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Introduction: Veterans are at risk for mental and physical health problems but may not seek traditional health care services. Wellness-based interventions, including exercise and nutrition, have been associated with improvements in physical and mental health among this population. This study explores the acceptability, feasibility, and efficacy of a 3-month health and fitness program for veterans., Materials and Methods: Participants in 2 time-based cohorts from 2019 to 2023 (cohort 1: n = 261; cohort 2: n = 256) were cleared by a physician to participate. Participants then completed a fitness test and self-reported surveys (e.g., quality of life, sleep, and pain) before and after the 3-month program. Participants were recruited to participate at one of three sites: Boston, MA Fort Myers, FL, or Tampa, FL. The 3-month program consisted of weekly, supervised group fitness and one-on-one sessions, nutritional consultations, yoga, and other wellness activities. Primary program outcomes were measured by fitness assessments, self-report surveys, program completion, and program satisfaction. Fitness assessments included measures of weight, body mass index, grip strength, waist to hip ratio, body fat, lean mass, fat mass, heart rate, and blood pressure (BP). Self-report measures included quality of life, depression, loneliness, sleep quality, pain intensity, and pain interference., Results: In cohort 1, significant improvements were found for measures of weight (P = .01), left-handed grip strength (P < .01), body fat percent (P < .01), and quality of life (P < .01). In cohort 2, significant improvements were found for measures of waist:hip ratio (P = .02), right and left-handed grip strength (P < .01), body mass index (P = .02), body fat percent (P < .01), and quality of life (P = .02). For both cohorts, pain intensity (cohort 1: P = .01, cohort 2: P < .001) and pain interference (cohort 1: P = .02, cohort 2: P < .001) increased significantly., Conclusions: These data suggest that a 3-month health and fitness program for veterans is acceptable and feasible and may improve physical and mental health outcomes. Considerations for program retention and assessment completion are discussed., (© The Association of Military Surgeons of the United States 2024. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site–for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Women make up nearly 60% of fitness App users and play an important role in the operation and development of these Apps. Despite the widespread adoption of fitness Apps in recent years due to their many physical and mental benefits, the use of Apps tends to be short-term, and user engagement is relatively low. Little is known about the factors that motivate female users to consistently use fitness Apps. This study aimed to study attributes of fitness Apps that are most likely to influence female users during their use of Apps., Methods: The means-ends chain theory and the soft-laddering interview technique were used to analyze the attributes that influenced females' perceptions of fitness apps, focusing on the features most likely to provide them with benefits and value., Result: The results of the study indicated that instructiveness, interaction, personalization, ease of use, and convenience were the most important attributes valued by female fitness App users; peer support, entertainment, and exercise adherence were the most important consequences; and health, self-fulfillment, enjoyment of life and sense of achievement were the most important values., Conclusion: The findings provide researchers and management of fitness Apps and women's sports with valuable insights from the means-ends chain theory, as well as suggestions for applying App design and promotion., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Objective: To establish whether physical fitness and cognitive self-perceptions act as mediators in the link between global fitness and cognitive performance measured objectively in adolescents. We also compared differences across sex., Methods: A total of 1296 adolescents (50 % girls) from grades 5 to 8 (ages 10-14) participated in this cross-sectional study. The ALPHA-fitness test battery assessed physical fitness, comprising cardiorespiratory, speed-agility, and muscular fitness components. We used the 1-5-point International Fitness Scale for physical fitness self-perception, and the 1-10 scale for cognitive performance self-perception. Objective cognitive performance was assessed using a neurocognitive battery consisting of eight tasks. Using principal component analysis, these tasks were grouped into three domains: attention, working memory, and problem solving. We examined three serial mediation models adjusted for sex, standardized body mass index, maturation, and school vulnerability index., Results: Physical fitness and cognitive self-perceptions mediated the effects on attention (B = .0027, CI = .0011 to .0047), memory (B = .0025; CI = .0003 to .0055 and B = .0035; CI = .0009 to .0063), and problem-solving (B = -.0137; CI = -.0231 to -.0052 and B = .0072; CI = .0043 to .0106). By sex, boys showed mediation in all domains, while girls only showed mediation in problem-solving., Conclusions: Adolescents' perceptions play a crucial and positive mediating role in linking objective measures of physical fitness to cognitive performance outcomes, particularly when self-perceptions of physical fitness and cognition are considered together. Therefore, educating families and school/health environments about the importance of adolescent perceptions, while fostering self-awareness and reinforcing their capabilities, is essential., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest 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 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The sexual interest of postmenopausal women is a crucial aspect of their overall well-being. Despite its importance, factors influencing postmenopausal sexual interest, particularly in Asian women, remain understudied and poorly understood., Aims: To investigate the various factors influencing sexual interest in postmenopausal women in Malaysia., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted of postmenopausal women attending a gynecology or primary care clinic in a teaching hospital in Malaysia., Outcomes: We investigated how interpersonal dynamics and cultural norms-including the physical and mental health of women and their partners, as well as their sexual values-affect menopausal sexual interest as measured by the Menopausal Sexual Interest Questionnaire., Results: Women in the study reported an average sexual interest, with a mean score of 32.8 (SD, 9.4) out of 70 on the Menopausal Sexual Interest Questionnaire. Multivariable analysis results showed that higher personal sexual values (odds ratio [OR], 2.65; 95% CI, 1.26-5.61) and spousal sexual values (OR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.22-5.86) were significantly associated with higher menopausal sexual interest. There was a positive correlation between the physical fitness of spouses and menopausal sexual interest, with women who rated their spouses as very fit or fit (OR, 3.22; 95% CI, 1.15-9.00) or moderately fit (OR, 2.63; 95% CI, 1.05-6.63) showing higher menopausal sexual interest as compared with those whose spouses were very unfit or unfit. Women with normal stress levels (OR, 5.89; 95% CI, 1.03-33.62) and mild to moderate stress levels (OR, 8.13; 95% CI, 1.53-43.22) reported higher menopausal sexual interest., Clinical Implications: This study emphasizes a holistic approach to postmenopausal sexual health, highlighting the significance of promoting positive sexual values, improving physical fitness, and managing stress. Health care providers should educate, counsel, and collaborate interdisciplinarily, ensuring culturally sensitive care tailored to individual needs., Strength and Limitations: The study's strength lies in its provision of valuable insights into factors affecting sexual interest among postmenopausal Asian women, enhancing comprehension of holistic sexual health approaches. However, reliance on self-assessments may introduce response bias influenced by social desirability, and limited generalizability stems from single-site data collection., Conclusion: Our study highlights the significance of adopting a holistic approach to addressing sexual health in postmenopausal women, which includes promoting positive sexual values, improving physical fitness, and managing stress., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The International Society for Sexual Medicine. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

In recent decades, the concept of "Physical Literacy" has emerged as a significant breakthrough in enhancing the physical health of children and adolescents. This concept has become the guiding principle and future direction for physical education reform in Western countries. As China's economic and social development enters a new phase, the negative impact of insufficient physical activity on adolescent health remains a significant challenge to the strategies of "Healthy China" and "A Leading Sports Nation." The unique value of physical literacy, which emphasizes the importance of regular physical activity, aligns perfectly with the developmental needs of the nation, the era, and individuals. Given the crucial role of interpersonal support in the development of adolescents' physical literacy, this study employs questionnaire surveys and statistical analysis to investigate the current state of physical literacy among Chinese adolescents. It explores the predictive relationship between parental support, teacher support, and peer support on physical literacy, aiming to provide guidance for the future development of adolescents' physical literacy. The research findings indicate significant differences in the five dimensions of physical literacy (attitude, sports knowledge, emotion, athletic ability, and physical fitness) among adolescents of different grades and residence type. Additionally, there are notable gender differences in the dimensions of sports knowledge, emotion, and athletic ability. The interaction effect of gender and grade is particularly evident in the emotional and physical fitness dimensions. There is a significant correlation between interpersonal support and all dimensions of physical literacy. After controlling for variables such as gender, grade, and family background, interpersonal support for adolescent physical exercise was found to have a significant impact on all dimensions of physical literacy. Among the forms of support, peer support was identified as a more powerful predictor of physical literacy compared to parental and teacher support., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Chen 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.)

