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Background: Approximately a third of US adults meet the physical activity guidelines of engaging in resistance training 2 times per week, yet few studies have examined how to increase participation rates. The present randomized control trial compared a remotely delivered coaching intervention with an education only control group. Methods: Eligible participants completed 2 remotely delivered Zoom-based personal training sessions during a 1-week run-in period. Participants randomized to the intervention group received synchronous weekly behavioral video coaching sessions over Zoom, whereas the control group received no further contact. Days of resistance training completed were assessed at baseline (pre), 4 weeks (post), and 8 weeks (follow-up). Linear mixed models were used to examine group differences at each time point and within-group differences over time. Results: There were significant between-group differences favoring the intervention, at posttest for both the previous week (b = 0.71, SE = 0.23; P =.002) and the previous 4 weeks (b = 2.54, SE = 0.87; P =.003) but not at the follow-up period for either the last week (b = 0.15, SE = 0.23; P =.520) or the last 4 weeks (b = 0.68, SE = 0.88; P =.443). Conclusion: The present study showed that by providing participants with equipment, skill, and in the case of the intervention group, a remote coaching intervention, resistance training participation increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based physical exercise program on university students' psychological well-being and life satisfaction. In the study, a randomized control group pre-test, post-test, and follow-up test design was used. The study group consisted of 60 students (30 in an experimental group and 30 in a control group) continuing their education in different faculties of a foundation university during the Covid-19 pandemic in Turkey. A personal information questionnaire, Psychological Well-Being Scale and Life Satisfaction Scale were used to collect the study data. The Mindfulness-Based Physical Exercise Program was implemented in the experimental group, once a week for 8 sessions. The results suggested significant differences between the psychological well-being and life satisfaction post-test scores of the experimental and control groups in favor of the experimental group. In the sub-dimensions of psychological well-being, significant differences were found between the experimental and control groups in post-test scores of environmental mastery, personal growth, and purpose in life. There was no significant difference between the psychological well-being, positive relationships with others, autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose in life, and self-acceptance sub-dimensions except personal growth sub-dimensions, and life satisfaction post-test and follow-up test scores of the university students in the experimental group. In the post-test comparisons of two groups, a significant difference was found between total psychological well-being, environmental mastery, personal growth, purpose in life, and self-acceptance, in favor of the experimental group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need to examine whether existing constructs in motives and barriers are still relevant in contemporary times is both a challenge and a trend in research concerning school physical activity. Ergo, this study sought to extrapolate Filipino pre-service physical educators' present-day motives and barriers to exercise, with a valid physical activity plan as the end in mind. A free-listing methodology was utilized to document the motives and barriers of the participants (N = 269) coded using the subscales of the Exercise Motivation Inventory (EMI-2) and Barriers to Physical Activity Scale, respectively. Motives and barriers not covered within the scales were initially coded as 'other barriers' and were subsequently coded in the light of existing literature. The subscales from the EMI-2 for coding the motives to exercise the PSPEs are still apparent in contemporary times which is led by 'positive health' and 'appearance.' Meanwhile, 'lack of time', 'feeling too tired', and 'having an injury and/or disease' are the three leading barriers for the respondents to exercise. Other motives and barriers were likewise reported in the study. A proposed physical activity plan was developed considering the results of the study, and inputs from the faculty implementers, and was validated by three expert physical educators using face validation. It is recommended that psychological and behavioral constructs such as motives and barriers be integrated into the planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating physical activity plans to foster healthy and active would-be physical educators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apply It!: By reading this article fitness professionals will: • Be informed of the basic concepts of mental imagery (MI). • Learn how to use MI techniques to enhance the technique, the strategies, and the psychological states of the exercisers, adding to their exercise class's creativity and imagination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the psychological responses to intermittent activities of varying intensities and types among children with and without asthma. Methods: A total of 37 children and adolescents (51% male, aged 8–16 y, 54% nonwhite, and 54% without asthma) participated in this study. Participants completed 5 exercises in the same order: self-paced walking, resistance activities, dance video, gamified obstacle course, and step test. In-task mood was assessed using the Feeling Scale, in-task perceived exertion was assessed via the ratings of perceived exertion scale, and postactivity enjoyment was assessed using the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale. Results: There was a significant main effect of exercise type on mood (P <.001), ratings of perceived exertion (P <.001), and enjoyment (P <.002). There was not a significant main effect of asthma status on mood, ratings of perceived exertion, or enjoyment (Ps >.05). Children with asthma reported significantly lower in-task mood during the step exercise (P <.037) and reported significantly lower postactivity enjoyment after the walk and obstacle course exercises (Ps <.03). Conclusions: Regardless of differences by asthma status for in-task mood during the obstacle course and for postactivity enjoyment during the walk and step exercises, both children with and without asthma reported high in-task mood and postactivity enjoyment during all 5 exercises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goal setting and enjoyment are key components in adherence to any exercise program; however, little research has examined short-term goal setting exercise interventions. This study aimed to explore the effects of short-term goal setting on enjoyment and session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) during a rowing exercise task. Twenty-five physically active participants completed two rowing exercise sessions on separate occasions under a repeated measures design. Each participant completed one session under the experimental condition and one session under the control condition. The experimental session included using a pacer on the interactive rower screen during two separate rowing bouts, which served as a goal setting simulation. In both conditions, participants set goals for their second rowing bout. Results showed non-significant differences between conditions for enjoyment, sRPE, heart rate, and distance rowed. Results showed a significant difference for distance rowed from exercise bout one to exercise bout two in both the control condition (p = .002) and experimental condition (p = .029). The results of this study have relevance for applied practitioners implementing physical activity interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Starting college or university is a significant life event that can impact students' physical activity (PA). Social support specific to PA (SSPA) is a social determinant of PA among college and university students. This review had 3 aims: (1) to systematically review studies examining the association between SSPA and PA among students; (2) to examine whether potential associations differed in terms of types or sources of SSPA; and (3) to examine whether any potential associations differed in terms of gender. Methods: Studies were identified using Academic Search Premier, PsycInfo, Sociological Abstracts, and SPORTDiscus. Results: This review included 25 papers. The results suggested that there is a positive association between SSPA and PA