Mediating Effect of Sports Participation on the Relationship between Health Perceptions and Health Promoting Behavior in Adolescents

Leisure-Time Physical Activity as a Pathway to Sustainable Living: Insights on Health, Environment, and Green Consumerism

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the intricate relationship between health and the environment has emerged with unparalleled significance. This investigation examines the effect of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) on health and environmental consciousness and its influence on attitudes towards green/sustainable products among 533 individuals. Utilizing linear structural modeling and regression analysis, the findings reveal that participation in sports and leisure activities significantly mediates the connection between individual well-being and eco-responsible consumer behaviors. Highlighting LTPA's crucial role in enhancing environmental awareness, this study offers invaluable perspectives for the green product sector. It advocates for the development of strategies that align with consumers' environmental values, underscoring the essential function of sports and leisure in fostering sustainable consumer practices. Crucially, this underscores the intertwined nature of environmental sustainability and individual health, highlighting their mutual dependence.

An Importance-Performance Analysis of Korean Middle School Students' Health Management Awareness during the Post-COVID-19 Era Depending on Sex

This study aimed to conduct importance-performance analyses (IPAs) based on Korean middle school students' health management awareness during the post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) era. Data were collected from 867 Korean middle school students (13-15 years old) via online and offline surveys between May and June 2023. Frequency analysis, reliability analysis, IPA based on the entire student group, and IPA depending on sex were carried out with the collected data, which revealed the following. First, regardless of sex, the IPA results indicated that four factors of mental health were located in the third quadrant, with one factor of the same variable in the fourth quadrant. The three factors of disease management were located in the third quadrant. Regarding physical activity, two factors were located in the first quadrant, one in the second quadrant, and one in the third quadrant. Regarding sleep management, two factors were located in the second quadrant, one in the third quadrant, and one in the first quadrant. Regarding eating management, two factors were located in the third quadrant and one in the fourth quadrant. Regarding the social distancing variable, all four factors were located in the third quadrant. Regarding hygiene management, two factors were located in the first quadrant, one in the third quadrant, and one in the fourth quadrant. Furthermore, the IPA results indicated sex differences in regular sports and vigorous movement activities associated with physical activity. Additionally, a sex difference was observed in regular diet associated with eating management. This study proposed possible measures for encouraging middle school students to recognize the importance of health and increase their health-related performance during the COVID-19 endemic phase.

Wellness Perception of South Korean Elementary School Students during the COVID-19 Endemic

This study aimed to analyze health management awareness among South Korean elementary school students in COVID-19 endemic areas.

METHODS

Using convenience sampling, 675 South Korean elementary school students (age 11-12 years old) were selected as participants in July 2023. Data for the study were collected via online and offline surveys between July and August 2023. The collected data were subjected to frequency, reliability, and multicollinearity analyses, independent sample t-tests, and importance-performance analysis (IPA).

RESULTS

The findings indicated the following: (1) There was no significant difference in health management performance between male and female children. (2) Children who had not experienced COVID-19 infection, had a higher level of "hygiene management" performance. (3) Among children who did not wear masks during physical activity, "mental health management" and "physical activity management" performance were higher, while "hygiene management" performance was lower. (4) The IPA matrix analysis revealed that, compared to the COVID-19 pandemic period, "physical activity management", "dietary habit management", and "sleep management" still required improvement, while "hygiene management" and "disease management" appeared to have decreased due to the relaxation of epidemic control efforts.

CONCLUSION

As per the study's findings, schools, local communities, and families should make efforts to develop and implement preventive and individualized health management programs that consider the individual characteristics of their children.

Effects of sports on school adaptability, resilience and cell phone addiction tendency of high school students

BACKGROUND

Sport help promote healthy physical and mental development of high school students. To date, there have been few studies on the effect of sport on school adaptability, resilience and cell phone addiction tendency of high school students.

AIM

To explore the effects of sports on school adaptability, resilience and cell phone addiction of high school students.

METHODS

A stratified random sampling method was used to select 600 students from two high schools in Lhasa, and Physical Activity Rating Scale, School Adjustment Scale for High School Students, Chinese Adolescents Resilience Scale, and Mobile Phone Addiction Index were used for field questionnaire survey.

