Self-perception of physical activity and fitness is related to lower psychosomatic health symptoms in adolescents with unhealthy lifestyles

The effects of Nirvana fitness and functional training on the body appreciation of young women: non-randomized controlled trial

Introduction

Exercise is an important intervention used to improve body image. The present non-randomized controlled trial aimed to examine the effects of Nirvana Fitness (NF) and functional training (FT) on body appreciation and its correlates in young women.

Methods

Twenty-two students participated in FT, 21 in NF, and 47 in the control (CN) group. The mean age of the study participants was 22.79 ± 6.14 years. The FT and NF groups participated in sessions 2 days per week for 8 weeks, and the CN group did not participate in any sessions. All the participants were evaluated at pre- and post-intervention, filling in the Body Appreciation Scale 2 (BAS-2), Mind-Body Connection from the Physical Activity Body Experiences Questionnaire (PABEQ), Body Surveillance from the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale (OBCS), the Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS), intrinsic exercise motivation from Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire 2 (BREQ-2), and perceived physical fitness.

Results

Significant improvements were found in terms of all outcome measures in the FT group, and improvements of body and mind connection and body surveillance in the NF group, while no improvements were observed in the CN group. FT's effect on body appreciation appeared to operate through the improvement of the mind-body connection in the FT and NF groups and via decreased body surveillance in the FT group.

Conclusion

These findings support the developmental theory of embodiment and provide initial evidence that professionally delivered FT and NF might be used as effective strategies for the promotion of positive body image in young women.

Impact of Digital Media, School Problems, and Lifestyle Factors on Youth Psychosomatic Health: A Cross-Sectional Survey

BACKGROUND

Post-pandemic psychosomatic complaints in children and adolescents have been underreported. This study investigated psychosomatic complaints in children and adolescents in Northern Italy in 2023, with the aim of identifying changes in predictors and vulnerable subgroups.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data representative of scholars from a northern Italian province were analyzed using the Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) checklist. The sum scores, count data, and dichotomized data were examined, and predictor effects were expressed using a linear regression model for the sum scores.

RESULTS

Data from 4525 participants (aged 7-19 years, 50.5% girls) were analyzed. Psychosomatic symptoms remained unchanged after the pandemic. Significant gender differences were noted, especially in older age groups, with girls reporting more complaints. Factors such as children's health, digital media use, and school problems significantly influence psychosomatic outcomes. While migration background negatively affected girls' psychosomatic well-being, boys showed improvement through sports.

CONCLUSION

The psychosomatic well-being of children and adolescents did not improve after the pandemic. These findings indicate the need for targeted interventions, improved health literacy, and ongoing monitoring to support the mental well-being of this vulnerable population. Reducing screen time remains a critical strategy for enhancing youth well-being.

School pressure and psychosomatic complaints among Swedish adolescents: does physical activity play a buffering role?

Background

School pressure is a significant stressor in the lives of adolescents, recognised to be associated with psychosomatic complaints. Therefore, the exploration of potential buffering factors is a relevant task. This study aimed to examine the association between school pressure and psychosomatic complaints and the potentially moderating role of physical activity in a Swedish national sample of adolescents.

Methods

Data were derived from the 2017/2018 Swedish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey, involving 3,745 participants aged 11-15 years. School pressure and physical activity were measured using single items. Psychosomatic complaints were assessed through an additive index based on the frequency of eight complaints. Covariates included gender, grade, and family affluence.

Results

Linear regression analyses demonstrated a positive graded association between school pressure and psychosomatic complaints, while an inversely graded association was observed between physical activity and psychosomatic complaints. Physical activity did, however, not moderate the link between school pressure and psychosomatic complaints.

Conclusion

Even though physical activity did not serve as a buffer, the direct effects of school pressure and physical activity on psychosomatic complaints suggest that supporting young people in managing school demands and promoting their engagement in physical activities could be effective measures in alleviating psychosomatic complaints.

The mental health-related barriers and benefits to exercise in adults with and without chronic pain

Background

Qualitative evidence points to the importance of both mental health-related barriers and benefits to exercise in chronic pain, yet this bidirectional relationship has not been established quantitatively.

Methods

89 adults with chronic pain (75 female, Age: M = 34.7, SD=13.2), and 89 demographically-matched individuals without chronic pain (73 female, Age: M = 32.0, SD=13.3) self-reported demographic and health information, mental health-related barriers and benefits to exercise, and leisure-time exercise activity.

Results

Adults with chronic pain had significantly higher scores on mental health-related barriers to exercise, and lower leisure-time exercise participation than adults without chronic pain. The groups did not differ on mental health-related benefits of exercise scores. Benefits scores positively predicted exercise, yet there was a significant negative interaction between pain and benefit scores, indicating a weaker positive relationship between benefits and exercise for adults with chronic pain than for those without chronic pain. Barrier scores significantly negatively predicted exercise engagement, but did not interact significantly with chronic pain.

Conclusion

Mental health-related barriers and benefits to exercise are important considerations when prescribing exercise for adults with chronic pain. Adults with chronic pain may require individualised support to address mental health-related barriers to leisure-time exercise.

Trends in psychosomatic symptoms among adolescents and the role of lifestyle factors

BACKGROUND

Adolescent mental health problems are on the rise globally, including in Sweden. One indicator of this trend is increased psychosomatic symptoms (PSS) over time. Lifestyle factors such as physical activity (PA), diet, smoking, and alcohol consumption may influence the time trends in PSS; however, the evidence base is scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between time trends in PSS and lifestyle factors.

METHODS

The study was based on data collected from a nationally representative sample of 9,196 fifteen-year-old boys and girls in Sweden using the Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) symptom checklist. The sample comprised nearly equal proportions of girls (50.5%) and boys. The lifestyle factors examined in this study included PA, regular breakfast intake, consumption of fruits, vegetables, sweets, or soft drinks, smoking, and alcohol drunkenness. We used data from 2002 to 2018 and stratified by family affluence scale (FAS) to demonstrate how the associations varied among the FAS groups. We fitted separate regression models for the high- and low-FAS groups, where interaction terms between the year of survey and each lifestyle factor were used to estimate the level and direction of associations between the factors and trends in PSS.

