International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form Research Articles

Association between sleep quality and cognitive impairment in older adults hypertensive patients in China: a case–control study

BackgroundPrevious studies have found that poor sleep quality promotes the occurrence of cognitive impairment (CI), but this relationship has been rarely reported in older adults hypertensive patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between sleep quality and CI in older adults hypertensive patients and the mediating effect of sleep quality between physical activity (PA) and CI.MethodsA total of 2072 older adults hypertensive patients were included in this case–control study. Five hundred and eighteen older adults hypertensive patients with CI were matched 1:3 by age and sex to 1,554 older adults hypertensive patients with normal cognitive function. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Mini-Mental State Examination were used to evaluate PA intensity, sleep quality, and cognitive function in older adults hypertensive patients. Multivariate logistic regression and the mediation package in R Language were used to analyze the relationship between sleep quality and CI and the mediating effect of sleep quality between PA intensity and CI in older adults hypertensive patients.ResultsAfter adjusting for all confounding factors, sleep quality was positively correlated with CI in older adults hypertensive patients (OR = 2.565, 95%CI: 1.958–3.360, p < 0.001), and this relationship also existed in the older adults hypertensive patients with education levels of primary school and below and junior high school and above (OR = 2.468, 95%CI: 1.754–3.473, p < 0.001; OR = 2.385, 95%CI: 1.367–4.161, p = 0.002). In addition, sleep quality mediated part of the mediating effect between PA intensity and CI in older adults hypertensive patients (Za*Zb: - 17.19339; 95%CI: −0.37312, −0.04194).ConclusionPoor sleep quality was associated with the occurrence of CI in older adults hypertensive patients, and this relationship also existed in older adults hypertensive patients with education levels of primary school and below and junior high school and above.

Reliability and Validity of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire for Portuguese Adults.

The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) has been used often to assess physical activity (PA) patterns. However, the European Portuguese version of this instrument has not been validated. We aimed to validate the self-administered GPAQ, version 2, (GPAQv2) for Portuguese adults. We included 32 participants in a pilot study of a Portuguese adaptation of the test and 108 participants in an assessment of their PA patterns and sedentary behavior (SB) through the GPAQv2. For its validation, we compared the GPAQv2 to the International PA Questionnaire-Long Form (IPAQ-LF) (concurrent validity) and the ActiGraph wGT3X-BT accelerometer (criterion validity). We evaluated PA and SB at baseline and after seven consecutive days. Test-retest reliability with the Kappa test (k) and the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) ranged from strong to almost perfect (k: 0.864-0.976) and from moderate to excellent (ICC: 0.56-0.994), respectively. Concurrent validity, assessed by Spearman's Correlation Coefficient, was moderate to substantial (rho: 0.471-0.680), and there was fair to substantial criterion validity (rho: 0.226-0.672). Bland-Altman plots showed that the GPAQv2 overestimated vigorous and moderate to vigorous PA and underestimated moderate PA. The largest difference values were related to SB, since the GPAQv2 underestimated sitting time. In sum, we found the GPAQv2 to have acceptable validity and reliability for assessing PA and SB patterns, and we recommend its use for Portuguese adults.

Association between physical activity and functional movement screening among university students in an adaptive physical course.

Physical activity (PA) holds profound implications for the holistic development of college students. However, students with chronic diseases or physical disabilities experience significantly limited PA during adaptive sports. This study aims to investigate the relationship between physical activity and Functional Movement Screening (FMS) among university students who participate in the adaptive physical course. 36 university students (from the adaptive physical course) completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form (IPAQ-L). Body measurements and FMS were assessed. Correlation analysis and t-tests were used to determine relationships and differences between various indicators. A two-way analysis of variance was used to investigate potential variations in FMS scores based on gender and weight status. The results show that gender, PA, and BMI significantly influence FMS scores in students participating in adaptive physical courses. FMS score is significantly negatively correlated with BMI and significantly positively correlated with PA. The FMS score for males, as well as the scores for Trunk Stability Push-Up and Rotary Stability, are significantly higher than those for females. University students in adaptive physical courses can benefit from increased PA and FMS scores. Improving functional movement and enhancing physical activity are crucial for promoting overall health in this population.