This study analysed the relationship between the structured and unstructured activities of preschoolers and their mental and physical health, and also investigated the predicted changes in mental and physical health by reallocating activity time. This cross-sectional study was carried out with 324 preschoolers. Video recording and SOPARC activity observation system was used for the division of structured and unstructured activities. An accelerometer sensor was used to measure activity intensity. The SDQ psychological questionnaire was adopted to collect data on internalizing difficulties, externalizing difficulties, total difficulties and pro-social behaviours. Physical indices including body shape (height, weight, BMI), and physical fitness (upper and lower limb strength, flexibility, agility, and balance) were collected using Chinese toddler physical fitness measurement tools. Component data and isotemporal reallocation analyses were conducted using R Studio (Version 4.2). A total of 308 preschoolers (160 boys; aged 4.50 ± 0.93 years) were included in the data analysis. The activities composition, adjusted for sex, area, mental level (for mental indicators), or age (for physical indicators), was significantly correlated with various measurement indicators (p < 0.05). Specifically, structured (β=-0.87, p < 0.05) and unstructured (β=-1.24, p < 0.05) moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were significantly positive correlated with internalizing difficulties, while structured MVPA was significantly positively correlated with body shape (β = 2.17, p < 0.05). Replacing structured light physical activity (LPA) with 10 min of structured MVPA has a positive effect on internalizing difficulties (SMD=-1.28, 95%CI: -2.30 to -0.27) and body shape (SMD = 1.76, 95%CI: 0.37 to 3.15). When the total replacement time reaches 25 min, the benefits become even more pronounced. Structured and unstructured MVPA are both beneficial to preschoolers' mental and physical health, with the incorporation of MVPA for over 25 min in structured activities and supplementary unstructured MVPA yielding even greater benefits., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Job strain is a major concern in the workplace. Work-related stress is an increasing challenge worldwide as it is the leading cause of long-term sickness absences, disability pensions and lower productivity. Rarely studied simultaneously, both leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and physical fitness (PF), which comprises cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscular fitness (MF), may have potential in preventing and managing job strain. The current study aimed to investigate whether LTPA, CRF and MF predict perceived job strain. In addition, the study examines reverse associations, that is, whether job strain predicts LTPA, CRF and MF. We used longitudinal population-based data from a Northern Finland birth cohort of 1966 (n = 5363) to analyse LTPA, CRF and MF as well as job strain and its components, job demands and job control, at age 31 years (1997) and 46 years (2012). Leisure-time physical activity was measured with a self-reported questionnaire whereas CRF and MF were measured as part of clinical examination. Linear regression analyses were used to analyse the data. In both men (n = 2548) and women (n = 2815), higher baseline MF predicted lower job strain and job demands 15 years later. In women, higher baseline total LTPA predicted higher job demands, whereas in men, higher CRF predicted lower job strain and higher job control. These associations remained significant, also when adjusted for education and occupational status. In the analyses on reverse associations, higher job control and higher job demands were linked to higher leisure-time moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and total LTPA 15 years later among both men and women, except for the association between job demands and total LTPA among women. These associations remained significant after adjustment for education and occupational status, except for the association of job control with MVPA and total LTPA among men. The association of higher job demands and total LTPA became significant in women. We conclude that LTPA and PF seem beneficial in preventing and managing job strain., (© 2024 The Author(s). Stress and Health published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The COVID-19 pandemic affected the lives of older adults. Yet, little is known about changes in well-being among older adults during the pandemic, especially when COVID-19 measures were relaxed. Therefore, we aimed to assess changes in the well-being of older adults during multiple turning points of the pandemic. This longitudinal study included data from Dutch older adults (≥65 years old) participating in the Lifelines COVID-19 cohort. Data consisted of seven questionnaires, administered every 2-4 months between May 2020 and October 2021. The outcomes were quality of life (n = 14 682), physical fitness (n = 14 761), and feelings of isolation (n = 14 611), all graded on a scale from 0 to 10. Changes in well-being were analysed by multivariable linear mixed-effects models. The context of measures was described using the Government Stringency Index. Quality of life and feelings of isolation decreased when measures were tightened and increased when measures were relaxed. For example, when measures relaxed after the first lockdown in May 2020, quality of life increased by 0.23 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.16-0.29] towards July 2020. Physical fitness decreased by 0.26 [95% CI: 0.15-0.37] during the study period. Differences between subsamples were not found, except for sex in feelings of isolation, which differences diminished after a period of relaxed measures. Changes in quality of life and feelings of isolation improved after periods of stringent COVID-19 measures. Physical fitness did not improve after measures were relaxed, suggesting a possible negative effect of the pandemic on the physical fitness of older adults., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association.)

Fitspiration content on Instagram often includes images in which women are objectified but may also include captions that aim to positively motivate viewers, such as through messaging about body appreciation. Viewing objectifying content in fitspiration posts may be problematic for young women's mental health, but it's unclear if positive messaging may help to alleviate some of these effects. In this study, we conducted a 2 × 2 online experiment assessing the effects of body appreciation and objectification content present in Instagram fitness posts by influencers on young women ( N  = 200). The outcome variables were state body appreciation, trait body appreciation, self-esteem, and self-compassion. We found an interaction between the presence and absence of objectification and presence and absence of body appreciation that significantly influenced self-compassion and body appreciation. The interaction suggests that self-compassion and state body appreciation are higher in the presence of body appreciation messaging, although there were not main effects for just viewing objectifying images or body appreciation captions. This means that just body appreciation or just objectification may not affect state body appreciation and self-compassion, but the two together have an effect. Our findings suggest that body appreciation captions may serve as a protective factor for self-compassion and state body appreciation when young women view Instagram fitspiration posts that include sexual objectification. Health communicators could encourage influencers to include body appreciation content in their fitspiration posts to help improve self-compassion among viewers, and interventions could work to promote body appreciation among young women to encourage self-compassion.

Objective: This study examined relationships between physical fitness, health behaviors, and occupational outcomes of university affiliates., Participants: 166 university affiliates of an American university (including students, faculty, and staff) participated between October 2018 and March 2020., Methods: Participants completed fitness measurements, wore a device to measure physical activity (PA) and sleep for one week, and completed a survey evaluating happiness and job satisfaction. Multiple regression models evaluated associations between physical fitness, health behaviors, and occupational outcomes., Results: 45% of participants had "poor" cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and unhealthy % fat. CRF, body composition, and muscular endurance were related to PA while body composition was related to sleep duration. Muscular endurance was related to GPA and job satisfaction., Conclusions: Findings suggest 45% of university affiliates had deficient physical fitness and may benefit from increasing PA and sleep. Universities should evaluate fitness within holistic programs to improve affiliates' health and, ultimately, occupational success.

Purpose: Utilising Welk's Youth Physical Activity Promotion (YPAP) model as a foundational framework, this study investigates the intricate interplay of social support, physical activity (PA), and self-efficacy in relation to physical fitness within the context of Chinese culture. The primary objective is to identify the nuanced dynamics among social support, self-efficacy, PA, and physical fitness to enhance adolescent well-being and fitness., Methodology: The study employed a convenience sampling method, engaging 123 adolescents aged 18-21, of which 67 were females (54.47%), and 56 were males (45.53%). Data were collected through structured questionnaires focusing on the identified variables., Results: Our study revealed significant positive associations among social support, self-efficacy, PA, and physical fitness, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.282 to 0.419. Notably, a discernible gender disparity emerged, with females exhibiting higher levels of physical fitness. Among the key determinants of adolescent physical fitness, self-efficacy emerged as the most influential, followed by PA and gender. Utilising structural equation modelling and regression techniques, we discerned that social support indirectly influences physical fitness, primarily mediated by self-efficacy and the level of physical activity., Discussion: This study provides insight into how social support impacts adolescent physical fitness. We found that social support strongly predicts both PA and self-efficacy, and self-efficacy significantly boosts PA, ultimately leading to improved physical fitness. Both self-efficacy and PA serve as mediators in the relationship between social support and fitness. Therefore, interventions should prioritise reinforcing social support, promoting PA, and nurturing self-efficacy to optimise adolescent physical fitness outcomes., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Xu 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.)

Purpose: Study on the effect of psychological skills training on self-esteem (SE) in young athletes., Method: 10 swimmers and 35 volleyball players, split into an intervention group (25) and a control group (18). The intervention entailed a 3-week psychological skills training program covering arousal management, breathing, relaxation, mental imagery, and self-talk. Multilevel growth curve analyses evaluated SE changes., Results: The intervention group showed significant improvements in multiple SE dimensions-physical self-worth, fitness, athletic competence, strength, and body attractiveness but not general SE., Conclusions: This study provides initial evidence of a multimodal psychological skills training's effectiveness in enhancing young athletes' domain-specific SE. It highlights the role of domain-specific SE in young athletes' well-being. Future research should examine psychological and physiological correlations and assess the long-term SE development in adolescent athletes.

