The Associations of Active Travel to School With Physical Activity and Screen Time Among Adolescents: Do Individual and Parental Characteristics Matter?

24-hour movement behaviours and self-rated health in Chinese adolescents: a questionnaire-based survey in Eastern China

Objective

Although much evidence has demonstrated the benefits of adhering to the 24-hour movement guidelines, little is known about their association with self-rated health in adolescents. The objective of this study was to explore the association between adherence to the 24-hour movement guidelines (i.e., physical activity, screen time, and sleep) and self-rated health among Chinese adolescents aged 10-17 ages.

Methods

A convenient sample of 12 schools and their students were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Physical activity and screen time were assessed using a questionnaire based on the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children questionnaire, while sleep duration was used measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Scale. Ordinal logistic regression was performed to examine the association between adherence to the 24-hour movement guidelines and self-rated health.

Results

Adolescents who adhered to more guidelines contained in the 24-hour movement guidelines reported better self-rated health. A dose-response association was observed, with the odds ratio (OR) for adhering to all three = 11.26, 95% CI [4.82-26.35]; OR for meeting two = 1.62, 95% CI [1.25-2.12]; OR for meeting one = 1.16, 95% CI [0.98-1.38]) indicating a higher probability of better self-rated health with increasing adherence. Regarding adherence to specific combination of 24-hour movement guidelines, positive associations were found for adhering to all three recommendations (OR = 11.95, 95% CI [5.06-28.19]), only MVPA (OR = 4.96, 95% CI [2.82-8.72]), MVPA + screen time (OR = 5.50, 95% CI [3.02-9.99]), and MVPA + sleep (OR = 4.63, 95% CI [2.52-8.51]).

Conclusion

This study provides evidence supporting the association between adherence to the 24-hour movement guidelines and better self-rated health among Chinese adolescents. Sufficient physical activity may be particularly important for promoting self-rated health in this population.

Energy Expenditure, Dietary Energy Intake, and Nutritional Supplements in Adolescent Volleyball Athletes versus Nonathletic Controls

Evidence suggests that athletes competing in team sports do not follow dietary recommendations. However, only few studies have investigated energy needs and supplement use in adolescent athletes, and whether they are meeting their energy requirements. This observational study examined energy expenditure, dietary energy intake, and use of nutritional supplements in 58 adolescent (14-17 years old) volleyball athletes (15 males, 43 females) and 58 age-matched nonathletic controls (13 males, 45 females). Participants completed an online survey including questions on demographic information, body mass, and a series of standardized questionnaires assessing energy expenditure, dietary energy, macronutrient, micronutrient, and supplement intake. Energy expenditure relative to body mass was higher in athletes than nonathletes by 13 kcal/kg/day (group effect, p < 0.001), and in males compared to females by 5.7 kcal/kg/day (sex effect, p = 0.004). Athletes had higher energy intake than nonathletes (+6.4 kcal/kg/day, p = 0.019) and greater consumption of fruits (p = 0.034), vegetables (p = 0.047), grains (p = 0.016), dairy (p = 0.038), meats and meat alternatives (p < 0.001), as well as higher intakes of fat (p < 0.001), carbohydrates, protein, sugar, fiber, vitamin C, calcium, and sodium (p = 0.05) compared to nonathletes. The average protein intakes exceeded the upper recommendations in all groups, suggesting that this is not a nutrient of concern for young volleyball athletes. However, athletes were only meeting 60% of the estimated energy requirements (EER) for their age, height, body mass, and physical activity score, (3322 ± 520 kcal/day), while nonathletes were meeting 74% of the EER (p < 0.001). The relative energy balance of male athletes was lower compared to both female athletes (p = 0.006) and male nonathletes (p = 0.004). Finally, more athletes reported using performance-related supplements than nonathletes, but there were no differences in the consumption of other dietary supplements. Overall, when compared to nonathletic controls, both male and female adolescent volleyball athletes were found to match their higher energy expenditure with a greater dietary energy intake; however, all adolescents were below the estimated energy requirements, a finding more profound among the volleyball athletes.

Movement behaviours and anxiety symptoms in Chinese college students: A compositional data analysis

In the current research, sleep duration, sedentary behaviour, physical activity, and their relationship with several anxiety symptoms among college students were examined. This study was a cross-sectional study, and study respondents were recruited from college students. A total of 1,475 of college students were included for analysis. Sedentary behaviours and physical activity were assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form, while sleep duration was assessed by the Chinese version Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. To assess the anxiety symptoms of study respondents, the Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 was used. The compositional data was analysed in R to estimate the associations between replacements among physical activities, sedentary behaviours, and sleep and anxiety symptoms. Results indicated a greater impact was imposed on the alleviation of anxiety symptoms by substituting sedentary behaviours with physical activity at moderate to vigorous intensity. In the current research, the significance of moderate to vigorous physical activity should be highlighted in preventing anxiety among Chinese college students.

Associations of sport participation, muscle-strengthening exercise and active commuting with self-reported physical fitness in school-aged children

Background

Numerous studies suggest a positive association between physical activity and physical fitness in schoolchildren. However, little is known about some neglected forms of physical activity and their associations with physical fitness. This study was conducted via a self-reported questionnaire, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic in many regions in China.