RESULTS

There was a generally increasing trend in PSS mean scores from 2.26 in 2002 to 2.49 in 2018 (p <.001). The changes in each survey year compared to the average mean scores during the preceding years were significant in all years except 2010. Regular breakfast intake, daily fruit and vegetable consumption, and higher PA were associated with lower PSS mean scores, while smoking and drunkenness had opposite associations with PSS. The only significant interaction between survey year and the lifestyle factors was observed regarding drunkenness in the high FAS group, suggesting that the association between trends in PSS and the experience of getting drunk at least twice got stronger over time (B = 0.057; CI:0.016, 0.097; p <.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate increasing trends in PSS among young people in Sweden from 2002 to 2018, with a significant increase observed among adolescents in the high FAS group who reported getting drunk on at least two occasions.

Ensuring athlete physical fitness using Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) in training environments

BACKGROUND

Sports have been a fundamental component of any culture and legacy for centuries. Athletes are widely regarded as a source of national pride, and their physical well-being is deemed to be of paramount significance. The attainment of optimal performance and injury prevention in athletes is contingent upon physical fitness. Technology integration has implemented Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) to augment the athletic training milieu.

OBJECTIVE

The present study introduces an approach for assessing athlete physical fitness in training environments: the Internet of Things (IoT) and CPS-based Physical Fitness Evaluation Method (IoT-CPS-PFEM).

METHODS

The IoT-CPS-PFEM employs a range of IoT-connected sensors and devices to observe and assess the physical fitness of athletes. The proposed methodology gathers information on diverse fitness parameters, including heart rate, body temperature, and oxygen saturation. It employs machine learning algorithms to scrutinize and furnish feedback on the athlete's physical fitness status.

RESULTS

The simulation findings illustrate the efficacy of the proposed IoT-CPS-PFEM in identifying the physical fitness levels of athletes, with an average precision of 93%. The method under consideration aims to tackle the existing obstacles of conventional physical fitness assessment techniques, including imprecisions, time lags, and manual data-gathering requirements. The approach of IoT-CPS-PFEM provides the benefits of real-time monitoring, precision, and automation, thereby enhancing an athlete's physical fitness and overall performance to a considerable extent.

CONCLUSION

The research findings suggest that the implementation of IoT-CPS-PFEM can significantly impact the physical fitness of athletes and enhance the performance of the Indian sports industry in global competitions.

The Associations Between Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity Levels and Mental Health in Children and Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

To examine the associations between physical activity (PA) levels and mental health in children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities (IDs) during the COVID-19 pandemic, 117 participants aged between 6 and 17 years with IDs from 10 Hong Kong special schools were included. There were positive dose-response associations between PA (i.e., light PA, moderate PA, and vigorous PA) and mental health, and participants with higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and self-concept (SC) had better social quality of life (QoL) than those with lower levels of MVPA and SC. Moreover, personal and environmental factors such as age, body mass index, school, sex, ID level, and parental education level influenced the PA levels and QoL in children and adolescents with IDs.

Differential Factors Are Associated with Physical Activity in Older Adults in Brazil with and without Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the 2019 National Health Survey

This study analyzed whether sociodemographic factors, health perception, dietary habits, and screen time are related to physical activity (PA) in older people with and without non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs). This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the 2019 Brazilian National Health Survey; the sample was older adults (≥60 years old; n = 22,726). The outcome of this study was being physically active or inactive during leisure time, and NCD was used as a moderating variable. The correlates investigated were sociodemographic and health-related variables. According to the logistic regression analysis, it was observed that being male had an association only in the group with NCDs (OR = 1.25 (1.05-1.48)), as well as residing in the northeastern region (OR = 1.26 (1.04-1.53)). On the other hand, high levels of education (OR = 4.09 (2.92-5.2); OR = 1.92 (1.48-2.49)) and income (OR = 1.64 (1.09-2.48); OR = 1.86 (1.33-2.60)) were associated with PA in both groups, as well as dietary habits (OR = 1.03 (1.01-1.05); (OR = 1.05 (1.04-1.07)). Advanced age (OR = 0.96 (0.94-0.97); OR = 0.97 (0.96-0.98)) and reporting a regular health perception (OR = 0.53 (0.43-0.66); OR = 0.61 (0.52-0.73)) were factors associated with physical inactivity in both groups. Gender, education, and income were unequally associated with an active lifestyle in both groups, and therefore, barriers to PA may arise.

Effect of traditional Chinese medicine massage on physical and mental health of middle-aged and elderly women

This mixed-methods study examined the effects of traditional Chinese medicine massage on the physique, athletic performance, body composition, and perceived physical and mental health of 10 middle-aged and older women by using questionnaires and multiple measurement instruments. Microsoft Office and IBM SPSS 26.0 were used for the verification and calculation of results. Multivariate analysis was employed to analyze the data. Intermittent exercise significantly influenced the body composition, physical fitness, sports performance, and physical and mental health of female college students and improved their self-confidence, sleep quality, eating habits, weight, blood pressure, and sports performance, even when not accompanied with massage. However, although the rate of improvement was stable, intermittent exercise with traditional Chinese medicine massage yielded greater improvements in abdominal muscle strength and flexibility than intermittent exercise without traditional Chinese medicine massage. In terms of physical and mental health, headache, head pressure, back pain, and sense of loss were significantly alleviated (p < 0.01) in the traditional Chinese medicine massage group.

Self-Reported Physical Activity and Perception of Athleticism in American Equestrian Athletes

BACKGROUND

Over 75% of American adults are not meeting aerobic and muscular physical activity recommendations, with the majority being females. Equestrian activities are a potential avenue to increase physical activity, especially in females who account for approximately 90% of sport participants. This study describes perceptions of equestrian activities and establishes the patterns of self-reported equestrian, barn work, and nonequestrian physical activity engagement to understand participation in activities that may sustain physical activity across the lifespan.

