Leisure-time Activity Research Articles

Level of Satisfaction of Geriatric People about Services Provided by an Old Home at Gajipur, Bangladesh

Background & objective: With increased life expectancy and an increased proportion of older people, the demand for old-age homes is increasing. A satisfactory quality of service provision from old age homes can enhance the overall quality of life of an old person. This study aims to assess the level of satisfaction of geriatric people, with the services provided by the Bayaska Punarbasan Kendroy (an old home), situated at Gajipur, Bangladesh. Methods: This descriptive study was designed to evaluate the level of satisfaction of the residents of the Bayaska Punarbasan Kendro about the services provided there. The study was carried out at the Department of Community Medicine, Rajshahi Medical College, Rajshahi over a period of 1 year from January 2019 to December 2019. A total of 200 respondents (residents) were consecutively included in the study based on predefined enrollment criteria. To determine the level of satisfaction of the residents of the Bayaska Punarbasan Kendro about the services provided there, the respondents’ opinion was sought about how well they were satisfied with each of those services. The responses given to each discrete question were scored from 0-4 using Likert Scale, where 0 meant “highly dissatisfied”, and 4 meant “highly satisfied”, with 1 “dissatisfied”, 2 “neither dissatisfied nor satisfied”, and 3 “satisfied” in between them. The scores obtained thus were then summed up to find an integrated score, which ranged from 0-32. The total score was then subdivided into five categories as scores 0-6 (highly dissatisfied), scores 7-12 (dissatisfied), scores13-18 (neutral), scores 19-25 (satisfied), and scores 26-32 (highly satisfied). Result: About two-thirds of the residents of the Bayaska Punarbasan Kendro were Muslim and in their 7th decade of life. More than 55% had already lost their spouses. Fifty percent of the residents came from rural regions. Half of the respondents did not have any income source and the rest half were facing economic hardship. About one-quarter (24.5%) of the respondents were illiterate, nearly two-fifths (37.5%) were primary-level educated and 9% were graduate-level educated. Day labourers comprised almost one-third followed by housewives and service holders. Residents of the old homes were invariably suffering from some sort of physical and mental illnesses concurrently with42% having multiple physical ailments. The major chronic disease was CHD followed by diabetes and osteoarthritis. Nearly half (47%) of the respondents were satisfied with the services provided by the old home, 25.5% were dissatisfied and the rest 27.5% were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied. Probing about the status of living of the old home residents revealed that over one-third (35.5%) had been residing there for < 1 year, 28.5% for 1-3 years, 30% for 3-5years, and only 5.5% for 5 years or more. More than one-third of the respondents had been residing there for < 1 year and only 5% for 5 years or more. Over three-quarters never communicated with their family members since they were admitted to the Bayaska Punarbasan Kendro. However, their children, spouses, or siblings communicated with the moccasionally. They passed their leisure time working (22%), gossiping (29%), watching TV (35.5%), and hangout orreading books (13.5%). Regarding the level of satisfaction, less than half (47%) of the respondents were satisfied with the overall services. The respondents’ level of dissatisfaction was highest with healthcare facilities (37%), followed by accommodation (28%), food service (21%), clothing (17.5%), and leisure time activities (10.5%). The majority (95%) of the respondents was satisfied with the security system and the social media services. Conclusion: The study concluded that the old-home residents time and again miss their family members and are not happy living there. Nearly one-third of the old-home residents are forced to stay there by their family members and half live there for none of their children or close relatives live in the country and one-quarter do not have any residence to live. None of them has any interest to live there. Almost half are satisfied with the services provided by the old home, over one-quarter are dissatisfied and another one-quarter are neither satisfied nor dissatisfied. The respondents’ level of dissatisfaction is mostly with healthcare facilities. Ibrahim Card Med J 2022; 12 (2): 46-52