among college and university students. Although the importance of different sources of SSPA is not clear, the results suggested that family and friends provide significant SSPA. Conclusions: High variability in measurement methods made it difficult to compare studies and to come to a clear consensus. However, the findings suggested that SSPA may be a determinant of PA. In order to better understand the relationship between SSPA and PA among students, some elements, such as gender, socioeconomic level, and off- or on-campus housing, should be considered in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the acute effects of intermittent activity performed at varying intensities on the perceptions of exercise-related fatigue in children. Methods: A total of 30 children completed 4 experimental conditions in random order, which consisted of 8 hours of sitting interrupted with 20 two-minute low-, moderate-, or high-intensity activity breaks or 20 two-minute sedentary breaks. The perceptions of exercise-related fatigue were determined via the Subjective Exercise Experience Scale at the beginning (0 breaks), middle (after 10 breaks), and end (after 20 breaks) of each condition. Results: The average heart rate was significantly higher with increasing exercise intensity (sedentary: 89.6 ± 1.2 beats/min, low: 114.6 ± 1.8 beats/min, moderate: 147.2 ± 1.8 beats/min, and high: 172.3 ± 1.8 beats/min, P <.0001). There was no significant main effect of condition (sedentary: −0.5 ± 0.6, low: −1.0 ± 0.7, moderate: −0.2 ± 0.5, and high: −0.6 ± 1.2; P =.86) and time (10–0 breaks: −0.7 ± 0.5 and 20–0 breaks: −0.5 ± 0.5; P =.45), nor time by condition interaction (P =.99) on change in exercise-related fatigue. Conclusions: Incorporating intermittent activity into physical activity programs may help to reduce barriers to regular exercise by minimizing perceptions of exercise-related fatigue in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Workplace exercise (WE) has become the focus of a number of studies in Thailand universities as it is believed to prevent numerous chronic diseases. This study aims to illustrate and investigate the behavioral factors related to the physical fitness of university workers and attitudes in work performance. Methods: We conducted a quasi-experimental study on 93 workers with purposive sampling using the Taro Yamane method, to examine exercise behaviors and knowledge, attitude, and exercise practice. Then, 31 selected participants who were at a moderate level of attitude and exercise practice joined the workplace exercise program for two months. Participants’ exercise behavior and knowledge, attitude, and exercise practice before and after joining the program were analyzed using an independent t-test. The physical fitness and work attitude were examined. Results: The results show that the university workers who participated in the program had an adjustment in exercise behavior after engaging in WE with a high level of knowledge, attitude (3.14+.18) and exercise practice (3.32+.31). In addition, we found that programs improved physical fitness with a significant increase in resting heart rate and leg strength (p Conclusion: The results correspond to earlier studies on exercise factors with the increasing exercise behavior level in terms of knowledge, attitude, and exercise practice. The WE is important for university workers. Therefore, the developed WE in the workplace increased the health and work attitude.

Background: Physical activity may be as effective as some drugs for improving psychological outcomes; however, vigorous exercise may be needed for improving these outcomes in adolescents with obesity. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of low- and high-intensity training on self-esteem and symptoms of depression and anxiety in adolescents with obesity. Methods: A total of 62 pubertal adolescents with obesity (age 15 [1.5] y, body mass index 34.87 [4.22] kg/m²) were randomized into high-intensity group (HIG, n = 31) or low-intensity group (LIG, n = 31) for 24 weeks. All participants also received nutritional, psychological, and clinical counseling. Body composition and measures of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and self-esteem were assessed at baseline and after 24 weeks. Results: Depressive symptoms decreased significantly in both HIG (d = 1.16) and LIG (d = 0.45) (P ≤ .01). Trait anxiety decreased after 24 weeks for HIG (d = 0.81, P = .002) and LIG (d = 0.31, P = .002). No changes were observed in state anxiety or self-esteem. Conclusions: Results from the present study demonstrate that 24 weeks of multidisciplinary intervention improves depression and anxiety symptoms in adolescents with obesity; however, the magnitude of changes is higher in HIG compared with LIG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The positive role of self-efficacy in directing a wide range of health-related interventions has been well documented, including those targeting an increase in physical activity. However, rarely do researchers control the influence of past performance and past self-efficacy perception ratings when exploring the interaction of self-efficacy and performance, allowing for a refined understanding of this relationship and the unique contribution of each factor. Methods: A residualized past performance, residualized self-efficacy hierarchical regression model was used to examine the effect of prior past performance and pre-exercise self-efficacy on performance with a health-related task (12 aerobic exercise cycling sessions). Results: The previous day's residualized performance was a significant predictor of performance, as was same-day residualized self-efficacy (P <.001). However, residualized self-efficacy became a stronger predictor over time. Conclusions: While maintaining a consistent level of moderate–vigorous physical activity over 12 exercise sessions, participants increased their ratings of task self-efficacy, explaining an increasing portion of the variance in the self-efficacy–performance relationship days 9 to 12. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practicing physical exercise regularly has several benefits for practitioners' physical and psychological health, including contributing to their subjective well-being. Passion plays a fundamental role in engaging and maintaining these practices throughout life. This study aimed to estimate validity evidence to the Passion for Exercise Scale based on internal structure and relationship with external variables, positive and negative affect. Exploratory (sample 1, N = 460 adults from the general population who practice physical exercise) and confirmatory (sample 2, N = 333 adults from the general population who practice physical exercise) factor analyzes suggested adequacy and invariance of the two dimensions of passion, harmonious and obsessive. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis indicated strong invariance of the instrument between both participants sexes. The Structural Equation Modeling showed a positive association of harmonious passion with positive affect and a negative association with negative affect experienced during exercise. In contrast, a positive association was observed between obsessive passion and negative affects during exercise practice. These results indicate that not only the regular practice of physical activities impacts the subjects’ levels of happiness, but also the type of relationship they establish with exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manifesto reimagines social justice in physical cultural studies by renaming, broadening, and building new characterizations of the body, dis/ability, mental health, exercise, social oppression, and sport. We problematize embedded 'myths' in exercise and sports studies scholarship for purposes of informing praxis-based research, and emancipatory practical agendas. These 'myths' include the embodied tragedy myth, the myth of bodily control, the sport for peace/development myth, the exercise is medicine myth, the healthism and exercise myth, the compulsory ablemindedness and exercise myth, and the exercise is cost-effective myth. Using intersecting and diverging theories, we propose new ways of knowing these taken for granted notions to springboard a new, socially just, emancipatory approach to research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose was to examine differences in affective responses to repeated sessions of endurance training with different intensities in healthy adults. Thirty young, healthy, and recreationally physically active adults (50% women, age 24.4 ± 6.0 years, VO2max 48.6 ± 7.4 ml-1×kg-1×min-1, BMI 23.5 ± 2.4 kg×m2) performed a VO2maxtest. They were