedges g values was calculated using the Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman method. Publication bias was assessed with funnel plots and the Egger test. The results of the meta-analysis of the RCTs (k = 7) demonstrated a nonsignificant effect of dietary intervention (g = 0.05; 95% CI: -0.25, 0.35; P = 0.70) whereas the results of the pre-post intervention studies (k = 9) demonstrated a significant small-to-medium effect favoring dietary intervention for reducing depression (g = -0.45; 95% CI: -0.64, -0.27; P = 0.001). Publication bias was not detected by the Egger test or by funnel plot asymmetry. The current meta-analysis demonstrates that "healthy" dietary interventions for children or adolescents in the community have little impact on nonclinical depression. Confusion will persist until better-designed studies in pediatric nutritional psychiatry research focusing on adolescents with depressive illness are conducted.

Cross-Sectional Descriptive Pilot Study on the Risk of Psychotic Disorders among Adolescents

Background: Adolescence is a key stage for the development of different mental disorders, particularly psychotic disorders. This stage of life is accompanied by new habits or behaviours that can make a person more vulnerable to developing a psychotic disorder or, on the contrary, play a protective role. Objective: To study the vulnerability to developing a psychotic disorder in adolescents and to analyse the main risk factors. Materials and methods: This is an observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study. The data collection was conducted using the Prodromal Questionnaire Brief Version (PQ-B) test and a self-developed questionnaire based on the vulnerability–stress model. Results: Of the total sample (n = 44), 65.9% were male and 100% lived in a rural environment. In general, among risk factors (stress, alcohol and cannabis consumption, history, bullying, traumatic event and sedentary lifestyle), alcohol consumption and the presence of stress were found to have high values. Furthermore, a risk of psychosis was found in 38.6% of the studied population. Of this percentage of adolescents at risk, 64.7% consumed alcohol (p = 0.99) and 82.4% suffered from stress (p = 0.7161). The protective factor (physical activity) was found in more than half (59% p = 0.16). Conclusions: There is a high risk of psychosis among the young adolescents assessed in this study, where the explanatory factors identified with higher values were alcohol consumption and the presence of stress.

Comparison of eating habits and inappropriate weight control efforts of secondary school students enrolled in a weight control program

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Numerous school-based weight control programs have been initiated for weight loss among adolescents. However, the relationship between these programs and inappropriate weight control efforts, dietary habits and behavior of students, have not been investigated sufficiently. This study was undertaken to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) of adolescents, and their health status and inappropriate weight-control efforts. We further examined the relationship between attendance to school-based weight-control programs and attempting inappropriate weight-control efforts, dietary habits, and behavior.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

A survey of 1,742 students was conducted in Korea. Logistic regression was used to assess differences in the health status (grouped by BMI and improper weight control) and dietary habits, based on attendance to the weight-control programs.

RESULTS

Obese students were significantly more dissatisfied with physical, mental and spiritual health. Students who attended weight-control programs were likely to be underweight (P < 0.001), whereas those who did not attend weight-control programs were likely to attempt weight control improperly (P < 0.001). Students who participated in the program also had relatively healthy dietary habits (P < 0.001-0.027), and students who did not attend had comparatively unhealthy dietary habits (P < 0.001-0.008). Students who attended weight-control programs were likely to be underweight (P < 0.001) with relatively healthy dietary habits (P < 0.001-0.027), whereas students who did not attend the programs were likely to attempt weight control improperly (P < 0.001) and had comparatively unhealthy dietary habits (P < 0.001-0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

Attending school-based weight-control programs was significantly associated with not attempting inappropriate weight-control efforts, as well as following healthy dietary habits. Our data indicates that offering school-based weight-control programs is valuable to student health, and is anticipated to reducing the public health burden.

Poor reporting of physical activity and exercise interventions in youth mental health trials: A brief report

AIM

To describe the quality and completeness of the description and reporting of physical activity and exercise interventions delivered to young people to promote mental health or treat mental illness.

METHODS

We conducted a series of scoping reviews identifying 64 controlled trials of physical activity and exercise interventions delivered to young people. We extracted: intervention characteristics, personnel and delivery format, the intensity, duration, frequency and type of physical activity or exercise.

RESULTS

There was limited reporting of intervention details across studies; 52% did not provide information to confidently assess intervention intensity, 29% did not state who delivered the intervention, and 44% did not specify the intervention delivery format.

CONCLUSIONS

We recommend that authors adhere to the CONSORT reporting requirements and its intervention reporting extensions, (a) the Template for Intervention Description and Replication, (b) Consensus for Exercise Reporting Template and (c) as part of this, detail the frequency, intensity, time and type of physical activity recommendations and prescriptions. Without this, future trials are unable to replicate and extend previous work to support or disconfirm existing knowledge, leading to research waste and diminishing translation and implementation potential.

Is Brisk Walking an Effective Physical Activity for promoting Taiwanese Adolescents' Mental Health?