METHODS

American equestrians (n = 2551) completed an anonymous online survey with questions about perceptions and benefits of equestrian activities, demographics, and engagement in equestrian activities, barn work, and nonequestrian activities.

RESULTS

There were 2039 completed responses, (95.6% female), with representation from all regions of the United States. Professionals (20.6%), amateurs (39.1%), and recreational (40.3%) comprised participation status. Significantly fewer recreational participants perceived equestrian as physical activity and as a sport than amateurs (P < .05) and professionals (P < .05). Engagement in equestrian and barn work physical activity was significantly higher in professionals (P < .0001), followed by amateurs (P < .0001), with the lowest in recreational equestrians (P = .001). Professional and amateur equestrians engaged in significantly more nonequestrian physical activity than recreational participants (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Equestrian physical activity engagement is dependent on the status of participation. Equestrian, barn work, and nonequestrian physical activity do meet physical activity aerobic and muscular recommendations and should be encouraged as a physical activity for females across the lifespan.

Association between Motivation in Physical Education and Positive Body Image: Mediating and Moderating Effects of Physical Activity Habits

Concerns about body image might prevent adolescents from participating in physical education (PE) classes and physical activities during leisure-time. In this cross-sectional study, we assessed the relationships between teacher support of autonomy, student motivations for PE, and positive body image, in a sample of Lithuanian adolescents. A total of 715 adolescents (51.89% girls) participated in the study. Ages ranged from 14 to 18 years, with a mean age of 16.00 (SD = 0.79) for girls and 15.99 (SD = 0.75) for boys. The questionnaire consisted of demographic questions, the Learning Climate Questionnaire, the Revised Perceived Locus of Causality in Physical Education Questionnaire, the Body Appreciation Scale-2, the Self-Report Habit Index for Physical Activity (PA), perceived physical fitness (PPF), and Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire. The results showed that teacher support for students' autonomy was associated with higher positive body image. In adolescent girls, autonomous motivation for PE was the mediator between teacher support of autonomy and positive body image. The associations between self-determined motivation in PE and positive body image were mediated by PPF on one hand, and through PA habits and PPF on the other hand of the structural equation model (in girls). PA habits moderated associations between PE motivation and PPF. Associations between PE motivation and PPF were stronger in girls with the lowest PA habits compared to girls with mean PA habits. These results suggest that PE classes are important for promoting students' positive body images. PE teachers are advised to use pedagogical strategies that promote the self-determined motivation of students for PE. Increased self-determined motivation for physical education might be an effective strategy for physical self-perception and positive body image promotion in adolescent girls, especially those with low PA habits.

The relationship between stress and health-related quality of life and the mediating role of self-efficacy in Norwegian adolescents: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

During the transitional phase from childhood to adulthood, adolescents encounter many changes and challenges. Stress is associated with reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adolescents and, thus, impacts all aspects of their life. Adolescents' thoughts and beliefs in their capacity may be essential with regard to their subjective perception of stress and coping with it. Insights into the complexity of stress and exploration of the possible underlying mechanisms in adolescence are needed. We sought to describe stress, HRQOL, and self-efficacy and explore the association between stress and HRQOL by testing for self-efficacy as a possible mediator in adolescents.

METHODS

In total, 696 school-based adolescents aged 14-15 years participated in this study. Participants were recruited from 22 schools in the Eastern and Southern parts of Norway. All participants completed an electronic survey in their respective classrooms. The survey included demographic data, the Perceived Stress Questionnaire, the KIDSCREEN-27 questionnaire measuring HRQOL, and the General Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale. Statistical analyses were conducted using the PROCESS macro for SPSS Statistics software by Andrew Hayes model 4.

RESULTS

Descriptive analyses revealed overall low levels of stress with a score of 0.29 (SD, 0.15). Nevertheless, stress was negatively associated with all HRQOL subscales: physical well-being (B =  - 25.60), psychological well-being (B =  - 38.43), autonomy and parents (B =  - 28.84), social support and peers (B =  - 21.05), and school environment (B =  - 30.28). Furthermore, these respective associations were all mediated by self-efficacy, which explained approximately one-fifth of the reduction in HRQOL. The highest degree of mediation and, thus, the largest indirect effect was estimated for the HRQOL subscale physical well-being (31.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings extend prior research on the mechanisms underlying the relationship between perceived stress and HRQOL in adolescents. They demonstrated that perceived stress explained most of the reduction in the HRQOL after adjusting for the effect of self-efficacy. Hence, stress itself appears to be an important target for future interventions to enhance HRQOL, rather than purely focusing on increasing self-efficacy to enhance the HRQOL in adolescents. Our findings highlight the importance of a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms to develop strategic and accurate interventions for adolescents.

Associations between Perceived Teacher Autonomy Support, Self-Determined Motivation, Physical Activity Habits and Non-Participation in Physical Education in a Sample of Lithuanian Adolescents

In this cross-sectional study, we tested the associations between teacher autonomy support, self-determined motivation for physical education (PE), physical activity habits and non-participation in physical education in a sample of adolescents. A total of 715 adolescents (of whom 371 (51.89%) were girls) participated. The ages ranged from 14 to 18 years, with mean ages of 16.00 (SD = 0.79) for girls and 15.99 (SD = 0.75) for boys. The study questionnaire consisted of demographic questions and the Learning Climate Questionnaire, Revised Perceived Locus of Causality in Physical Education Questionnaire, Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire 2, Self-Report Habit Index for Physical Activity, Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, perceived physical fitness and frequency of non-participation in PE classes. The results showed that perceived teacher autonomy support was directly positively associated with physical activity habits and negatively with non-participation in physical education classes. Autonomous motivation for PE was a mediator between perceived teacher autonomy support and physical activity habits, meaning that higher autonomous motivation was related to higher physical activity habits. Motivation for PE was also a mediator between teacher autonomy support and non-participation in PE. Higher autonomous motivation for PE was associated with less frequent non-participation in PE classes. The findings can inform PE teachers’ practice by showing that supporting students’ autonomy and strengthening their self-determined motivation can facilitate increased participation in PE classes and the formation of students’ physical activity habits.