RESULTS

Sport was positively correlated with school adaptability and resilience (P < 0.01), school adaptability was positively correlated with resilience (P < 0.01) and cell phone addiction was negatively correlated with sports, school adaptability and resilience (P < 0.01). The direct effect of sport on cell phone addiction was significant (P < 0.001), accounting for 20.51% of the total effect. The mediating effect of school adaptability on sport and cell phone addiction was significant (P < 0.001), accounting for 17.38% and 35.36% of the total effect value, respectively. School adjustment and resilience had a significant chain-mediated effect on sport and cell phone addiction (P < 0.001), accounting for 26.75% of the total effect.

CONCLUSION

Sport affected the cell phone addiction tendency of senior high school students through the mediating effect of school adaptability and resilience, and through the chain mediation effect of both.

Causal effects and functional mechanisms of the Internet on residents' physical fitness-An empirical analysis based on China family panel survey

Introduction

Physical fitness is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle that concerns the overall health of the nation. Research on the relationship between the Internet and physical fitness has long been caught in the dilemma of "media mobilization" and "media suppression," and previous studies have rarely examined the causal relationship and functional mechanism.

Methods

This study selected the data of 23,989 samples successfully followed in all three surveys of the China Family Panel Survey (CFPS) from 2014 to 2018 to explore the correlation and causal inference between the Internet and physical fitness by using the Time Fixed Effects Model and cross-lagged models, respectively; meanwhile, the data of 24,687 samples in CFPS 2020 to examine the functional mechanism of the Internet's effect on residents' physical fitness behavior by the KHB method.

Results

We obtained three valuable conclusions as follows: First, there is a significant correlation between the Internet and physical fitness behavior. Second, the Internet use is the cause for the increase in fitness frequency, and there is a rival relationship between Internet duration and fitness time. Third, under regular prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic, social capital and health risk perceptions are the functional mechanisms of the Internet influencing fitness behavior, and the mediating effect of psychological health risk perceptions is higher than that of social capital.

Discussion

It's necessary to create an intelligent, informative, and digital sports public service system by enriching and optimizing sports media and facilitating the Internet to serve residents' physical fitness better. The new concept of "Internet plus Fitness" will be of great significance in the implementation of the "Healthy China Initiative."

Effects of middle-aged and elderly people's self-efficacy on health promotion behaviors: Mediating effects of sports participation

Objective

This study explores the relationship between self-efficacy, sports participation, and health promotion behavior for middle-aged and elderly people. Therefore, it provides a theoretical reference for improving the quality of life for middle-aged and elderly adults and promoting a healthy lifestyle for the elderly.

Methods

A total of 591 (men: 36.2%; women: 63.8%; age: above 50 years) middle-aged and elderly adults from five cities of Henan Province were selected as the research objects by convenient sampling. The self-efficacy, sports participation, and health promotion behavior scales were used for the questionnaire survey. Amos24.0 was used to test the structural equation model, intermediary function test, and bootstrap analysis. Results: The self-efficacy of middle-aged and elderly people positively impacted health promotion behavior. The path coefficient was 0.439. Sports participation played a partial intermediary role between self-efficacy and health promotion behavior (χ 2/df = 1.785, root mean square error of approximation = 0.036, root mean square residual = 0.021, goodness-of-fit index = 0.967, comparative fit index = 0.976, Tucker-Lewis Index = 0.971) The proportion of intermediary effect was 26.34% (0.100, 0.225).

Conclusion

(1) Self-efficacy can significantly and positively affect health promotion behavior for middle-aged and elderly people; (2) sports participation plays a partial intermediary role between self-efficacy and health promotion behavior. From this point of view, we can enhance the self-efficacy of middle-aged and elderly people and improve their healthy life behavior by advancing sports participation. Thus, it provides theoretical support and practical guidance for promoting national health.

The relationship between media use and sports participation behavior: A meta-analysis

Objective

The use of media profoundly affects people's sports participation behavior. Past research has presented mixed results on the relationship between media use and sports participation behaviors. Therefore, the relationship between media use and sports participation behavior should be revisited.

Methods

A meta-analysis of 17 independent studies from 12 literature was conducted to determine whether (a) media use positively influences sports participation behaviors, and (b) form of media, media measurement methods, study subjects, and culture moderated these relationships. Pearson's correlation was used to conduct a random-effects meta-analysis and examine the moderating effects.

Results

The results showed a positive correlation between media use and sports participation behaviors (r  =  0.193, 95% CI  =  [0.047,0.329]). Traditional media showed stronger correlations and moderating effects than new media; however, the time variable (in media measurement methods) and primary and secondary school students (in study subjects) showed negative correlations between media use and sports participation behavior. The positive and moderating effects on this relationship were higher in Eastern cultures than in Western cultures. These results suggest that media use and sports participation behavior were positively correlated, moderated by the form of media, media measurement methods, study subjects, and culture within studies.