Making leisure time meaningful for adolescents: an interview study from Sweden

ABSTRACT Adolescents’ school performance is influenced by several factors and meaningful leisure time, especially organized activities, has great potential to impact academic results. Therefore, this study aimed to gain a greater understanding of how community actors perceive meaningful leisure time and how they work to create meaningful leisure time with the intention of increasing the chances for more adolescents completing upper secondary school. Semi-structured interviews with 14 informants, representing nine different community actors in a middle-sized city in Sweden, were conducted and analysed using content analysis. Results suggest that meaningful leisure time positively impacts adolescents’ mental health through social relations, support, and guidance. Leisure is believed to have spillover effects on reducing stress, manage school demands and performance. Nevertheless, leisure time activities and school performance must be balanced with time and effort. Community actors work proactively with availability, individual approaches, and offering activities to create meaning. From a societal perspective, places to hang out with supportive adults, in particular structured activities, should be regarded as a social investment in adolescents’ health and prospects, especially in deprived areas where fewer activities are available. Finally, ensuring meaningful leisure time is in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The relationship between physical activity and mental health: Is more always better?

The current study was designed to examine the relationship between physical activity and mental health. We investigated whether individuals who perceive themselves as physically inactive, recreationists, or active athletes differ in positive (positive affect, subjective well-being, unconditional self-acceptance) and negative mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, stress, negative affect, conditional self-acceptance). Furthermore, we investigated whether the total level of leisure-time physical activity predicted different mental health indicators. Analysis revealed that physically active respondents (recreationists and active athletes) seem to have better overall mental health status than physically inactive ones. Precisely, physically inactive individuals scored higher on all measures of negative mental health indicators, and lower on all measures of positive mental health indicators, compared with the participants from the two other groups. At the same time, there were no significant differences in these measures between recreationists and active athletes. Besides, a positive association was found between the weekly frequency of leisure-time activity and only two positive indicators of mental health (positive affect and subjective well-being)of all tested. The obtained results suggest that it is often more relevant for mental health whether someone is physically active or not, in general, than how frequently they exercise.

Three explanations for the development of adolescents’ entrepreneurial potential

This study examines the development of adolescents’ entrepreneurial potential. Our findings confirm the findings of previous research that family background has an impact on the development of entrepreneurial potential. At the same time, our findings indicate that the entrepreneurial potential of young people also develops in hobbies. This opens interesting new directions, especially for entrepreneurship education research. The target group of this quantitative study is Finnish ninth graders aged 15–16 (N = 10,979). We have used linear regression analysis to examine the three factors behind the development of adolescents’ individual entrepreneurial potential: school, leisure time activities, and entrepreneurial family environment. The young people's time is divided between these factors. Hence, this setting is interesting from the point of view of developing entrepreneurial potential. While school, family background and leisure time activities separately seem to play a role in the development of entrepreneurial potential, their relative importance has not been studied. In this article, we bring these three factors together in the same model to test their explanatory value for entrepreneurial potential.

Biopsychosocial Variables in Male Schizophrenic Patients: A Comprehensive Comparison with Healthy Controls.

this study aims to comprehensively compare neuropsychological, psychopathological, anthropometric, biochemical, pharmacological, and lifestyle variables between 27 male schizophrenic patients (SZ group) and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy male controls (HC group). participants underwent a battery of neuropsychological tests including the Trail Making Test (TMT), Stroop Color-Word Interference Test, and Verbal Fluency Test. Psychopathological symptoms in the SZ group were evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Anthropometric measurements such as body weight, height, BMI, and waist circumference were taken. Biochemical markers measured included fasting glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and fasting insulin. Lifestyle factors were assessed through a questionnaire for the study of views and eating habits of people aged 16 to 65. the HC group outperformed the SZ group in the TMT_A test and the Stroop test, but no significant differences were observed in the TMT_B test or in phonemic fluency tests. No correlation was found between age and PANSS scores within the SZ group. Anthropometrically, the SZ group had higher body weight, waist circumference, and BMI, with no difference in height. Biochemically, the HC group had higher HDL cholesterol levels but lower insulin and insulin resistance indices. Pharmacological assessment showed a more significant impact on body weight among SZ patients taking second-generation antipsychotics. Lifestyle factors such as diet and screen time were comparable between groups, but the SZ group reported longer sleep duration and lower leisure time activity. our study highlights distinct neuropsychological, pharmacological, anthropometric, and biochemical differences between male schizophrenic patients and healthy controls. The results underscore the complexity of schizophrenia and point toward the need for a multi-faceted approach to its management and understanding.