Association between intensity of physical activity and cognitive function in hypertensive patients: a case–control study

Previous studies have shown that a higher intensity of physical activity (PA) is associated with a lower risk of cognitive impairment (CI), whereas hypertension is associated with higher CI. However, there are few studies on the association between PA intensity and cognitive function in hypertensive patients. This study investigated the association between PA intensity and cognitive function in hypertensive patients. A total of 2035 hypertensive patients were included in this study, including 407 hypertensive patients with CI and 1628 hypertensive patients with normal cognitive function matched 1:4 by age and sex. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form and the Mini-mental State Examination were used to evaluate PA intensity, total metabolic equivalents, and cognitive function in patients with hypertension. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation between PA intensity and CI in hypertensive patients. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between PA intensity and the total score of each component of the MMSE and the correlation between PA total metabolic equivalents and cardiac structure in hypertensive patients. After adjusting for all confounding factors, PA intensity was negatively associated with CI in hypertensive patients (OR = 0.608, 95% CI: 0.447–0.776, P < 0.001), and this association was also observed in hypertensive patients with education level of primary school and below and junior high school and above (OR = 0.732, 95% CI: 0.539–0.995, P = 0.047; OR = 0.412, 95% CI: 0.272–0.626, P < 0.001). The intensity of PA in hypertensive patients was positively correlated with orientation (r = 0.125, P < 0.001), memory (r = 0.052, P = 0.020), attention and numeracy (r = 0.151, P < 0.001), recall ability (r = 0.110, P < 0.001), and language ability (r = 0.144, P < 0.001). PA total metabolic equivalents in hypertensive patients were negatively correlated with RVEDD and LAD (r = − 0.048, P = 0.030; r = − 0.051, P = 0.020) and uncorrelated with LVEDD (r = 0.026, P = 0.233). Higher PA intensity reduced the incidence of CI in hypertensive patients. Therefore, hypertensive patients were advised to moderate their PA according to their circumstances.

Physical Activity and Self-Determination towards Exercise among Esports Athletes

BackgroundEsports is competitive video gaming, performed within teams or individually, across multiple genres. Players are required to be sedentary for extended periods and require a high-level of cognitive skills for successful competitive performance. There are conflicting findings within the physical activity research in the esports industry. The aim of this research is to explore self-reported physical activity through accelerometer-assessed physical activity, to gain a better insight into the physical activity behaviours of international e’athletes.MethodParticipants (n = 796) across multiple popular esports games, holding any in-game rank, competing at any level, were recruited. The survey consisted of demographic details, esports experience, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form (IPAQ-LF), and Behavioural Regulations towards Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-3). Within a convenience sample, local intervarsity e’athletes (n = 18) were recruited to wear a wrist-worn accelerometer to measure physical activity for 7-days and then complete the survey. Results from the accelerometers were compared to the survey results to explore physical activity reporting within this population.ResultsWhen comparing IPAQ-LF to accelerometer data, players significantly over-report moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and weekly MET-min− 1 (p = .018, r = .63 and p ≤ .001, r = .92). The BREQ-3 showed that e’athletes categorised as high physical activity displayed significantly higher levels of intrinsic motivation, when compared to players categorised as low and moderate physical activity.ConclusionsE’athletes significantly over report physical activity time when measured through the IPAQ-LF, suggesting previous surveys may overestimate physical activity and further research is needed. Given the exponential growth of the industry and the level of physical inactivity, esports may contribute to global physical inactivity levels.

Physical Activity and Health-Related Fitness of Grade 11 Students

The lockdown period has led to a decline in physical activity and fitness among students with increasingly embraced sedentary behaviour. This study aimed to assess the physical activity (PA) level and health-related fitness (HRF) status of students according to sex and academic strand, also determining whether significant differences existed. The study was conducted in a large public high school responding to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form (IPAQ) and the Philippine Physical Fitness Test. The study employed a descriptive-comparative research design and employed stratified random sampling with proportional allocation. The students demonstrated a moderate PA level, regardless of sex and academic strand. Regarding health-related fitness, most students exhibited normal BMI, excellent strength in the basic plank, good cardiovascular endurance in the 3-minute step test, good flexibility in the zipper test, fair flexibility in the sit and reach test, and poor performance in the push-up. Furthermore, significant differences were found in BMI and strength when grouped by sex. In conclusion, most students maintain moderate physical activity, surpassing local restrictions and avoiding sedentary behaviour. Also, most students have shown muscular endurance and flexibility in various tasks but have yet to focus as much on strengthening their arms and core muscles. The FIT-UP YOU program has been developed to address this issue, focusing on improving weight and overall HRF status among young overweight/obese and underweight students.

