Exercise Participation Research Articles

A Correlational Analysis of Perceived Benefits of Exercise Participation with Executive Functioning Behaviors

Physical activity and exercise regularly can help you stay healthy, energetic, and independent as you age. Exercise is essential in the prevention of health problems such as stroke. Many studies have demonstrated the health advantages of regular exercise. Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement requiring energy expenditure produced by skeletal muscles. The terms “physical activity” and “exercise” are not synonymous. Exercise is a type of systematic, repeated, and deliberate physical exercise. “A sound body has a sound mind,” which suggests that if a person is weak, dull, or unwell, he will be unable to do his task properly and promptly. It is critical to have a clear mind before beginning any work, whether it is office work, study, or creative work [28]. As a contribution to the existing studies made, this research determined the extent of the significant relationship in terms of the perceived benefits of exercise participation and executive functioning behaviors of the Tertiary students. Specifically, researchers hypothesized that there is a significant relationship between the perceived benefits of exercise participation and executive functioning behaviors of Tertiary students. The researchers utilized a descriptive statistic and bivariate correlation coefficient also known as the Pearson correlation coefficient (or the Pearson r) to analyze the quantitative data collected to figure out the relationship between perceived benefits of exercise participation and executive functioning behaviors of the 3rd Year Tertiary students. One hundred ninety-three (193) students coming from the 3rd Year Tertiary Department were selected as the respondents of the study. The researchers used an online platform (Google Forms) to float the standardized survey questionnaires after debriefing the respondents. Participants were asked to answer two scales measuring the variables of interest wherein the scales are The Exercise Benefit Scale and the Executive Skills Questionnaire. The study found that there is a significant relationship between perceived benefits of exercise participation and executive functioning behaviors of the 3rd Year Tertiary students (r = .621; p = .00). It is vital to emphasize that exercising enhances a child’s self-esteem, social and emotional interactions in a group, and comprehensive knowledge about the world. Exercise approaches, dance, and relaxation learning may all aid in the development of a student’s executive behavior, which is why they should be incorporated into today’s education.

Effects of Exercise Type on Muscle Strength and Body Composition in Men and Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background and Objectives: There are typical differences in body composition and distribution of muscle fiber types between women and men. However, research investigating the effects of exercise based on sex differences is limited, and studies examining sex differences in physiological adaptations according to exercise type are scarce. We aimed to compare the effects of exercise types on muscle strength and body composition in men and women through a meta-analysis. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using the PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, CINAHL, and EBSCO databases. Keywords included "endurance training", "resistance training", "concurrent training", "muscle strength", "body composition", "sex characteristics", and "men and women". The standardized mean difference (SMD) was presented separately for men and women based on the pre- and post-intervention values for each exercise type. Results: Concurrent training showed the greatest effect on the increase in leg press muscle strength in men, and resistance training showed the greatest effect in women. Concurrent training showed the greatest effect size in both men and women in increasing bench press muscle strength. Resistance training and concurrent training showed a small effect size on lean mass reduction in both men and women. Endurance training and concurrent training significantly reduced fat mass in men. However, no significant changes in fat mass were observed in any exercise type among women. Conclusions: Concurrent training is the most efficient type of exercise for men, as it is effective in increasing upper- and lower-body muscle strength, increasing lean mass, and reducing fat mass. Resistance training is most effective in increasing muscle strength in females, whereas endurance training is most effective in reducing fat mass. However, it is difficult to corroborate these results because of the lack of study samples included in the analysis and the differences in exercise methods, participant age, and exercise duration.

Marginal effects of economical development and university education on China's regular exercise population.