Recreational football has shown growing evidence that it could be played safely in adults aged 60+ and that it is physically beneficial. Less is known about the psychological aspects, except for the lived experiences of players. The aim of the present study was to analyze both physiological and psychological effects of short-term recreational football. Fifteen participants took part in a six-week training program of recreational football played at a walking pace with two sessions of 1 h and 30 m per week. Physical fitness was assessed before and after the training period and psychological questionnaires were given at the same time. Body mass and body mass index were significantly decreased, but no other significant effects were found on physical fitness. Participants experienced less frustration related to psychological needs (autonomy and competence). Six weeks were too short to observe significant physical improvements while psychological benefits were already experienced. In this short period, psychological aspects seem predominant. These effects may encourage to long-term adhesion. The activity has the potential to keep adults 60+ exercising, which is important for maintaining good global health and seeing physical changes later.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the association between participation in fitness-related exercises (FRE) and body image dissatisfaction (BID) in adolescents and evaluate the interaction between physical exercise and nutritional status in this association., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015 involving 799 adolescents (10-16 years old) from 14 public schools in Curitiba (PR), Brazil. BID was assessed using the Body Shape Questionnaire and the Silhouette Scale. The FRE was classified as "does not practice," "practices ≤300 min/week," and "practices >300 min/week" by the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents. Poisson and multinomial logistic regressions, adjusted for sex, sexual maturation, and nutritional status analyzed the association of FRE and BID., Results: The BID prevalence was 28.3%; 52.4% of the adolescents wanted to reduce their silhouettes; and 48.7% did not practice FRE. Adolescents who practiced FRE >300 min/week had a 28% higher prevalence for some level of BID (PR 1.28; 95%CI 1.08-1.52) and a 46% lower chance of wanting to reduce silhouettes (OR 0.54; 95%CI 0.35-0.82), compared to nonpractitioners. There was no interaction between FRE and nutritional status in association with BID., Conclusions: The adolescents who practice FRE >300 min/week are likely to have some level of BID and are less likely to report the desire to increase their silhouettes, regardless of their nutritional status.

Social media serves as one of the primary outlets for self-presentation and receiving social support. Even when individuals portray themselves negatively, it might not necessarily be intended for social disapproval. Conversely, positive self-presentation doesn't always guarantee social support. This study examined the relationship between positive and negative fitness self-presentations on social media and the reception of supportive feedback. Additionally, it investigated how social support might influence individuals' self-efficacy, motivation, and participation in physical activities (PA). Participants were fitness app users recruited from a crowdsourcing internet marketplace who had shared their fitness experiences on social media. The results indicated that both types of self-presentation received social support: presenters receiving more social support showed higher self-efficacy for PA. Moreover, fitness posters with higher self-efficacy in PA showed greater motivation for PA. This research suggests that fitness self-presentation allows users to receive social support, fostering confidence and motivation for engaging in PA., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

TikTok, a now iconoclastic social media platform, hosts millions of videos on health, wellness and physical fitness, including content on postpartum wellness and 'bouncing back'. At present, few studies analyse the content of postpartum videos urging viewers to bounce-back or the potential influence of these videos. Given the acknowledged relationship between social media use and adverse mental health outcomes (eg, lowered self-esteem, increased stress, disordered eating risk), an investigation of bounce-back-related postpartum content on TikTok explores important intersections between wellness and fitness cultures and the embodied experience of postpartum recovery. Using a qualitative thematic analysis of bounce-back videos (n=175), we explore three themes: (1) Smoothies: eat, but don't be fat; (2) Bone broth: bounce-back with today's wellness trends; (3) Fitspo: moving your body matters. Importantly, videos recycle historically constructed thinking about what makes a 'good' or 'bad' body, invoke vintage diet-culture tropes (ie, drinking water to fill up before eating), and maintain potentially dangerous expectations for caregivers rooted in historical gender, race and class constructs. This results in a postfeminist mishmash of modern maternity practices and traditional hierarchies. Unpacking the historicity of TikTok content assists health practitioners, scholars and users in understanding the potential impacts of video content on new parents, as well as how to flag and contextualise potentially harmful content. Future studies should examine other TikTok subcultures, including teen mothers and trans parents, and explore the messaging directed at and the impact on those communities., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: The global public health issue of diminishing physical fitness among adolescents has gained increasing attention. The impact of parents' negative emotions or pressure regarding adolescents' educational aspirations may have a passive impact on the quality of life and adaptation of adolescents in and out of school, and ultimately harm their physical health. This study aims to explore whether parent-child discrepancies in educational aspirations influence physical fitness in adolescents through school adaptation and quality of life., Methods: Participants consisted of 9,768 students, males 4,753(48.7%), females 5,015(51.3%), aged 11-19 years, males 14.3 ± 1.92, females 14.4 ± 1.93. The educational aspirations were gauged using a six-point scale for expectation scores. Physical fitness assessments were based on criteria from the National Student Physical Fitness and Health Survey. School adaptation was evaluated using the School Social Behaviors Scale-2. Quality of life for adolescents was measured using Chinese version of the Quality of Life Scale for Children and Adolescents. To analyze the multiple mediating effects, structural equation models were used, and 95% confidence intervals were determined through bootstrap methods., Results: The results illustrated that school adaptation and quality of life played a significant mediating role in the effect of parent-child discrepancies in educational aspirations and physical fitness. There were three intermediary paths were confirmed: (1) discrepancies in educational aspirations → school adaptation → physical fitness (β=-0.088 SE = 0.021; p<0.01; 95% CI: -0.135, -0.05); (2) discrepancies in educational aspirations → quality of life → physical fitness (β=-0.025; SE = 0.011; p = 0.010; 95% CI: -0.050, -0.006); (3) discrepancies in educational aspirations → school adaptation→ quality of life → physical fitness (β=-0.032; SE = 0.014; p = 0.011; 95% CI: -0.061, -0.007)., Conclusion: This study suggests that parents should reduce negative emotions and pressure regarding adolescents' academic aspirations may help their children get better physical fitness., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: Explore the association between varsity athletes' fitness perceptions and symptoms of depression while sidelined from sport for an extended period, and test whether fitness-related self-conscious emotions (i.e., shame, guilt, authentic pride, and hubristic pride) mediate this relationship., Participants: Varsity athletes (N = 124) from a large university in Canada where sports had been restricted for the past year due to the pandemic., Method: Participants completed a cross-sectional self-report survey. Regression analyses testing mediation (i.e., direct and indirect effects) were used to explore the main research aim., Results: Controlling for age and gender, separate models demonstrated significant indirect effects of fitness perceptions on depression symptoms through shame, guilt, and authentic pride, but not through hubristic pride., Conclusion: Self-conscious emotions may be used as a tool to mitigate depression symptoms when varsity athletes are sidelined from sport for an extended period. Further research is needed to understand how self-conscious emotions develop when athletes are injured or retired.

Background: It is not known whether an intervention made mandatory as a physical education (PE) class assignment and aimed at promoting physical activity (PA) in adolescents can create a healthy walking habit, which would allow further improvements to be achieved after the mandatory and promoted intervention has been completed., Objective: The aims of this study were to (1) investigate whether, after a period of using a step tracker mobile app made mandatory and promoted as a PE class assignment, adolescents continue to use it when its use is no longer mandatory and promoted; (2) determine whether there are changes in the PA level, body composition, and fitness of adolescents when the use of the app is mandatory and promoted and when it is neither mandatory nor promoted; and (3) analyze whether the covariates maturity status, gender, and specific app used can have an influence., Methods: A total of 357 students in compulsory secondary education (age: mean 13.92, SD 1.91 y) participated in the study. A randomized controlled trial was conducted consisting of 2 consecutive 10-week interventions. Participants' PA level, body composition, and fitness were measured at baseline (T1), after 10 weeks of mandatory and promoted app use (T2), and after 10 weeks of nonmandatory and nonpromoted app use (T3). Each participant in the experimental group (EG) used 1 of 4 selected step tracker mobile apps after school hours., Results: The results showed that when the use of the apps was neither mandatory nor promoted as a PE class assignment, only a few adolescents (18/216, 8.3%) continued the walking practice. After the mandatory and promoted intervention period (T1 vs T2), a decrease in the sum of 3 skinfolds (mean difference [MD] 1.679; P=.02) as well as improvements in the PA level (MD -0.170; P<.001), maximal oxygen uptake (MD -1.006; P<.001), countermovement jump test (MD -1.337; P=.04), curl-up test (MD -3.791; P<.001), and push-up test (MD -1.920; P<.001) in the EG were recorded. However, the changes between T1 and T2 were significantly greater in the EG than in the control group only in the PA level and curl-up test. Thus, when comparing the measurements taken between T1 and T3, no significant changes in body composition (P=.07) or fitness (P=.84) were observed between the EG and the control group. The covariates maturity status, gender, and specific app used showed a significant effect in most of the analyses performed., Conclusions: A period of mandatory and promoted use of step tracker mobile apps benefited the variables of body composition and fitness in adolescents but did not create a healthy walking habit in this population; therefore, when the use of these apps ceased to be mandatory and promoted, the effects obtained disappeared., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06164041; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06164041., (©Adrián Mateo-Orcajada, Raquel Vaquero-Cristóbal, Jorge Mota, Lucía Abenza-Cano. Originally published in JMIR mHealth and uHealth (https://mhealth.jmir.org), 30.07.2024.)