Purpose

This study explores the associations between participating in sports, muscle-strengthening exercises, and active commuting with self-reported physical fitness assessed by the International Fitness Scale (IFIS).

Methods

A total of 3,807 study participants (ages 11–17) from 12 public schools in South-eastern China were recruited, with 2,407 providing valid data on variables for analysis. Study participants were asked to self-report their sociodemographic factors (i.e., sex, grade, age), participation in sports (never, 1–3 times per month, 1–2 times per week, and 3 or more times per week), muscle-strengthening exercise (0–7 days) and active commuting (0–5 days). Generalized linear models were used to explore the associations between sports participation, muscle-strengthening exercise, and active commuting with self-reported physical fitness (comprising general physical fitness, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, speed and agility, and flexibility). A total of 2,407 children and adolescents with a mean age of 13.82 (±2.1) years were included in the study's final analysis.

Results

The study found no significant association between active commuting and physical fitness. Regarding participating in sports and muscle-strengthening exercises, positive, significant associations were found, which showed that a higher frequency of participating in sports and more participation in muscle-strengthening exercises are associated with improved physical fitness.

Conclusion

This study offered evidence on the roles of some aspects of physical activity in physical fitness. To promote health in children and adolescents, they should be encouraged to participate in more sports and engage in muscle-strengthening exercises.

The Association of Sports Participation With Depressive Symptoms and Anxiety Disorder in Adolescents

Aim

An increasing body of evidence has evidenced that physical activity is negatively associated with depression and anxiety in adolescents, although the associations between various modalities of PA with depression and anxiety have yet to be effectively explored. This study aimed to investigate the associations between sports participation and depression and anxiety among a sample of Chinese adolescents.

Methods

2,374 adolescents from eight schools were invited to participate in this survey, of whom 1,714 adolescents from grades 7, 8, 10 and 11 were included for final analysis. Depressive symptoms and anxiety disorder were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire−9 (PHQ-9), as well as the Generalized Anxiety Disorder−7 (GAD-7), respectively. Sport participation was assessed using a single question. Additionally, sociodemographic factors were assessed using a self-reported questionnaire. Ordinal logistic regression was used to estimate sport participation's associations with depressive symptoms and anxiety disorders separately, having controlled for all sociodemographic covariates.

Results

Among all study participants, those with less participation in sport-related activities had a greater likelihood of reporting depressive symptoms (Odd ratio [OR] for never = 2.07; OR for 1–3 times per month = 1.77; OR for 1–2 times per week = 1.77), as well as anxiety disorders (OR for never = 1.61; OR for 1–3 times per month = 1.69; OR for 1–2 times per week = 1.38).

Conclusion

Encouraging adolescents to engage in more sports participation would provide an effective and feasible approach for mental health promotion. Despite this study having found promising evidence, the research findings should be replicated using more improved research with an enhanced study design. Future researchers are encouraged to design and implement sports participation interventions aimed at promoting mental health among adolescents, while future China-based studies are encouraged to replicate or negate our study findings.

The Combinations of Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Sleep, and Their Associations with Self-Reported Physical Fitness in Children and Adolescents

Much evidence has indicated that adherence to the 24 h movement guidelines (physical activity, screen time and sleep) is associated with physical health, while little is known about the adherence to the 24 h movement guidelines and self-reported physical fitness in adolescents. This study, therefore, aims to explore the association between the 24 h movement guidelines (in isolation or combination) and self-reported physical fitness in a sample of Chinese adolescents in an age range of 10-17.

METHODS

A convenient sample of 3807 children and adolescents from 12 schools was adopted in the present study. A questionnaire based on the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children was used to assess physical activity and screen time, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Scale was utilized to measure sleep duration. The International Fitness Scale was used to assess physical fitness in study participants. Ordinal logistic regression was performed to estimate the association between adherence to the 24 h movement guidelines and self-reported physical fitness.

RESULTS

Of all study participants, 0.9% of them met the 24 h movement guidelines, and meeting the guidelines was significantly associated with higher levels of self-reported physical fitness. The analysis for the association between specific combinations of 24 h movement guidelines and self-reported physical fitness underscored the importance of meeting the physical activity recommendations.

CONCLUSION

Adherence to more recommendations contained in the 24 h movement guidelines was associated with higher self-reported physical fitness, especially cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength. Our study also stressed the importance of promoting moderate to vigorous physical activity in children and adolescents. Further works should focus on the association of a recommendation of adherence with other health indicators and replicate this study on larger samples among Chinese children and adolescents. Additionally, longitudinal or interventional studies that include more socio-demographic factors are needed to explore the association between 24 h movement guidelines and self-reported physical fitness, and the 24 h movement guidelines also should be promoted on a large scale in Chinese children and adolescents. Moreover, it is also needed to gain better insights into the directionality of the relationship between compliance with 24 h movement guidelines and self-reported physical fitness, as well as the mechanisms underlying the associations in Chinese children and adolescents.