Although the regular exercise population is a key metric for gaging the success of China's fitness-for-all activities, effective policy approaches to increase mass sports participation remain unclear. Previous research suggests that GDP, educational attainment, sports resources, and meteorological conditions could influence regular exercise participation. Therefore, this study first analyzed the macro-level correlates influencing China's regular exercise population. We utilize ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and geographical weighted regression (GWR) to theorize the relationship. The analysis encompasses data from the 31 administrative regions of Mainland China, as reported at the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period. The log-log model enables us to quantify the marginal effect (elasticity) of the explanatory variables. The OLS regression showed that regional GDP and the proportion of the population with a university education were significant predictors. In the global model, the marginal effects of regional GDP and university education were 0.048 and 0.173, respectively. Furthermore, the GWR revealed a distinct geographic pattern that corresponds to the classic Hu Line. While regional GDP was also a significant correlate in our model, the elasticity demonstrates that university education had an asymmetric effect on China's regular exercise population. Therefore, this paper sheds light on a policy priority for the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan, emphasizing the strategic importance of expanding university education to enhance mass sports participation. In turn, a better-educated populace may yield significant secondary effects on public health and contribute to the high-quality development of the Chinese path to modernization.

Factors Associated with Mild Cognitive Impairment in Community-Dwelling Elderly Individuals: A Re-evaluation of Systematic Reviews

<i>Objective </i>This study aims to re-evaluate systematic reviews on factors associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in community-dwelling elderly individuals to inform prevention and intervention strategies in community settings. <i>Methods </i>Comprehensive searches were conducted across multiple databases, including CNKI, Wanfang Data, VIP Journal Integration Platform, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, to identify systematic reviews on factors contributing to MCI in community-dwelling elderly individuals. Dual reviewers screened the literature, and the methodological quality was assessed using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR 2). Relevant factors were summarized and analyzed. <i>Results</i> Eleven systematic reviews were included in the analysis. Of these, two were classified as high quality, two as low quality, and the remaining seven as very low quality. Protective factors against MCI included the consumption of tea, fish, and shellfish, physical exercise, and social participation. Risk factors encompassed a history of chronic diseases, depression, sleep disorders, smoking, and alcohol consumption. <i>Conclusion</i> The methodological quality of systematic reviews on factors associated with MCI in community-dwelling elderly individuals is generally low. MCI is closely linked to various aspects of physiological health, psychological health, dietary nutrition, and lifestyle behaviors. It is crucial to focus on high-risk groups, particularly the elderly and females, as well as individuals experiencing subjective cognitive decline, and conduct psychological screenings and assessments of dietary quality. These factors may serve as early indicators for MCI in community-dwelling elderly individuals.

A - 57 Relationship between Exercise Participation and Cognitive/Emotional Symptom Endorsement in Older Former College Athletes

Abstract Purpose Exercise participation has been associated with improved physical health, cognition, and psychological well-being as well as reduced risk for chronic illness and mortality. The effects of exercise participation in former athletes are less understood; this study investigated the relationship between current exercise participation and cognitive/emotional symptoms in former college athletes. Method Former college athletes aged 50–87 (N = 597, 44.2% female) completed the College Level Aging Athlete Study (CLEAATS) survey including the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Cognitive Function Instrument (CFI), Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-Modified (TICS-m), and self-reported weekly exercise involvement, classified as aerobic exercise (e.g., jogging/cycling), anaerobic exercise (e.g., weightlifting), and “other wellness activities”(e.g., yoga/meditation). Four multiple linear regression models investigated whether current exercise participation predicted mood and cognition, adjusting for demographic factors. Results Overall models for PHQ-8 [F(6,590) = 8.87, p < 0.001], GAD-7 [F(6,590) = 4.87, p < 0.001], CFI [F(6,590) = 3.45, p = 0.002], and TICS-m [F(6,590) = 15.99, p < 0.001] were significant. Individually, aerobic exercise was a significant predictor of PHQ-8 (b = −0.35, p < 0.001), GAD-7 (b = −0.18, p = 0.007), CFI (b = −0.12, p = 0.021), and TICS-m (b = 0.18, p = 0.022) scores, such that more exercise predicted lower emotional/cognitive difficulties. Engagement in “other wellness activities”was significantly associated with higher TICS-m (b = 0.18, p = 0.024) scores. Anaerobic exercise was not a significant predictor in any model. Conclusions Consistent with research in other populations, participation in aerobic exercise predicted better cognitive/emotional functioning in former college athletes. Involvement in other forms of exercise did not consistently predict greater functioning, though “other wellness activities”was associated with better objective cognition. Results emphasize the importance of recommending aerobic exercise for former athletes.