randomized to four sessions of either high intensity sprint interval training (SPRINT, n=10, 5 × 30-sec at >95 of HRpeak, 4-min recovery between intervals), high intensity aerobic interval training (HAIT, n=10, 4 × 4-min at ~90% of HRpeak, 4-min recovery between intervals) or moderate intensity continuous training (MIT, n=10, 50-min at ~75% HRpeak). Assessment during and after each session included HR, La-, Borg ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), affective state (positive/negative), valence (pleasure/displeasure), arousal (calmness/excitement), tension, irritation, pain, exhaustion, satisfaction, and motivation. HR, La- and Borg RPE were higher in SPRINT and HAIT compared to MIT (p < 0.001), no differences between SPRINT and HAIT. Displeasure and arousal were greater in SPRINT compared to HAIT (p < 0.05) and MIT (p < 0.001). Within each session, between-group effects showed that SPRINT differed from HAIT and MIT on valence (p < 0.01) and arousal (p < 0.01), and MIT differed from HAIT and SPRINT on La- (p < 0.001) and HR (p < 0.001). In conclusion, repeated sessions of HAIT produced similar physiological responses as SPRINT, and similar affective responses as MIT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The share of the elderly population is increasing globally, and it is important to help them to maintain their physical activity levels and ability to function to as late an age as possible. This qualitative intervention study focused on the experiences of young elderly on the ability of a sport and wellness technology digital coach to motivate them towards physical activity as well as on what needs and wishes this group has concerning digital coaching solutions. The findings of the study show that young elderly perceive digital coaching as potential in motivating them towards physical activity by providing instructive information and motivational feedback. It was also perceived to have positive influence on their exercise self-efficacy. However, it was also apparent that digital coaching devices should be tailored for this target group and be easy to learn in order to attract interest among them. Our findings provide insights for professionals and companies in sport technology field as well as to health professionals working in health promotion with young elderly people. Overall, this research aims to address social and economical sustainability of elderly people and their physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Exercise dependence refers to excessive exercise accompanied by addiction-like symptoms such as craving, tolerance, withdrawal, impaired control, and disruption of life domains. The present study investigated whether personality traits linked to substance and behavioural addictions show similar associations with symptoms of exercise dependence. Method Alexithymia and two forms of impulsivity, rash impulsiveness and reward sensitivity, were assessed in relation to exercise dependence symptoms in a sample of 99 physically active young adult men and women. Results All three traits showed significant positive correlations with exercise dependence symptoms and were significant predictors of such symptoms in a hierarchical regression model. Alexithymia was the strongest predictor and fully mediated the contribution of rash impulsiveness according to bootstrapped mediation analysis. Conclusions Findings suggest similar associations of addiction-linked traits with symptoms of exercise dependence and are discussed in terms of potential mechanisms. KEY POINTS What is already known about this topic: (1) Exercise can become compulsive for some, with exercise dependence defined by addiction-like symptoms. (2) Alexithymia has been implicated as a risk factor for substance and behavioural addictions. (3) Two forms of impulsivity, rash impulsiveness and reward sensitivity, have been implicated as risk factors for substance and behavioural addictions. What this topic adds: (1) In physically active young adults, alexithymia was positively associated with symptoms of exercise dependence. (2) In physically active young adults, rash impulsiveness and reward sensitivity were positively associated with symptoms of exercise dependence. (3) Alexithymia fully explained the association of rash impulsiveness with exercise dependence symptoms.

Australia has a proud history in physical activity and is known for its love of, and success in, sport. It is also sometimes perceived to be a physically active country yet statistics show similar troubling trends of inactivity and non-communicable disease as many other high income countries. In research and professional practice, however, Australia can be seen to have been ‘punching above its weight’ (given its small population) in physical activity and public health. It has been a leading country for research on a number of themes concerning physically active lifestyles, including mental health, physical activity correlates, interventions, sedentary behaviour, and guidelines. The role of exercise psychology, however, is less clearly demarcated. The research concerning physical activity and public health has adopted a behavioural medicine approach, of which psychology is just one part. In this paper, behavioural medicine and exercise psychology will be defined, and research strengths and trends in Australia outlined. Issues particularly important for Australia will be explored briefly in the context of exercise psychology, including indigenous health and those living in rural and remote locations.

High-intensity exercise has efficient elements such as time saving and metabolic benefits, while it is physiologically demanding, and requires stronger mental capacity than traditional exercise regimens. The present study aimed to examine differences in exercise intensity relative to self-control in exercise participants. Participants completed the multistage 20 m shuttle run test (MST) in an indoor gymnasium under the same environmental condition. Participants (N = 81; male n = 55; Mage = 23.06 years) completed measures of self-control and motivation for participation in aerobic exercises. Additionally, heart rate, high-intensity exercise volume, and perceived exertion were used to measure exercise intensity. Self-control has a significant positive correlation with several variables that measure exercise intensity. In addition, hierarchical regression analyses showed that trait self-control positively and significantly predict exercise intensity after controlling for self-determined motivation. Trait self-control is a significant psychological variable to account for behaviours related to high-intensity exercise and it might be more important for the tolerance the exercise intensity than one’s self-determined motivation to it.

The present study aimed to investigate (i) differences in salivary testosterone and cortisol concentrations before, during, and after simulated beach volleyball match, depending on match outcome (winning vs. losing); (ii) the relationship between technical-tactical performance indicators in beach volleyball and salivary hormonal concentrations (i.e., testosterone, cortisol). We hypothesized (i) salivary testosterone concentrations would be greater in winners and salivary cortisol would be lower; (ii) testosterone would associate with positive technical-tactical performance and cortisol would associate with negative technical-tactical performance. Sixteen athletes participated in the study and were grouped according to the result of a simulated game (winners: n = 8; losers: n = 8). Salivary hormone concentration of testosterone and cortisol were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (pre-match, post first set, and post-match), and the coefficient of performance and efficiency were used as technical-tactical performance indicators. Regarding testosterone, there was a large effect size for match outcome after the first set (i.e., Winner vs. Losers) and a moderate effect size for the time in winners (pre-match vs. post-match). Regarding cortisol, there was a moderate effect size of time in losers only (pre-match vs. post-match). Moreover, cortisol pre-match was negatively correlated with the offensive performance (attack performance coefficient: r = −0.541; p = 0.030; attack efficiency: r = −0.568; p = 0.022). In conclusion, the effect of match outcome on testosterone and cortisol levels was moderate in winners and losers, respectively. Moreover, resting cortisol concentration appears to be related to a diminished attack technical-tactical performance. However, larger confirmatory studies are required to confirm these data to corroborate winning increases testosterone levels and/or reduces cortisol in a sporting setting.