Associations of Parents-Adolescent Relationship with Adolescent Sexual Risk Behaviors: A Global Analysis Based on 156,649 School-Going Adolescents from 50 Countries

Our study, examining the Global School-Based Student Health Survey data from 50 countries across four WHO regions, found boys have higher sexual exposure (33.5 vs 17.7%) and risk behaviors – early sexual initiation (55.0 vs. 40.1%), multiple partners (45.2 vs. 26.2%), and condom nonuse (29.2 vs. 26.8%) – than girls. We found that adolescents with parents who understood their problems, monitored academic and leisure-time activities, and respected privacy were less likely to be engaged in sexual activities and risk behaviors. This study highlights the importance of parental involvement and advocates for gender-specific, family-focused interventions to mitigate adolescent sexual risks.

Adventure activities as a means of counteracting stress in students

The most effective anti-stress measure for students of higher educational institutions is the use of organized health-improving physical activity. However, in the conditions of martial law, the opportunity for students to study in the usual mode is limited. Therefore, today the urgent problem is the study and analysis of new, most effective approaches to organizing active leisure. The goal is to generalize the foreign experience of organizing adventure events and evaluate the impact of adventure programs on the stress level of higher education students. Methods – analysis of foreign literature on adventure activities. The results. The best positive experience of organizing students' entertainment activities was studied. It is established that the concept of «adventure activity» concretizes the concept of «active leisure time», emphasizing the greater risk that occurs during its implementation and the need to make more physical and/or mental efforts. It was established that extreme activity has a more pronounced effect on students' perception of stress due to the opportunity to distract from everyday problems, as well as greater emotionality compared to other types of active leisure. Furthermore, it was determined that participation in short-term adventure programs increases students' resistance to stress, reduces the level of its perception and has a long-term positive effect that can last for 2 - 3 years. Conclusions. The expediency of using adventure programs in the practice of physical education and organization of students' active leisure time has been proven as a more effective means of increasing their resistance to stress and reducing its harmful effects. Prospects for further research. Further research will be aimed at developing a short-term adventure program that would ensure stress reduction in Ukrainian higher education students in the conditions of armed conflict in the country.

Can We Make Our Students Pedagogical Design Partners?

In recent years, the Internet has become an integral part of our lives, which includes a wide variety of platforms and activities, different purposes, different uses, and different characteristics. Technology is present in all areas of life, but there are differences in the scope and type of activities young people do in their free time compared to the scope and type of activities during school hours. The purpose of this research is to make the young people's voices heard about their digital lives, to hear their suggestions for integrating technology in the school, and to make them partners in building curricula.The methodological approach in this research is a mixed method. 129 students aged 13-18 and 17 teachers who teach these students participated in the study. The research tools are two online questionnaires, one for students and one for teachers, both with closed and open questions. The findings reveal the students' leisure activities (digital and non-digital), the richness of their digital activities and their attitudes towards integrating technology into learning. In addition, the study presents what their teachers think about their student's leisure time activities and highlights the gap between them. Our findings are presenting the importance of hearing the students' voices for teachers and curriculum designers.

Physical activity in leisure time and motivation among citizens with chronic disease in in Denmark

Abstract Background Physical activity (PA) has a preventive effect on chronic disease, but PA also promotes health among citizens with chronic disease. However, the presence of chronic disease may be a barrier for PA engagement. The aim of this study was to examine the difference between citizens with various chronic diseases and all citizens in The Capital Region of Denmark in terms of the proportion who reports low PA levels in their leisure time, wants to be more physically active, and has been advised to exercise by their doctor. Methods Information from national registers on hospital diagnoses and medical treatment was used to identify citizens with chronic diseases. Data from “The Danish Capital Region Health Survey” among citizens (≥16 years) in The Capital Region in 2021 (N = 56,245, response rate=54.9%) were used to obtain information about citizens’ movement behaviour in leisure time, their motivation to become more physically active and whether they have been advised by their doctor to exercise. Results for several diseases will be presented but heart disease is used as example in this abstract. Results Preliminary results show that the proportion in 2021 who has reported low PA levels in their leisure time is almost twice as high among citizens with heart disease (35%) compared with all citizens in The Capital Region (18%). Less citizens with heart disease (62%) are motivated to become more physically active compared with all citizens in The Capital Region (73%). The proportion who has been advised to exercise by their doctor is not significantly different among citizens with heart disease (31%) and all citizens in The Capital Region (28%). Conclusions Among citizens with heart disease low PA levels in leisure time are more prevalent, they are less motivated to become more physically active and, despite their chronic illness, they receive advice from their doctor to the same extent. For citizens with chronic disease, it is important to engage in PA. Key messages • Among citizens with chronic diseases low PA levels in leisure time are more prevalent and they are less motivated to become physically active compared with all citizens in The Capital region in DK. • Despite their illness, they receive advice from their doctor about exercising to the same extent as all citizens in The Capital Region of Denmark.

Levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviors in different universities of Bogotá

Abstract The global recommendations for physical activity (PA) advised by the World Health Organization WHO (2012) are 150 minutes of moderate intensity (at least 600 MET-min/week) or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity per week (at least 3000 MET-min/week). The objective were determine the levels of PA and sedentary behaviors (SB) in people at different universities in Bogotá (students, administrative personal). The dimensions IPAQ was applied (PA in the transportation PAT, PA in Leisure Time PALT and auto evaluation of sedentary behaviors ASB). Study was descriptive, correlational, with simple random sampling. The project had ethics considerations aproved by Ethic Comitee of Libre University. The data were analyzed with Rversion 4.2.3. Results were n = 717 distributed in 442 (61.6%) women and 275 (38.4%) men. 100 men (36.4%) with 120.9 ± 185.9 MET-min/week and 161 women (36.4%) with 313.9 ± 198.8 MET-min/week did not fulfill PAT recommendations. 109 men (36.5%) with 193.6 ± 217.0 MET-min/week and 141 women (31.9%) with 186.4 ± 194.5 MET-min/week did not fulfill PALT recommendations. 75 men (27.3%) report sedentary time (ASB) greater than 2 hour/day (2311.2 min/week ± 1487.7) and 104 women (23.5%) report 2255.1 min/week (±1316.4). Instead, people fewer than 2 hours were 200 men (72.7%) with 323.6 min/week (±320.7) and 338 women (76.5%) with 312.4 min/week (±308.8). Statistical tests for association were applied for the variables PAT and PALT which did not have significant statistical differences but between PALT and ASB were found significant statistical differences (p-value < 2.2e–16, CI 1032.740–1608.664), so they were related. Universities must promote and maintain recommended PA levels through strengthening programs and infrastructure oriented to PA in population, especially promoting forms of transportation such as bicycles and different forms of active leisure time differentiated between genders. However, sedentary times are a threat to health, due to its great increase in this population. Key messages • The global recommendations for physical activity (PAG) recommended by the WHO (2012) is 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity per week.

CURRENT TRENDS AND PRINCIPLES OF ARCHITECTURAL FORMATION OF ADAPTIVE SPORTS FACILITIES

The work analyzes the problem of ensuring architectural accessibility of sports facilities for people with disabilities, considers and specifies the basic terms in the field of research. 
 Adaptive sports complexes (adaptive sports facilities) are a new modern type of sports buildings. An adaptive sports facility is a sports building, designed and built on the basis of universal design, which provides equal conditions of accessibility for all users, regardless of their physical capabilities, and is equipped with specialized equipment for the physical rehabilitation of people with disabilities or temporary health disorders. Thanks to adaptive sports centers, significant socialization of people with disabilities takes place, and conditions are created for organizing their active leisure time. 
 Today, in world practice, there are two main trends in the formation of sports facilities for people with disabilities: 1) the formation of specialized centers for Paralympic sports and adaptive sports; 2) creation of accessibility conditions for people with disabilities in general sports complexes of various levels of training. The second trend is more progressive, and the formation of modern sports facilities should be focused on it. 
 An important characteristic of the architectural formation of adaptive sports facilities is the urban planning level of their placement. According to the level of urban development, sports centers can be divided into local and city-wide. Local sports centers are located in the structure of residential areas. These include specialized adaptive sports centers and sports and gyms adapted to the needs of people with disabilities. City-wide sports centers should not be connected to residential areas, as they are focused on professional sports (training of Paralympic athletes). 
 The architectural formation of adaptive sports facilities should take place as a complex of measures combining rational planning solutions, effective functional zoning, visual communication system, ergodesign and universal design. The main principles of architectural formation of adaptive sports facilities include: the principle of compositional integrity, the principle of accessibility and ergonomics of the environment, the principle of visual informativeness, the principle of functional variability and the principle of compositional and planning structuredness.