Physical exercise, social relationships, and bullying perpetration among school adolescents in China.

Despite contradictory empirical evidence, some suggest that physical exercise is directly related to bullying perpetration. Moreover, the quality of social relationships between adolescents and their parents, peers, and teachers has been proposed as a crucial mediator in the relationship between physical exercise and bullying perpetration. However, few empirical studies have examined such hypotheses. This study used data obtained from the 2014-2015 China Education Panel Survey to examine the direct association between physical exercise and bullying behaviors, as well as the indirect pathways from physical exercise to bullying that are mediated by teenagers' social relationship quality. The results showed no significant direct relationship between physical exercise and bullying behaviors. However, physical exercise has indirect associations with bullying behaviors mediated through social relationship quality, with peer relationships having the strongest mediating effect. The findings indicate that social relationships could mediate the association between physical exercise and bullying behaviors. The study suggests that future prevention and intervention programs should promote adolescents' participation in physical exercise and their social interactions with parents, peers, and teachers to reduce bullying perpetration.

Relationship and mechanisms between internet use and physical exercise among middle- and younger-aged groups.

The "Internet Plus" era has established a closer connection between sports and individuals. This study used data from the 2018 China Family Panel Studies and focused on the middle- and younger-aged population aged 15 to 59 years. Employing a negative binomial regression model, this study empirically analyzed the impact of Internet use on physical exercise and its internal mechanisms among this population. The findings revealed that (1) Internet use significantly promoted physical exercise in the middle- and younger-aged population, with the frequency of physical exercise increasing to 1.549 times the original value; (2) The positive effects of the internet on physical exercise outweighed the negative effects, with online learning and entertainment enhancing physical exercise and online socialization limiting it. Specifically, online learning and entertainment increased the frequency of physical exercise among the middle- and younger-aged population by 0.063 and 0.018, respectively. Online socialization reduced the frequency by 0.023; and (3) The influence of internet use on physical exercise varies; significantly, it positively affects the exercise frequency among individuals over 35 years old and shows a positive correlation with employment status, including both employed individuals and those out of the labor market. The positive role of Internet use in encouraging physical exercise participation among the middle- and young-aged groups should be valued and enhanced.

Application of entertainment and fitness robots based on game interaction in sports training data analysis

This study aims to explore the application of sports data analysis of recreational fitness robots in sports training. By introducing interactive elements of games, recreational fitness robots can provide more interesting and challenging fitness experience, thus attracting more people to participate in sports training. Research and design and develop a game interactive entertainment fitness robot, with action recognition and user interaction functions, can perceive the user’s actions and make corresponding responses. When the user interacts with the robot, the sensor continuously collects and records data, establishes a data acquisition and storage system, analyzes and processes the collected interactive data, identifies the user’s movement pattern, assesses the user’s physical fitness level, and identifies potential improvement points. According to the user’s physical condition and training objectives, the appropriate exercise plan and game interaction mode are designed to provide better training results and entertainment experience. It is found that the game-based interactive entertainment fitness robot can effectively improve the user’s exercise motivation and participation in sports training. Through the analysis of sports data, we can develop personalized training plans according to the specific needs and goals of users, so as to achieve better training results.