Relevant Variables in the Stimulation of Psychological Well-Being in Physical Education: A Systematic Review

This study is based on the need to explore the different strategies and interventions that seek to develop psychological well-being (PW) in scholars (children and adolescents aged 9–19 years) through physical education and school sports by bearing in mind other variables that can extensively facilitate PW in these students. This study analyzed 504 research works published between 2010 and 2020, and 23 were selected for this review because they met the inclusion criteria. The results showed that the most studied variables were: motivation, academic performance, teaching climate in physical education (PE) teaching styles, parents’ relationships and school environment. The literature review carried out in this study reveals the need to consider PW with other relevant variables, and the importance of doing so from a community approach, in which all systems (parents, school and government) are active participants, and contribute to generate a positive environment for all. Finally, school professionals should be aware of the need to stimulate their students’ PW because government organizations should be interested in promoting such a policy in this population.

Associations between Self-Objectification and Lifestyle Habits in a Large Sample of Adolescents

The aim of the present study was to test associations between self-objectification and health-related lifestyle habits in a large sample of adolescents. In 2019–2020, a large sample of adolescents (n = 1402, 40.4% boys) participated in the survey and, as a part of a larger study, filled in questionnaires on self-objectification and lifestyle. Self-objectification was assessed using the Self-Objectification Questionnaire (SOQ). The lifestyle questionnaire had three batteries: eating attitudes and behaviors, dietary habits, and questions on harmful behaviors together with time spending patterns: sedentary lifestyle and physical activity. The ages ranged from 15–19 years with a mean age of 16.97 ± 0.46 years. Self-objectification (SO) was associated with a less healthy lifestyle: more frequent dieting and unhealthy eating habits in girls, skipping breakfast, and a lower number of meals per day. Adolescent boys and girls with higher SO demonstrated more frequent smoking and alcohol consumption until they felt dizzy and more frequent consumption of soft drinks, energy drinks, and fast foods. Girls with higher SO demonstrated lower perceived physical activity and longer duration of internet browsing for non-educational purposes. The results of the present study inform healthy lifestyle promotion programs for adolescents, suggesting that including psychoeducation about self-objectification, body functionality, and positive embodiment might be an effective strategy.

Physical activity in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Prevalence, patients’ perspectives and relation to the motor performance

BACKGROUND: There are no recommendations for physical activity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. OBJECTIVE: (i) To describe the prevalence and pattern of physical activity (PA) in ALS patients; (ii) to explore patients’ attitude towards PA; and (iii) to investigate the relationship between PA at home environment and the rate of functional decline. METHODS: 96 ALS patients were followed for 6 months at 3-month intervals and assessed by site of disease onset, disease duration, diagnosis delay, functional status, muscle strength, fatigue and prevalence of PA. RESULTS: Over 70% of patients performed regular exercise and reported a positive effect of PA on functional status and mood. Regularly exercising individuals showed a higher ALSFRS-R bulbar score (11.0 vs 9.0, p = 0.011) and a lower decline of respiratory sub-score of ALSFRS-R compared to non-regularly exercising patients (0 vs 1.0, p = 0.026). Bulbar onset was a negative prognostic factor for regular exercise (odds ratio [OR]: 5.2, p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: The majority of ALS patients perform regular PA and find it positively influence their motor performance and mood. Bulbar disease onset, but not functional status, is a negative prognostic factor for regular exercise in ALS patients. Regular mild PA may result in a slower deterioration of functional status, especially the respiratory function.

Effects of 'SPRAT' programme for dietary and lifestyle education to improve psychosomatic symptoms and dietary habits among adolescents: a cluster randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Dietary and lifestyle modifications to reduce subjective psychosomatic symptoms (SPS) have become an important topic worldwide. We developed a school-based dietary and lifestyle education programme that involved parents/guardians in reducing SPS in adolescents (SPRAT). The programme encouraged parents/guardians to participate in adolescents' healthy dietary and lifestyle modifications to reduce SPS, increase enjoyment of school life, and foster appropriate dietary intake. This study evaluated the effectiveness of SPRAT in reducing SPS and in altering dietary behaviour among adolescents.

METHODS

A 6-month cluster randomised controlled trial using SPRAT and the usual school programme (control) was performed. Participants were middle school students in Japan who provided informed consent. Outcomes were SPS scores assessed at baseline and 2, 4, and 6 months after baseline and the proportions of dietary and lifestyle factors achieved such as enjoyment of school life and dietary intakes assessed by FFQW82. Change from baseline (CFB) at 6 months was the primary endpoint. A linear mixed-effects model was applied. As for dietary intake, the treatment effect was estimated as an interaction term between baseline and treatment "baseline*treatment".

RESULTS

The intention-to treat analysis included 951 (94.7%) and 1035 (89.8%) individuals in the SPRAT and control groups, respectively. The CFB in the 6-month SPS score adjusted for baseline was lower in the SPRAT group (-0.29) than in the control group (0.62), but the difference was not statistically significant -0.91 (p = 0.093).

CONCLUSIONS

Although the primary endpoint tended to denote improvement in the SPRAT group compared to the control group, the improvement was not significant. Favourable effects were observed in some secondary outcomes and statistically significant treatment*baseline interactions were observed for several dietary intakes. These results imply that CFBs of dietary intake were increased or decreased in a favourable direction depending on the baseline intake, especially in the SPRAT group.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

UMIN000026715. (27/03/2017).

