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Sports participation is associated with children's health and wellbeing; however, existing evidence is predominantly based on cross-sectional studies. This study examined the longitudinal association of sports participation with psychosocial wellbeing of Australian children. Data were from five waves of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children aged 6–7 years in 2010 (n = 4,242) and followed up until 2018. Outcomes were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. Sports participation was measured using two items assessing regular participation in team and individual sports. Multilevel mixed effects modeling showed that any sports participation was beneficially associated with psychosocial wellbeing. Boys who participated in team sports had 1.78 point lower difficulties score (β = − 1.78; 95% confidence interval: − -2.01, − 1.55), while this was 0.58 points lower for individual sports (β = − 0.58; − 0.81,-0.34). In girls, difficulties score was 1.22 point lower for team sports (β = − 1.22; − 1.44,-1.00) and 0.49 point lower for individual sports (β = − 0.49; − 0.71,-0.26). Sports participation was positively associated with better quality of life with team sports (β = 4.72; 4.15,5.28 for boys; β = 3.44; 2.87,4.00 for girls) offering more benefits than individual sports (β = 1.00; 0.83,1.98 for boys; β = 1.40; 0.83,1.98 for girls). Participation in both team and individual sports had the strongest benefits. Prolonged engagement in sports was associated with better psychosocial wellbeing in a dose-dependent manner. Regular participation in any sports can benefit children's wellbeing with team sports being more beneficial than individual sports. Encouraging children to regularly participate and remain engaged in sports can help to optimize their psychosocial wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This consensus statement from Sports Medicine Australia and the Australian Psychological Society aims to provide guidance to practitioners on the ways that physical activity can be promoted to maximise benefits to mental health. Following the Clinical Consensus Statement protocol, an expert group comprised of eight members with expertise in physical activity and mental health articulated recommendations regarding five physical activity contextual factors: type, physical environment, delivery, domain, and social environment. To optimise the mental health benefits of physical activity, we recommend: i) activity selection be guided by factors associated with adherence and enjoyment as opposed to any specific type (type); ii) facilitators (i.e., teachers, coaches, instructors, practitioners) deliver organised physical activity sessions using an instructional style that satisfies individuals' basic needs for autonomy, competence and social connection (delivery); iii) participation in physical activity with others who provide support, facilitate positive interactions, or make people feel valued, so long as it does not undermine a preference to be active alone (social environment); iv) where possible and appropriate, some physical activity should be undertaken outside in pleasant natural environments (physical environment); and, v) at least some physical activity be undertaken during leisure-time or via active travel, where possible prioritising activities one personally chooses to undertake (domain). The type, domain, physical and social environment of physical activity, as well as the way in which it is delivered, will determine mental health outcomes. Practitioners can use these recommendations to optimise the effects of physical activity on mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiencing gender-based violence (GBV) is a risk factor for numerous noncommunicable diseases, many of which are associated with physical inactivity. This systematic review aims to determine if physical activity levels and sedentary behavior differ between people who have experienced GBV and people who have not been exposed to GBV. Five databases were searched from inception to May 2023. Eligible studies were original research publications that reported a quantitative measure of physical activity and/or sedentary behavior for people who have experienced GBV and a comparator group. Synthesis without meta-analysis was performed due to inconsistent measures of physical activity. Eleven studies with 38,679 people who have experienced GBV and 159,103 comparators were included. Most studies were conducted in the United States (k = 9, 82%) with exclusively female participants (k = 9, 82%). All studies reported on mean time in physical activity or proportion of people engaging in certain levels of physical activity and sedentary behavior. No study used a validated tool to measure physical activity levels. Nineteen comparisons between a GBV population group and comparator were identified in the 11 studies. Findings were mixed, with 10 comparisons (52.5%) finding no significant difference, six comparisons (32%) finding lower physical activity engagement in the GBV-exposed population group, and three comparisons (15.5%) reporting similar values in both groups (without a between group test). The overall quality of studies was poor-fair. There is mixed evidence for whether physical activity levels differ among people who have experienced GBV compared to individuals who have not. High quality studies using validated assessment methods are needed. • People exposed to gender-based violence (GBV) face unique barriers to physical activity. • Included studies were of poor-fair quality, using measures with unclear validity. • It is unclear whether physical activity levels differ in people exposed to GBV. • No studies have assessed sedentary behavior. • Higher quality studies using validated assessment methods are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental illness is a leading cause of the global burden of disease. Physical activity (PA) can improve physical and mental health outcomes for people with mental illness, yet