Conclusions

From the effect test results, a significant positive relationship was found between media use and sports participation behavior (both physical participation behavior and consumption behavior). The two were influenced by several moderating variables including the form of media, media measurement methods, study subjects, and culture, and the influence of media measurement methods was the greatest.

An Analysis of Health Perceptions and Performance in Elementary Students in Korea during the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, social distancing guidelines changed lifestyles, including increased sedentary time, physical inactivity, and disrupted sleep patterns among children. The purpose of the present study is to analyze the health awareness (mental health, disease, physical activity, sleep, eating habit, and hygiene health management) of elementary school students during the COVID-19 pandemic, and use the importance-performance analysis (IPA) technique to identify gender differences in health perceptions. We collected data on 1006 students, which was analyzed using frequency analysis, reliability testing, independent sample t-tests, and importance-performance analysis (IPA). A median importance value of 0.163 and a median performance value of 4.048 were selected as cross points to distribute the IPA matrix into four quadrants. The highest performance was given for wearing a mask and sanitary practice; the IPA matrix indicated that the sense of belonging, happiness, trust, and movement activity were located in quadrant I. Children's regular physical activity and level of physical activity were low, especially that of girls. Children's sleep management was poor. Their physical activity and sleep-related factors must be improved under the facilitation of the national government, public education institutions, and families.

The influence of air pollution on residents’ outdoor exercise participation behaviour: Evidence from China Family Panel Studies

Using data from China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) and based on the Probit and Tobit models, this study investigates the impact of air pollution on residents’ outdoor exercise behaviour from the microscopic level. Specifically, this study examined the effects of PM2.5 index changes on residents’ decision to participate in outdoor exercise and the duration of outdoor exercise participation. The empirical results show that the increase of PM2.5 index has a significant inhibitory effect on residents’ participation in outdoor exercise, and has passed the robustness test and endogeneity test. Further testing found that the inhibitory effect was significantly different between urban and rural areas, and in the central, north-eastern and western regions where economic development was relatively backward, the conclusion that air pollution inhibited residents’ outdoor exercise behaviour still holds true. However, the level of air pollution had no significant effect on the outdoor exercise behaviour of residents in the eastern region. So, while air pollution discourages residents from participating in outdoor exercise, the results are more applicable to less economically developed areas.

Factor Structure of the Korean Version of the Occupational Socialization of Beginning Physical Education Teachers Scale in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Relationship with Health Perception Education

This study aimed to explore the factor structure of the Korean version of the occupational socialization of beginning physical education teachers scale, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to verify its relationship with health perception education. In October 2021, 257 Korean beginning physical education teachers were enrolled in this study. Data were analyzed using frequency analysis, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, and multiple regression analysis. Regarding the findings, first, the occupational socialization of beginning physical education teachers scale showed a six-factor structure: role recognition, past physical education class experience, pre-service teacher education, organizational atmosphere, fellow physical education teachers, and sports facility. Second, occupational socialization of beginning physical education teachers showed a partial positive effect on health perception education. These results suggest that the Korean Metropolitan and Provincial Offices of Education and Korean schools should develop various methods to support and ensure the occupational socialization of beginning physical education teachers. Such efforts may enable these new professionals to effectively adapt to their schools, teaching roles, and provide effective health education to students under the difficult context of the COVID-19 pandemic, wherein normal educational activities are hindered.

Comparison of Health Awareness in South Korean Middle School Students According to Type of Online Physical Education Classes during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Coronavirus disease 2019 popularized online classes to prevent educational deficits affected by the pandemic. This study aimed to assess the differences in the importance and performance of health awareness in Korean middle school students according to the types of online physical education classes they attended during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Overall, 583 participants were selected using a convenience sampling method; the data were obtained through an online survey using Google forms. Frequency analysis, reliability analysis, independent sample t-test, and importance–performance analysis were performed. First, the differences between importance and performance were found to be the most for sleep and physical activity management, and the least for disease and hygiene management. In addition, both groups demonstrated higher importance and performance for hygiene and disease management. There were significant differences in the importance and performance of all the sub-factors. Second, hygiene, disease management, and mental health management were found in quadrant I in both groups, while physical activity, sleep, and dietary habit management were in quadrant III. No factors were in quadrants II and IV. Correspondingly, there was no significant difference in adolescents’ health awareness between the assignment-based online group and interactive online group.