Motivations for and interests in health-enhancing exercise of adolescent girls with different body weight

The article discusses the issue of development of motives and interests in adolescent children with different body weights (normal and underweight) when involving them in programs of physical activity based on the use of health fitness means. The aim of the study was to assess the motives and interests of adolescent girls with different body weights for participation in health-enhancing physical activities in order to increase the level of their involvement in regular physical activity classes. Methods: analysis of theoretical material, comparative analysis (comparison and comparison), sociological methods (questionnaires), and methods of mathematical statistics. The study involved 138 girls aged 12-13 years. Results. Priority types of physical activity of 12-13-year-old girls during their leisure time were: walks, dance fitness, roller skating, mental fitness, functional training, and aqua fitness. The choice of types of health-enhancing recreational physical activity did not differ significantly among normal weight and underweight adolescent girls aged 12-13 years. When choosing health-enhancing physical activities, the main objectives were: aesthetic motives (increasing physical attractiveness and body weight management), achievement of prestigious motives (desire to increase prestige, to be accepted in society), recreational motives (active leisure time, emotionally attractive organization of free time, satisfaction from activity). For most adolescent girls, health reasons (improvement of health status and functional capabilities of the body) were not a priority. The difference in answers between normal weight and underweight girls was found to be significant. Conclusion. In the rating of motives of underweight girls, the first places were occupied by aesthetic, prestigious, recreational, and personal motives, whereas in girls with a normative body weight, psychological, aesthetic, and health-recreational motives prevailed.

Gender difference in “second-shift” physical activity: New insights from analyzing accelerometry data in a nationally representative sample

The gendered organization of daily activities results in differential contexts of physical activity (PA) for the working population, especially during the “second shift” – a time window dominated by household-based activities. Existing research predominantly relies on self-reported leisure-time activities, yielding a partial understanding of gender difference in the source, timing, and accumulation pattern of PA. To address these limitations, this study draws on the interplay between work and family to understand how they shape gender difference in household-based PA across occupational groups. It combines work schedule and accelerometry PA data from the 2005–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which permits our study of second-shift PA on workdays among full-time workers, aged 20 to 49, with a regular daytime schedule. To capture different aspects of second-shift PA, the PA outcomes are measured as both volume and accumulation patterns during time windows following (i.e., 6pm–9pm) and prior to typical working hours (7:30am-8:30am). Using generalized estimating equations, we estimate gender differences in the volume and fragmentation of second-shift PA. Overall, women with a full-time job exhibit both higher volume and higher fragmentation of second-shift PA than their male counterparts. The occupational group moderates such gender difference in PA. The gender gaps in PA volume and fragmentation are only evident for professional workers, whereas the second shift represents a gender-neutral context for PA accumulation for non-professional groups. These findings are supported by a secondary analysis when analyzing the whole-day PA data using functional data analysis. Such social patterning of second-shift PA calls for further research on gendered PA under the interplay of work and family beyond the usual focus on leisure activities.

The importance of persistent healthy lifestyle of future law enforcement officers at the different stages of their professional development

The aim of the study was to assess the importance of a healthy lifestyle for fulfilling official duties by the law enforcement officers. Used methods. Method of pedagogical experiment. The research was conducted using the testing method. The analysis of the obtained data was carried out through correlation. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was chosen as its coefficient. The validity of the test was determined by the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Results. The criteria for the persistent healthy lifestyle of future law enforcement officers at the stage of professional development are identified. It was determined that the main criteria are: physical training and sports, active leisure time, abandonment of bad habits, observing the daily routine and self-improvement through the acquisition of health knowledge. The dynamics and levels of a persistent healthy lifestyle among future law enforcement officers in the first, second and third years of training were determined through testing. It was found that the general level of a persistent healthy lifestyle in future law enforcement officers is assessed as sufficient. Unreliable (p>0.05) deterioration during studies at a higher educational institution (HEI) was found. Conclusions. It can be stated that a healthy lifestyle has a positive effect on the development of professional qualities of law enforcement officers. Prospects. The prospects for further research include the development of training methods that will contribute to increasing the level of a persistent healthy lifestyle in future law enforcement officers at the stage of professional development. Key words: health maintenance, physical strength, power structures, government agencies, physical development.