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to examine if brisk walking is an effective physical activity for promoting adolescents' mental health.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This quasi-experimental study employs a one-group repeated-measure design. Sixty-four volunteer students in 10th to 12th grade were recruited from a high school in central Taiwan, and they participated in a brisk-walking program for 12 weeks. Psychological functioning was measured by self-concept, anxiety, and depression scores (Beck Youth Inventories-Second Edition; BYI-II). Measurements were conducted at baseline, and 4, 10 and 16 weeks after baseline. The effects of the program were analyzed using generalized estimating equations (GEE).

RESULTS

Significant decreases were seen in anxiety and depression and an increase in positive self-concept. The effect of physical activity on anxiety was clear and could be observed after 6 weeks of the brisk-walking program. Brisk walking for 30-, 60-, and 90-min sessions was examined, with the 60-min session proving more effective than shorter or longer sessions.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that a 12-week brisk-walking program may be effective both at decreasing depression and anxiety and at improving self-concept. The study also showed that anxiety could be considered a risk factor for depression. Further, self-concept was found to be a mediator acting on the psychosocial mechanism of physical activity promoting mental health in adolescents.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

While most physical activity programs in past studies combined different activities, the present study demonstrated that brisk walking alone is a simple, effective exercise regime that promotes adolescents' mental health.

The effect of physical activity on anxiety in children and young people: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

There is emerging evidence that physical activity can have beneficial effects on anxiety. A comprehensive synthesis of the evidence of the anxiolytic effects of physical activity from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in children and young people (CYP) is warranted.

METHODS

A search of 13 databases was conducted to identify RCTs testing the effects of physical activity on anxiety symptoms in children and young people (up to 25 years). Screening, data extraction and risk of bias assessment (using the Cochrane Collaboration tool for assessing risk of bias) were independently undertaken by two study authors. The primary analysis used a random effects model to compare the effect of physical activity interventions to no intervention or minimal intervention control conditions on state anxiety, assessed using validated, self-report measures.

RESULTS

Of the 3590 articles retrieved, 22 RCTs were included, with nine included in the primary meta-analysis. The overall standardised mean difference was 0.54 (95% CI -0.796, -0.28), representing a moderate improvement in state anxiety, compared to no intervention or minimal intervention control conditions. Physical activity was also found to produce significantly superior effects on state anxiety when compared to a time and attention-controlled group.

LIMITATIONS

The studies are of low quality overall, and there are a limited number of studies included in the meta-analyses therefore limiting the precision of results.

CONCLUSIONS

Physical activity may be a useful approach to addressing anxiety symptoms in children and young people, however, further trials of clinical populations are required to determine the effectiveness of physical activity as a treatment of anxiety disorders.

Lifestyle medicine for depression: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

The treatment effect of multi-component LM interventions on depressive symptoms has not yet been examined.

METHODS

We systematically searched six databases from inception to February 2020 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving any multi-component LM interventions (physical activity, nutritional advice, sleep management, and/or stress management) on depressive symptoms relative to care as usual (CAU), waitlist (WL), no intervention (NI), or attention control (AC) comparisons.

RESULTS

Fifty studies with 8,479 participants were included. Multi-component LM interventions reduced depressive symptoms significantly relative to the CAU (p >.001; d = 0.20) and WL/NI (p > .01; d = 0.22) comparisons at immediate posttreatment. However, no significant difference was found when compared with AC. The intervention effects were maintained in the short-term (1- to 3-month follow-up) relative to the CAU comparison (p > .05; d = 0.25), but not in the medium- and long-term. The moderator analyses examining the effect of multi-component LM interventions compared with CAU suggested that the number of lifestyle factors adopted was a significant moderator. Although disease type was not a significant moderator, there was a tendency that the clinical effect of multi-component LM interventions was stronger (d = 0.45) in those diagnosed with major depression. No publication bias was detected.

LIMITATIONS

Low number of RCTs available in some subgroup analyses prevented from finding meaningful effects. Results may not be extended to major depression, because data on secondary depression were captured.

CONCLUSION

Multi-component LM interventions appeared to be effective in mitigating depressive symptoms; however, the magnitude of the clinical effect was small. Future research is needed to assess more comprehensive and individualized LM interventions which have a greater emphasis on motivational and compliance aspects and focus solely on individuals with depression.

Optimal approaches for preventing depressive symptoms in children and adolescents based on the psychosocial interventions: A Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

It is necessary to develop effective preventive interventions before depression established to alleviate depressive symptoms or delay the onset of depression. In this study, we employed Bayesian network meta-analysis to identify the optimal psychosocial intervention approach for preventing depressive symptoms in children and adolescents.

METHODS

We searched publication databases and conference abstracts, from time of their inception through April 2019 without language restriction, for randomized controlled trials that compared the efficacy of various psychosocial intervention approaches. We extracted the mean and standard deviation values between baseline and the last observation, and calculated the change score in depression. We also assessed ranking probability by surface under the cumulative ranking curve using a 95% credible interval.