A Study on the Effects of Chinese Massage on Physical and Mental Health in Participants Based Smart Healthcare

The purpose of this study is to understand the influence of the effect of the smart Chinese massage appliance on the participants' sports performance and physical and mental health after intermittent exercises. The study was performed by a mixed-study method. First, the experimental research method was used to design an experimental procedure and specifications such as data collection scope. Next, the quantitative research was carried out, using SPSS 26.0 statistical software to analyze data from the questionnaire. Then, the qualitative research was carried out by interviewing experts and respondents and obtaining their opinions. Finally, all the data were collated and analyzed using the multidimensional review method. Findings. Chinese massage significantly improved the physical fitness, exercise performance, body composition, and physical and mental health status of high-strength cyclic exercise participants. High-strength exercises can improve the physical and mental health of men. Medium-strength exercises could improve current conditions for women. Oxygen intake remained peaked for 8 sessions for men and increased after 30 sessions for women. Both groups required a 1-2-week adaptation period but had different exercise performance periods. After the experiment, head and back pain, as well as stress and negative emotions, was improved. The high intensity of the exercises relieved fear, headache or head stress, overeating, and other problems.

Biopsychosocial inequality, active lifestyle and chronic health conditions: a cross-sectional National Health Survey 2013 in Brazil

This study estimated the biopsychosocial factors related to active physical behavior in the Brazilian population with and without chronic non-transmissible disease (NCD). Cross-sectional study of the National Health Survey (NHS) in Brazil, with 60,202 individuals in 2013. Participants were randomly selected by complex sampling. The outcome was physically active behavior measured by performing a minimum of 150 min of physical exercise per week. The independent variables were social and psychological characteristics, lifestyle and health. Cox regression was applied to estimate the prevalence ratio (PR). There are 29,666 (48.3%; 95% CI 47.0–50.0) participants reported having NCD. Not being a smoker or alcoholic, living in an urban area (PR = 1.44; CI95% 1.23–1.68/PR = 1.38; CI95% 1.08–1.75), having informal social support (PR = 1.26; CI95% 1.10–1.44/PR = 1.19; CI95% 1.05–1.34), A social class (PR = 0.43; CI95% 0.25–0.73/PR = 0.46; CI95% 0.26–0.80), high schooling (PR = 0.34; CI95% 0.23–0.51/PR = 0.33; CI95% 0.24–0.46) as well as paid work (PR = 0.87; CI95% 0.78–0.96/PR = 0.89; CI95% 0.79–0.99) are more associated with active lifestyle in both groups. However, only in the group without NCD, the male sex (PR = 1.42; CI95% 1.28–1.57), no having some disability (PR = 1.31; CI95% 1.03–1.66) and having private health insurance (PR = 1.26; CI95% 1.13–1.41) were more associated with active behavior, while in the group with NCD, being elderly (PR = 1.22; CI95% 1.05–1.42), not be white (PR = 0.85; CI95% 0.77–0.95) and not having restful sleep (PR = 1.23; CI95% 1.08–1.40) are associated with active lifestyle. People with and without NCD in Brazil have very close active behavior, however, some biopsychosocial factors such as: sex, age, lifestyle, socioeconomic level are unevenly associated with the active lifestyle in the groups. Thus, therapeutic or preventive proposals as well as public policies for health promotion must observe these distinctions when elaborating their actions.

Improving youth physical, mental and social health through physical activity: A Systematic literature review

BACKGROUND

Across various parts of the world there is an increasing trend in adolescent and young adult physical inactivity, which has been linked to a multitude of illnesses throughout the lifespan. To further understand the link between physical inactivity and illness, it is important to determine the effect that physical activity has various components of wellbeing. The primary aim of this review was to compile and synthesise the recent evidence on physical activity and its effect on physical, mental and social wellbeing across younger populations. The secondary aim was to determine whether there is relationship between the amount, type and intensity of exercise, and changes in wellbeing outcomes.

METHODS

Main databases were searched using MeSH terms for the population of interest (young adult, adolescent), intervention (physical activity) and outcome (wellbeing). Upon screening papers of eligibility, quality appraisal was completed through the Critical Appraisals Skills Programme (CASP).

RESULTS

Nineteen studies were included in this review. The majority of studies found an associated link between the participation of physical activity and improvements in physical, mental and social wellbeing outcomes. There was evidence to suggest that lower levels of physical intensity produced similar results in mental and social outcomes when compared to higher levels of physical intensity.

CONCLUSION

This review supports the encouragement of adolescent and young adult physical activity, noting the improvements seen across the physical, mental and social wellbeing outcomes. Future research is still required to further understand the benefits of lower intensity exercise within the adolescent and young adult population.

Examination of Construct Validity and Criterion-Related Validity of the German Motor Test in Egyptian Schoolchildren

Physical fitness is an indicator for children’s public health status. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the construct validity and the criterion-related validity of the German motor test (GMT) in Egyptian schoolchildren. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 931 children aged 6 to 11 years (age: 9.1 ± 1.7 years) with 484 (52%) males and 447 (48%) females in grades one to five in Assiut city. The children’s physical fitness data were collected using GMT. GMT is designed to measure five health-related physical fitness components including speed, strength, coordination, endurance, and flexibility of children aged 6 to 18 years. The anthropometric data were collected based on three indicators: body height, body weight, and BMI. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted with IBM SPSS AMOS 26.0 using full-information maximum likelihood. The results indicated an adequate fit (χ² = 112.3, df = 20; p < 0.01; CFI = 0.956; RMSEA = 0.07). The χ²-statistic showed significant results, and the values for CFI and RMSEA showed a good fit. All loadings of the manifest variables on the first-order latent factors as well as loadings of the first-order latent factors on the second-order superordinate factor were significant. The results also showed strong construct validity in the components of conditioning abilities and moderate construct validity in the components of coordinative abilities. GMT proved to be a valid method and could be widely used on large-scale studies for health-related fitness monitoring in the Egyptian population.

Under the COVID-19 Environment, Will Tourism Decision Making, Environmental Risks, and Epidemic Prevention Attitudes Affect the People's Firm Belief in Participating in Leisure Tourism Activities?

The study was conducted to understand the travel intentions of Dajia Matsu pilgrimage participants through tourism decision making, environmental risk perception, epidemic prevention attitude, and physical and mental health assessment. A questionnaire survey was used to collect 230 questionnaires in the field during the 2021 pilgrimage, and structural analysis was conducted using SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 20.0 statistical programs. The results showed that environmental risk and physical and mental health awareness were not significantly associated with the travel intention of Dajia Matsu pilgrimage participants (p > 0.05), while travel decision and attitude toward epidemic prevention were significantly associated with travel intention (p < 0.05).