Playing football in Cameroon as a girl: a match for equality

ABSTRACT Football, whether played competitively or as a leisure-time activity, is a veritable social institution in Africa, that commands a strong physical and symbolic presence. It gives shape to social bonds and occupies a special place in the public’s imagination – globalized modernity, success – that is highly valued, in particular because of the great international careers of some African players. It thus creates opportunities for experiences that involve a political dimension: in the realm of football, social and cultural norms can be negotiated, and economic as well as cognitive resources circulate. Using ethnographic data gathered in the context of a study under way in Cameroon, we examine the ways in which girls gain access to the practice of football through a range of practices and strategies within a context characterized by multiple constraints.

Diet and Other Modifiable Factors in Long-Term Decline of Kidney Function: Observational and Population-Based Cohort Study.

Lower physical activity, lower alcohol intake, higher protein intake, higher sodium intake, and lower potassium intake related to greater kidney function decline over time, according to previous studies. The present study aimed to analyze the cumulative effects of these factors. This prospective, observational, population-based cohort study included 3039 adult examinees of the Gubbio study who participated in the baseline exam and 15-year follow-up exam. Kidney function was evaluated as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Habitual physical activity in leisure time and habitual alcohol intake were assessed by questionnaires; dietary intakes of protein, sodium, and potassium were assessed by urinary markers. Based on previous reports, each one of the five modifiable factors was scored 0 for the tertile associated with smaller eGFR decline (low risk), 2 for the tertile associated with greater eGFR decline (high risk), and 1 for the intermediate tertile (intermediate risk). A cumulative score was calculated as the sum of the factor-specific scores and used as the main independent variable. The cumulative score ranged from 0 to 10, that is, from low risk for all factors to high risk for all factors (skewness = 0.032, mean ± SD = 5 ± 2). To avoid the bias of low-n analyses, score 0 was re-coded as 1 and score 10 was recoded as 9; after re-coding, the cumulative score ranged from 1 to 9 (skewness = 0.016, mean ± SD = 5 ± 2). The cumulative score related to annualized eGFR change in multi-variable linear regression (slope = -0.027, 95%CI = -0.039/-0.014, p < 0.001); findings were consistent in apparently healthy examinees and other subgroups. De novo incidence of eGFR < 60 mL/min × 1.73 m2 was higher along the cumulative score (p < 0.001). Compared to score 1 (n examinees = 35, adjusted incidence = 2.0%), incidence of low kidney function was 4.5 times higher in score 5 (n examinees = 624, adjusted incidence = 8.9%) and 6.5 times higher in score 9 (n examinees = 86, adjusted incidence = 12.9%). The cumulative score related to incidence of low kidney function in multi-variable logistic regression (odds ratio = 1.19, 95%CI = 1.08/1.32, p < 0.001). The combination of five modifiable factors predicted large differences in long-term incidence of low kidney function.

A study on the relationship between attitudes towards sports and self-efficacy levels of individuals doing leisure time activities

The purpose of this study was to research the relationship between attitudes towards sports and self-efficacy levels of individuals who do leisure-time activities. 894 people voluntarily participated in our study. The personal information form, the attitude scale towards sports developed by Koçak (2014) and the general self-efficacy scale developed by Sherer, et al. (1982) and adapted to Turkish by Yıldırım and İlhan (2010) were used in the study. The data were analyzed in the SPSS 25.0 package software. Furthermore, statistical frequency analysis and reliability coefficient calculations were used and since the data were normally distributed, Independent Samples t-test was used for pairwise cluster comparisons and the Anova test was used for more than two comparisons. Analyses were conducted at a confidence interval of 95%. According to the results of the study, it was found that the total mean score of the participants' attitude towards sports (89.62) and the mean score of self-efficacy (60.08) were above the medium level. A positive and low-level significant relationship was found between the participants' general attitude towards sports (r= ,221), psychosocial development (r= ,215), physical development (r= ,206), mental development (r= ,123) and self-efficacy. As a result, it was found that the participants' self-efficacy level increased as the mean scores of the general attitude towards sports and the mean scores of the sub-dimensions increased.

