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Background: Movement behaviors (i.e., physical activity [PA], sedentary behaviors [SB], sleep) relate to mental health. Although movement behaviors are often analyzed as distinct entities, they are in fact highly inter‐dependent (e.g., if an individual increases sleep, then PA and/or SB must be reduced) and these dependencies should be accounted for in the analysis. We tested whether perceptions of time spent in movement behaviors (i.e., moderate‐to‐vigorous intensity PA [MVPA], light physical activity [LPA], SB, and sleep) related to depressive symptoms and self‐report mental health in young adults using a compositional analysis. We then estimated change in depressive symptoms with reallocation of time across movement behaviors using compositional time‐reallocation models. Methods: Data were drawn from the longitudinal NDIT dataset. Complete data were available for 770 young adults (Mage = 20.3, 55% females). Results: The proportion of time spent in MVPA relative to other movement behaviors related to depressive symptoms non‐significantly and to mental health significantly. Reallocating 15 min from MVPA to SB resulted in a significant (0.46 unit) increase in depressive symptoms, and reallocating 15 min of MVPA to LPA was associated with a (0.57) increase in depressive symptoms. Conclusion: These results indicate the importance of relative time spent in each movement behavior to mental health. Further research should examine these associations over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The context in which school‐based health‐promoting interventions are implemented is key for the delivery and success of these interventions. However, little is known about whether school culture differs by school deprivation. Methods: Using data from PromeSS, a cross‐sectional study of 161 elementary schools in Québec, Canada, we drew from the Health Promoting Schools theoretical framework to develop four measures of health‐promoting school culture (i.e., school physical environment, school/teacher commitment to student health, parent/community engagement with the school, ease of principal leadership) using exploratory factor analysis. One‐way ANOVA with post‐hoc Tukey‐Kramer analyses was used to examine associations between each measure and social and material deprivation in the school neighborhood. Results: Factor loadings supported the content of the school culture measures and Cronbach's alpha indicated good reliability (range: 0.68‐0.77). As social deprivation in the school neighborhood increased, scores for both school/teacher commitment to student health and parent/community engagement with the school decreased. Implications for School Health Policy, Practice, and Equity: Implementation of health‐promoting interventions in schools located in socially deprived neighborhoods may require adapted strategies to address challenges related to staff commitment and parental and community involvement. Conclusion: The measures developed herein can be used to investigate school culture and interventions for health equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: School-based health-promoting interventions (HPIs) aim to support youth development and positively influence modifiable lifestyle behaviours. Identifying factors that contribute to or hinder the perceived success of HPIs could facilitate their adaptation, improve implementation and contribute to HPI sustainability. The objective of this study was to identify factors in three domains (school characteristics, characteristics of the HPI and factors related to planning and implementing the HPI) associated with perceived success of HPIs among school principals in elementary schools. Methods: Data were drawn from Project PromeSS, a cross-sectional survey of school principals and/or nominated staff members in a convenience sample of 171 public elementary schools in Quebec, Canada. School board and school recruitment spanned three academic school years (2016-2019). Data on school and participant characteristics, HPI characteristics, variables related to HPI planning and implementation and perceived success of the HPI were collected in two-part, structured telephone interviews. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize schools and study participants. Twentyeight potential correlates of perceived HPI success were investigated separately in multivariable linear regression modelling. Results: Participants generally perceived HPIs as highly successful. After controlling for number of students, language of instruction, school neighbourhood and school deprivation, we identified five correlates of perceived success, including lower teacher turnover, higher scores for school physical environment, school/teacher commitment to student health, principal leadership and school being a developer (vs. adopter) of the HPI. Conclusion: If replicated, these factors should be considered by HPI developers and school personnel when planning and implementing HPIs in elementary schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Variation in the TAS2R38 taste receptor gene alters the ability to taste bitter compounds. We tested whether TAS2R38 variation influences early smoking behaviours in adolescence, a critical period of acquisition when taste may influence the natural course of tobacco use. Design and participants: Observational study (Nicotine Dependence in Teens [NDIT]). Cox proportional hazards models were conducted using data from European ancestry adolescent participants who initiated smoking during follow‐up (n = 219, i.e. incident smokers). In young adulthood, cross‐sectional analyses were restricted to European ancestry self‐reported current smokers at age 24 (n = 148). Setting: Montréal, Canada. Measurements: In adolescents, the rates of attaining early smoking milestones were estimated for tasters {PAV diplotypes (i.e. PAV/PAV or PAV/AVI)} versus non‐tasters {AVI diplotype (i.e. AVI/AVI)}. In young adults, associations between tasting status and a nicotine intake biomarker (cotinine + 3'hydroxycotinine) and past‐week cigarette consumption were assessed. Findings Among incident smokers, similar rates to first whole cigarette were found between the diplotype groups (hazard ratio [HR], 1.05; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.75–1.48; P = 0.765). However, smokers with the PAV (vs AVI) diplotypes attained monthly smoking more rapidly (HR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.04–2.32; P = 0.033) and had faster conversion to three different measures of tobacco dependence (International Classification of Diseases: HR, 2.29; 95% CI, 0.99–5.28; P = 0.052; modified Fagerström Tolerance Questionnaire: HR, 3.02, 95% CI, 1.04–8.79; P = 0.043; Hooked on Nicotine Checklist: HR, 1.87; 95% CI, 0.98–3.60; P = 0.059). At age 24, those with PAV (vs AVI) diplotypes had higher mean cotinine + 3'hydroxycotinine (197 vs 143 ng/mL; P = 0.053). Conclusions: Adolescents with a genetic variation increasing their ability to taste bitter compounds appear to escalate more quickly to monthly smoking and tobacco dependence during adolescence and have higher nicotine intake in young adulthood versus those without that genetic variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Availability of health-promoting interventions (HPIs) may vary across schools serving students with different socioeconomic backgrounds. Our objectives were to describe social inequalities across elementary schools in: (i) level of importance that school principals attribute to 13 common health-related issues among students in their school; (ii) availability of HPIs within their school addressing eight health topics and (iii) (mis)alignment between perceived importance and HPI availability. Data were collected in telephone interviews with school principals in a convenience sample of 171 elementary schools (59% of 291 schools contacted). Schools were categorized as serving very advantaged, moderately advantaged or disadvantaged students. Principals reported how important 13 health issues were among students in their schools and provided data on HPI availability for 8 health issues, 4 of which required school action under government mandates. Higher proportions of principals in schools serving disadvantaged students (36% of all 171 schools) perceived most health issues as important. The mean number of HPIs in the past year was 12.0, 12.1 and 11.7 in schools serving very advantaged, moderately advantaged and disadvantaged students, respectively. Only availability of mental health HPIs differed by school deprivation (60, 43 and 30% in very, moderately and disadvantaged, respectively). Although most schools offered oral health HPIs, dental problems were not perceived as important. Smoking was perceived as not important and smoking-related HPIs were relatively rare (9%). Given rapid evolution in public health priorities, (mis)alignment between perceived importance of specific health issues and HPI availability in elementary schools warrants ongoing reflection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is not known if or how exercise behavior regulations (EBRs) relate to exergaming in adolescents. The study objectives were 1) to determine if EBRs differ between adolescents who do and do not exergame; and 2) among exergamers, to describe the associations between EBRs and exergame duration, intensity, and achieving physical activity (PA) guidelines. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional analysis of data collected in mailed self-report questionnaires completed by 1243 students (mean ± SDage = 16.8 ± 0.5 years; 43% boys). Results: In girls, those who exergamed scored higher than nonexergamers on introjected (mean ± SD = 1.9 ± 1.0 vs.1.6 ± 0.9; P = .001) and identified (mean ± SD = 3.1 ± .0 vs.2.9 ± 0.9; P = .049) regulation. Exergame intensity was associated with identified regulation [OR (95% CI) = 2.2 (1.0, 4.5)], minutes exergaming per week was associated with amotivation [β (95% CI) = 0.4 (-0.0, 0.8)], and achieving guidelines was associated with external [OR (95% CI) = 3.7 (1.0, 13.4)] and identified [OR (95% CI) = 5.6 (2.0, 16.0)] regulations. In boys who exergamed, intrinsic regulation was associated with exergame duration [β (95% CI) = -0.3 (-0.6, 0.0)]. Conclusions: Girls who exergame may have partially internalized exergaming as a PA behavior. Boys may prefer other types of PA such as team sports or other more traditional videogames over exergaming or they may not view exergaming as PA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Physical activity levels decline from adolescence to adulthood, but participation in a variety of sports during childhood and adolescence (i.e., sampling) may increase physical activity behaviour during adulthood. We examined the association between sampling sports during adolescence and moderate-vigorous exercise behaviour in adulthood, and we assessed whether this relationship is mediated by perceived variety in exercise. Design: Study 1- prospective longitudinal; Study 2- cross-sectional. Our main outcome was exercise behaviour. Results: In study 1 (n = 775), sampling more sports during adolescence (b =.25, p <.01; 95% CI [.12,.39]) predicted increased frequency of exercise behaviour in young adulthood. In study 2 (n = 108), sampling more sports in adolescence (β =.08, p =.03; 95% CI [.03,.17]) was indirectly associated with exercise behaviour in adulthood through perceived variety in exercise. Conclusion: These findings add to the evidence that sampling sports during adolescence is positively associated with moderate-vigorous exercise during adulthood, and the experience of variety may, in part, explain this relationship. This research generates new hypotheses regarding a potential psycho-social mediator (perceived variety in exercise) of the sampling-exercise behaviour relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: We investigated whether secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is associated with depressive symptoms in a population-based sample of children.Methods: Never-smoking students from 29 French-language elementary schools in Greater Montréal, Canada, were followed from 5th to 11th grade (2005-2011) in five waves: 1 (5th grade), 2 (spring 6th grade), 3 (7th grade), 4 (9th grade), and 5 (11th grade). Associations between depressive symptoms and SHS exposure at home and in cars were examined in cross-sectional and longitudinal gamma generalized regression models adjusted for sex, maternal education, and neighborhood socioeconomic status.Results: The sample comprised 1553 baseline never-smokers (mean [SD] age = 10.7 [0.5] years; 44% male; 89% French-speaking). SHS exposure at home and in cars was associated with higher depressive symptom scores in cross-sectional analyses pooled across grades and adjusted for demographics (B [95% confidence interval (CI)] = 0.041 [0.017 to 0.068] for home exposure; 0.057 [0.030 to 0.084] for car exposure). In longitudinal analyses from fifth to sixth grade, B (95% CI), adjusted for demographics and baseline depressive symptoms, was 0.042 (0.003 to 0.080) for home exposure and 0.061 (0.019 to 0.103) for car exposure. From sixth to seventh grade, B (95% CI) was 0.057 (0.003 to 0.110) for home exposure and 0.074 (0.015 to 0.133) for car exposure. SHS exposure at any age did not predict depressive symptoms 2 years later.Conclusions: SHS exposure is associated with depressive symptoms in young persons, both concurrently and 1 year later. This finding adds to the evidence base supporting that children should be protected from SHS exposure.Implications: SHS exposure has deleterious effects on physical health and results of this study raise concerns that such exposure might also affect the mental health of young persons. Clearly, protecting children from SHS in all locations is a critical public health priority. Although research is needed to determine if the association between SHS exposure and depressive symptoms is causal, continued implementation of smoking bans and educational efforts to discourage smoking in vehicles when children are present are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing interest in physical activity (PA) to prevent mental disorders in youth. However, few studies examine the association between PA and mental health. Further, how PA volume and context relate to mental health and mental disorders remains unclear, especially among youth in transition to adulthood. This study examined the cross-sectional associations among PA volume and context, mental health, and symptoms of anxiety and depression in post-secondary students. A total of 1527 post-secondary students (97.4% were age 16-24years) recruited in a CEGEP in Quebec, Canada completed a self-report questionnaire during class-time in October 2013. Multivariate linear regression was used to model the associations between PA volume and context and mental health, anxiety and depression controlling for sex, age and perceived socioeconomic status. Volume of moderate-to-vigorous leisure time PA (MVPA) was positively associated with mental health (β (95% CI)=0.072 (0.045, 0.099)) and inversely associated with symptoms of anxiety (-0.011 (-0.020, -0.001)) and depression (-0.010 (-0.017, -0.003)). Volume including all PA intensities was associated with mental health (0.052 (0.028, 0.076)). After controlling for PA volume, active youth involved in team sports had better mental health than those who engaged in PA individually. PA volume and the social context of PA are independently associated with mental health among youth. MVPA is inversely associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Motives for participating in a specific type of physical activity (PA) may differ across PA type in youth. We studied the relationship between PA motives and type of PA engaged in by youth.Design: Cross-sectional analysis using data from the Monitoring Activities of Teenagers to Comprehend their Habits(MATCH) study.Method: Eight hundred and two students age 10–11 years from 17 primary schools in New Brunswick, Canada completed a questionnaire that collected data on type of PA participated in (individual, group-based, organised and non-organised), PA motives (enjoyment, social affiliation, competence, fitness/health, and appearance) and attainment of PA guidelines (60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) per day). The associations between PA motives and PA type and between PA motives and attainment of PA recommendations were assessed in multi-level logistic regression models.Results: Endorsing enjoyment motives was associated with participation in organised PA (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.54, 1.24–1.91). Competence motives were associated with participation in group-based PA (1.27, 1.11–1.46) and achievement of PA recommendations (1.95, 1.37–2.78).Conclusion: Targeting enjoyment and competence motives may be associated with increased participation in organised and group-based PA as well as with an increased likelihood of meeting PA guidelines in youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Applied Physiology, Nutrition & Metabolism is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Applied Physiology, Nutrition & Metabolism is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Underuse of best practices in chronic disease prevention (CDP) represents missed opportunities to promote healthy living and prevent chronic disease. Better understanding of how CDP programs, practices and policies (PPPs) are transferred from ‘resource' organizations that develop them to ‘user' organizations that implement them is crucial. The objectives of this work were to develop psychometrically sound measures of transfer practices occurring within resource organizations; describe