Relationships among the Degree of Participation in Physical Activity, Self-Concept Clarity, and COVID-19 Stress in Adolescents

The COVID-19 pandemic situation threatens the health of people globally, especially adolescents facing mental problems such as depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder due to constant COVID-19 stress. The present study aimed to provide basic data highlighting the need to alleviate COVID-19 stress among adolescents by promoting physical activity participation and strengthening self-concept clarity (SCC). To examine the relationships among participation in physical activity, SCC, and COVID-19 stress in pandemic-like conditions, the study was conducted on middle and high school students aged 14 to 19 and an online survey was conducted on 1046 Korean adolescents (521 male and 525 female students in the preliminary survey and main survey). Frequency, reliability, confirmatory factor, descriptive, and path analyses were performed using SPSS and AMOS 18.0. Participation in physical activity exerted a positive effect on SCC (p < 0.001) as well as a negative effect on COVID-19 stress (p = 0.031). Our findings also indicated that SCC exerted a negative effect on COVID-19 stress (p < 0.001). Regular participation in physical activity and strong SCC are also fundamental elements for alleviating COVID-19 stress. Given these results, state and local governments and educational institutions should encourage youth to participate in sports by suggesting policies, providing guidelines, and offering education. Such information may allow adolescents to endure and overcome COVID-19 stress during this critical period of life.

The Relationship between Korean Adolescents' Sports Participation, Internal Health Locus of Control, and Wellness during COVID-19

This study was aimed at providing practical information to improve Korean adolescents' wellness by empirically identifying its correlation with sports participation and having an internal health locus of control (IHLC) during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study comprised both a pilot test and a main study. We recruited 844 Korean adolescents as subjects in January 2021 to participate in an online self-reported survey. The reliability and validity of the scales used (sports participation, IHLC, and wellness) were verified through a pilot test. In the main study, we verified the differences between all variables according to adolescents' demographic characteristics and the structural relationship of sports participation, IHLC, and wellness. Sports participation had a positive effect on IHLC (p < 0.001) and wellness (p < 0.001). Additionally, IHLC had a positive effect on wellness (p < 0.001). In juvenile educational institutions, there is a need to develop strategies to increase wellness, sports participation, and IHLC among adolescent students, which can improve their wellness in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Analysis of the Structural Relationship of Sports Participation and Ego-Resilience in the Health-Promoting Behavior of Korean Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background:

We aimed to verify the structural relationship between sports participation, ego-resilience, and health-promoting behavior of Korean adolescents in a pandemic situation.

Methods:

In Nov 2020, an online survey was conducted with 751 adolescents in Korea. The data obtained through the survey were analyzed in several ways, including frequency, reliability, confirmatory factor, descriptive statistical, and path analyses.

Results:

Sports participation had a positive effect on ego-resilience and health-promoting behavior, while egoresilience has a positive effect on health-promoting behavior. Overall, sports participation directly affects health-promoting behavior and that an indirect effect occurs through ego-resilience.

Conclusion:

Educational institutions such as schools and the Korea Offices of Education should devise various measures so that adolescents growing up in a global pandemic situation can strengthen their health-promoting behavior by securing ego-resilience through participation in various sports.

Importance-Performance Analysis of Health Perception among Korean Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study assessed the health perceptions of 333 Korean adolescents during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic via an online questionnaire administered in October 2020, which queried the perceived importance and actual performance of health behaviors. The health perception scales used in the survey consists of the six dimensions of mental health, disease, physical activity, sleep, diet, and sanitary health. The data were primarily analyzed using paired sample t-test for analysis of difference and importance-performance analysis (IPA). The IPA results were presented in four quadrants-"keep up the good work," "concentrate here," "low priority," and "possible overkill." The results indicated that first, there was a positive relationship between the importance and performance of all the subdimensions of health perception. Second, sanitary healthcare was rated as being of the greatest importance and was performed most, while physical activity management was rated least important and performed least. Third, statistically significant differences were found between importance and performance for all items of mental health, disease, physical activity, sleep, and diet dimensions, and some differences were found for items assessing the hygiene control dimension. Fourth, in the two-dimensional IPA model, "sanitary health" and "disease" are in Quadrant I (keep up the good work); "mental health," in Quadrant II (concentrate here); and "physical activity," "sleep," and "diet," in Quadrant III (low priority). No components of healthcare were in Quadrant IV (possible overkill). Based on these results, we emphasize the importance of adolescent health education and discuss solutions to enhance the performance of healthcare activities.