Evaluating the Responsiveness of Hindi version of International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form (IPAQ-LF) in healthy adults.

IPAQ-LF is widely used tool for subjective assessment of physical activity. It has been translated, cross culturally adapted into Hindi language and tested for its reliability and validity. However, Hindi version of this questionnaire is not evaluated for its responsiveness. The current study aims to evaluate the responsiveness of Hindi version of International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form (IPAQ-LF) in healthy adults. The responsiveness was assessed in 60 healthy adults by administering 6-week pedometer-based programme and behavioral modification. Responsiveness statistics suggested that Hindi version of IPAQ-LF was responsive to change based on internal responsiveness statistics. The values calculated for Effect size I, Effect size II (SRM) and Effect size III were 0.223, 0.618, 0.631 respectively, suggesting small to moderate effect size. Also, the MCID calculated in the current study for healthy individuals was 1425.06 MET-mins/week. The study demonstrates that Hindi version of IPAQ-LF is a responsive tool for assessing physical activity levels for Hindi speaking population.

Mediating role of physical activity in the relationship between psychological distress and intimate relationships among stroke patients.

Stroke patients often experience psychological distress, which can impact their intimate relationships with spouses, subsequently influencing their treatment and recovery. Physical activity is considered a key rehabilitation method for stroke patients. This paper aims to analyze whether psychological distress affects intimate relationship between spouses through physical activity. To explore the mediating effect of physical activity between psychological distress and intimate relationship in stroke patients. A total of 256 stroke patients who underwent treatment at the First People's Hospital of Shangqiu between July 2021 and July 2022 were enrolled in this study. The participants completed questionnaires, including the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), the Quality of Relationship Index (QRI), International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and a general information questionnaire. Data analysis were performed using SPSS 23.0. The Harman test was employed to detect common method deviations, and Spearman correlation was used for correlation analysis. The mediating effect was assessed using Process 3.4.1, with significance testing of the regression coefficients conducted using the bias-corrected percentile Bootstrap method (5000 iterations, 95% confidence interval). Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. The results showed that patients scored an average of 21.61 ± 6.44 points on the K10, 32.40 ± 6.19 points on the QRI; the median physical activity level according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was 1861 (566, 2846) MET·min/w. The level of physical activity (the physical activity intensity of the patients reflected by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form scale) negatively correlated with psychological distress and intimacy (P < 0.05), and positively correlated with each other (P < 0.05), with the correlation stronger at lower physical activity levels compared to higher ones. The mediating effect of physical activity between psychological distress and intimate relationship was calculated to be 40.23%. Bootstrap analysis further validated the results. The mediating effect of psychological distress on intimate relationships through physical activity level was -0.284, with a confidence interval of -0.409 to -0.163, excluding 0, confirming a significant mediating effect of psychological distress on intimate relationships. Physical activity significantly affects relationship between psychological distress and intimate relationships among stroke patients. Addressing the role of physical activity may have implications for improving patient outcomes and rehabilitation strategies.

Physical activity and life satisfaction among adolescents before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

The negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and distance education has significantly affected adolescents' lives. The restrictive policies negatively affected their physical and mental health and life satisfaction. It is therefore desirable to look for ways to eliminate similar negative impacts on adolescents in the future. This study aimed to identify the differences in the association between physical activity and life satisfaction in Polish adolescents before and during the pandemic. The study included 1541 participants (891 before the pandemic and 650 during the pandemic) aged 15–19 years. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form questionnaire was used to assess physical activity, and the Bern Subjective Well-Being Questionnaire was used to evaluate life satisfaction. The objectivity of data collection and analysis before and during the pandemic was ensured by the web application the International Database for Research and Educational Support. During the pandemic, we found lower physical activity and life satisfaction in both boys and girls compared to before the pandemic. Girls with low and high physical activity levels showed significantly lower life satisfaction during the pandemic than they did before. Low life satisfaction was associated with lower physical activity, and high life satisfaction was associated with greater total physical activity. Both boys and girls with low and high life satisfaction achieved significantly fewer physical activity recommendations during the pandemic. High life satisfaction increased the likelihood of meeting the recommendations for physical activity before and during the pandemic. This study provides new insights into the differences and associations between life satisfaction and physical activity in adolescent boys and girls before and during the pandemic. It provides suggestions for the prevention of possible future restrictions in the school settings. Support for post-pandemic life satisfaction in adolescents should focus mainly on increasing vigorous physical activity and improving adolescent participation in organized physical activity settings.