RESULTS

A total of 27 randomized controlled trials, involving 5,976 participants aged between 7 to 18 years, were included in our analyses. Analysis of various valid assessment instruments indicated that computer cognitive-behavioral therapy [standard mean difference (SMD = -1.82)], cognitive-behavioral therapy (SMD = -1.54) and interpersonal psychotherapy (SMD = -1.29) were statistically superior to wait-list group. Among the approaches, computer cognitive-behavioral therapy had the highest probability of being the best intervention, based on improvement from baseline to the end of the intervention (SUCRA = 90.47%, CrI: 0.55, 1.00).

LIMITATIONS

The results herein may not apply to other cultures and ethnic minorities because about half of the studies included in our analysis were conducted in the United States.

CONCLUSIONS

Computer cognitive-behavioral therapy was the most recommended intervention to accompany the depression among children and adolescents according to our Bayesian network meta-analysis results.

Sports and Functional Training Improve a Subset of Obesity-Related Health Parameters in Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial

To investigate the effects of two different modes of physical activity on body composition, physical fitness, cardiometabolic risk, and psychological responses in female adolescents participating in a multi-disciplinary program. The 12-week randomized intervention included 25-adolescents with overweight divided into two groups: sports practice-SPG and functional training-FTG. The SPG intervention was divided into three sports: basketball, handball, and futsal. SPG participants performed one sport 3-times/week, over the course of 1 month. The FTG performed concurrent exercises 3-times/week. This study was registered in Clinical Trials Registry Platform under number: RBR-45ywtg and registered in Local Ethics Committee number: 2,505.200/2018. The intensity of physical exercises-PE was matched between groups by the rating of perceived exertion. The primary outcome was body composition, and secondary outcomes were physical fitness, cardiometabolic risk, and psychological responses. There was a significant time-effect for body mass, body mass index, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c), all being reduced. There were increases over time for musculoskeletal mass, aerobic fitness, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-c) (p < 0.05). There was a group time interaction with body fat percentage being lower post-intervention in the SPG (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed for the other variables. Both physical activity models were effective in improving a subset of obesity-related health parameters. The findings should be extended by further investigation using more sophisticated measures of energy expenditure. Clinical Trial Registration: https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/, identifier: RBR-45ywtg.

Cultural adaptations of cognitive behavioural therapy for Latin American patients: unexpected findings from a systematic review

The current literature extensively recommends making cultural adaptations to psychological therapies, in order to address the differences in values, beliefs and attitudes that patients from different ethnic groups might hold. Although this approach has shown positive outcomes in some settings, it is not well established yet whether such adaptations are needed for all therapies and in all cultures. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to systematically review the literature regarding culturally adapted and ‘conventional’ cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for Latin American patients, within Latin American and non-Latin American countries. Sixty empirical studies regarding the effectiveness of culturally adapted and conventional CBT were included in this review. The included studies were carried out in Latin American and non-Latin American countries. The information from all studies was synthesized and assessed, including intervention effect sizes, patient retention rates, methodological quality of the papers, and the type of cultural adaptation made to the therapy. There were no differences between the sets of studies in terms of effectiveness, retention rates, methodological quality, or proportion of statistically significant interventions. Most of the cultural adaptations were peripheral or unspecified. The evidence to date indicates that both conventional and culturally adapted CBT offer the same benefits for Latin American patients in terms of effectiveness and retention rates. Rather than focusing on cultural adaptations, clinicians are encouraged to improve the way they deliver CBT through training and supervision.

Key learning aims

(1)

Randomized controlled trial of the COPE-P intervention to improve mental health, healthy lifestyle behaviors, birth and post-natal outcomes of minority pregnant women: Study protocol with implications

BACKGROUND

Emotionally distressed pregnant minority women experience multiple adverse outcomes, including pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, operative deliveries and low birth weight. Although the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening in pregnant women, many practices do not screen because efficacious interventions and systems are not in place to treat them.

AIM

Purpose of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to test a group delivered manualized cognitive-behavioral skills building intervention entitled COPE-P versus an attention control program on the mental health, birth and postpartum outcomes of minority pregnant women experiencing depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms.

METHODS

Design is a longitudinal randomized block RCT with repeated measures (beginning with screening prior to 18 weeks, group prenatal care in both groups from 16 + 1 to 31 + 1 weeks and ending at 6 months postpartum) at two study sites (New York city and Columbus, Ohio). Race/ethnicity is being blocked to ensure equal numbers of Hispanic and Black women. 384 women are being recruited from antenatal clinics if they are: between 18 and 40 years; in an uncomplicated singleton pregnancy <18 weeks; and self-identify as Black or Hispanic. Valid and reliable measures are being used to assess healthy lifestyle behaviors and mental health outcomes immediately following the interventions, six - eight weeks postpartum and at the children's six-month well baby visit. Birth and delivery outcomes also are being assessed.

CONCLUSION

If found to be efficacious, the COPE-P intervention could be a key solution to managing those with emotional distress and improving their outcomes.