Physical Activity Levels in Leisure Time, Sociodemographic Characteristics, and Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases in Brazilian Older Adults: National Health Survey, 2019.

Health interventions for elderly people must understand the association between physical activity, sociodemographic factors, and non-communicable diseases. This study aimed to verify the association between physical activity in leisure time, sociodemographic factors, and NCDs in Brazilian older people. This is a descriptive study, with a cross-sectional design, carried out using secondary data from the 2019 National Health Survey-Brazil. It used data from 23,144 subjects aged over 60 years. Statistical analyses included descriptive and quantile regression with cutoff points 0.25, 0.50 (Median), 0.75, and 0.90 to verify the association between the variables. The statistical software R version 4.1.3 was used. Older people aged between 60 and 79 years were highlighted up to the 50th quantile. Females showed lower values in all quantiles, with emphasis from quantile 50 onwards. Subjects who self-declared as "white" showed significant differences up to quantile 50, not indicating significant values from this cutoff point. Residents of the rural area had lower values than residents of the urban area in all quantiles, with emphasis starting from the median. For cardiovascular diseases, it was found that subjects who did not report having this type of disease had better results for the amount of physical activity during leisure time, especially from the 75th quantile. It was concluded that there is a direct relationship between time spent in leisure-time performing physical activity, sociodemographic variables, and NCDs. It is necessary to review and validate cutoff points according to each category viewed, which can favor the adjustment of interventions according to each population. Actions of this nature can favor adherence by groups of older people to the weekly practice of physical activity.

The effect of burdensome symptoms and functional status on quality of life among older patients with cancer: A correlational study

PurposeThe current study aimed to assess the effect of burdensome symptoms and functional status on QoL among Jordanian older patients with cancer presenting to outpatient clinics. MethodsA correlational design was implemented to collect data from 165 older patients with cancer visiting outpatient oncology clinics. ResultsGenerally, the participants have a relatively low quality of life (M = 52.22 ± 24.57). The highest needs according to their functional status were difficulty walking a long distance (M = 3.06 ± 1.004; physical functional status), feeling limited in pursuing hobbies or leisure time activities (M = 2.32 ± 1.05; role functional status), feeling nervous (M = 2.36 ± 1.01; emotional functional status), having difficulty concentrating (M = 2.15 ± 1.04; cognitive functional status), and that physical condition or medical treatment interfered with their social activities (M = 2.36 ± 1.10; social functional status). Further, the most common distressing symptom was insomnia (n = 90, 54%), followed by fatigue (n = 79, 47.9%). Lastly, quality of life improved with better functional status (the strongest correlation was with the role functional status: r = 0.503, p < .001) and declined with higher symptom severity (the strongest correlation was with fatigue: r = −0.566, p < .001). ConclusionsTo conclude, the current study sheds light on older patients with cancer burdensome symptoms and functional status and their effect on quality of life. The findings suggest that patients suffer from several functional limitations and distressing symptoms that affect their quality of life, necessitating screening and corrective actions from healthcare providers.

Public Space and Play Theory

Public spaces serve as the sensory system of urban life, and are crucial for interconnecting individuals, ideas, and cultures within the fabric of cities. This study provides a fresh interpretation of public spaces by examining people’s activities from a new perspective. By applying play theory to public space analysis, the study uncovers spontaneous and unplanned activities and the novel relationships which exist between users and their environments. In so doing it paves the way for a new approach to public space design. With a focus on Aachen as a place of play, this study seeks to develop urban design tools that take into account users’ leisure time activities. By recognizing the unique relationships that play can create between individuals and their surroundings in terms of perceptions, intentions, actions, and uses of space, the research encourages a fresh perspective on urban design tools. Ultimately, the findings of this study offer a new design approach for creating public spaces that are more participating, inclusive, and user-centred.