The use of coping strategies "shift-persist" mediates associations between physical activity and mental health problems in adolescents: a cross-sectional study

Background

Self-perceived mental health problems among adolescents has had an upward trend. Concurrently, adolescents’ physical activity (PA) has been falling whilst sedentary time (SED) has increased. There is a lack of research using accelerometer measured PA and SED to study their relationships to perceived stress and psychosomatic symptoms, both frequently observed mental health problems among adolescents. Whether coping strategies is one of the mechanisms underlying such relationship is less clear.

Methods

A total of 2283 13-year olds were enrolled in the baseline examination of the STARS (STudy of Adolescence Resilience and Stress) study in Western Sweden. Light-, moderate-, vigorous-intensity PA (LPA, MPA and VPA) and SED were measured using hip-worn ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer. A total of 1284 adolescents provided valid accelerometer data (at least 4 days with ≥10 h per day). PA and SED during school-time and leisure-time were analysed separately. Surveys were utilized to monitor perceived stress, psychosomatic symptoms and the use of coping strategies “shift-persist”. Logistic regression and mediation analyses were performed adjusting for gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and puberty development.

Results

We observed that more time spent in PA was associated with less stress in adolescents. The associations were observed for LPA (Odds ratio for LPA per 60 min: 0.557 (95% CI 0.399–0.776), VPA (Odds ratio for VPA per 15 min: 0.688 (95% CI 0.588–0.806) and MVPA (Odds ratio for MVPA per 15 min: 0.795 (95%CI 0.718–0.879) during leisure time, but not during school time. Similar associations were observed between leisure time PA and psychosomatic symptoms. The associations remained statistically significant even after adjusting for the confounders. Further, our data showed that adolescents who engaged more time in PA during leisure time were more likely to adopt the coping strategies of “shift-persist”. Mediation analysis showed that the use of “shift-persist” mediated the associations between leisure time PA and stress/psychosomatic symptoms.

Conclusions

Leisure time physical activity, irrespective of intensity, may facilitate successful coping with stress and stress-related mental health problems in adolescents.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-11158-0.

Is the Travel Bubble under COVID-19 a Feasible Idea or Not?

The present study aimed to understand Taiwanese people's willingness to participate in the travel bubble policy. A mixed research method was used to collect 560 questionnaires, and SPSS 22.0 software was used for the statistical validation and Pearson's performance correlation analysis. Expert opinions were collected and the results were validated using multivariate analysis. Findings: People were aware of the seriousness of the virus and the preventive measures but were not afraid of the threat of infection. They looked forward to traveling to heighten their enthusiasm, relieve stress, and soothe their emotions. However, the infection and death rates have been high, there have been various routes of infection, and it has been difficult to identify the symptoms. The complex backgrounds of people coming in and out of airports, hotels and restaurants may create pressure on the participants of events. In addition, the flawed policies and high prices resulted in a loss of confidence in the policies and a wait-and-see attitude toward tourism activities. Thus, travel decisions (0.634), physical and mental health assessment (0.716), and environmental risk (-0.130) were significantly (p < 0.05) related to travel intentions, and different issues were affected to different degrees, while health beliefs had no significant effect (p > 0.05).

Effects of Sports Massage on the Physiological and Mental Health of College Students Participating in a 7-Week Intermittent Exercises Program

The purpose of the research is to analyze the improvement in the physical and mental health of college students after intermittent exercises are performed by massage. The present study employed a mixed research method. An experimental study was conducted to analyze the current status of the volunteers’ sports performance and body composition, and then a questionnaire was designed for the subjects’ physical and mental health. The data were then analyzed using SPSS 26.0 software for statistical analysis such as t-test and ANOVA. The subjects were then interviewed to collect their opinions on the study results, and finally, the results were explored by multivariate analysis. The study found that intermittent exercise can help university students develop physical fitness and performance, improve body composition, and regulate physical and mental health. The combination of intermittent exercise with sports massages further enhanced the performance of sit-ups and standing long jump, improve blood pressure, BMI, and self-confidence, as well as reducing suicidal tendencies (experimental group > control group). However, intermittent exercise participants still experienced fatigue, headache, emotional loss, and fear of depression, and the addition of sports massage did not significantly improve flexibility and cardiorespiratory endurance (control group > experimental group).

Testing modified gender-moderated exercise and self-esteem (EXSEM) model of positive body image in adolescents

The most acceptable model explaining the associations between physical exercise and self-esteem is the exercise and self-esteem model (EXSEM). The present cross-sectional study tested the mediating role of body appreciation and physical fitness perception in the associations between physical activity and self-esteem in modified EXSEM. Overall, 1412 Lithuanian adolescents (40.2% were boys, mean age 17.0 (SD = 0.5) years) completed online questionnaires. The study was implemented in 2019 from October to December. Perceived physical fitness and body appreciation mediated the associations in the EXSEM. Physical fitness perception was directly associated with the self-esteem of girls, but not boys. Gender moderated EXSEM associations in body appreciation and perceived physical fitness showed stronger mediation effects for the adolescent girls compared to boys. Increasing physical activity, positive body image and perception of physical fitness might help to foster mental health, especially in girls.