Importance of Self-Efficacy in Eating Behavior and Physical Activity Change of Overweight and Non-Overweight Adolescent Girls Participating in Healthy Me: A Lifestyle Intervention with Mobile Technology

Very little is known about how multicomponent interventions directed to entire populations work in selected groups of adolescents. The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Healthy Me one-year program on changes in healthy eating and physical activity among overweight and non-overweight female students. Randomization involved the allocation of full, partial or null intervention. The randomized field trial was implemented in 48 secondary schools (clusters) all over Poland among 1198 15-year-old girls. In this study, a sample of N = 1111 girls who participated in each evaluation study was analyzed. Using multimedia technologies, efforts were made to improve health behaviors and increase self-efficacy. The main outcome was a health behavior index (HBI), built on the basis of six nutritional indicators and one related to physical activity. HBI was analyzed before and immediately after intervention and at three months' follow-up, and the HBI change was modeled. Statistical analysis included nonparametric tests and generalized linear models with two-way interactions. Comparing the first and third surveys, in the overweight girls, the HBI index improved by 0.348 (SD = 3.17), while in the non-overweight girls it had worsened. After adjusting for other factors, a significant interaction between body weight status and level of self-efficacy as predictors of HBI changes was confirmed. The program turned out to be more beneficial for overweight girls.

School-related physical activity interventions and mental health among children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Low levels of physical activity, sedentary behaviour and mental health problems are issues that have received considerable attention in the last decade. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate effects of interventions targeting school-related physical activity or sedentary behaviour on mental health in children and adolescents and to identify the features of effective interventions.

METHODS

Scientific articles published between January 2009 and October 2019 fulfilling the following criteria were included: general populations of children and adolescents between age 4 and 19, all types of school-related efforts to promote physical activity or reduce sedentary behaviour. Study selection, data extraction and quality assessment were done by at least two authors independently of each other. Data were analysed with a random effects meta-analysis and by narrative moderator analyses.

RESULTS

The literature search resulted in 10265 unique articles. Thirty-one articles, describing 30 interventions, were finally included. Eleven relevant outcomes were identified: health-related quality of life, well-being, self-esteem and self-worth, resilience, positive effect, positive mental health, anxiety, depression, emotional problems, negative effect and internalising mental health problems. There was a significant beneficial effect of school-related physical activity interventions on resilience (Hedges' g = 0.748, 95% CI = 0.326; 1.170, p = 0.001), positive mental health (Hedges' g = 0.405, 95% CI = 0.208; 0.603, p = < 0.001), well-being (Hedges' g = 0.877, 95% CI = 0.356; 1.398, p = < 0.001) and anxiety (Hedges' g = 0.347, 95% CI = 0.072; 0.623, p = 0.013). Heterogeneity was moderate to high (I² = 59-98%) between studies for all outcomes except positive effect, where heterogeneity was low (I² = 2%). The narrative moderator analyses of outcomes based on 10 or more studies showed that age of the children moderated the effect of the intervention on internalising mental health problems. Interventions in younger children showed a significantly negative or no effect on internalising mental health problems while those in older children showed a significant positive or no effect. Moreover, studies with a high implementation reach showed a significant negative or no effect while those with a low level of implementation showed no or a positive effect. No signs of effect moderation were found for self-esteem, well-being or positive mental health. Risk of publication bias was evident for several outcomes, but adjustment did not change the results.

CONCLUSIONS

School-related physical activity interventions may reduce anxiety, increase resilience, improve well-being and increase positive mental health in children and adolescents. Considering the positive effects of physical activity on health in general, these findings may reinforce school-based initiatives to increase physical activity. However, the studies show considerable heterogeneity. The results should therefore be interpreted with caution. Future studies should report on implementation factors and more clearly describe the activities of the control group and whether the activity is added to or replacing ordinary physical education lessons in order to aid interpretation of results.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO, CRD42018086757.

Effects of combining physical activity with psychotherapy on mental health and well-being: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Despite a vast evidence-base advocating the psychological benefits of physical activity, relatively little is understood about how combining physical activity with psychological therapies may influence these positive effects. The aim of this paper is to systematically analyse evidence from studies adopting a combined approach, and identify potential mechanisms of action on clinical outcomes.

METHODS

The Embase, PsycINFO and Medline (PubMed and OVID) databases were searched for applicable trials published up to December 2018. Relevant data was extracted from eligible studies, and the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) tool was utilised to objectively assess the quality of each study.

RESULTS

Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria, seven of which were rated as methodologically `strong'. Combining physical activity with psychological therapy consistently engendered positive effects on outcomes compared with treatment as usual. Similar improvements in psychological outcomes were observed in most (7/8) groups receiving physical activity alone. Increased levels of physical activity were observed in psychologically-informed interventions, however this effect was unrelated to changes in psychological outcomes.

LIMITATIONS

Clinical and methodological heterogeneity precluded meta-analyses of results, while risk of bias detected in the studies may compromise overall validity of the findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Physical activity interventions may be a viable alternative to psychological therapies, provided psychological approaches are incorporated into the implementation design (i.e. behavioural activation). Improved psychological outcomes may be observed regardless of `dose' received, however further research is required to ascertain whether psychosocial mechanisms of change mediate positive effects.