Health behavior change, such as increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior, is difficult. Given the complex nature of adopting new behaviors, exercise psychologists and other professionals need to use more effective psychosocial interventions to help people change. The common use of a directive approach to helping people change has been largely unsuccessful. In contrast, motivational interviewing is a method for improving the initiation of physical activity. The purpose of this paper is to briefly describe motivational interviewing and offer an introductory learning activity that can be applied in various settings (e.g., exercise psychology courses) to help practitioners working with people on improving physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few studies have quantified cardiorespiratory fitness among individuals seeking bariatric surgery. Treadmill testing allows researchers to determine exercise capacity through metabolic equivalents. These findings can assist clinicians in understanding patients' capabilities to carry out various activities of daily living. The purpose of this study was to determine exercise tolerance and the variables associated with fitness, among individuals seeking bariatric surgery. Methods: Bariatric surgery candidates completed submaximal treadmill testing and provided ratings of perceived exertion. Each participant also completed questionnaires related to history of exercise, mood, and perceived barriers/benefits of exercise. Results: Over half of participants reported that exercise was "hard to very hard" before reaching 70% of heart rate reserve, and one-third of participants reported that exercise was "moderately hard" at less than 3 metabolic equivalents (light activity). Body mass index and age accounted for the majority of the variance in exercise tolerance, but athletic history, employment status, and perceived health benefits also contributed. Perceived benefit scores were higher than barrier scores. Conclusion: Categories commonly used to describe moderate-intensity exercise (3-6 metabolic equivalents) do not coincide with perceptions of intensity among many bariatric surgery candidates, especially those with a body mass index of 50 or more. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of intermittent physical activity (2-min bouts of varying intensities) on psychological mood and enjoyment in elementary school-age children and to examine the effect of weight status on these psychological outcomes. Methods: A total of 39 children (healthy weight, n = 26; overweight/obese, n = 13) completed 4 experimental conditions in random order, which consisted of 8 hours of sitting interrupted with 20 two-minute low-, moderate-, or high-intensity activity breaks or 20 two-minute screen-time breaks. Mood was assessed using the Feeling Scale immediately following each break. Enjoyment was assessed using the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale immediately following 10 and 20 breaks. Results: Mood was significantly higher during the sedentary versus active conditions (P < .01). Overweight/obese children reported lower mood scores compared with healthy weight children at the initiation of the low- (P < .05) and high-intensity conditions (P < .001) but experienced improvements in mood throughout the day in all 3 active conditions (P = .02). Enjoyment was significantly higher after completing the active versus sedentary conditions (P = .02). Conclusion: These findings suggest that both healthy weight and overweight/obese children felt better immediately after engaging in screen-time breaks but subsequently rated the activity breaks as more enjoyable compared with screen-time breaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exercise is an effective means to promote health, but adherence is low. Due to the advantages of immediacy, economy and effectiveness, the use of WeChat social software has permeated into every aspect in daily life in China. To explore the influence of WeChat-based exercise prescription intervention mode on glycolipid metabolism and fitness of suboptimal-health teachers. 293 suboptimal-health teachers with senior professional titles were randomized to a control group (CG) or an experimental group (e.g.). The CG exercised on its own, while the e.g. adopted the exercise prescription intervention based on WeChat. The intervention period was 6 months. Finally, 264 cases were adhered to and completed, including 132 cases in the CG and 132 cases in the e.g.. The Suboptimal-Health Status Questionnaires-25 scores (SHSQ-25 scores), exercise adherence, subjective feelings, physical fitness, blood glucose and blood lipids were detected before and after intervention and compared between 2 groups. After the intervention, the SHSQ-25 scores in the e.g. was significantly decreased than those in the CG (P < .01). The complete exercise adherence in the e.g. was significantly higher than those in the CG (P < .01). After intervention, the subjective feelings of e.g. were significantly improved compared to CG (P < .05). The body shape, body function and physical quality in the e.g. was higher than those in the CG (P < .05). Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) decreased significantly in the e.g. but not in the CG (P < .05). Fasting blood glucose (FBG) decreased significantly in the e.g. but not in the CG, with a significant difference between groups (P < .05). The subjects in the e.g. were very satisfied with WeChat management. WeChat-based exercise prescription intervention could improve SHS, exercise adherence, subjective feelings, physical fitness and glycolipid metabolism., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Life satisfaction among Korean students is declining substantially, and multifaceted improvement efforts are required., Methods: We analyzed longitudinal change trajectories for exercise, grit, and life satisfaction levels among Korean adolescents using latent growth modeling with longitudinal data from the Korean Children and Youth Panel Surveys of 2,142 students (male: 1,070, female: 1,072) from sixth grade (2020) through eighth grade (2022)., Results: The model, which tracked linear changes in the students' exercise, grit, and life satisfaction, showed consistent declines over three school years for all variables. We also identified a longitudinal causal relationship among exercise, grit, and life satisfaction. A higher grit intercept was associated with higher intercept for-and a partial mediating effect between-exercise and life satisfaction. The grit slope was positively related to the life satisfaction slope, and both the intercept and exercise slope had positive effects on life satisfaction. Moreover, grit had a longitudinal mediating effect between exercise and life satisfaction., Conclusions: We discuss the longitudinal change trajectories of exercise, grit, and life satisfaction, the causal and mediating effects among them, and the implications of the findings. These findings bolster our understanding of Korean adolescents' life satisfaction and have practical significance for designing programs to improve their quality of life., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disease presenting with symptoms like dyspnoea, dry cough, and fatigue, which affect physical function and quality of life. No earlier qualitative studies have investigated physical activity in IPF. This study aims to explore experiences of living with IPF in relation to physical activity., Materials and Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 14 participants living with IPF. The participants were 77 years old (range: 56-86) and diagnosed with IPF between 2 and 9 years ago. The analysis was performed by qualitative content analysis according to Graneheim and Lundman., Results: The results indicated that life and one's ability to be physically active is affected by IPF. Despite this, it seems possible to navigate past obstacles, which was illustrated by an overall theme: "My life is constrained, but I am hanging on". Two major categories cover topics of IPF being a life changing diagnosis with changes in self-image and changed future plans regarding physical activity, as well as life. Physical activity was perceived to be challenging, yet in many ways used as a strategy, developed to manage life., Conclusions: IPF affects physical activity as well as life, from onset onwards. By developing strategies for facilitating physical activity as well as identifying barriers, it seems possible to maintain an active life despite the disease. The healthcare system needs to create support systems that meet different needs during different phases of the disease., Trial Registration: "FoU in Sweden" Research and Development in Sweden (id: 227081)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: To explore the impact mechanism of physical exercise on the sense of meaning in life of college students, and analyze the chain mediating effect between self-concept and self-control., Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted on 923 college students in China using the Physical Exercise Rating Scale (PARS-3), Life Meaning Scale, Self Concept Scale, and Self Control Scale., Results: (1) Physical exercise, self-concept, self-control and sense of meaning in life are significantly related to each other; (2) Self-concept and self-control play a chain mediating role between physical exercise and college students' sense of meaning in life, with an effect value of 0.042, accounting for 5.48% of the total effect., Conclusion: Physical exercise can directly enhance the sense of meaning in life of college students, and can also indirectly enhance it not only through the mediating effect of self-concept and self-control, but also through the chain mediating effect of the two. These results provide theoretical reference for college students to improve their sense of life meaning and mental health education., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Previous research has suggested that engaging in regular physical activity (PA) can help to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety in university students. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the impact of reducing sedentary behavior (SB) and increasing light-intensity PA (LPA) on these symptoms. This study aims to address this gap by using isotemporal substitution (IS) models to explore how substituting SB with LPA or moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) affects depression and anxiety symptoms among university students., Methods: The study recruited 318 university students with a mean age of 21.13 years. Accelerometers were used to objectively measure the time spent on SB, LPA, and MVPA, while depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). IS models using multivariable linear regression were employed to estimate the associations between different behaviors and depression and anxiety symptoms when 30 min of one behavior was substituted with another., Results: In the single-activity model, less SB (β = 0.321, 95% CI: 0.089, 1.297) and more MVPA (β = -0.142, 95% CI: -1.496, - 0.071) were found to be significantly and negatively associated with depression scores, while less SB (β = 0.343, 95% CI: 0.057, 1.014), LPA (β = 0.132, 95% CI: 0.049, 1.023), and more MVPA (β = -0.077, 95% CI: -1.446, - 0.052) were significantly and negatively correlated with anxiety scores. The IS analysis revealed that substituting 30 min of SB with LPA (β = -0.202, 95% CI: -1.371, - 0.146) or MVPA (β = -0.308, 95% CI: -0.970, - 0.073) was associated with improvements in depressive symptoms. Substituting 30 min of SB with MVPA (β = -0.147, 95% CI: -1.863, - 0.034) was associated with reduced anxiety symptoms., Conclusion: Replacing 30 min of SB with MVPA may alleviate depression and anxiety symptoms in university students. Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of PA interventions on the mental health disorders of this population., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: The study aims to explore the driving forces behind physical activity engagement among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, focusing on motivation, opportunity, and capability., Design: A phenomenological qualitative study applied the motivation, opportunity, and capability model, conducted in two respiratory units of a Chinese university hospital., Methods: Participants, selected by age, gender, and illness duration, included inpatients during the interview sessions and those recently discharged within six months. One-on-one semi-structured interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed by the Colaizzi seven-step method., Results: Seventeen participants diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for over one year aged between 66 (range: 42-96) participated. Three major themes were identified: Inspiring participation motivation-transitioning from recognizing significance to habit formation; Offering participation opportunities-reiterating demand for personalized strategies and ideal environmental settings; Enhancing participation capability-addressing strategies for overcoming fears, setting goals, ensuring safety, and adjusting activity levels., Conclusions: This research underscores the vital role of inspiring participation motivation, offering opportunities, and enhancing the capability for participation in effective engagement. Advocating increased attention from healthcare departments, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, improving activity guidance and counseling effectiveness, and considering individual preferences can significantly benefit those patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who hesitate or are unable to participate in physical activities, thereby increasing the dose of non-leisure time physical activity., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright: © 2024 Liao et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: Globally, the population of older people is increasing and is estimated to reach nearly 2.1 billion by 2050. Physical activity (PA) is one of the key components for successful ageing. However, PA decreases with age and many older adults do not meet PA guidelines. Previous research has shown that social support (SOSU) is related to PA in older people. The aim of this scoping review is to identify and map all of the available evidence and to explore the association between functional SOSU and PA in older adults. Functional SOSU consists of emotional, informational, instrumental and companionship SOSU and social comparison., Methods: A scoping review was conducted using the Joanna-Briggs manual. Quantitative and qualitative studies investigating associations between functional SOSU and PA levels in older adults (mean age ≥ 60 years) were identified through a systematic search in seven electronic databases up to August 2023. After removing duplicates, 20,907 articles were screened for titles and abstracts. The results were analysed separately for different types of SOSU., Results: 116 articles met the inclusion criteria; 72% were quantitative studies and 28% were qualitative studies. Most studies used self-reported PA measures, only 23% of the studies used objective-reported PA measures. Most studies of SOSU for PA reported positive associations but the evidence is inconclusive when the source of support is considered. PA is positively associated with general, emotional, informational, and companionship SOSU, while instrumental support may occasionally be negatively associated. Companionship support is particularly influential on PA, especially in group settings, as it promotes social connectedness. Qualitative studies show that social comparison also supports PA. Different forms of SOSU generally show positive associations with PA., Conclusions: While the evidence on the association between functional SOSU and PA is mixed, most studies show that there is a positive association. PA may also be a strategy for improving social contact and social integration. This study offers a comprehensive overview of measures for SOSU and PA and thereby informs future research and policy-making., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Exercise and physical activity are key components of management in patients with rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases (RMD), but people of the South Asian communities have a lower level of engagement with these activities compared to their Caucasian counterparts. The aim of this qualitative systematic review was to determine the barriers and facilitators of exercise and physical activity in South Asian communities who have migrated and live in western countries, particularly in those who have RMD., Methods: Qualitative studies, published in English between 1999 and 2021 and including evaluation of barriers and/or facilitators to exercise or physical activity behaviour in people of South Asian adult communities who have migrated and/or lived in western countries were identified from Embase, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Google Scholar and manual searches. The studies were appraised using the CASP checklist. Inductive thematic synthesis was used to identify common and global themes., Results: A total of 32 studies that discussed barriers and facilitators of physical activity in South Asian communities who have migrated and lived in western countries were used for this review but there were no studies identified that focussed specifically on those with RMD. Following appraisal of the reporting of the studies, 30 studies were included in the pooling of the results. The facilitators and barriers to physical activities were broadly categorized into 'extrinsic' and 'intrinsic' factors. Extrinsic factors such as 'opportunity' included environmental factors such as weather and safety; socioeconomic factors such as education, language and literacy, and support in the form of social, psychological and resources. Intrinsic factors included cultural factors, such as life stages and family influence, beliefs and knowledge, which impacted attitudes and skills., Conclusions: This review has synthesised evidence of barriers or facilitators and identified potentially modifiable factors influencing physical activity and exercise engagement, which could form the basis of evidence-based interventions to promote participation in healthy behaviour change. Provision of a safe, comfortable and culturally acceptable environment together with culturally-aligned cognitive strategies to facilitate acquisition of exercise-efficacy skills could help engagement., Registration: The systematic review was registered on PROSPERO, registration no. 289,235., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: To evaluate daily physical activity (PA) in relation to psychosocial factors, such as anxiety, depression and different types of coping strategies, as well as patient- and disease-related factors in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA)., Methods: Consecutive outpatients from the Groningen Leeuwarden AxSpA (GLAS) cohort completed the modified Short Questionnaire to assess health-enhancing PA (mSQUASH), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Coping with Rheumatic Stressors (CORS) questionnaires, as well as standardized patient- and disease-related assessments. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses and comparison of lowest and highest PA tertiles were performed to explore associations between the HADS, CORS, patient- and disease-related factors and PA., Results: In total, 84 axSpA patients were included; 60% male, mean age 49 (SD ±14) years, median symptom duration 20 (25th-75th percentiles: 12-31) years, mean ASDAS 2.1 (±1.0). Higher PA levels were significantly associated with better scores on patient-reported disease activity (BASDAI), physical function (BASFI) and quality of life (ASQoL). Furthermore, higher levels of PA were associated with less impact of axSpA on wellbeing and lower HADS depression scores. In the multivariable linear regression model, less use of the coping strategy 'decreasing activities' (β: -376.4; p 0.003) and lower BMI (β:-235.5; p: 0.030) were independently associated with higher level of PA. Comparison of patients from the lowest and highest PA tertiles showed results similar to those found in the regression analyses., Conclusion: In this cohort of axSpA patients, higher levels of daily PA were associated with better patient-reported outcomes and lower depression scores. Additionally, the passive coping strategy "decreasing activities" and lifestyle factor BMI were independently associated with PA. Besides anti-inflammatory treatment, coping strategies and lifestyle should be taken into account in the management of individual axSpA patients. Incorporating these aspects into patient education could increase patient awareness and self-efficacy. In the future, longitudinal studies are needed to better understand the complex relationship between patient-, disease- and psychosocial factors associated with daily PA., Competing Interests: Marlies Carbo: None declared, Davy Paap: None declared, Laura van Overbeeke: None declared, Freke Wink: None declared, Suzanne Arends: None declared, Anneke Spoorenberg Paid instructor for: AbbVie, Consultant of: AbbVie, Novartis Pharma, Pfizer, UCB Pharma, Lilly, Grant/research support from: Novartis Pharma, Pfizer. Hendrika Bootsma: unrestricted grants from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Roche and AstraZeneca, consultant for Bristol-Myers Squibb, Roche, Novartis, Union Chimique Belge, speaker for Bristol-Myers Squibb and Novartis. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials., (Copyright: © 2024 Carbo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) is a valid method to evaluate medical students' competencies. The present cross-sectional study aimed at determining how students' coping and health-related behaviors are associated with their psychological well-being and performance on the day of the OSCE. Fourth-year medical students answered a set of standardized questionnaires assessing their coping (BCI) and health-related behaviors before the examination (sleep PSQI, physical activity GPAQ). Immediately before the OSCE, they reported their level of instant psychological well-being on multi-dimensional visual analogue scales. OSCE performance was assessed by examiners blinded to the study. Associations were explored using multivariable linear regression models. A total of 482 students were included. Instant psychological well-being was positively associated with the level of positive thinking and of physical activity. It was negatively associated with the level of avoidance and of sleep disturbance. Furthermore, performance was negatively associated with the level of avoidance. Positive thinking, good sleep quality, and higher level of physical activity were all associated with improved well-being before the OSCE. Conversely, avoidance coping behaviors seem to be detrimental to both well-being and OSCE performance. The recommendation is to pay special attention to students who engage in avoidance and to consider implementing stress management programs.Clinical trial: The study protocol was registered on clinicaltrial.gov NCT05393206, date of registration: 11 June 2022., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: In order to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between physical activity and adolescent mental health in the post COVID-19 pandemic era, self-esteem and social anxiety were used as mediating variables to explore the potential mechanisms by which physical activity affects adolescent mental health., Methods: The study used the HELP-II Health Promoting Lifestyle Scale, the SPIN Social Phobia Scale, the Self-Esteem Scale, and the 10-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale to administer questionnaires to 400 Chinese secondary school students, and SPSS 26.0 and PROCESS 3.3 were used to process the data., Results: The findings showed that (1) physical activity was significantly and positively associated with mental health; (2) self-esteem and social anxiety played a fully mediating role between physical activity and adolescent mental health respectively; (3) self-esteem and social anxiety played a chain mediating role between physical activity and adolescent mental health., Conclusion: This study reveals the relationship and influencing mechanism between physical activity and adolescent mental health in the post COVID-19 pandemic era. Appropriate interventions for physical activity, self-esteem, and social anxiety may be beneficial to adolescent mental health. The protective role of self-esteem in adolescent mental health should be the focus of future studies, and further investigations into the association between the COVID-19 and adolescent mental health are warranted., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Feng et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: To determine the potential influence of a home-based virtual group exercise on people's long-term overall health consequences in global Asian population., Methods: We recruited 1021 participants from more than 7 regions across the globe including Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, United States, Canada, Europe, and other regions. All the participants attended the virtual group Qigong exercise 60-minute bi-weekly with instructors for 6 months from June 2022 to December 2022. The physical, mental, and social well-being and other variables were measured via online questionnaires., Results: The majority were 51 to 65 (50.6%) years old, female (90.2%), married (68.5%), and came from Taiwan (48.9%). Older adults had higher scores on measures of overall health and exercise adherence, and lower scores on measures of sleep quality and depressive symptoms compared with younger counterparts (P < .05). Most of them (95.3%) acknowledged that the improvement of health status was their motivating factor for exercise. Eighty nine percent of the participants believed that social media played an important role in this exercise program., Conclusion: This study will suggest such approach has great potential to reduce health disparities and can be implemented to underserved population who has limited recourses to join in-person exercise program., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: The transition into residential aged care is frequently associated with a reduction in physical activity, social engagement, and emotional wellbeing. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of a 26-day international cycling competition (Road Worlds Competition for Seniors), incorporating elements of exercise, audiovisual cycling footage, social engagement, and gamification, on the physical, psychological, and social well-being of aged care residents. We aimed to use findings to inform the development of a multi-modal intervention model to maximise wellbeing for older adults., Methods: Residents (N = 32) participated in a mixed-methods single-group intervention pilot study that compared pre-and post-competition measures for the following wellbeing domains; physical, psychological, and social. In addition, interviews were conducted with residents (n = 27) and staff (n = 6) to explore their experiences., Results: Measures identified significant improvements across multiple wellbeing domains, including functional fitness, depression, self-efficacy, and social network sizes. Findings from the interview data indicated that the multimodal components involved in the program delivery were valued by staff and residents who enjoyed the gamification, audiovisual cycling footage, social engagement, opportunities for reminiscence, and camaraderie between peers, staff, and volunteers., Conclusions: Findings highlight a constellation of benefits across physical, psychological, and social domains of wellbeing and inform a model for innovative multidimensional programs in residential aged care. The benefits for residents with varying physical and cognitive abilities