The difference in physical activity and sedentary behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic in medical and non-medical students at Diponegoro University

Background: University students are already known as a population at high risk for inactive behavior, and the COVID-19 pandemic can increase this risk. Objective: This research was conducted to analyze differences in physical activity and sedentary behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic in medical and non-medical students at Diponegoro University and analyze factors correlated to physical activity and sedentary behavior. Methods: This was an observational research with a cross-sectional design in two groups conducted online. The subjects were students of Diponegoro University, as many as 102 subjects (51 medical students and 51 non-medical students aged 18-22 years). The research was conducted from September to November 2021. The selection was by quota sampling technique. Data were collected by filling out Google forms and an interview. The dependent variables are physical activity and sedentary behavior, measured by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form (IPAQ-LF) and the Adolescent Sedentary Activity Questionnaire (ASAQ). Data were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney test and Spearman's correlation test.Results: Physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic between medical and non-medical students did not differ significantly (p=0.497). There was no significant difference in physical activity related to work/college, transport, house chores, and recreation (p&gt;0.05). Meanwhile, overall sedentary behavior was not significantly different (p=0.290), as well as sedentary behavior on weekdays and weekends (p&gt;0.05). The level of motivation was significantly correlated with physical activity in medical (p=0.027) and non-medical students (p=0.042).Conclusion: Medical and non-medical students have no differences in physical activity and sedentary behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. The level of motivation was positively correlated to physical activity in medical and non-medical students.

Examination of factors affecting pain-related self-efficacy in patients with chronic neck pain

Objective: Chronic neck pain (CNP) is a musculoskeletal disorder and has psychosocial characteristics. Our study aimed to identify demographic and clinical descriptives for pain-related self-efficacy in patients with CNP. Material and Methods: Two hundred patients (100 women, 100 men) with CNP included to the study were divided into 2 groups according to gender. Of the groups, pain-related self-efficacy, pain severity, balance skills, and physical activity level were evaluated with the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ), the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form (IPAQ-LF). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine whether the models created with the variables that were determined as a result of Spearman's correlation analysis were descriptive of pain-related self-efficacy. Results: As a result of the correlation analysis, the model, created to determine the contribution of age, BMI, BBS, TUG and total IPAQ-LF scores, which were found to be associated with the pain-related self-efficacy levels, explained 62% of the total variance in women with CNP (F= 22.276; p=0.001; R2= 0.629). In men with CNP, it was revealed that the model created with the scores of VAS, BBS and TUG, which were found to be associated with the level of pain-related self-efficacy, explained 73% of the variance (F= 70.138, p&lt;0.001, R2= 0.736). While the main variables affecting the PSEQ results in women were VAS (p=0.000) and total IPEQ-LF scores (p=0.003), only VAS scores significantly contributed to PSEQ results in men. Conclusion: Primarily, reducing the severity of CNP contributes to increasing pain-related self-efficacy, regardless of gender. Moreover, increasing the level of physical activity in women may increase their belief in pain-related self-efficacy.

Trends in physical activity in adolescents participating and not participating in organized team or individual physical activity.