The Association between Energy Balance-Related Behavior and Burn-Out in Adults: A Systematic Review

Although it is believed that physical activity, sedentary, and dietary behavior (i.e., energy balance-related behavior) may decrease the risk of burn-out, the association between both is currently not well understood. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to synthesize studies investigating the relationship between energy balance-related behavior and burn-out risk. A systematic literature search was conducted in four databases, resulting in 25 included studies (ten experimental and 15 observational studies). Nine out of ten experimental studies showed that exercise programs were effective in reducing burn-out risk. Fourteen out of fifteen observational studies found a negative association between physical activity and burn-out risk, whereas one study did not find a relation. Two of the 15 observational studies also showed that being more sedentary was associated with a higher burn-out risk, and two other studies found that a healthier diet was related to a lower burn-out risk. No experimental studies were found for the latter two behaviors. It can be concluded that physical activity may be effective in reducing burn-out risk. The few observational studies linking sedentary and dietary behavior with burn-out risk suggest that being more sedentary and eating less healthy are each associated with higher burn-out risk. More high-quality research is needed to unravel the causal relationship between these two behaviors and burn-out risk.

Physical activity and exercise in youth mental health promotion: a scoping review

BACKGROUND/AIM

This scoping review examined the breadth and outcomes of controlled trials testing the effect of physical activity and exercise interventions across all mental health outcomes for mental health promotion and indicated prevention studies in young people.

METHODS

The literature search was conducted using 'Evidence Finder'.

RESULTS

Thirty publications were included. Available evidence suggested that interventions of varying intensity may lead to a reduction in depression symptoms and that moderate-to-vigorous-intensity and light-intensity interventions may reduce anxiety symptoms. Effects of physical activity/exercise interventions on additional mental health outcomes were also shown; however, the number of studies was small, indicating a limited evidence base. Robust research regarding the effects of physical activity/exercise on mental health promotion and as an indicated prevention strategy in young people is lacking.

CONCLUSION

The available evidence suggests that physical activity/exercise is a promising mental health promotion and early intervention strategy and warrants further investigation.

Prevalence and Correlates of Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Healthy Beliefs, and Lifestyle Behaviors in First-Year Graduate Health Sciences Students

BACKGROUND

Graduate and professional students are reported to have higher than average rates of depression compared to age- and gender-matched populations. Further, more than half of student health visits are due to anxiety, yet little is known about the relationships among depression, anxiety, and healthy lifestyle behaviors in this population as well as what factors predict depression and anxiety.

AIMS

The purposes of this study were as follows: (a) to examine the prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress, physical health, healthy beliefs, and lifestyle behaviors in incoming first-year health sciences professional students; (b) to describe the relationships among these variables; and (c) to determine predictors of depression and anxiety.

METHODS

A descriptive correlational study design was used with baseline data collected from first-year graduate health sciences students from seven health professions colleges who were participating in a wellness onboarding intervention program, including Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Optometry, Pharmacy, Social Work, and Veterinary Medicine.

RESULTS

Seventeen percent of incoming students reported moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms with 6% reporting suicidal ideation. In addition, 14% of the participating students reported moderate-to-severe anxiety. Factors that predicted depression and anxiety included having less than 7 hr of sleep per night, worse general health, lower healthy lifestyle beliefs, lower healthy lifestyle behaviors, higher stress, and a perceived lack of control.

LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION

These findings highlight the need to routinely screen incoming health sciences students for depression and anxiety upon entrance into their academic programs so that evidence-based interventions can be delivered and students who report severe depression or suicidal ideation can be immediately triaged for further evaluation and treatment. Providing cultures of well-being and emphasizing self-care throughout academic programs also are essential for students to engage in healthy lifestyles.

Sex Differences on Quality of Life and Mental Health Outcomes When Using a Brief Cognitive-Behavioral Skill Building Intervention with Adolescent Syrian Refugees: A Secondary Analysis

Little is known about how sex as a biological variable may contribute to differences in quality of life (QOL) and mental health outcomes following a brief intervention among adolescent Syrian refugees. This paper explores the results of a secondary data analysis to investigate differences by sex on self-reported QOL and mental health outcomes among Syrian refugees who participated in a 7-session cognitive behavioral skills building intervention. A one group pretest-posttest design was used to deliver the intervention to 31 adolescent refugees (13-17 years; 15 male, and 16 female). At baseline, there were no significant differences between males and females on mean scores of depression, anxiety, or QOL. Post-intervention, self-reported scores for QOL and mental health were significantly different between sexes. Males demonstrated a significant decrease in anxiety scores compared to females. Among males only, significant decreases in depression and anxiety scores were observed with significant improvement in total QOL.

Online intervention to reduce pediatric anxiety: An evidence-based review

TOPIC

Online intervention for school-age youth suffering from symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.

PURPOSE

A review of the evidence was conducted to examine the effects of nonpharmacological interventions available online for a reduction of symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder in school-age youth.