support the use of creative strategies that maximise inclusion and engagement for residents., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) patients often do not sustain physical activity (PA) behaviour in the long run, once they progress into a self-management stage of secondary prevention. This study aimed to explore former CR patients' PA preferences, determinants (i.e., influencing factors) and motivation for sustained PA engagement. We conducted a cross-sectional multi-centre survey using an original questionnaire based on prior qualitative interviews with cardiac patients. Five CR centres in Austria posted 500 questionnaires to former CR patients who had completed CR approximately three years prior, and 117 patients (23%) responded. Descriptive analysis was used to analyse closed-ended questions, and self-determination theory (SDT) was applied as a qualitative framework to analyse open-ended questions concerning motivation for PA engagement. Patients were generally physically active, but the majority (75.3%) did not fulfil the World Health Organisation's recommendations for aerobic PA and muscle strengthening. Most patients preferred being physically active outdoors (70%), engaging in aerobic-related (95%), individual and non-competitive exercises, with cycling (52%), walking (32%) and hiking (25%) among the most popular activities. Main determinants of PA were health, pain and motivation for 80%, 68%, 67% of patients, respectively. A subset of patients (77%) expanded on their motivations behind PA. According to SDT, most reasons (90%) were regulated by autonomous motivation (either extrinsically autonomously-regulated or intrinsic motivation) and stemmed mostly from health-related goals (e.g., fitness, general health, weight control), future quality-of-life aspirations (e.g., self-sufficiency in old age, presence for loved ones, preserving mobility) and enjoyment of PA. Patients' responses underscore the importance of promoting not only general PA, but also muscle strengthening training in CR interventions to maximise optimal health benefits. Our data further suggest that interventions which are aligned to patients' health goals and foster autonomous motivation may be particularly beneficial in increasing adherence to PA in the long-term., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 McGowan et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Health behaviors include behavioral patterns and habits that relate to health maintenance, restoration and improvement. They do not only affect the physical condition; they are also associated with life satisfaction. In our study, we focused on young adulthood, a specific lifespan period for establishing long-term health behavior patterns. The aim of the present study was to investigate depressive symptoms, lifestyle and eating behaviors and delineate their associations with overweight/obesity and body, health and life satisfaction in young adults in Poland. We enrolled 800 students (81.4% females and 18.6% males). Diet, physical activity, depressive symptoms, eating behaviors and body, health and life satisfaction were assessed. Multivariate logistic regression models were employed. Almost half of the participants in our study had at least mild symptoms of depression. Symptoms of depression significantly reduced the odds of satisfaction with body, health and life, whereas physical activity increased them. Overweight/obesity significantly reduced the odds of body and health satisfaction. In women, a history of depression and emotional eating increased the odds of being overweight/obese. The results of our study may contribute to the development of educational programs and intervention strategies for young adults., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of the data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

This study focuses on adolescents' cognitive processes, behaviors and social support (SS) as they relate to physical activity (PA) before and after the pandemic. The aims of the study were: (1) to investigate the changes in adolescents' engagement in moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and examine the changes in PA-related attitudes and behaviors before and after the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) to analyze the correlations between the significant changes that were found, PA engagement, and SS. The survey targeted third-year middle school students of Italian nationality, attending male and female mixed classes, residents in urban, periphery and sub-urban areas, living in families with different incomes, and different habits of engaging in PA. A longitudinal study was developed using a standardized questionnaire. The questionnaire was administered in April-May 2023 to a sample of 952 students aged 11/14 residing in the Marche region in Central Italy. Increasing values were found in the post-COVID-19 phase for all the cognitive processes and attitudes, in particular, those regarding habits (0.66 vs 0.50, + 32%) and identity (0.70 vs 0.55, + 27%) related to PA. Significant correlations were found between these values and VPA engagement and between the values of the same indicators and SS (p < 0.01). The strongest relationship was found with the dimension of identity (r = 0.51; r = 054)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Physical activity (PA) interventions have an encouraging role in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) management. Digital technologies can potentially be used at scale to support PA. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of + Stay-Active: a complex intervention which combines motivational interviewing with a smartphone application to promote PA levels in women with GDM., Methods: This non-randomised feasibility study used a mixed methods approach. Participants were recruited from the GDM antenatal clinic at Oxford University Hospitals. Following baseline assessments (visit 1) including self-reported and device determined PA measurements (wrist worn accelerometer), women participated in an online motivational interview, and then downloaded (visit 2) and used the Stay-Active app (Android or iOS). Women had access to Stay-Active until 36 weeks' gestation, when acceptability and PA levels were reassessed (visit 3). The primary outcome measures were recruitment and retention rates, participant engagement, and acceptability and fidelity of the intervention. Secondary outcome measures included PA levels, app usage, blood glucose and perinatal outcomes. Descriptive statistics were performed for assessments at study visits. Statistics software package Stata 14 and R were used., Results: Over the recruitment period (46 weeks), 114 of 285 women met inclusion criteria and 67 (58%) enrolled in the study. Mean recruitment rate of 1.5 participants/clinic with 2.5 women/clinic meeting inclusion criteria. Fifty-six (83%) received the intervention at visit 2 and 53 (79%) completed the study. Compliance to accelerometer measurement protocols were sufficient in 78% of participants (52/67); wearing the device for more than 10 h on 5 or more days at baseline and 61% (41/67) at 36 weeks. There was high engagement with Stay-Active; 82% (55/67) of participants set goals on Stay-Active. Sustained engagement was evident, participants regularly accessed and logged multiples activities on Stay-Active. The intervention was deemed acceptable; 85% of women rated their care was satisfactory or above, supported by written feedback., Conclusions: This combined intervention was feasible and accepted. Recruitment rates were lower than expected. However, retention rates remained satisfactory and participant compliance with PA measurements and engagement was a high. Future work will explore the intervention's efficacy to increase PA and impact on clinical outcomes., Trial Registration: The study has received a favourable opinion from South Central-Hampshire B Research Ethics Committee; REC reference: 20/SC/0342. ISRCTN11366562., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Bariatric surgery therapy (BST) is an effective treatment for obesity; however, little is known about its impacts on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and related factors. This study aimed to evaluate changes in HRQoL and its relationship with weight loss, depression status, physical activity (PA), and nutritional habits after BST. Data were obtained before and 18 months postprocedure from 56 obese patients who underwent BST. We administered four questionnaires: Short Form-36 health survey for HRQoL, 14-item MedDiet adherence questionnaire, Rapid Assessment of PA (RAPA) questionnaire, and Beck's Depression Inventory-II. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with improvement in HRQoL. After the surgery, MedDiet adherence and HRQoL improved significantly, especially in the physical component. No changes in PA were found. Patients without previous depression have better mental quality of life, and patients who lost more than 25% of %TBWL have better results in physical and mental quality of life. In the multivariable analysis, we found that %TBWL and initial PCS (inversely) were related to the improvement in PCS and initial MCS (inversely) with the MCS change. In conclusion, BST is an effective intervention for obesity, resulting in significant weight loss and improvements in HRQoL and nutritional habits.