직장인의 운동 참여에 따른 감성지능, 회복탄력성, 정신적 웰빙, 지각된 스트레스, 직장 생활 만족도 차이 검증

Objectives This study examined the differences in emotional intelligence, resilience, mental well-being, perceived stress, and job satisfaction depending on the exercise participation of office workers. Methods This study targeted subjects who worked as office workers in 2022, distributed and collected 1024 copies of the questionnaire, and used a total of 881 of them after excluding 143 copies with incomplete responses and problems. This study used SPSS 26 and AMOS 26 for frequency analysis, reliability analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, and multivariate analysis (MANOVA). Results According to analysis on gender differences, men showed higher self-emotion awareness, emotion control, emotion utilization, resilience, social well-being, and positive perception than women. Meanwhile, women showed higher awareness of other's emotion and negative perception than men. The analysis on exercise participation status, exercise degree, and exercise intensity showed that the groups of exercise participation, groups of moderate and frequent exercise, and groups of moderate to intense exercise demonstrated higher scores in psychological factors. In the analysis on exercise participation period, the groups of exercise periods less than 10 years showed higher emotional control, while groups of exercise periods longer than 10 years exhibited higher psychological well-being and resilience than other groups. For differences in type of exercise, the groups of skill sports showed a higher positive perception than the groups of conquest sports. Conclusions The analysis results showed that exercise participation relieved the factors that negatively affect the mental health of office workers, while improving the positive factors. Thus, it is necessary to actively encourage exercise participation at the individual, corporate, and national levels to improve the mental health and job performance of office workers.

Exploring the Awareness of Exercise Benefits among Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome-A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age. With its increasing prevalence, it is crucial to emphasize effective preventative measures for a healthier life. Exercise is recognized as a primary therapeutic option for managing PCOS. Therefore, increasing awareness of the benefits of exercise among women is essential, as higher awareness is likely to lead to better outcomes through increased participation. This study aims to assess exercise awareness as a treatment option among females diagnosed with PCOS and evaluate the frequency of participation in exercise programs in Karachi. Methodology: This cross-sectional study involved 100 females diagnosed with PCOS who were visiting various government and private hospitals in Karachi, aged 18-35 years. Pregnant women and those with thyroid diseases were excluded. Data was collected using a self-designed questionnaire. The association between exercise awareness and participation was evaluated using the Chi-square test with SPSS version 20, and frequencies and percentages of qualitative variables were calculated. Results: 66% of females were aware of the benefits of exercise, with gynecologists being their primary source of information (60.6%). 67% of females were engaged in exercise, with 42 of them preferring walking. Additionally, 72% of females reported different barriers to exercise. The association between exercise awareness and participation was highly significant (p=0.00). Conclusion: Exercise training is crucial for managing PCOS. However, there needs to be more physical therapists as a critical source of information on exercise benefits for PCOS and in organizing related exercise programs. Keywords: Awareness, Exercise, Obesity, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

The relationship between self-oriented perfectionism and exercise participation: based on the dualistic model of passion.

During the critical formative years of college, active participation in sports not only helps to alleviate stress, but also promotes the development of healthy habits. Although the multifaceted benefits of exercise have been widely recognized, there is a relative dearth of research on the relationship between personality traits, particularly college students' self-oriented perfectionism (SOP), and exercise participation. A questionnaire survey of 374 college students was conducted using the snowball sampling method. SPSS 26.0 and Mplus 8.3 were employed in this study to analyze the correlations between the variables, and on this basis, the effect of SOP on exercise participation was examined. The study also used 5,000 bootstrap samples and a 95% bias-corrected confidence interval to test the significance of the mediating effects. Correlation analysis showed that SOP was positively correlated with exercise participation. Harmonious passion and obsessive passion were positively correlated with SOP, and exercise participation. Further, the results of structural equation analysis revealed that SOP increased exercise participation. Harmonious passion and obsessive passion positively mediated the effect between SOP and exercise participation, respectively. This study provides new perspectives to better understand college students' exercise participation, emphasizing the importance of SOP and its influence on exercise participation through harmonious and obsessive passions. These findings have important implications for the development of effective exercise promotion strategies.

'I'm a failure again, I can't do it': Attitudes towards, and experiences of, exercise participation in adults with class III obesity.