Introduction: Physical inactivity and mental health disorders are emerging threats to public health in China. Previous research on links between exercise and mental wellbeing have focused on clinical populations, with little evidence from the general population, particularly younger adults. We aimed to investigate associations between physical fitness and mental health in Chinese college students., Methods: In this series, of cross-sectional observational studies, we enrolled 7,468 Chinese college students aged 16-24 years in 199 classes at Changzhou Vocational Institute of Engineering between Sept 1, 2017, and Jun 30, 2018. Exposures of interest were the students' physical fitness level, measured by the Chinese University Students Physique Test. The primary outcomes were mental health situations, measured by the University Personality Inventory (UPI). The multivariable linear regression models were used to assess the relationship between the levels of physical fitness and mental disorders symptoms., Results: Completed mental health and physical fitness data were available for 6,724 participants aged 16-24 years. Compared with the failed group, the corresponding levels of difference in overall UPI scores were - 1.45 scores (95% CI: -2.45, -0.46; p  < 0.01) for the passed group and - 2.95 scores (95% CI: -4.13, -1.77; p < 0.01) for the good group. Similar results were observed in the four different aspects of psychotic disorder symptoms., Discussion: There was a significantly negative correlation between the level of physical fitness and phycological situations among Chinese college students. Our findings highlight the psychological situations of students with low physical fitness levels should be concerned., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Hong, Shen, Hu, Gu, Bai, Chen and Huang.)

This article explores how social media are involved in imagining and sensing body ideals among young fitness self-trackers in Denmark (age 15-24). The analysis is based on 20 interviews and contributes to existing research on social media, body image and self-tracking by showing that social media are central for the fitness practices of the participants, but also that gaining access to practical knowledge, motivational material and visual goals seem to be more important motivations for social media use than personal sharing and interaction. Social media are furthermore understood by the participants as unavoidable, but ambivalent terrains in the sense that cognitive and affective benefits, like knowledge or motivation, can only be accessed and felt by handling the risk of also encountering misinformation and demotivating images of idealised or deceptive bodies. The informants legitimise their engagement with social media by positioning themselves as mature media users able to navigate social media through practices of content dis/engagement. The ambivalence of social media is in other words experienced as both 'elemental' and 'curatable' by the informants; an experience that stresses the need to question the traditional conceptualisation of ambivalence as an inhibition of personal agency and will formation., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Purpose: To determine the status of physical fitness, reproductive abnormalities, QOL and epilepsy associated stigma in women with epilepsy (WWE) and their association with ASM therapy and seizure frequency., Methods: This cross-sectional study included WWE of reproductive age (18-50 years) on antiseizure medications (ASMs) for at least three months before enrolment. Physical fitness was assessed using International Physical Activity Questionnaires (IPAQ) and Body composition analysis. Subjects were interviewed for menstrual abnormalities [menstrual disturbance or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)/hirsutism]. Validated questionnaires were used for assessment of, QOL (QOLIE-10) and Stigma in epilepsy (Epilepsy Stigma Scale). Sub-group analysis was done to compare the above parameters on the basis of a) type of therapy (mono or polytherapy), b) type of ASMs treatment (conventional, newer, or conventional + newer ASMs), and c) seizure type and (d) seizure frequency. Correlation and regression analysis were done to find out the association among different variables with physical fitness., Results: The overall prevalence of poor physical fitness, reproductive abnormalities, worsened QOL and stigma in the enrolled WWE (n = 203) were 21.18 %, 20.19 %, 52.7 %, and 21.67 %, respectively. Sub-group analysis revealed that WWE on monotherapy (n = 99) had higher median IPAQ score (p = 0.002), comparatively less reproductive abnormalities (24.03 %, p = 0.008), and higher stigma (24.03 %, p = 0.04) than polytherapy group. WWE on conventional ASMs had significantly higher IPAQ scores compared to newer and conventional + newer ASMs groups (p = 0.02). The prevalence of poor physical fitness and stigma was significantly higher in WWE with higher number of seizures (p = 0.007, <0.001, respectively). No significant difference in QOL was observed on the basis of ASM type and therapy; however, WWE with generalized onset seizures had worsened QOL compared to those with focal onset seizures (p = 0.04). A significant negative correlation was found among seizure frequency and IPAQ score in WWE (p = 0.04)., Conclusion: WWE on polytherapy were physically less active, higher occurrence of reproductive abnormalities, and stigma compared to the monotherapy group. WWE with higher seizure frequency had poor physical fitness, and higher stigma compared to those with lesser number of seizures. These findings may aid value in optimization of ASM treatment in WWE of reproductive age., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest 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 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: United States Marine Corps' (USMC) recruit training is a 13-week program designed to maximize physical and mental performance adaptations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the training demands and characteristics that are associated with performance outcomes during USMC recruit training., Materials and Methods: A total of 196 recruits (M = 97 and W = 99) were monitored and tested throughout training. Laboratory-based performance testing occurred at the start of weeks 2 and 11 and consisted of body mass assessments, countermovement vertical jump, and isometric mid-thigh pull. Military-specific performance testing occurred twice within the first 8 weeks of training and included the physical fitness test (PFT) and combat fitness test (CFT) implemented by the USMC. Resilience data were collected at week 2 using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Workload, sleep, and stress responses were monitored at weeks 2, 7, and 11. Recruits were provided with a wearable tracking device which utilized heart rate and accelerometry-based technology to determine energy expenditure (EE), distances (DIS), and sleep metrics. Data were averaged over a 3-day period. Salivary cortisol testing occurred at the start of each monitoring week. Change scores were calculated for performance tests, and body mass was calculated from data obtained at week 2 to week 11. Area under the curve was calculated for the workload, sleep metrics, and cortisol responses using the trapezoidal method. Pearson product-moment correlations (r) were used to assess the relationships between training demands and performance. An α level of 0.05 was used to establish significance., Results: A moderate positive correlation was found between changes in body mass and peak power (P < .001; r = 0.43). Weak positive correlations were found between changes in body mass and peak force (P = .002; r = 0.28), as well as body mass and resilience (P = .03; r = 0.19). A moderate negative correlation was observed between changes in body mass and PFT (P < .001; r = -0.49). A weak negative correlation was found between changes in body mass and EE (P = .003; r = -0.24). A weak negative correlation was found between changes in peak power and EE (P = .001; r = -0.29). A weak positive correlation was found between changes in peak power and changes in CFT (P = .05; r = 0.19) A weak negative correlation was found between changes in sleep continuity and CFT (P = .02; r = -0.20). A weak negative correlation was found between cortisol and changes in PFT (P = .05; r = -0.20). A weak negative correlation was found between cortisol and both EE (P = .001; r = -0.27) and DIS (P = .045; r = -0.16). A weak negative correlation was found between EE and sleep continuity (P < .001; r = -0.34). Weak negative correlations were found between sleep duration and both DIS (P = .01; r = -0.18) and steps (P = .003; r = -0.21)., Conclusions: Increases in body mass throughout training were positively associated with strength and power changes, but negatively related to PFT scores. Changes in peak power related to improvements in CFT scores; however, higher workloads (i.e., EE) were negatively associated with peak power. The identification of the USMC physical and physiological training demands that are associated with performance outcomes may be a valuable resource to guide conditioning efforts to boost military readiness., (© The Association of Military Surgeons of the United States 2024. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site–for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Numerous youth summer programs focus upon physical fitness, nutritional health, psychological well-being, or education. Few, however, have integrated all of these elements into a single program. The Translational Health in Nutrition and Kinesiology (THINK) program provides an integrative nutrition and exercise science curriculum that is interfaced with social emotional learning (SEL) and STEM education to enhance healthy behaviors in youth. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the THINK program could improve physical fitness, nutrition habits, SEL, and STEM education in a 6-week summer program covering a 3-year period. Participants from South Miami were enrolled in THINK ( n = 108, 58 males, 50 females, 12.03 + 0.56 years). Physical fitness assessments, the Positive Youth Development Inventory (PYDI), the Students' Attitude Towards STEM Survey, and the Adolescent Food Habits Checklist (ADFH) were recorded at baseline and post-testing. Means and standard error values were evaluated for all dependent variables. Paired samples t -tests (SPSS version 27) were used to determine changes. Improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness ( p < 0.001), power ( p < 0.006), flexibility (p < 0.001), agility ( p < 0.001), muscular endurance ( p < 0.001), lean body mass ( p < 0.001), ADFH ( p < 0.001), and PYDI ( p = 0.038) were found. An integrative summer fitness program can result in improvements in physical fitness, nutrition habits, and SEL in as little as six weeks.