SOURCES USED

The search strategy included the databases of Pubmed, PsychINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane Systematic Reviews, and Cochrane Clinical Trials, and Evidence-Based Reviews. A combination of search terms was used to identify studies with database-specific truncations: "Child* and youth* anxiety screen and intervention" AND "meta-analysis", "child anxiety" AND "systematic review", "child anxiety and personal empowerment and SR", "SCARED*", "COPE", and "SCARED* and SR". Studies published between 2007 and 2017 were included for this review. Twenty studies met criteria and represented level one or two using Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt, Level of Evidence Rating System for intervention inquiries.

CONCLUSION

Positive outcomes of improved physiological, social, and cognitive development are supported in the studies using cognitive behavior therapy such as the Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment (COPE) program. The COPE-online program is a cost-effective strategy to complements models used for early screening and timely interventions for school-age youth who struggle with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.

Intervention Effects of the MINDBODYSTRONG Cognitive Behavioral Skills Building Program on Newly Licensed Registered Nurses' Mental Health, Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors, and Job Satisfaction

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the MINDBODYSTRONG for Healthcare Professionals Program on stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms, healthy lifestyle behaviors, and job satisfaction on newly licensed RNs (NLRNs) participating in a nurse residency program.

BACKGROUND

The constellation of burnout, depression, and suicide in clinicians is a public health epidemic that affects the quality and safety of healthcare. The National Academy of Medicine's Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-being and Resilience has called for an increase in evidence-based interventions to combat this alarming problem. The MINDBODYSTRONG Program is a novel adaptation of an evidence-based cognitive behavioral skills-building intervention that provides a theory-based approach to improve the mental health, healthy lifestyle beliefs and behaviors, and job satisfaction of NLRNs.

METHODS

A 2-group, cluster randomized controlled trial was used with 89 new nurses participating in a new-graduate nurse residency program. The experimental intervention, MINDBODYSTRONG, consisted of 8 manualized weekly 45-minute sessions. Data were collected at baseline, immediately following, and 3 months after intervention that measured stress, depressive symptoms, anxiety, healthy lifestyle beliefs and behaviors, and job satisfaction. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used for data analysis.

RESULTS

The intervention group scored significantly better with moderate to large positive effects on the mental health variables as well as healthy lifestyle beliefs and healthy lifestyle behaviors at both follow-up time points compared with the attention control group. Moderate to large positive effects also were found for job satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

The MINDBODYSTRONG Program has excellent potential as an evidence-based intervention for improving the mental health, healthy lifestyle beliefs and behaviors, and job satisfaction, in NLRNs.

Turkish Psychometric Properties of the Predictor Scales Affecting Adolescent Obesity

Adolescent obesity is one of the most important public health problems today. Identifying factors that affect obesity in adolescents and developing programs to prevent obesity are very important. This research aims to test Turkish psychometric properties of the scales to predict adolescent obesity (Healthy Lifestyle Choices Scale, Perceived Healthy Lifestyle Difficulty Scale, Activity Knowledge Scale, Nutrition Knowledge Scale, Healthy Lifestyle Attitude Scale, Healthy Lifestyle Belief Scale). The psychometric properties of the Scales were tested test-re-test reliability, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient, the item-total correlation, and the Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The relationship between the Scales was measured using the Spearman's correlation analysis. The level of internal consistency of the scales to predict adolescent obesity was found good. The goodness of fit values of the Belief Scale were measured as significantly high (χ2 = 177.24, df = 0.99, χ2/df = 1.79 (p < .001), Comparative Fit Index = 0.91, Goodness of Fit Index = 0.91, Normed Fit Index = 0.92, Incremental Fit Index = 0.92, Root Mean Square Residual = 0.05, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation Residual = 0.05). The psychometric analyses of the Scales were found to be very similar to the results of the original scales. There was a positive correlation between the Choice, Attitude, Belief, Nutrition and Activity Knowledge Scale, and a negative correlation with the Perceived Difficulty scale. The scales which measure adolescent obesity were accepted as valid and reliable measuring tools. This study will be an important resource for researchers working on the adolescent health and obesity.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of School-Based Stress, Anxiety, and Depression Prevention Programs for Adolescents

Given the recent rise in adolescent mental health issues, many researchers have turned to school-based mental health programs as a way to reduce stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms among large groups of adolescents. The purpose of the current systematic review and meta-analysis is to identify and evaluate the efficacy of school-based programming aimed at reducing internalizing mental health problems of adolescents. A total of 42 articles, including a total of 7310 adolescents, ages 11-18, met inclusion for the meta-analyses. Meta-analyses were completed for each of the three mental health outcomes (stress, depression, and anxiety) and meta-regression was used to determine the influence of type of program, program dose, sex, race, and age on program effectiveness. Overall, stress interventions did not reduce stress symptoms, although targeted interventions showed greater reductions in stress than universal programs. Overall, anxiety interventions significantly reduced anxiety symptoms, however higher doses may be necessary for universal programs. Lastly, depression interventions significantly reduced depressive symptoms, but this reduction was moderated by a combination of program type, dose, race, and age group. Although, school-based programs aimed at decreasing anxiety and depression were effective, these effects are not long-lasting. Interventions aimed at reducing stress were not effective, however very few programs targeted or included stress as an outcome variable. Implications for practice, policy and research are discussed.