Living within a larger body brings unique challenges to exercise participation, which are poorly understood. This qualitative study explored the attitudes towards, and experiences of, exercise participation in adults with class III obesity. Individual semi-structured qualitative interviews. We recruited 30 adults with class III obesity (body mass index: 45.8 ± 8.6 kg/m2) from a specialist multidisciplinary weight management service. Participants took part in semi-structured interviews while participating in a 6-month home-based aerobic and resistance exercise intervention. Open-ended questions were used flexibly to explore their views and experiences of exercise, encompassing barriers, motives and perceived benefits. Transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Three themes were developed: (1) a web of barriers; (2) tailored exercise facilitates positive experiences; and (3) a desire to live a normal life. People with class III obesity perceived that they were unable to do exercise; a view that was attributed to perceived judgement, low physical function, pain during everyday activities and failed weight loss attempts. These complex physical and psychosocial barriers to exercise were described as contributing to exercise avoidance. High value was placed on tailored exercise that accommodates the unique needs of moving in a larger body. A desire to carry out everyday tasks underpinned motivations for exercise. Our findings suggest that multi-component obesity interventions should move away from generic exercise prescriptions designed to maximize energy expenditure, and instead move towards addressing the unique physical and psychosocial needs of people who have class III obesity with tailored person-centred and weight-neutral exercise prescriptions.

Safely gaining experience in death and dying: Simulation in palliative care and end-of-life education

BackgroundTraining in palliative and end-of-life (EOL) care provision represents a critical topic in health professional curricula for ensuring a workforce prepared to provide safe and person-center care at the end of one's life. This manuscript describes the incorporation of a simulation-based learning experience (SBLE) and the evolution of a professional elective course for student pharmacists related to palliative and EOL care. Educational activityA SBLE was incorporated into a long-standing professional pharmacy elective course in palliative and EOL care. The decision to incorporate and utilize SBLE to introduce topics of deprescribing, communication, prioritization of quality of life, and establishing goals of care was utilized in recognition of a need to establish a psychologically safer environment to allow students to explore these topics prior to the advanced pharmacy practice experiences. DiscussionIncorporation of SBLE in this professional elective course resulted in a favorable effect on course enrollment. Observations from structured debriefing and anecdotal student feedback suggest that students had trouble tailoring care plans to the circumstances, particularly in focusing on de-escalating medication treatments, emphasizing the need for training in the care for this patient population which incorporate considerations for goals of care. Lessons related to the influence of environmental distractions, expressions of discomfort conveyed by body language, and challenges in prioritizing and focusing on tailoring care plans given evolving information at hand were identified. ImplicationsWe describe the effective implementation and utilization of SBLE in a professional elective focused on palliative and EOL care for student pharmacists. Future directions include research initiatives designed to evaluate the impact of simulation on key competencies and areas developed through participation in such exercises. Systematic evaluation of outcomes and competencies related to team dynamics, sympathetic communication, professional identity formation and resiliency and preparation for dealing with death and dying in experiential learning are planned.

Green space exposure and Chinese residents' physical activity participation: empirical evidence from a health geography perspective.

With continuous efforts made to promote the strategic goals of carbon neutrality and carbon peak, it is crucial to meet the growing and diversified needs of the public for fitness by practicing the concept of green development and promote the combination of national fitness and ecological civilization. To achieve this purpose, an OLS regression model was applied to estimate the role of green space exposure in Chinese residents' participation in physical activity and its underlying mechanisms, using the microdata from the China General Social Survey (CGSS) data and the Provincial Vegetation Cover Index (NDVI) matched macrostatistical data. The empirical results show that green space exposure significantly increases the probability of residents' physical activity participation, and creating a green environment is conducive to creating a favorable physical activity environment for residents. Also, the core conclusions still hold after the year-by-year regression test is passed and the endogeneity problem is addressed. As revealed by mechanistic studies, green space exposure has indirect effects on the physical activity participation of residents through the independent mediating roles of reducing carbon emissions and promoting social interaction. According to heterogeneity results, males, those in marriage, and urban dweller groups are more inclined to perform physical activity in green spaces. The results show that the exposure of green space can help increase the probability of residents' participation in physical exercise, and can that it achieved through two channels: reducing carbon emissions and enhancing social interaction. It is necessary to further strengthen the protection of the ecological lifestyle, give full play to the advantages of greenness and low-carbon, and create favorable conditions for the green development of a new model of national fitness.