Physical and mental health play an important role in managing and characterizing a person's quality of life (QOL) and physical activity is proposed as one of the ways to improve QOL and well-being. This study aimed to quantify the effect of different fitness training programs and frequency on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The percentage of participants with high levels of fitness is higher among men than women. There is an association between the level of PF activity and age. Аs expected, PF activity is lower in the elderly compared to the younger and middle-aged participants. From the HRQOL domains, low general health and mental health scores. High and medium-frequency training can presumably help improve the total quality of life scores, as well as scores for Physical and Mental components, significantly affecting domains PF, GH, VT, RE and MH. To improve the SF domain, high-frequency training is preferable. These results can become important for the implementation of programs aimed at improving the HRQOL of the population.

Introduction: Students' experiences in physical education (PE) can shape future physical activity (PA) behaviors. PE enjoyment is associated with PA; however, the relationship between PE enjoyment and fitness has not been extensively investigated. The aim of this study was to examine if changes in PE enjoyment were associated with changes in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscular fitness (MF) among Finnish adolescents., Methods: Study participants were students (n = 1147; 11.27 [±0.32] years at baseline) attending public schools in Finland. Data were collected yearly (2017-2021). The 20 m shuttle run assessed CRF, curl-up/push-up tests assessed MF, and the enjoyment subscale of the Sport Commitment Questionnaire-2 measured PE enjoyment. The random intercept cross-lagged panel model, including repeated measures (within-level) and latent levels (between-level) of PE enjoyment, CRF and MF, was tested. Sex, body mass index, moderate to vigorous PA, and peak height velocity were included as covariates in the analysis., Results: Over 5 years, PE enjoyment decreased, CRF increased until Timepoint 3, and MF remained stable. Positive associations between PE enjoyment and fitness were observed, indicating the greater the PE enjoyment, the higher the fitness. For PE enjoyment, CRF and MF repeated measures were positively associated with measurement of the next year. PE enjoyment was positively related to CRF and MF the years thereafter., Conclusion: Our findings highlight the importance of quality PE experiences for enjoyment and fitness gains during the transition from primary to secondary school. These findings are important given youth fitness levels are associated with future health status., (© 2024 The Author(s). Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science In Sports published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Dance for older adults is increasingly being used to support health and well-being. While dance may be enjoyable for many, understanding its benefits for those with limited physical and cognitive abilities may provide further support for how dance may be used in these contexts. This was a study of Sharing Dance Older Adults , a dance program with remotely streamed sessions. Data were collected from 48 older adults who took part in the On Your Feet version of the program, and from 38 who took part in the In Your Seat version. Measures included interviews, physical fitness tests and surveys on mood, quality of life, and program satisfaction. Physical fitness significantly improved for both groups, unlike for mood, social well-being, or quality of life. This contrasts with qualitative findings, with participants reporting how the program enhanced their mood, social interactions, and quality of life.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) engage in less physical activity than typically-developing peers. This can result in serious negative consequences for individual well-being and may contribute to the physical, behavioral, and emotional challenges associated with ASD. This study explored the potential benefits of trainer-led, individualized, physical fitness sessions specialized for ASD. Eleven individuals (ages 7-24 years) with ASD were assessed at baseline and following 15 fitness sessions. Participants demonstrated improvements in core and lower-body strength and reductions in restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, along with non-significant but marked reductions in issues with daytime sleepiness. Results suggest the merit of specialized fitness programs and emphasize the need for larger and more rigorous research studies on this topic., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Despite frequent discussions on the link between physical and mental health, the specific impact of physical fitness on mental well-being is yet to be fully established., Method: This study, carried out between January 2022 and August 2023, involved 4,484 Chinese University students from eight universities located in various regions of China. It aimed to examine the association between physical fitness on psychological well-being. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and logistic regression were used to analyze the association between physical fitness indicators (e.g., Body Mass Index (BMI), vital capacity, and endurance running) and mental health, assessed using Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90). All procedures were ethically approved, and participants consented to take part in., Results: Our analysis revealed that BMI, vital capacity, and endurance running scores significantly influence mental health indicators. Specifically, a 1-point increase in BMI increases the likelihood of an abnormal psychological state by 10.9%, while a similar increase in vital capacity and endurance running decreases the risk by 2.1% and 4.1%, respectively. In contrast, reaction time, lower limb explosiveness, flexibility, and muscle strength showed no significant effects on psychological states (p > 0.05)., Conclusion: Improvements in BMI, vital capacity, and endurance running capabilities are associated with better mental health outcomes, highlighting their potential importance in enhancing overall well-being., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objectives: Elastic band resistance training in elderly individuals can improve physical fitness and promote mental health in addition to other benefits. This systematic review aimed to review, summarize, and evaluate quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methodological studies on the use of elastic band resistance training in elderly individuals, and to investigate the influence of elastic band resistance training on the physical and mental health of elderly individuals, as well as their preferences and obstacles in training., Methods: A convergent separation approach was used to synthesize and integrate the results, specifically the mixed systematic review approach recommended by the Joanna Briggs Institute. The extensive search strategy included electronic database searches in the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, and CINAHL. The researchers rigorously screened the literature, extracted and analyzed the data, and evaluated the quality of the included studies using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT)., Results: Twenty-eight studies were included, of which 25 were quantitative studies, 2 were qualitative studies, and 1 was a mixed-methods study. A total of 1,697 subjects were investigated across all studies. Quantitative evidence supports the notion that elastic band resistance training can improve upper and lower limb flexibility, endurance, upper strength, physical balance, and cardiopulmonary function and enhance the mental health of elderly individuals. Participants in the qualitative study reported some preferences and obstacles with band resistance training, but most participants reported physical benefits., Conclusions: Despite the heterogeneity between studies, this review is the first systematic review to comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness of elastic band resistance training in older adults. It not only shows the influence of elastic band resistance training on the physical and mental health of the elderly, but also emphasizes the preference and obstacles of elderly individuals face., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Li 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: Previous studies show that in-person dance training is a beneficial form of physical activity that involves mental, social, and physical dimensions. This exploratory study investigated the benefits of a 12-week online dance training intervention on mental and physical health outcomes for older women., Methods: A convergent parallel mixed-method design was used. Forty-five older adults (74.0 ± 5.3 yrs old, 44 women) were recruited through advertisements at activity and rehabilitation centers in the North Denmark region. The intervention consisted of two weekly 60-min classes of improvisation and salsa delivered online through video call applications. Changes in physical health outcomes (body mass and composition, resting blood pressure, Senior Fitness Test battery) and self-rated health and wellbeing (health-related quality of life (HRQOL), feelings of loneliness) were assessed prior to and after 12 weeks of dancing. Focus group interviews were conducted post-intervention to further explore the benefits as well as the participant's experience of the intervention. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data was conducted., Results: Thirty-two participants (all women) completed the study. Significant improvements in fitness were found for the number of arm curls performed (baseline: 12.3 ± 3.0; post-intervention: 13.7 ± 3.0, P = 0.005), 2-min step test performance (baseline: 66.5 ± 20.0 reps.; post-intervention: 73.8 ± 22.6 reps., P = 0.016), and chair sit-and-reach (baseline: 0.4 ± 11.3 cm; post-intervention: 5.5 ± 10.1 cm, P < 0.001). There was a significant increase in body mass from baseline to post-intervention (P < 0.015). The themes from the focus groups included (1) Participation, (2) Challenges, (3) Progression, (4) Motivation, (5) Perceived health and wellbeing, and (6) Online dance instruction. No significant changes were reported in HRQOL and loneliness from the quantitative data, although the qualitative data did reveal improved feelings of physical health and wellbeing., Conclusions: The intervention improved several aspects of fitness in older women and improved the participants' perceptions of their own physical abilities and wellbeing. While most participants found the online intervention enjoyable, several participants missed the feedback from the instructors that naturally occurs with in-person instruction., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Despite the well-known physical and mental health benefits of regular exercise, many of the world's population, including healthy young adults, grossly undershoot recommended physical activity levels. Chronic exercise has potential to improve cognitive performance and affect in most age groups. However, there is currently a poverty of relevant research in young adults, especially randomised controlled trials. To address this, the current research investigated the effects of a running intervention on neuropsychological function (cognition and affect) in young adults. We predicted that following a running intervention, neuropsychological performance would improve alongside increases in aerobic fitness. Thirty-two healthy young adult university students were randomised (using a 3:1 ratio) into an intervention or control group, with the intervention group (n = 24) asked to run for 30 min three times a week over a 6-week period and the control group (n = 8) asked to maintain their current level of exercise over a 6-week period. We assessed fitness, cognitive performance, affect and running enjoyment at baseline and follow-up, and runners recorded the environmental conditions of their runs. Repeated measures ANCOVAs failed to find any significant effects of the running intervention on fitness or the neuropsychological measures. Anecdotal evidence supported running environment and enjoyment as potentially relevant factors. The failure to find any fitness improvements, which likely underpins the lack of neuropsychological improvements, highlights the importance of monitoring exercise sessions. Coupled with other insights gained from this trial, this article may prove useful towards future endeavours to develop exercise interventions beneficial to young adults.TRN: ACTRN12621000242820, Date of registration: 08/03/2021., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective : The purpose was to understand college students' motivations for the use and discontinued use of fitness related technology (FRT) in relation to their physical activity behaviors. Participants : Participants were undergraduate students (n = 22) who were eligible if they were between 18-24 years of age (emerging adulthood) and current or previous users of FRT. Methods : Qualitative descriptive design was used with semi-structured interviews conducted virtually. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Results : Participants discussed four themes; (1) Motivations for physical activity, (2) Motivations for using FRT, (3) Social connection improves accountability for physical activity, and (4) The ups and downs of FRT goal setting and data display. Conclusions : Best practice guidelines need to be established for the use of FRT along with approaches to promote physical activity among this population. Additional research is needed to identify reasons for discontinuation of use and to develop potential interventions to promote sustained engagement with FRT.