Relación entre condición física global, coordinación motriz y calidad de vida percibida en adolescentes españoles

La sociedad actual plantea la necesidad de incorporar a la educación aquellas capacidades relacionadas con el cuerpo y su actividad motriz dentro de los márgenes de la salud, pues estas resultan determinantes para el desarrollo integral de la persona. Teniendo esto en cuenta, el objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar la relación entre la condición física global (CF), la coordinación motriz (CM) y la calidad de vida percibida (CVP) en adolescentes españoles. Para esto, se diseñó un estudio descriptivo transversal con 1037 adolescentes de 14 a 16 años de edad, y se utilizó el Cuestionario de salud SF-36 para evaluar la CVP, y la Batería de condición física relacionada con la salud para evaluar la CF global y la CM. Los resultados muestran que los sujetos con mayor CF tuvieron valores promedio más elevados en las variables de función física (p < .001), rol físico (p < .001), vitalidad (p < .05), función social (p < .001), rol emocional (p < .01), salud mental (p < .001) y calidad de vida total (p < .001); mientras que aquellos con menor CF presentaron puntuaciones superiores en dolor corporal (p < .001). Asimismo, los sujetos que mostraron mayor CM obtuvieron mejores registros en salud general, vitalidad, función social y calidad de vida total (p < .001 en todos los casos), y registros inferiores en función física y rol físico (p < .001 en ambos casos). Los resultados de este estudio sugieren que tener una mayor CF, así como una mayor CM, pueden ser variables predictoras de una mejor CVP en adolescentes españoles.

The main physical components of body image from the perspectives of Iranian adolescents: a qualitative study

Background

Although different aspects of body image have been extensively studied in Western societies, there is little evidence regarding the main physical components that contribute to perceptions of body image from the perspective of adolescents, especially in Eastern-Mediterranean regions. This study aims to investigate main physical components of body image from the perspectives of Iranian boys and girls.

Methods

This qualitative study has been conducted using a grounded theory approach. The focus of the current study was on identifying the main physical characteristics of body image as perceived by participants. A total of 13 semi-structured focus group discussions were conducted with 84 adolescents (42 girls and 42 boys), aged 15–18 years. All focus group discussions were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data collection continued until saturation was reached.

Results

The mean age and BMI of participants were 16.2±0.9 years and 24.3±8.0 kg/m² respectively. Regarding main physical components of body image, three main themes emerged from the data: 1) perceived face/hair, which included three subthemes-facial features, facial shape/form and hair, 2) perceived body, which included three subthemes-body size, body shape and bone structure and 3) perceived physical functioning which included three subthemes-physical ability, physical health and voice tone. Among mentioned themes, perceived body was the concept which was most frequently addressed by both adolescent boys and girls. Additionally, in terms of the other remaining two themes, when adolescents were talking about their bodies, girls more frequently mentioned their faces and its features, while boys tended to talk more about their physical functioning.

Conclusion

This qualitative study provide further insight into the physical components of body image as perceived by Iranian boys and girls. Current findings indicated that besides those features that focused on body appearance and its aesthetic aspects, physical functioning was another main component of perceived body image by participants. These findings can contribute to the design and implementation of effective interventions aiming at improving body image and its related disorders in Iranian adolescents.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-020-10096-7.

Exploring the impact of physical factors on the overweight and obese physical therapy students

Objective

Physical fitness is a fundamental pillar for physical therapy students in promoting their physical health. Obese and overweight students might have limited physical capabilities. Therefore, we investigated the effect of overweight and obesity on the mobility, strength, and agility of physical therapy students.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we collected data from a sample of 13 overweight and 9 obese physical therapy students, aged between 19 and 24 years. We measured spinal, upper, and lower limb mobility; upper body strength (using the flexed-arm hang test), and agility (using the 11 × 10 shuttle sprint test).

Results

The independent sample t test comparing the mean values of overweight and obese participants showed no significant difference [t(20) = -0.16, p > 0.05] for the 11 × 10 shuttle sprint test. However, there was significant difference [t (15.2) = 3.79, p < 0.05] for the flexed-arm hang test. The Pearson's correlation test showed a moderate negative correlation between the body mass index and flexed arm hang [r(20) = -0.62, p < 0.005)], indicating that the participants with higher body mass index tended to hold on for less time during the flexed-arm hang test. The correlation assessment showed weak positive correlation between body mass index and the 11 × 10 shuttle sprint test.

Conclusions

In our study, the obese college students tended to have poor physical factors, especially upper body strength and lower limb mobility, compared with the overweight participants. The obese and overweight college students demonstrate lower physical and functional capabilities.

Correlation of physical fitness with psychological well-being, stress, and depression in Korean adults

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between physical fitness and psychological well-being, stress, and depression in Korean adults. Participants were 160 adults aged 40-70 years living in the metropolitan area of Incheon. Results were collected from random sample of main measurements from Incheon fitness center of National Fitness Award Project (2019). We assessed participants using physical fitness test (national fitness award), Psychosocial well-being index short form, Perceived Stress Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale. The data were analyzed Pearson and Spearman rank correlation analysis, and linear was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics ver. 25.0. The re-sults indicated there were statistically significant associations between psychological well-being and agility, quick response; stress and flexibil-ity; depression and strength endurance strength, body fat. In addition, analysis showed that strength, endurance strength, body fat of physical fitness factors could significantly predict depression, flexibility could significantly predict stress, agility and quick response could significant-ly predict psychological well-being.

Examining Body Appreciation and Disordered Eating in Adolescents of Different Sports Practice: Cross-Sectional Study

This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the associations between body appreciation, body functionality and disordered eating in a large adolescent sample of different levels and types of sports practice. Method: The sample consisted of 1412 adolescents (59.8% were girls). The ages ranged from 15 to 18 years old, with a mean age of 16.9 (SD = 0.5) for girls and 17.0 (SD = 0.4) for boys. Participants completed an anonymous questionnaire assessing the nature of sports participation, body appreciation, body functionality, self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, internalisation of sociocultural beauty ideals and disordered eating. A two-way ANOVA was employed to test the differences in body image concerns, body appreciation, perceived physical fitness and disordered eating behaviours in gender groups and groups of different sport types and levels. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to predict disordered eating behaviours of different study variables. Results: Participants of leisure and competitive sports reported greater body appreciation, self-esteem and lower body dissatisfaction compared to non-participants. No differences in body appreciation and disordered eating were observed in adolescents involved in weight-sensitive and less weight-sensitive sports. Body appreciation and body functionality were associated with lower disordered eating in adolescent girls not participating in sports, leisure exercisers and participants of competitive sport as well as in boys participating in competitive sports, controlling for body mass index. Adolescent boys demonstrated greater body appreciation compared to girls. Conclusions: The results of this study support the knowledge of the protective role of positive body image preventing dysfunctional eating in adolescent girls of various sports practice and in competitive sports involved boys. Disordered eating prevention and clinical treatment programs for adolescents of different physical activity might benefit from including education about body appreciation and functionality.