Participation of adolescents in organized physical activity (PA), together with physical education, is essential for the development of a habit of regular PA, achievement of PA recommendations and adoption of physical literacy. The aim of the study is to identify the trends and differences in PA levels between adolescents participating in organized team PA, organized individual PA, and those not participating in organized PA. Another aim is to formulate proposals to eliminate the negative effects of the pandemic on adolescents' participation in organized PA. The research took place between 2012-2021 in 51 secondary schools and involved a total of 1,202 boys and 1,561 girls. Participation in organized PA was examined using the 'Sports preferences survey'. Weekly PA was investigated by means of the 'International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form'. The results confirmed the negative trend in participation in organized PA. However, this was predominantly caused by the negative effects of the pandemic in 2020-2021. Boys participating in organized team and individual PA had more school PA, recreation PA, vigorous PA, moderate PA and overall PA during the week, compared with boys not participating in organized PA (girls had more vigorous PA, moderate PA and overall PA). Participation in organized team PA and individual PA plays an important role, primarily in supporting vigorous PA but also in overall weekly PA among boys and girls. The negative effects of the pandemic should be eliminated by increasing adolescents' participation in various forms of organized PA with an emphasis on organized individual PA which can be regularly pursued, even under restrictive measures at home, in the countryside or in nature.

Validity and reliability of the Arabic sedentary behavior questionnaire among university students aged between 18–30 years old

PurposeThe study aimed to test the validity and reliability of the Arabic version of the sedentary behavior questionnaire (SBQ).MethodsA total of 624 university students (273 males; 351 females, mean age = 20.8 years) were recruited from Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia. For criterion and constructive validity (n = 352), the Arabic SBQ was compared with total sitting time from the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short form (IPAQ-SF) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-long form (IPAQ-LF). For concurrent validity, the English and Arabic SBQ versions were given concurrently to bilingual university students (n = 122) once. For test–retest reliability, the Arabic SBQ was given twice to participants (n = 150) at a one-week interval.ResultsSitting time of IPAQ-SF (7th question: sitting time on weekdays) and IPAQ-LF (21st question: sitting time on weekdays and 22nd question: sitting time on weekends) correlated significantly with total sitting time/week of the Arabic SBQ (r = 0.29, p = 0.003; r = 0.14, p = 0.02, respectively). Motorized transportation measured with the IPAQ-LF correlated significantly with time spent driving in a car, bus, or train from the Arabic SBQ on weekdays and weekends (r = 0.53, p < 0.001; r = 0.44 p < 0.001, respectively). The total sitting time of the Arabic SBQ was inversely correlated with BMI (r = -0.18, p = 0.001). The correlations between the Arabic and the English SBQ versions ranged from 0.25–0.96; p < 0.001 on weekdays and 0.50–0.90; p < 0.001 on weekends. Moderate to good reliability was also found between test and retest for all SBQ items and total score during weekdays (0.72 to 0.8), and weekends (0.64 to 0.87), with exception of the 7th item "play musical instrument", ICC = 0.46). Mean difference of test–retest of the Arabic SBQ was not significantly different from zero for the total sitting time of the Arabic SBQ (t = -0.715, P = 0.476).ConclusionThe Arabic SBQ had satisfactory levels of reliability, with total sitting time of the Arabic SBQ correlating significantly with sitting times derived from IPAQ-SF, IPAQ-LF, and the English SBQ versions. Hence, the Arabic SBQ can be used as a tool to measure sedentary behavior among adult Arabs aged between 18 to 30 years old in future epidemiologic and clinical practice.

The Later Status and Impact Factors of Physical Activity among Patients after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in China.

Objectives: In this study, we investigated the physical activity status and impact factors in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention in China. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to October 2019. A total of 260 participants were recruited in the cardiovascular department who had successfully undergone percutaneous coronary intervention after one year for physical re-examination at 2 hospitals in Henan Province. They were investigated using 5 questionnaires - the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form, the Exercise Self-efficacy Questionnaire, the Multi-dimensional Fatigue Scale, the Social Support Rating Scale, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale. Results: After percutaneous coronary intervention, most patients were at low and moderate intensity physical activity and 60.8% of patients did not meet the recommended amount of guidelines. Through the analysis of the influencing factors of physical activity in patients with coronary heart disease stent implantation, the status of physical activity was affected by the NYHA classification, LVEF, exercise self-efficacy, fatigue, and social support. Conclusions: The level of physical activity of patients after percutaneous coronary intervention needs to be improved further. In clinical practice, nursing practitioners should strengthen the health education of patients' exercise rehabilitation to improve the level of physical activity and reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular events.

Reliability and validity of the Hindi version of international physical activity questionnaire-long-form (IPAQ-LF).