Background: Regular exercise is emphasized for the improvement of functional capacity and independence of older adults. This study aimed to compare the effects of a dual-task resistance exercise program and resistance exercise on cognition, mood, depression, physical function, and activities of daily living (ADL) in older adults with cognitive impairment., Methods: A total of 44 older adults participated in the study. Participants were randomly allocated to an experimental group (n = 22) performing a dual-task resistance exercise program for cognitive function improvement and a control group (n = 22) performing a resistance exercise program. Both groups performed the exercise for 40 min per session, three times a week, for 6 weeks (18 sessions). Cognition, mood, depression, functional fitness, and ADL were quantified before and after the intervention using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), profile of mood states (POMS), geriatric depression scale (GDS), senior fitness test (SFT), and Korean version of ADL, respectively., Results: There was a significant time and group interaction on the MMSE (p = 0.044). There were no significant time and group interactions in the POMS, GDS, SFT, or ADL. Cognitive function (p < 0.001), mood (p < 0.001), depression (p < 0.001), functional fitness (p < 0.001), and ADL (p < 0.001) significantly improved after dual-task resistance exercise, and cognitive function (p < 0.001), mood (p < 0.001), depression (p < 0.001), functional fitness (p < 0.001), and ADL (p < 0.001) significantly improved after resistance exercise., Conclusions: Dual-task resistance exercise is more effective than resistance exercise in improving cognitive function in older adults with cognitive impairment. Both dual-task resistance exercise and resistance exercise improves mood, depression, functional fitness, and ADL after the intervention. We propose using dual-task resistance exercises for cognitive and physical health management in the older adults with cognitive impairment., Trial Registration: This study was registered with the Clinical Research Information Service (WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform) (Registration ID, KCT0005389; Registration date, 09/09/2020)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Global forced displacement has been rising steeply since 2015 as a result of wars and human rights abuses. Forcibly displaced people are often exposed to physical and mental strain, which can cause traumatic experiences and poor mental health. Physical activity has been linked with better mental health, although such evidence is scarce among those populations. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationships of self-reported physical activity and fitness with mental health indices among people residing in a refugee camp in Greece as asylum seekers., Methods: Participants were 151 individuals (76 women, 75 men; mean age 28.90 y) displaced from their homes for an average of 32.03 months. Among them, 67% were from Afghanistan and countries from southwest Asia, and 33% from sub-Saharan African countries. Participants completed self-report measures assessing physical activity, fitness, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and well-being., Results: High prevalence of mental health disorder symptoms and poor well-being were identified, with women and Asians showing poorer mental health. Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety were related to perceived fitness, but not to self-reported physical activity. Regression analysis showed that perceived fitness (β: 0.34; 95% CI, 0.43 to 1.52) and low-intensity physical activity (β: 0.24; 95% CI, 0.001 to 0.009) significantly positively predicted well-being, showing small to medium effect., Conclusions: The findings provide useful insights regarding the link between physical activity and well-being; nevertheless, further research examining objectively measured physical activity is warranted to complement these data and further explore the associations between physical activity and mental health.

While previous research has linked cognitive function with resistance exercise, the nuanced links between muscle strength, mass, and neuroelectric function are less understood. Therefore, this study investigated the association of muscle strength and mass with inhibitory control (IC), working memory (WM), and related neuroelectric activity. A total of 123 18-50-year-old adults completed maximal aerobic capacity and strength tests, a body composition scan, and IC and WM tasks while the N2 and P3 components of event-related potentials were recorded. Bivariate correlations revealed aerobic fitness, strength, and mass were associated with behavioral and neuroelectric outcomes. After accounting for age, sex, and aerobic fitness, strength was associated with intra-individual response time variability, accuracy, and P3 latency during WM. Muscle mass was associated with N2 latency during IC. While relationships with behavioral outcomes did not persist after controlling for the opposite muscle outcome, greater strength and mass were related to shorter P3 latency during WM and shorter N2 latency during IC, respectively. These results provide initial evidence that muscle outcomes are associated with executive function and neuroelectric processing speed, suggesting distinct contributions of strength and mass to cognition. This work highlights the significance of maintaining muscle strength and mass alongside aerobic fitness for optimal cognitive health., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest 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 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Social cognitive function often declines in older age but the mechanisms underlying these declines are not completely clear. Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscular strength are positively associated with broader cognitive function in older adults, yet surprisingly, no study has examined whether a similar relationship exists between CRF or muscular strength and social cognition in older age., Methods: We assessed whether higher CRF and muscular strength were associated with enhanced social cognitive function in a sample of fifty older adults (Mage = 70.08, standard deviation = 3.93). Participants completed a gold-standard cardiopulmonary exercise test to assess CRF, an isometric handgrip strength test to index muscular strength, and validated measures of social cognition to index emotion perception and theory of mind (ToM)., Results: The results showed that CRF and muscular strength did not explain any unique variance in older adults' social cognitive performance. Bayesian analyses confirmed that the evidence for the null hypothesis was moderate for all tested relationships, except for the relationship between CRF and cognitive ToM where the evidence for the null was anecdotal., Discussion: This study has provided the first evidence to suggest that CRF and muscular strength-two important modifiable lifestyle factors-are not associated with social cognition in healthy older adults. However, replication studies are now needed to cross-validate these findings and to clarify whether any moderating variables may be important for understanding the relationship between fitness and social cognition in older age., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America.)