Personal Perception of Health in Urban Women of Low Socioeconomic Status: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Women of low socioeconomic status experience health disparities that contribute to poor outcomes. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore self-perception of health and health promoting behaviors in women who were patients in a federally qualified health center. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was used to interview 19 women. The researchers conducted content analysis and used descriptive statistics to present participant demographics. Results: Women viewed health primarily as physical and themselves as healthy, in-between healthy and unhealthy, or unhealthy. Healthy women made more active attempts to improve their health, while not healthy women reported twice as many barriers to health maintenance and felt defined by their illnesses. Conclusion: Findings support that a women’s self-perception of health is aligned with self-management health behaviors and health outcomes.

A study protocol for a clustered randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a peer-led school-based walking intervention on adolescent girls' physical activity: the Walking In ScHools (WISH) study

Background

Adolescent girls in the UK and Ireland are failing to meet current physical activity guidelines. Physical activity behaviours track from childhood to adulthood and it is important that adolescent girls are provided with opportunities to be physically active. Walking has been a central focus for physical activity promotion in adults and may effectively increase physical activity levels among younger people. Following on from a pilot feasibility trial, the purpose of this cluster randomised controlled trial (c-RCT) is to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel, low-cost, peer-led school-based walking intervention delivered across the school year at increasing physical activity levels of adolescent girls.

Methods

The Walking In ScHools (WISH) Study is a school-based c-RCT conducted with girls aged 12–14 years from eighteen schools across the Border Region of Ireland / Northern Ireland. Following baseline data collection, schools will be randomly allocated to intervention or control group. In intervention schools, female pupils aged 15–18 years will be invited to train as walk leaders and will lead younger pupils in 10–15 min walks before school, at break and lunch recess. All walks will take place in school grounds and pupils will be encouraged to participate in as many walks as possible each week. The intervention will be delivered for the whole school year (minimum 20–22 weeks). The primary outcome measure is accelerometer-measured total physical activity (counts per minute) (end of intervention). Secondary outcomes will include time spent in sedentary behaviour, light, moderate and vigorous intensity physical activity, anthropometry measures, social media usage and sleep. A mixed-methods process evaluation will also be undertaken.

Discussion

The WISH Study will examine the effectiveness of a low-cost, school-based, peer-led walking intervention in increasing physical activity in adolescent girls when delivered across the school year. If the intervention increases physical activity, it would benefit adolescent girls in the defined target area with potential for wider adoption by schools across the UK and Ireland.

Trial registration

ISRCTN; ISRCTN12847782; Registered 2nd July 2019.

Validation of the Lithuanian version of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire 6.0 in a student sample

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire 6.0 (EDE-Q 6.0) is one of the most broadly used self-report tools that assesses attitudes and behaviors associated with eating disorders (EDs). The aim of the present study was to examine the reliability, validity, and factor structure of the Lithuanian version of the EDE-Q 6.0 (LT-EDE-Q 6.0) in a nonclinical student sample.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A sample of 382 students (mean age 24.0 ± 6.4) participated in the study. The students completed a self-report questionnaire measuring the risk of EDs (LT-EDE-Q 6.0), body image (LT-MBSRQ-AS), quality of life (LT-WHOQOL-BREF), and self-esteem (RSES). Cronbach's alpha assessed the internal consistency of the EDE-Q 6.0. Pearson's correlations were used for the analyses of the construct and concurrent validity with the subscales of LT-MBSRQ-AS, LT-WHOQOL-BREF, and RSES. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated for assessing test-retest reliability.

RESULTS

The mean score of the LT-EDE-Q 6.0 in the mixed sample was 1.5 ± 1.02. For women and men, the general mean scores were higher than in the majority of the samples of Western Europe but lower than in the United States. Acceptable internal consistency for the four subscales (0.75-0.88) and the LT-EDE-Q 6.0 general score (0.94) was obtained. Test-retest reliability was good to excellent for all subscales (0.66-0.91) and for the items that assessed essential behavioral features of EDs (0.84-0.90, except item 14 ICC = 0.4). The LT-EDE-Q 6.0 scores had adequate concurrent validity. However, the original 4-factor structure or other proposed models of EDE-Q were not obtained by CFA.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the current study support the applicability, validity, and reliability of the LT-EDE-Q 6.0 in a nonclinical Lithuanian student sample. However, we recommend assessing the general scale score without the application of the subscales. The Lithuanian version of this instrument should be further investigated with clinical samples to identify clinically diagnosed cases.

The Influence of a Health-Related Fitness Training Program on Motor Performance as Well as Hematological and Biochemical Parameters

The study was aimed at designing a health exercise program appealing to inactive young men, and then testing the men's metabolic responses to the program using common diagnostic markers of general health. Six men, aged 22-29 years, took a part in training program to increase their motor performance and improve general health conditions. Body composition parameters, clinical chemistry variables (metabolites, albumin, total protein, ferritin, C reactive protein, lipid profile, ions, and selected enzymes activities) and blood morphology parameters were determined. Motor performance measured before and after a 4-month-long macrocycle indicated an increase in endurance, pace, and agility of the participants. Significant differences were found in analyzed enzymes activities. There was a significant increase in C-reactive protein levels from pre- to post-training. Additionally, changes in hematological biomarkers were seen that suggest erythropoiesis might significantly increase, specifically during the last 2-month-long mesocycles. The proposed training program induced small improvements in endurance, pace, and agility. It was also confirmed that changes in aspartate (AST) and alanine (ALT) activities emerge before any increase in creatine kinase (CK) activity that is important in monitoring of the training loads. Observed changes in red blood cell-related parameters suggest increase in erythropoiesis in the second half of the training cycle.