routine implementation of PA within standard care remains ad-hoc. The reasons for this are unclear, although the dissonance between the evidence produced in research settings and that needed in real-world environments may be key. To explore the effectiveness of PA interventions as a treatment for mental illness. We synthesised past systematic reviews and meta-analyses. We conducted a systematic review of reviews from database inception to 09/2017. Reviews were included that considered any mental health condition (diagnosed via standardised criteria) and where PA interventions were a stand-alone or adjunctive treatment. Effectiveness was defined as outcomes that are important in real-world healthcare (i.e. expected clinical outcomes, intervention safety and cost). From 4008 hits, 33 reviews (including 155 unique studies) were included and 32 reported that PA has a positive effect on at least one main outcome of interest (symptoms of mental illness, quality of life and/or physical health). There was inconsistent reporting of adverse events and no cost data was identified. The AMSTAR quality rating suggests inconsistencies in review quality. The research agenda must expand to report on outcomes that can support evidence translation efforts (i.e. cost and adverse events). Without such a shift, research in PA and mental health may fail to achieve translation to routine care and may have limited impact on patient outcomes. • There is a large evidence base supporting the efficacy of physical activity interventions for many mental health conditions. • There is less research in other areas that may be important in informing routine clinical practice. • This review found no evidence of cost data and inconsistent reporting on adverse events. • The research agenda should expand to include translational studies that report on outcomes useful in real-world settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical activity (PA) is an effective and evidence-based intervention for the promotion of mental health, and prevention and treatment of mental health problems. However, little is known regarding the impact of contextual factors that may optimise the mental health benefits of PA. Contextual factors are the qualitative characteristics of PA that include its type, domain, physical and social environment, and delivery. We conducted an umbrella review of existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials that evaluated the effect of contextual factors of PA on mental health outcomes. A total of 42 reviews were included, and covered the delivery (n = 8), social environment (n = 6), physical environment (n = 7), and type of PA (n = 33). There were no meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials pertaining to the domain of PA. Evidence showed beneficial effects for supervised PA (delivery), PA undertaken inside or outside (physical environment), PA undertaken individually or in groups (social environment), and many types of PA including aerobic and resistance training. This suggests that variations in contextual factors may play a role in enhancing the MH benefits of PA. However, few direct comparisons, and heterogenous control groups, precluded meaningful comparisons across and within contextual factors. Further, greater attention needs to be paid to the systematic testing and reporting of the contextual factors of PA to optimise mental health and wellbeing. (PROSPERO registration: BLINDED FOR REVIEW). • Beneficial effects on mental health for supervised physical activity. • Physical activity both inside, outside, individually and in groups, was beneficial. • Several types of physical activity showed benefits to mental health and wellbeing. • No meta-analyses of RCTs pertaining to the domain of physical activity. • Variations in context may enhance the mental health benefits of physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe mental illness is characterised by a 15-year mortality gap driven by cardiometabolic disease. Antipsychotic treatment leads to increased appetite and rapid weight gain. The 12-week lifestyle pilot intervention improved dietary intake and prevented antipsychotic-induced weight gain. Here we report two-year outcomes. Participants were exposed to an extended program. Weight and waist circumference were measured, and food frequency questionnaire completed. Diet quality was higher, and discretionary food intake was 40% lower, at two-years compared to baseline. Weight and waist-circumference did not increase. This pilot study demonstrated sustained effectiveness of a dietetic intervention in youth with first-episode psychosis with improvements in diet quality and no increase in weight secondary to antipsychotic medication initiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical activity (PA) interventions have shown promising in improving core symptoms of children and adolescents with ADHD, yet treatment dropout may pose a challenge to routine implementation in clinical practice. We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the prevalence and predictors of treatment dropout from PA interventions in children and adolescents with ADHD. Electronic databases were searched from inception until 06/2016. Randomized control trials of PA interventions in children and adolescents with ADHD reporting dropout rates were included. A random effects meta-analysis and meta-regression analyses were performed. In 8 studies involving 9 PA intervention arms, 148 children or adolescents assigned to a PA intervention (mean age range = 8.2–15.8 years, 87.8% male) were included. The trim and fill adjusted treatment dropout rate was 17.5% (95%CI = 9.8%–29.4%). The prevalence of dropouts in exercisers was not significantly different from the dropouts in control conditions (odds ratio, OR = 1.12; 95%CI = 0.48–2.65; I 2 = 0). Lower dropout was observed in sports interventions compared with structured aerobic exercise or yoga (p = 0.049). A higher proportion of male participants (β = 0.05; 95%CI = 0.001 to 0.10; p = 0.045, R 2 = 1.0) appeared to moderate higher