the use of these transfer practices and identify correlates of the transfer process. Cross-sectional data were collected in structured telephone interviews with the person most knowledgeable about PPP transfer in 77 Canadian organizations that develop PPPs. Independent correlates of transfer were identified using multiple linear regression. The transfer practices most commonly used included: identification of barriers to PPP adoption/implementation, tailoring transfer strategies and designing a transfer plan. Skill at planning/implementing transfer, external sources of funding specifically allocated for transfer, type of resource organization, attitude toward process of collaboration and user-centeredness were all positively associated with the transfer process. These factors represent possible targets for interventions to improve transfer of CDP PPPs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of obesity and/or undernutrition and evaluate diet and activity patterns among schoolchildren from an ethnically diverse low income urban population. A cross-sectional survey of 498 children aged 9-12 y from 24 schools in low income multiethnic neighborhoods in Montreal, Canada was undertaken. Height, weight, dietary intake, physical activity record, and lifestyle and demographic characteristics were measured. There was no evidence of undernutrition because linear growth was appropriate for age, but 39.4% of children were overweight (>85th percentile NHANES II). Dietary fat intake was higher in children from single-parent families (P < 0.001) and those with mothers born in Canada. Intake of vitamins A, C, iron and folate was directly related to income sufficiency. Children who did more physical activity had significantly higher intakes of energy, calcium, iron, zinc and fiber but were not heavier. Dietary intake was systematically underreported among overweight children, i.e., their reported intakes did not meet calculated energy needs. This underreporting makes it difficult to attribute the accumulated energy imbalance to either energy intake or expenditure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Recent cross-sectional studies suggest some adolescents who have never smoked cigarettes experience nicotine dependence (ND) symptoms and that exposure to second-hand smoke, social exposure to smoking, and alcohol use are plausible correlates. The aim of this study was to replicate and extend these findings by investigating possible predictors of ND symptoms longitudinally. Method: Participants included 847 secondary school students who had never smoked cigarettes enrolled in the Nicotine Dependence in Teens Study. Adolescents completed self-report questionnaires measuring smoking status, ND symptoms, and risk factors for ND in smokers (i.e., socio-demographic indicators, social exposure to smoking, psychosocial indicators, and substance use) in 20 survey cycles from 7 to 11th grade. Generalized estimating equations, which account for repeated measures within individuals, were used to test the predictors of ND symptoms. Results: Consistent with previous research, 7.8% of never-smokers across all cycles endorsed at least one ND symptom. Younger age (p ≤.001), country of birth (p ≤.05), peer smoking (p ≤.001), teacher smoking (p ≤.05), depression (p ≤.05), stress (p ≤.001), lower self-esteem (p ≤.05), impulsivity (p ≤.05), and alcohol use (p ≤.001) predicted greater ND symptoms in multivariable modeling. Conclusions: Replicating previous cross-sectional findings, peer smoking and alcohol use predicted ND symptoms among never-smoking adolescents. Extending these findings, previous predictors only observed among ever-smokers, including socio-demographic and psychosocial indicators, also predicted ND symptoms. This longitudinal investigation demonstrated the temporal relation of the predictors preceding ND symptoms. Future research should consider longer prospective studies with younger children to capture early onset of ND symptoms and with longer follow-up to detect eventual smoking uptake. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

OBJECTIVES: Less than 15% of children and adolescents participate regularly in physical activity (PA) and, with ever-increasing obesity, strategies to improve PA levels in youth are urgently needed. Exergaming offers a PA alternative that may be especially attractive in our increasingly technophilic society. However, there are no observational studies of exergaming in population-based samples of adolescents. The purpose of this study was to investigate potential sociodemographic, lifestyle, psychosocial, weight-related, and mental health correlates of exergaming as well as describe the type, timing, and intensity of exergaming in a population-based sample of adolescents. METHODS: Data on exergame use and potential sociodemographic, lifestyle, psychosocial, weight-related, and mental health correlates of exergaming were collected in mailed self-report questionnaires completed by 1241 grade 10 and 11 students from the Montreal area with a mean age of 16.8 years (SD = 0.05 years; 43% male) participating in the AdoQuest study. The independent correlates of exergaming were identified in multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS: Nearly one-quarter (24%) of participants reported exergaming. Exergamers played 2 days per week on average, for ~50 minutes each bout; 73% of exergamers played at a moderate or vigorous intensity. Exergamers were more likely than nonexergamers to be girls, to play nonactive video games, to watch ≥2 hours of television per day, to be stressed about weight, and to be nonsmokers. CONCLUSIONS: Many adolescents exergame at intensity levels that could help them achieve current moderate-to-vigorous PA recommendations. Interventions that encourage exergaming may increase PA and decrease sedentary behavior in select youth subgroups, notably in girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]