Objective: To describe the status of physical fitness of children and adolescents aged 13-18 years in China in 2019 and analyze its association with psychological distress. Methods: Data were drawn from the 2019 Chinese National Survey on Students' Constitution and Health, and 90 633 Han children and adolescents aged 13-18 years were included. Physical fitness was evaluated by "National Students Constitutional Health Standards" (2014 revised edition). Psychological distress was classified according to the scores of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale: ≤19, 20-24, 25-29, and ≥30 scores indicated no, mild, moderate, and severe psychological distress, respectively, with moderate and severe psychological distress collectively referred to as high psychological distress. The χ 2 test was used to compare the distribution differences between boys and girls, the Cochran-Armitage test was used to analyze the trend, and the multinomial logistic regression in the mixed effect model was established to analyze the association between physical fitness and psychological distress. Results: In 2019, the unqualified rate of physical fitness among children and adolescents aged 13-18 years in China was 17.2%, and the prevalence of excellent and good physical fitness was 18.2%, which was lower among boys (15.9%) than girls (20.5%) with a statistically significant difference ( P <0.05). The excellent and good physical fitness rate showed a significantly decreasing trend with age (trend test P <0.05). The rate of high psychological distress among children and adolescents aged 13-18 years in China in 2019 was 39.3%, with boys (37.0%) having a lower prevalence than girls (41.6%), supported by a statistically significant difference ( P <0.05), and a decreasing trend with the degree of physical fitness was observed both in boys and girls (trend test P <0.05). The multinomial logistic regression model showed that the prevalence of moderate ( OR =0.83, 95% CI : 0.79-0.88, P <0.001) and severe ( OR =0.81, 95% CI : 0.77-0.86, P <0.001) psychological distress were both lower in children and adolescents with excellent and good physical fitness. Conclusion: The status of physical fitness and psychological distress of Chinese children and adolescents aged 13-18 in 2019 was not optimistic, with physical fitness showing a significantly negative association with psychological distress.

Previous studies have demonstrated a positive relationship between aerobic fitness and cognitive control, the ability to inhibit distractions (conflict control) or impulsive actions (response inhibition). However, it is unknown whether these sub-processes and their underlying information processing capacity are differentially related to aerobic fitness. To address this question, we employed a go/no-go version of the redundant-target task, which was administered concurrently with the recording of event-related potentials (ERPs) and the use of a reaction-time based diagnostic tool known as system factorial technology (SFT). Our sample consisted of 46 young male adults with varying levels of aerobic fitness: the high-fit group (n = 23; aged 21.33 ± 2.44 years; VO 2max 58.83 ± 6.93 ml/kg/min) and the low-fit group (n = 23; aged 22.30 ± 1.40 years; VO 2max 41.90 ± 4.01 ml/kg/min). The results showed that the high-fit group exhibited a lower false-alarm rate compared to the low-fit group. However, there was no difference in processing speed between the two groups. The SFT analysis revealed that the high-fit group had more efficient information processing for earlier responses, but not later responses, compared to the low-fit group. Analysis of the ERPs indicated that the high-fit group had larger N2d amplitudes and shorter P3d latencies during conflict control compared to the low-fit group, while there were no such effects for the process of response inhibition. These findings suggest that aerobic fitness may be differentially related to the temporal dynamics and sub-processes of cognitive control., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest We declare no competing finical interests., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Movement is essential for everyday life and closely related to cognitive skills. The aim of the current research was to investigate whether different aspects of physical activity, i.e., aerobic fitness and motor skills, contribute above and beyond each other to the variance in children's executive functioning. Children aged 8-13 years (N = 129, 58 females, M age  = 10.7 years, SD age  = 1.6 years) participated in the current cross-sectional study. Aerobic fitness was assessed by the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER). Motor skills were assessed using the standardized Movement Assessment Battery for Children 2nd edition (M-ABC-2), including fine motor skills, balance skills, and object control. Components of executive functions (inhibition, switching, updating) were assessed using the following tasks: an animal Stroop task, a local-global task, and a 2n-back task. Hierarchical regressions were conducted to analyze the relative importance of aerobic fitness and motor skills for children's executive functions. Results indicated that aerobic fitness and fine motor skills were significantly related to switching and updating, whereas relations to inhibition were non-significant. Furthermore, it was found that fine motor skills explained additional variance above aerobic fitness in switching and updating whereas aerobic fitness did not add additional variance above fine motor skills in switching and updating. Balance and object control skills were not related to the three core executive functions. Results support the notion that aerobic fitness and fine motor skills are differently related to executive functions and highlight the importance of considering multiple components of constructs in future research., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The structural and functional degradation of the corpus callosum (CC) has been shown to play an important role in the context of cognitive aging (Reuter-Lorenz and Stanczak, 2000). This is also reflected by findings of elongated interhemispheric transfer time (IHTT) in older adults (Riedel et al., 2022). At the same time, a protective effect of physical activity (PA) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) on brain health including the CC is widely accepted (Hillman et al., 2008; Loprinzi et al., 2020). Based on this idea, the present study investigated the relationship between IHTT and PA/CRF in 107 healthy older adults (m: 64, f: 43) aged 67.69 ± 5.18. IHTT was calculated detecting event-related potentials (ERPs) using an established Dimond-Task. PA was evaluated using accelerometry resulting in estimates of overall bodily motion and time spent at higher intensity PA. CRF was estimated using graded exercise testing, approximating running speed at 4 mmol/l blood lactate concentration. The results showed a negative correlation between IHTT right → left and PA overall as well as in the male subgroup and between IHTT left → right and CRF in women. This indicates a potential relationship between IHTT and PA/CRF. While the present investigation is only the first to hint at such a relationship taking into account the differential effects with regards to sex, mode of PA/CRF and IHTT direction, it is in line with previous findings and theoretical suggestions linking brain health to PA/CRF in the context of aging. Further research is needed in order to increase our understanding of the underlying mechanisms and of the influence of sex, PA intensity, degree of CRF and significance of IHTT direction., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

It is well known that poor physical fitness is an exponential risk factor in the increase in chronic diseases, not only physical but also psychological. Even in childhood, a critical period of development, the perception of physical fitness plays a fundamental role in the individual's self-concept of body image., Aim: To find out how self-perceived physical fitness influences self-perceived body image in preschoolers., Methods: 475 preschool pupils were recruited in the schools of Extremadura (Spain). They were administered a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Preschool Physical Fitness Index (IFIS) and the Preschool Body Scale (PBS)., Findings: Significant correlations ( p < 0.05) were observed between body dissatisfaction and perceived physical fitness (IFIS), being higher in girls. In terms of variables, general fitness (<0.001), cardio-respiratory fitness (<0.001), muscular strength (<0.001), speed/agility (<0.001) and balance (<0.001) have a negative, medium and significant association with body dissatisfaction in girls; however, this association was lower in the case of boys., Conclusions: The influence of physical fitness had a clear impact on self-perceived body image. With better findings on self-perceived physical fitness variables (IFIS) there was less body dissatisfaction (PBS), especially in the female sex. The results also showed that parents who perceived their children to be in poorer physical condition had higher body dissatisfaction. Therefore, it would be interesting for the context involved, particularly parents, to implement strategies to improve positive body image through the promotion of physical education and physical fitness at an early age.

Aims: This cross-sectional study investigated the association between health-related quality of life (HRQoL), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscular fitness in 14-year-old adolescents., Methods: Norwegian adolescents (N = 1985) carried out a 10-min running test to assess cardiorespiratory fitness and three different muscular fitness tests (handgrip, sit-ups, and standing broad jump) and answered the KIDSCREEN-27 questionnaire to provide HRQoL data. Linear-mixed effect models were applied to detect relationships among the variables., Results: Running-test results were positively associated with higher scores in the following KIDSCREEN domains: physical well-being, psychological well-being, autonomy and parent relationships, and school environment (β = 0.01-0.04; p < .01 for all). Performance in sit-ups test was positively associated with higher scores in three out of five KIDSCREEN domains: physical well-being (β = 0.31; p < .001), social support and peers (β = 0.16; p = .023), and school environment scores (β = 0.19; p = .006). An inverse association was found between the handgrip test results and the score on psychological well-being domain (β = - 0.10; p = .013)., Conclusions: The associations between HRQoL and physical fitness were trivial (abdominal strength and handgrip strength) to small (CRF) but confirmed that earlier findings from children also are applied to adolescents. Explosive strength in the lower body showed no association with HRQoL. Further research should investigate the direction of causality., Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov ID nr: NCT03817047. Registered 01/25/2019 'retrospectively registered'., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Background : Observational studies associate physical activity (PA) with improved perceptions of children and adolescents' physical self-concept (PSC) and global self-concept (GSC). However, only a few PA-based interventions exist for improving PSC and their results have been inconclusive. Objective : To determine the effect of specific PA-based programmes on the PSC (including its sub-dimensions) and GSC of children and adolescents, and to assess possible moderators. Methods : The databases Web of Science, Scopus, SportDiscus, PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library were reviewed in February 2020. Only studies with pre-post measurements and control groups were included. The impact of PA-based interventions was explored through different meta-analyses and moderator analyses. Results : Altogether, 20 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Positive and significant effects of PA were determined on self-perceived physical appearance ( g = 0.13; 95% CI = 0.03, 0.23), self-perceived sport competence ( g = 0.30; 95% CI = 0.09, 0.51), self-perceived physical fitness ( g = 0.19; 95% CI = 0.05, 0.32), PSC ( g = 0.31; 95% CI = 0.10, 0.52), and GSC ( g = 0.17; 95% CI = 0.01, 0.33). The existence of additional interventions in PA-based programmes (e.g., interventions focused on psychological factors or healthy habits) moderated the influence of PA on self-perceived sport competence and physical fitness. Moreover, environment and time were distinguished as moderators for self-perceived physical appearance and sport competence. Further, intervention type, gender, and frequency of intervention moderated the effects of PA on PSC. Conclusions : PA-based interventions, especially in school, seem to be beneficial for the development of positive physical self-perceptions.