Document analysis of adaptive sport opportunities at Division-1 universities in the United States

BackgroundIndividuals with disabilities are less likely to participate in physical activity, with the greatest decline in participation during college years. Despite known health benefits, there are significant barriers that limit sport and exercise participation for students with disabilities, including adaptive access. To our knowledge, there has been no comprehensive review conducted to examine the number of adaptive sport offerings on a collegiate level. ObjectiveAssess the availability of adaptive sport opportunities for students at National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division-1 Universities to better understand university-affiliated adaptive sport opportunity for students. MethodsWebsite document analysis was conducted by systematically querying the general homepage, athletics page, and campus recreation websites of each NCAA Division-1 University in the United States (US). Institutional and sport-related characteristics were recorded. ResultsOf the 358 NCAA Division-1 Universities, 20.4 % (73/358) marketed adaptive sport opportunities (recreational, club, and/or intercollegiate), with 3.9 % (11/358) acknowledging intercollegiate adaptive sport programs on their websites. Five percent (6/121) of private institutions, and 28.3 % (67/237) of public institutions reported adaptive sport opportunities. The Northeast region had the fewest number of institutions reporting adaptive sport offerings (4/67, 6.0 %). The most commonly offered sport was adaptive recreation (36/358, 10.2 %), followed by wheelchair basketball (26/358, 7.4 %). ConclusionOver three-quarters of Division-1 Universities in the US lack an online description of adaptive sport opportunity, highlighting the need for expanded resourcing and marketing of adaptive sport at the university level. Future studies are necessary to identify appropriate strategies to effectively promote sport, maximize participation and improve social inclusion.

Dilute-and-shoot approach for the high-throughput LC-MS/MS determination of illicit drugs in the field of wastewater-based epidemiology

The determination of illicit drugs in urban influent wastewater (IWW) enables the monitoring of spatial and temporal drug usage trends and assessment of community lifestyle habits. The increasing number of wastewater surveillance studies has emphasized the necessity for the development of rapid, high-throughput methods that maintain high quality data. This work evaluates the use of a dilute-and-shoot methodology, based on direct injection (DI) of centrifuged samples, as an alternative approach to the widely applied sample pre-treatment based on solid-phase extraction, for the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry determination of seven widely consumed illicit drugs and their metabolites in IWW (amphetamine; cocaine metabolite, benzoylecgonine; ketamine; 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA); methamphetamine; cannabis metabolite, 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH); heroin metabolite, 6-acetylmorphine (6-MAM)). Comparison of both approaches in terms of matrix effects, sensitivity and accuracy, demonstrates the DI method suitability to correctly quantify these analytes in IWW, with a limit of quantification lower than 30 ng L−1 for most compounds. After validation of the method and participation in an interlaboratory exercise, the DI method was applied to the analysis of 54 IWW samples collected from different Spanish wastewater treatment plants. Additionally, quality controls were incorporated in each analysis batch to support the DI method applicability and robustness. The use of a 10 μL-DI reduces time-consuming sample preparation, analysis time and measurement uncertainty. Moreover, it supports green chemistry by reducing the consumption of organic solvents and it facilitates logistics by collecting, transporting, and storing less sample volume. The methodology is therefore especially appropriate for monitoring illicit drugs in large wastewater-based epidemiology sampling campaigns or when fast near real-time results are needed.

Effect of Digital Therapeutics on Range of Motion, Flexibility, Dynamic Balance, Satisfaction, and Adherence: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study investigated the effect of digital therapeutics on ROM, flexibility, dynamic balance, satisfaction, and adherence. A sample of 34 volunteers was randomly assigned into a Digital Therapeutic Group (DTG) (n = 17) and a Non-Digital Therapeutic Group (NDG) (n = 17). The groups performed four calf muscle stretches and two hamstring stretches for 4 weeks. Flexibility and balance were evaluated to assess the effectiveness of the exercise program. A survey was conducted to assess subjects’ satisfaction, and exercise performance record papers and video records were assessed for exercise adherence. The paired t-test was used to compare the two populations before and after the program. The independent t-test was used to compare the change scores between groups. In the pre- and post-comparison within each group, the DTG group showed significant differences in all items except the dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM) (p < 0.05). The left straight leg raise (SLR) was significantly different (p < 0.05), and there was a significant difference in exercise satisfaction and participation between the two groups (p < 0.05). DTG showed improved flexibility, dynamic balance, and higher exercise satisfaction and adherence than NDG. The application, providing lower extremity stretching, can improve dorsiflexion ROM, flexibility of the lower extremity, dynamic balance, exercise satisfaction, and exercise adherence.