Effectiveness of School-based Health Center Delivery of a Cognitive Skills Building Intervention in Young, Rural Adolescents: Potential Applications for Addiction and Mood

PURPOSE

Uniquely positioned, school nurses address two of the most critical adolescent health issues - addiction and mood. Cognitive behavioral therapy, the mainstay in management of adolescent mood disorders, demonstrates promise in the treatment and prevention of addictive behaviors. Quality decision-making may protect adolescents from substance abuse. Executive function, a neurocognitive aspect of decision-making, involves impulse control, future thinking, and behavioral regulation. Further, the continuum of addition implicates executive function, which makes executive function a viable target for prevention and treatment of substance use. This pilot study examined the effectiveness of a nurse-led cognitive skills training intervention, Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment, on executive function and mood in a novel population and setting.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The study sample included adolescents ranging in age from 12 to 15 years and enrolled in a rural school-based health center. Fifteen (n = 15) adolescents completed the seven-week cognitive skills building intervention led by a nurse practitioner. Researchers measured executive function, anxiety, and depression at: baseline, after the intervention series, and three-months later.

RESULTS

One domain of executive function - behavioral regulation - improved, as did anxiety. Depression showed short-term improvement. Metacognition did not change over time.

CONCLUSIONS

Preliminary results indicate that cognitive skills building delivered by school nurses may enhance aspects of executive function linked with addiction and coping, such as behavioral regulation. Further, this intervention may also improve mood in this population.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Delivery of cognitive skills training by school nurses could be an accessible, effective piece in addressing addiction and mood in young, rural adolescents.

Decreasing Depression and Anxiety in College Youth Using the Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment Program (COPE)

BACKGROUND

College is a time of major transition in the lives of many young adults. Roughly 30% of college students have reported that anxiety and depressive symptoms negatively affect their lives and academic functioning. Currently, anxiety has surpassed depression as the reason college students seek help at counseling centers. Unfortunately, only one third of students receive treatment for anxiety and only 25% of students receive treatment for their depression.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this pilot project were to (a) assess levels of depression and anxiety in identified "at risk" college students who present to the college Student Health Services (Primary Care), (b) implement a new cognitive behavioral therapy-based intervention titled "Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment" (COPE), and (c) evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention on students' levels of depression and anxiety as well as satisfaction with the intervention.

DESIGN

A one group pre- and post-test design was used.

RESULTS

Students who received COPE demonstrated clinically meaningful improvement in depressive and anxiety symptoms as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory-II and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.

CONCLUSION

COPE is an effective brief program for reducing depression and anxiety in college-age youth. Implementation of evidenced-based programs into the college experience could lead to less severe depression and anxiety and better academic performance, ultimately increasing the likelihood of students successfully completing their academic programs.

A Successful Model for Clinical Training in Child/Adolescent Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Graduate Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nursing Students

BACKGROUND

Graduate faculty in advanced practice nursing programs seek to provide clinical training in psychotherapy for psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) students and prepare them for practice with patients across the lifespan, including children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a clinical training model for child/adolescent cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) that is adaptable to all graduate nursing programs including online, classroom, and blended programs.

DESIGN

Clinical training included a didactic 4-hour workshop and 7 small group practice sessions utilizing Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment (COPE), a manualized CBT program for teens. Students completed post-clinical training evaluations. Using qualitative design, responses to the open-ended questions were analyzed and common themes identified.

RESULTS

One hundred seven PMHNP students completed evaluations. Four themes emerged from the data: (a) therapeutic understanding of adapting CBT for children and adolescents, (b) therapeutic skills and techniques for use with children/adolescents, (c) improved level of confidence through participation in the CBT program, and (d) therapeutic benefits of being in a group.

CONCLUSIONS

Positive PMHNP student evaluations indicated that this clinical training model is feasible both online and face-to-face and acceptable for providing clinical training in CBT for children and adolescents.

Changes in psychosocial health during a 7-week paediatric weight management program