Physical inactivity has increased globally, particularly in developed nations. A high proportion of the human population is unable to meet the physical activity recommendation of the World Health Organisation due to hypertension, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and other medical conditions. Non-communicable diseases and mental health problems are becoming more prevalent, particularly in low and middle-income nations. This study aimed to determine the effectivenessof a mentorship programmeon university students' mental health and physical fitness. The intervention comprised the effects of sports-based development and education on physical fitness and mental health. A total of 196 and 234 students from two universities were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups, respectively. The primary outcomes were engagement in physical activities (number of push-ups for 1 min, the strength of hand grip (kg), and the Jump test while standing (cm)), body fat proportion and psychological resilience, self-efficacy, and relationship with family and schoolmates. Participants in the control group had access to a web-based health education game, whereas the intervention group wassubjected to intensive interventional activities for one month based on the eight principles of the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine. Data were analysed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to compare the physical and mental components between the intervention and control groups. Relative to baseline, all the physical health components (push-ups, sit-ups, and jump tests), psychological resilience, relationship with family members, and self-efficacy increased significantly in the intervention compared to the control group. Body fat composition was significantly reduced in the intervention when compared tothe control group. In conclusion, the mentorship programme effectively improved the participants' physical and psychological health and could be developed further for application in a larger population.

This systematic review examined whether physical activity interventions improve health outcomes in adults with Down syndrome (DS). We searched PubMed, APA PsycInfo, SPORTDiscus, APA PsycARTICLES, and Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection using keywords related to DS and physical activity. We included 35 studies published in English since January 1, 1990. Modes of exercise training programs included aerobic exercise, strength training, combined aerobic and strength training, aquatic, sport and gaming, and aerobic and strength exercise interventions combined with health education. The evidence base indicates that aerobic and strength exercise training improve physical fitness variables including maximal oxygen uptake, maximal heart rate, upper and lower body strength, body weight, and body fat percentage. Sport and gaming interventions improve functional mobility, work task performance, and sport skill performance. We concluded that adults with DS can accrue health benefits from properly designed physical activity and exercise interventions.

Physical fitness is considered a protective factor for children's general health and has been related to enhanced cognitive functioning. However, it appears that cognition could be affected in children with overweight or obesity. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between physical fitness components and fluid intelligence in normal-weight and overweight/obese children. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 317 schoolchildren participated (165 boys, 52.05%), aged between six and 11 years old (1st to 5th grade), belonging to a public school in the south of Brazil. Psychologists evaluated fluid intelligence through the Raven's Colored Progressive Matrix Test. The physical fitness evaluation followed the procedures of the "Brazil Sports Project". Weight and height were measured to determine body mass index and generalized linear regression analyses were used with a 95% confidence interval. Our results showed that agility was inversely associated with fluid intelligence only in the overweight/obese group ( β = -1.506; p  = 0.01). Cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness were not associated with fluid intelligence. In conclusion, agility was the only physical fitness component related to fluid intelligence, and this relationship was found exclusively in overweight/obese schoolchildren.

Purpose : Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) reflects a perceived sense of physical and mental well-being over time, encompassing both physical health and psychosocial health. Although these two health concepts have been often examined as a whole, few studies have explored the possibility of mixed profiles. We designed this study to identify Chinese adolescents' HRQOL profiles and their associations with happiness, physical activity, and fitness. Method : 544 high-school students completed validated Chinese-version questionnaires assessing HRQOL, happiness, and physical activity behavior while their fitness level was evaluated based on China National Fitness Test Program. A two-step cluster analysis and MANOVAs were conducted. Results : We identified four distinct clusters: low HRQOL, psychosocial health-oriented, physical health-oriented, and high HRQOL. There were significant differences among clusters in happiness, physical activity, and fitness, with "high HRQOL" group being the most adaptive cluster while "low HRQOL" group the least. Both psychosocial health-oriented and physical health-oriented clusters demonstrated dimension-related features. Conclusion : Health-related quality of life in Chinese adolescents is a multidimensional construct. Although its physical and psychosocial functioning are often interacted, different dimensions have unique but specified roles. Particularly, physical functioning might not only be associated with physical and health condition but also with positive emotion, especially when psychosocial satisfaction is lacking. It is important to pay specific attention to the interactions among the dimensions and how the interactions combine and function together to influence adolescents' behavior.

Background: Promotion of psychological well-being (PWB) is an emerging social, educational, and health objective, especially for school-aged children. Few studies have examined key correlates and determinants of PWB in school-aged children. This study aimed to examine associations of cardiorespiratory fitness and cognitive function with psychological well-being in school-aged children., Methods: The study participants were 752 fourth-grade students (mean age = 9.61 years, SD = 0.608) recruited from six elementary schools. Students took the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run ® test to assess their cardiorespiratory fitness, and the d2 Test of Attention to assess concentration performance, attention span, and attention accuracy. They also completed the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale to assess their psychological well-being (PWB). After removing missing values and outliers from the original data set, the final data set, consisting of 689 cases (370 boys vs. 319 girls), was used for data analysis. Data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics, bivariate correlation, multiple linear regression models, and independent sample t -tests., Results: The results indicated that cardiorespiratory fitness and cognitive function are significant correlates of PWB ( r = -0.069, r = 0.161). Further, the results found that cardiorespiratory fitness, concentration performance, attention span, and attention accuracy were significantly collective predictors of psychological well-being ( F = 13.299, p = 0.000), accounting for 12% of the total variance. Cardiorespiratory fitness was the most significantly individual predictor of PWB ( β = 0.174, p = 0.000), followed by the attention accuracy ( β = -0.090, p = 0.031). The Welch's tests revealed that the high-PWB group scored significantly higher than the low-PWB group in cardiorespiratory fitness, concentration performance, and attention accuracy ( t = 4.093, p = 0.000, Cohen's d = 0.310; t = 3.340, p = 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.256; t = -2.958, p = 0.003, Cohen's d = 0.130)., Conclusions: Cardiorespiratory fitness and cognitive function are significant correlates and predictors of PWB among school-aged children. The students with a higher level of psychological well-being showed a higher cardiorespiratory fitness, concentration performance, and attention accuracy compared to the lower level of PWB group.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine whether physical activity, fitness, and motor skills have an indirect association with math performance via cognitive outcomes and if so, through which aspects of cognition?, Methods: This study comprised 311 6th-9th grade adolescents (12-17 years [M age = 14.0 years], 59% girls) from seven schools throughout Finland in 2015. Math performance was measured via a teacher-rated math achievement and the Basic Arithmetic test. Cognitive functions were measured by broad cognitive test battery. Physical activity was assessed with a self-reported questionnaire and a hip-worn accelerometer. Aerobic fitness was estimated using a maximal 20-m shuttle run test, muscular fitness with curl-up and push-up tests, and motor skills with a 5-leaps test and a throwing-catching combination test. Structural equation modeling was applied to examine the associations., Results: In both boys and girls, motor skills had a positive indirect association with math outcomes through visuospatial working memory. Among girls, muscular fitness had a positive indirect association with math outcomes through visuospatial working memory. Aerobic fitness was positively associated with math achievement, but the indirect path via cognition was not observed. Self-reported physical activity had a borderline indirect positive association with math outcomes through visuospatial working memory. Accelerometer-based physical activity did not correlate with math performance., Conclusion: Motor skills and muscular fitness had indirect positive associations with math performance, mediated by visuospatial working memory. The results give support to the viewpoints that the connections between motor skills, fitness, and physical activity to academic skills are mediated via specific cognitive skills., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)