Elevating Arabic Speaking Skills: Plotagon and Digital Comics as Catalysts for Enhanced Learning Engagement and Proficiency

Active student participation and engagement in diverse practice exercises are essential for mastering all four language skills. Due to the lack of active participation, students' proficiency in Arabic language learning, particularly in speaking skills (maharah kalam), falls below the required educational benchmarks. This research uses a quasi-experimental approach to assess the effectiveness of two different learning media: Plotagon for Tenth-grade students of IPS 1 and digital comics for Tenth-grade students of IPS 2 in improving Arabic speaking skills. The research findings indicate that students who used Plotagon as a learning tool to enhance their speaking skills achieved significantly better learning outcomes on average compared to students who used digital comics for the same purpose. Additionally, this study found that students who utilized Plotagon for learning exhibited higher engagement levels than those who used digital comics. These findings highlight the significance of active engagement in learning Arabic and indicate that Plotagon animation can be a valuable tool for enhancing learning outcomes and student engagement.

Effects of Emotional Labor and Job Stress Perceived by Insurance and Asset Managers on Their Job Satisfaction.

Occupational stress is often high among the employees of insurance companies. We aimed to examine the effects of emotional labor and job stress on job satisfaction among insurance and asset managers and the moderating effect of regular exercise participation in these relationships. This study was conducted in October 2022. A total of 261 insurance and asset managers working at Samsung Life Insurance Company, Seoul, Republic of Korea, were selected using non-probability purposive sampling. Data were collected using questionnaires. The data collected were analyzed using frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis, correlation analysis, structural equation model analysis, measurement equivalence tests, multi-group structural equation model analysis, and parametric comparison analysis. Both emotional labor and job stress had a negative effect on the job satisfaction of insurance and asset managers (P< 0.05). Regular exercise participation moderated the relationship between emotional labor and job satisfaction (P< 0.05) but not the relationship between job stress and job satisfaction. The results of this study might help encourage devising of strategies that increase exercise participation among insurance and asset managers in order to reduce their emotional labor and job stress while simultaneously increasing their job satisfaction.

Development of the Fit&Fab Exercise Intervention for Women With Obesity: A Community Advisory Board Informed Process.

Women with higher body mass index report low rates of and face unique barriers to exercise. Increasing exercise participation can improve mental and physical health independent of weight loss; however, most exercise programs targeting this population focus predominately on losing weight. This paper aims to describe the development of Fit&Fab, a community-based exercise intervention focused on increasing exercise participation and enjoyment for women with obesity. In partnership with the YMCA, we recruited women ages 35-64years (body mass index ≥ 30) to participate in 4 focus groups to understand exercise preferences. Formative work was used to identify theory constructs and associated intervention components. Women from the focus groups were recruited for a community advisory board that finalized the intervention design, recruitment, and evaluation plan. Focus groups participants (N = 29) preferred to exercise without men and wanted a cohort-style class that included women of similar exercise levels and body types, incorporated social support, fun activities, and broke exercise into smaller bouts. They wanted a supportive instructor who was fit but understood weight-related challenges. The community advisory board and research team used focus group findings to inform design of the final intervention including group exercise classes, psychosocial support sessions, personalized training, exercise tracking, outcome monitoring, and rewards. Our findings emphasize the need to focus on exercise enjoyment and benefits other than losing weight to improve exercise participation among women with higher body mass index. In addition to having outcomes other than weight loss, exercise interventions with this population should also consider group composition, instructor, and class format.