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Background. Monitoring food intake and physical activity (PA) using tracking applications may support behavior change. However, few longitudinal studies identify the characteristics of young adults who track their behavior, findings that could be useful in designing tracking-related interventions. Our objective was to identify predictors of past-year food and PA tracking among young adults. Methods. Data were available for 676 young adults participating in the ongoing longitudinal Nicotine Dependence in Teens Study. Potential predictors were measured in 2017-2020 at age 31, and past-year food and PA tracking were measured in 2021-2022 at age 34. Each potential predictor was studied in a separate multivariable logistic regression model controlling for age, sex, and educational attainment. Results. One third (37%) of participants reported past-year PA tracking; 14% reported past-year food, and 10% reported both. Nine and 11 of 41 potential predictors were associated with food and PA tracking, respectively. Compensatory behaviors after overeating, trying to lose weight, self-report overweight, reporting a wide variety of exercise behaviors, and pressure to lose weight predicted both food and PA tracking. Conclusion. Food and PA tracking are relatively common among young adults. If the associations observed herein between compensatory behavior after overeating and tracking (among other observed associations) are replicated and found to be causal, caution may need to be exercised in making "blanket" recommendations to track food intake and/or PA to all young adults seeking behavior change.

Objective: To examine the differences in experiences of stress, emotional well-being, and physical activity among international and domestic students. Participants: Domestic (n = 4,035) and international (n = 605) students at a large Canadian university. Methods: Responses to items on stress, emotional well-being (happiness and satisfaction with life), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and strength training were self-reported. Group differences were explored in a multivariate analysis of variance model, and student status was tested as a moderator of the associations between stress, emotional well-being (happiness and satisfaction with life), and MVPA. Results: International students reported significantly lower stress and emotional well-being compared to domestic students, and fewer days of MVPA. Student status moderated the association between stress and MVPA, with the association significant for domestic students. Conclusions: Given the findings, international students may have distinct attitudes and beliefs toward MVPA that could be targeted in tailored interventions.

Objective: Flourishing is a mental health indicator that helps students function optimally, which may be important for first-year university students. Physical activity (PA) also contributes to optimal functioning, yet the flourishing and PA relationship has received little attention. The bidirectional relationships between flourishing and meeting moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) guidelines were assessed during the first year of university. Methods: First-year university students completed surveys (September [T1], March [T2]). Reciprocal effects were examined in a cross-lagged path model. Results: Over 40% of the sample was not meeting MVPA guidelines at T1 or T2. Controlling for sex, higher T1 flourishing was associated with higher odds of meeting T2 MVPA guidelines. T1 MVPA did not predict T2 flourishing. Conclusions: The findings provide preliminary evidence that flourishing may support meeting MVPA guidelines for first-year students. Given low rates of meeting guidelines, flourishing and PA could be targeted to foster MVPA, supporting a healthy university transition.

We examine whether adolescents' participating in a variety of physical activities, locations, and/or with a variety of people relates to physical activity 16 months later and whether perceptions of variety mediate these relationships. Adolescents (N = 369) completed measures indicating various physical activities they participated in, where they primarily participated, and with whom they primarily participated, at three time points over a year (averaged for baseline measures). Perceptions of variety was measured 8 months later. Physical activity was measured 16 months after baseline. Mediation analyses tested perceptions of variety as a mediator of variety support and physical activity. Results indicated that variety of activities and variety of locations were indirectly associated with physical activity through perceptions of variety. Participating in a breadth of physical activities in a variety of locations during adolescence is positively associated with perceptions of variety, which relates to physical activity 16 months later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This analysis aimed to (1) identify longitudinal joint trajectories of participation in organized and unorganized physical activity contexts, and level of daily moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and (2) assess whether basic psychological need satisfaction during adolescence differentiates between membership in different physical activity trajectories. Participants (n = 888; 56% girls) reported their involvement in 36 different physical activities, level of MVPA, and their perceived satisfaction of competence, autonomy, and relatedness satisfaction in physical activity up to three times per year, over 8 years (from ages 10 to 17 years). Group‐based multi‐trajectory models were used to identify longitudinal joint trajectories of physical activity participation. We estimated a multinomial logistic regression model for membership in a physical activity trajectory by including individual‐level intercepts and slopes for each psychological need obtained using mixed models over the 24 cycles modelized as natural cubic splines. Five longitudinal trajectory groups emerged: Non‐participants, Dropouts, Active in unorganized physical activities, Active in organized physical activities, and Active through a variety of activities. Relative to Non‐participants, we identify a dose–response relationship in baseline competence and membership in the higher active trajectory groups. In addition, a positive change in competence in early adolescence predicted membership in all three Active trajectory groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]