IPAQ-LF is a widely used tool for subjective assessment of physical activity. It has been translated, cross-culturally adapted into many languages and tested in many countries around the world. However, no Hindi version of the long-form of this questionnaire exists till date. To cross-culturally adapt the IPAQ-LF from English to Hindi language and to evaluate its reliability and validity. The guidelines by IPAQ Committee were followed for cross-cultural adaptation process. The Test-retest reliability was assessed on 60 participants by administering Hindi IPAQ-LF twice within two-week time frame. The construct validity was assessed by comparing with seven-day pedometer recording. Excellent reliability was observed between total physical activity scores on repeated Hindi IPAQ-LF administrations, with interclass correlation coefficient of 0.963 at 95% confidence interval. The ICC for job, transport, Housework and Leisure domain was calculated to be 0.923, 0.839, 0.862 and 0.939, respectively, suggesting excellent reliability. The Cronbach's alpha computed (0.82) suggests good internal consistency. The Hindi Version of IPAQ-LF also demonstrated good construct validity with Spearman correlation coefficient of 0.783. Bland-Altman analyses were performed to evaluate the level of agreement between two constructs. The study demonstrates that Hindi version of IPAQ-LF is a reliable and valid tool for assessing physical activity levels for Hindi speaking population.

Associations between preference and participation in team sports: Physical activity promotion among adolescents.

The level of physical activity (PA) in adolescents is highly dependent on their PA preferences. PA preferences among adolescents are dominated by team PA, mostly team sports (TS). The aim of this study is to identify (a) the status and trends in the preferences of TS among Czech and Polish boys and girls in different educational and sports environments, and (b) the impact of the agreement between the preferred and simultaneously pursued TS on the structure of weekly PA and on the meeting of PA recommendations. The research was carried out between 2009 and 2022 in the Czech Republic and Poland and included 2,939 boys and 4,427 girls aged 15-19 years. Preferences and participation in TS were identified using a PA preference questionnaire and weekly PA using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form. Trends in TS preferences were analyzed over 27-year periods. The participants were divided into groups by agreement and disagreement between the preferred and pursued TS, and by agreement and disagreement between the preferences of TS and participation in organized TS. Throughout the 14-year study period, boys in both countries preferred soccer, whereas girls favored volleyball. Agreement between preferences and participation in TS increased vigorous PA in Czech and Polish boys and girls. The agreement between the preferences for TS and participation in organized TS had the most significant effect on increasing vigorous PA in Czech and Polish boys and girls and on total PA in boys in both countries. Those who preferred and participated in TS were more likely to meet PA recommendations. Respecting the status and trends of TS preferences in supporting participation in TS increases adolescents' PA and their achievement of PA recommendations. Increasing active participation in organized TS among boys and girls may support regular PA and help eliminate the negative effects of the pandemic on adolescents' PA.

Brief report: Free-living physical activity levels and cognitive control in multi-problem young adults

Previous studies indicate a positive association between physical activity and cognitive control in sedentary but healthy adults, yet not much is known about physical activity levels in multi-problem young adults. We examined the level of self-reported free-living physical activity (i.e., MET minutes per week) in an ecologically valid sample of young adults facing multiple problems, including unemployment, lack of education, frequent substance use, and history of delinquency. We compared cognitive control with an age- and sex-matched control sample. Additionally, the association between physical activity and cognitive control (i.e., response inhibition, error processing, interference effect) in the multi-problem group was examined. Physical activity and cognitive control were measured with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form and three cognitive control experiments (i.e., Flanker, Go/NoGo, Stroop), respectively. With M = 4428 Metabolic Equivalents (METs), our multi-problem sample (n = 63) showed physical activity levels similar to the age- and sex-matched control sample from the general population (n = 62). The multi-problem young adults also showed impaired cognitive control indexed as decreased response inhibition and decreased Flanker correctness effect compared to their peers. We could not find an association between self-reported physical activity and cognitive control in the multi-problem sample. Due to the small sample size, results should be interpreted with caution. However, future dose-response studies could still use these results to further examine if within-individual increased physical activity may possibly lead to improved cognitive control in (already relatively active) multi-problem young adults.