dropout rates from PA interventions. Our findings suggest that in order to maximize PA participation, and therefore health benefits, sports-related interventions should be offered in the multidisciplinary treatment of children and adolescents with ADHD. Our data also suggest that males with ADHD may be more likely to dropout. Dropout rates are comparable to control conditions, suggesting that PA interventions are feasible in adolescents with ADHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Physical activity interventions have been shown to improve the health of people with schizophrenia, yet treatment dropout poses an important challenge in this population, and rates vary substantially across studies. We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the prevalence and predictors of treatment dropout in physical activity interventions in people with schizophrenia. Method We systematically searched major electronic databases from inception until August 2015. Randomized controlled trials of physical activity interventions in people with schizophrenia reporting dropout rates were included. Two independent authors conducted searches and extracted data. Random-effects meta-analysis and meta-regression analyses were conducted. Results In 19 studies, 594 patients with schizophrenia assigned to exercise interventions were investigated (age=37.2 years, 67.5% male, range=37.5%–100%). Trim and fill adjusted treatment dropout rate was 26.7% [95% confidence interval (CI)=19.7%–35.0%], which is more than double than in nonactive control interventions (odds ratio=2.15, 95% CI=1.29–3.58, P = .003). In the multivariate regression, qualification of the professional delivering the intervention ( β =−1.06, 95% CI=−1.77 to − 0.35, P = .003) moderated treatment dropout rates, while continuous supervision of physical activity approached statistical significance ( P = .05). Conclusions Qualified professionals (e.g., physical therapists/exercise physiologists) should prescribe supervised physical activity for people with schizophrenia to enhance adherence, improve psychiatric symptoms and reduce the onset and burden of cardiovascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with PTSD experience high levels of cardiovascular disease and comorbid mental health problems. Physical activity (PA) is an effective intervention in the general population. We conducted the first systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the effect of PA on PTSD. We searched major electronic databases from inception till 03/2015 for RCTs of PA interventions among people with PTSD. A random effects meta-analysis calculating hedges g was conducted. From a potential of 812 hits, four unique RCTs met the inclusion criteria ( n =200, mean age of participants 34–52 years). The methodological quality of included trials was satisfactory, and no major adverse events were reported. PA was significantly more effective compared to control conditions at decreasing PTSD and depressive symptoms among people with PTSD. There was insufficient data to investigate the effect on anthropometric or cardiometabolic outcomes. Results suggest that PA may be a useful adjunct to usual care to improve the health of people with PTSD. Although there is a relative paucity of data, there is reason to be optimistic for including PA as an intervention for people with PTSD, particularly given the overwhelming evidence of the benefits of PA in the general population. Robust effectiveness and implementation studies are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased control group responses (CGR) make it more difficult to establish the effectiveness of interventions to improve symptoms in schizophrenia. We conducted a meta-analysis of CGR within randomised control trials (RCTs) comparing exercise and a control condition in people with schizophrenia. We found no evidence of a CGR for total, positive or negative symptoms. Control group responses do not negatively impact exercise RCTs that have clearly demonstrated substantial beneficial effects of exercise in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective People with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have a higher mortality than the general population, mainly due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components are highly predictive of CVD. The aim of this meta-analysis was to describe pooled frequencies of MetS and its components in people with PTSD and to compare MetS prevalence in PTSD versus the general population. Method Medline, PsycARTICLES, Embase and CINAHL were searched until 02/2015 for cross-sectional and baseline data of longitudinal studies in adults with PTSD. Two independent reviewers conducted the searches and extracted data. Random effects meta-analysis with a relative risk, subgroups and meta-regression analyses were employed. Results Overall, 9 studies met the inclusion criteria including 9,673 individuals in midlife with PTSD and 6852 general population controls. The pooled MetS prevalence was 38.7% (95% CI = 32.1%–45.6%; Q = 52.1, p < 0.001; N = 9; n = 9,673; age range = 44–61 years). Abdominal obesity was observed in 49.3% (95% CI = 29.7%–69.0%), hyperglycemia in 36.1% (95% CI = 18.8%–55.6%), hypertriglyceridemia in 45.9% (95% CI = 12.2%–81.9%), low high density-lipoprotein-cholesterol in 46.4% (95% CI = 26.4%–67.0%) and hypertension in 76.9% (95% CI = 67.9%–84.8%). The MetS prevalence was consistently high across geographical regions, settings or populations (war veterans or not). Compared with matched general population controls, people with PTSD had an almost double increased risk for MetS (RR = 1.82; 95% CI = 1.72–1.92; p < 0.001). Most analyses were not statistically heterogeneous. Conclusions MetS is highly prevalent in people with PTSD. Routine screening and multidisciplinary management of medical and behavioral conditions is needed. Future research should focus on how cardio-metabolic outcomes are moderated by clinical and treatment characteristics and genetic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]