Youth with obesity are at increased risk of psychosocial symptoms; however, little is known regarding the impact of paediatric weight management (PWM) on psychosocial health. The aim of the study was to investigate changes in psychosocial health among children who completed a 7-week PWM program. Participants aged 5 to 16 years with a BMI ≥85th percentile completed a 7-week, family-centred PWM program focused on health behaviour education, exercise and mentored goal setting. The Paediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) was assessed via parent report to evaluate psychosocial symptoms before and after the program, and subscales were calculated for internalizing (PSC-IS), externalizing (PSC-ES) and attention symptoms (PSC-AS). At baseline, positive screen rates for psychosocial symptoms among the 317 patients included 16.1% for PSC, 14.1% for PSC-ES, 18.6% for PSC-IS and 12.3% for PSC-AS. Among program completers, total PSC scores improved in those with normal (p = 0.010) and elevated p < .001 psychosocial symptoms at baseline. Youth with positive screens for elevated PSC subscales improved their subscale scores, on average, and the majority reduced scores to below elevated levels for PSC (54.2%), PSC-ES (64.7%), PSC-IS (78.3%) and PSC-AS (64.7%). Improvements in PSC remained significant after adjusting for BMI changes during treatment, but BMI differed across PSC-change groups, including BMI increases among participants with PSC deterioration (0.33 ± 0.64 kg m^-2 ) (P = 0.035) and BMI decreases among patients with no reliable PSC change (-0.26 ± 1.04 kg m^-2 ) (P = 0.038) or reliable PSC improvement (-0.22 ± 0.74 kg m^-2 ) (P = 0.025). Youth with positive screens for psychosocial symptoms can improve emotional and behavioural functioning during short-term PWM. Future research is needed to elucidate mechanisms and long-term outcome durability.

School-based systems change for obesity prevention in adolescents: outcomes of the Australian Capital Territory 'It's Your Move!'

OBJECTIVE

The Australian Capital Territory 'It's Your Move!' (ACT-IYM) was a three-year (2012-2014) systems intervention to prevent obesity among adolescents.

METHODS

The ACT-IYM project involved three intervention schools and three comparison schools and targeted secondary students aged 12-16 years. The intervention consisted of multiple initiatives at individual, community, and school policy level to support healthier nutrition and physical activity. Intervention school-specific objectives related to increasing active transport, increasing time spent physically active at school, and supporting mental wellbeing. Data were collected in 2012 and 2014 from 656 students. Anthropometric data were objectively measured and behavioural data self-reported.

RESULTS

Proportions of overweight or obesity were similar over time within the intervention (24.5% baseline and 22.8% follow-up) and comparison groups (31.8% baseline and 30.6% follow-up). Within schools, two of three the intervention schools showed a significant decrease in the prevalence of overweight and obesity (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

There was some evidence of effectiveness of the systems approach to preventing obesity among adolescents. Implications for public health: The incorporation of systems thinking has been touted as the next stage in obesity prevention and public health more broadly. These findings demonstrate that the use of systems methods can be effective on a small scale.

Chinese Version of the Healthy Lifestyle Beliefs Scale for Taiwanese Adolescents: A Psychometric Study

BACKGROUND

Taiwanese adolescents' unhealthy lifestyles (e.g., unhealthy eating and sedentary behavior) are associated with excess weight and obesity, which affect their physical and mental health (e.g., depression). Because adolescents' beliefs about healthy lifestyles predict their actual lifestyles, a valid and reliable tool to measure their beliefs about healthy lifestyles is needed.

METHODS

The Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Scale (HLBS) was translated into Chinese based on recommended guidelines. A convenience sample of 186 Taiwanese adolescents completed the Chinese version Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Scale (CHLBS) anonymously. We used Cronbach's α to determine the internal consistency of the CHLBS and exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to examine the factor structure.

RESULTS

The Cronbach's α for the CHLBS was .94. Exploratory analysis suggested that there were two factors and explained 57% of the total variance. The confirmatory factor analysis indicated an acceptable fit.

CONCLUSION

The CHLBS is a reliable and valid scale. It can be used to gather information about Taiwanese adolescents' beliefs about healthy lifestyles, which will assist in developing culturally and developmentally relevant interventions.

The effectiveness of the COPE healthy lifestyles TEEN program: a school-based intervention in middle school adolescents with 12-month follow-up

AIM

The goal of this study is to assess the applicability and long-term effectiveness of the T-COPE Healthy TEEN program on adolescent health.

BACKGROUND

Obesity and mental health disorders are major public health problems in adolescents. In this context, including long-term and multiple behavioural obesity prevention programs are becoming increasingly important.

DESIGN

A quasi-experimental design with pre-test/post-test control group and repeated measurements.

METHODS

Eighty-seven (45 in intervention group, 42 in control group) adolescents were included from two different middle schools in the intervention program. The data were analysed by using descriptive statistics, Pearson chi-square, Fisher's exact test, Student-t test, repeated measures of variance analysis and Cohen's d effect size.

RESULTS

No significant difference was found between the intervention and control groups in terms of descriptive characteristics, behavioural and cognitive variables of the adolescents. Following the intervention, the adolescents in intervention groups showed improvements in nutritional behaviour, physical activity and stress management. These improvements concerned increased physical walking measured in the number of physical steps per week daily fruit and vegetable consumption and the daily quantity of water ingested. While their nutrition/physical activity knowledge significantly increased, their weight and anxiety symptoms significantly decreased. The effect of the program on body mass index, depression and health beliefs of the adolescents were not significant compared with the control group.

CONCLUSION

The applicability of the T-COPE Healthy TEEN program on Turkish adolescents and its effectiveness on their health behaviours, nutrition and physical activity knowledge and stress management were revealed in this study.