Background: Regular physical activity (PA) is a key factor of lifestyle behavior enhancing general health and fitness, especially in people after total hip or knee replacement (THR and TKR). Orthopaedic surgeons can play a primary role in advocating the benefits of an active lifestyle. Aim of the study was 1) to assess the attitude of orthopaedic surgeons towards PA for people after THR/TKR and 2) to compare the attitude between a Northern European (the Netherlands) and a Southern European (Italy) country and analyze which factors influence the attitude towards PA., Methods: A cross-cultural study. An (online) survey was distributed among orthopaedic surgeons in Italy and the Netherlands. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare surgeons' and clinics' characteristics, and questionnaires' scores, respectively. A linear regression analysis was conducted to assess which surgeon characteristics influence attitude towards PA., Results: A cohort of 159 surgeons (103 Italians and 56 Dutch) was analyzed. The median score of overall orthopaedic surgeons' attitude towards PA was positive (57 out of 72). Dutch surgeons showed a more positive attitude compared to Italian surgeons (p < 0.01). Main difference was found in the "Physical activity concern" factor, where Italian surgeons showed more concern about the negative effects of PA on the survival of the prosthesis. The regression analyses showed that "Country" and "Type of clinic" were associated with the surgeons' attitude., Conclusions: Overall, the orthopaedic surgeons' attitude towards PA for people with THR and TKR was positive. However, Dutch surgeons seem to be more positive compared to the Italian. The country of residence was the item that most influenced attitude. Further investigations are needed to untangle specific factors, such as cultural, socioeconomic, or contextual differences within the variable "country" that may influence orthopaedic surgeons' attitudes towards PA., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Down syndrome (DS) is characterised by a duplication of chromosome-21 and is linked to co-occurring physical and mental health conditions, including low self-efficacy and disturbed mood states. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an eight-week prescribed physical and/or cognitive training intervention on measures of mood disturbance, life satisfaction and self-efficacy in a population of adults with DS. Eighty-three participants (age 27.1 ± 8.0 years) from across five continents volunteered. Participants were assigned using matched groups based upon performance in a modified six-minute walk test to either an exercise (EXE) 3 × 30 min of walking/jogging per week, cognitive training (COG) 6 × 20 min per week, a combined group (COM) or the control (CON) who did not complete any intervention. Profile of Mood States (POMS) were assessed using a five-point scale across 65 categories pre- and post-study as well as upon completion of each week of the intervention. In addition, Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and self-efficacy using the Generalised Self-Efficacy scale (GSE) were recorded before and after the intervention. GSE increased for all participants by 1.9 ± 5.2 ( p = 0.002) from pre- to post-intervention, while POMS showed significant changes for the whole group from pre- to post-intervention for tension ( p < 0.001), depression ( p < 0.001) and for anger ( p < 0.001). In addition, significant correlations were observed between SWLS and ΔTMD, Δtension, Δanger, and Δfatigue ( p < 0.05) for EXE. Both COG and EXE provide a framework for empowering enhancements in life satisfaction, self-efficacy and mood states fostering improvements in quality of life.

Background/objectives: Engagement in regular physical activity is one of the best strategies for older adults to remain healthy. Unfortunately, only 35% of older adults meet guidelines for muscle strengthening activities. Eliciting participant preferences is one possible way to improve physical activity engagement. However, other sources of participant input to improve uptake and maintenance remain uninvestigated. This study compared preferences to self-efficacy ratings for two strength training programs., Methods: We conducted a national cross-sectional survey of 611 US adults over age 65. We compared two participant evaluations (the preferred program and the program for which they had higher barrier self-efficacy) of two hypothetical strength training programs (45 minutes performed three times per week (traditional) and 5 minutes performed daily (brief))., Results: Most participants (68%) preferred the brief strength training program. The difference in self-efficacy ratings was an average of 1.2 (SD = 0.92). One in five participants preferred a strength training program for which they had less self-efficacy; nearly all of these participants (92%) preferred the traditional strength training program but had more self-efficacy for the brief strength training program., Conclusion: Older adults reported preferring and having more self-efficacy for a brief compared to a traditional strength training program. Differences in self-efficacy ratings between the two strength training programs were large. Preferences were often not congruent with ratings of self-efficacy., Significance/implications: Preferences for strength training programming may not always reflect the program most likely to be maintained. Future investigations should evaluate differences in behavioral uptake, maintenance, and outcomes from two comparative strength training interventions using preferences and self-efficacy., Competing Interests: I have read the journal’s policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: Christopher Sciamanna has an investment, such as stock, in a company which has begun to investigate the possibility of creating a business that provides exercise programs. All other authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright: © 2024 Kurth et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: More than one-third of older adults (aged ≥65 y) experience falls every year. The prevalent modifiable risk factors for falling are malnutrition and physical inactivity, among others. The involvement of older adults in the prevention of falls can decrease injuries, hospitalizations, and dependency on health care professionals. In this regard, eHealth can support older adults' self-management through more physical activity and adequate food intake. eHealth must be tailored to older adults' needs and preferences so that they can reap its full benefits. Therefore, it is necessary to gain insight into the knowledge, skills, and mindset of older adults living at home who are at risk of falls regarding eHealth., Objective: This qualitative study aims to explore older adults' use of everyday digital services and technology and how they acquire knowledge about and manage their nutritional intake and physical activity in relation to their health., Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 15 older adults (n=9, 60% women; n=6, 40% men; age range 71-87 y) who had all experienced falls or were at risk of falling. These individuals were recruited from a geriatric outpatient clinic. The interviews were analyzed using deductive content analysis based on a modification of the Readiness and Enablement Index for Health Technology framework., Results: The qualitative data showed that the informants' social networks had a positive impact on their self-management, use of technology, and mindset toward nutritional intake and physical activity. Although the informants generally lived active lives, they all lacked knowledge about how their food intake influenced their physical health, including their risk of falling. Another finding was the large diversity in the use of technology among the informants, which was related to their mindset toward technology., Conclusions: Older adults can use technology for everyday purposes, but some need additional introduction and support to be able to use it for managing their health. They also need to learn about the importance of proper nutritional intake and physical activity in preventing falls. Older adults need a more personalized introduction to technology, nutrition, and physical activity in their contact with health professionals., (©Julie Kikkenborg, Emma Magelund, Maria Silke Riise, Lars Kayser, Rikke Terp. Originally published in JMIR Human Factors (https://humanfactors.jmir.org), 08.05.2024.)