Association between physical activity and health-related quality of life: time to deterioration model analysis in lung adenocarcinoma

Background and purpose Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a key aspect of care for cancer survivors that can be improved by physical activity. Our aim was to explore the relationship between physical activity and time to deterioration (TTD) of the HRQoL in patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).MethodsWe conducted a hospital-based prospective study. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire long-form (IPAQ-L) was used to investigate the pre-treatment physical activity levels, and the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire version 3.0 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire-Lung Cancer (EORTC QLQ-LC13) were used to assess HRQoL at baseline and during follow-up. The QoLR package was used to calculate the HRQoL scores and determine TTD events (minimal clinically important difference=5 points). The effect of physical activity on the HRQoL was assessed using Cox regression analysis.ResultsFor EORTC QLQ-C30, TTD events of physical functioning (PF) and dyspnea (DY) in functional scales and symptom scales were the most common during follow-up. Pre-treatment physical activity was found to significantly delay TTD of insomnia (HR=0.635, 95%CI: 0.437–0.922, P=0.017) and diarrhea (HR=0.475, 95%CI: 0.291–0.774, P=0.003). For EORTC QLQ-LC13 scales, deterioration of dyspnea (LC-DY) was the most common event. Physical activity was found to delay the TTD of dyspnea (HR=0.654, 95%CI: 0.474–0.903, P=0.010), sore mouth (HR=0.457, 95%CI: 0.244–0.856, P=0.015), and dysphagia (HR=0.315, 95%CI: 0.172–0.580, P<0.001).ConclusionsPre-treatment physical activity of LUAD patients may delay the TTD of multiple HRQoL indicators in EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-LC13.Implication for Cancer SurvivorsHealth-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a key aspect of care for cancer survivors (someone who is living with or beyond cancer), that can be improved by physical activity. Our aim was to explore the relationship between physical activity and time to deterioration (TTD) of the HRQoL in patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

Predicting Maximal Aerobic Capacity based on Self-Reported Physical Activity Levels among Adolescents

Growing evidence has indicated a positive association between physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness (i.e., maximal aerobic capacity or VO2 max). Limited evidence, however, is available among adolescents. This research aimed to predict VO2 max based on the physical activity level and estimate the discriminant capacity of the physical activity levels on the VO2 max status among adolescents. This research was a cross-sectional study in 141 adolescents (age 19±1 year old, 83% male). The VO2 max was assessed using the 1-mile run test. Physical activity was measured using the International Physical activity Questionnaire-Long Form. Multiple linear regression was conducted to predict the VO2 max using physical activity level data (in metabolic equivalent of tasks (Mets/week), sex, and body mass index (BMI). The discriminant capacity of the total and domain-specific physical activity in discriminating high and low VO2 max was estimated with the area under the curve (AUC). The Youden Index determined cut-off points, sensitivity, and specificity. Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant predicting equation of VO2 based on total physical activities, BMI, and sex. The equation explained a significant proportion of VO2 max variances. The total and domain-specific physical activity significantly discriminated low and high VO2 max status, while the highest AUC was based on total physical activity, followed by other physical activity domains. A cut-off of total physical activity levels for predicting the VO2 max was successfully generated, with high sensitivity and specificity. Adequate evidence, thus, supports the prediction of VO2 max based on self-reported physical activity levels among adolescents.

The Translation and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire: Validity and Reliability of a Serbian Version (PPAQ-SRB).

Exercise during pregnancy has a positive effect on the health of both pregnant women and their fetuses. This study aimed to translate the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) into the Serbian language and assess its validity and reliability among Serbian pregnant women. The study was conducted between October 2020 and March 2021 at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic (Narodni Front), in Belgrade, Serbia. The PPAQ was translated according to a standardized methodology, and its internal consistency and construct and concurrent validity were assessed. The mean PPAQ score for the total amount of physical activity was 37.72 MET-h/week−1. Exploratory factor analysis of the Serbian PPAQ identified six factors similar to the original questionnaire that explained 70.26% of the data variance. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the Serbian version of the PPAQ was 0.69. The two-week intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) scores ranged from 0.768 to 0.930. We tested the evidence to assess the concurrent validity of the Serbian version of PPAQ (PPAQ-SRB) correlations with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-long form (IPAQ-LF), and all domains of the PPAQ were significantly correlated with domains of the IPAQ-LF. The findings of our reliability and validity evaluation are consistent with those of prior studies, indicating that the PPAQ was successfully translated and implemented in the Serbian population and that its reliability was acceptable.