Regular Engagement In Physical Activity Research Articles

234 Unraveling the Link: How Emotional Self-Regulation and Procrastination Affect Physical Activity

Abstract Purpose Physical activity has been widely recognized as crucial for promoting optimal physical health, mental well-being, and social functioning. Given its significant impact on overall quality of life, it is essential to identify factors that may hinder engagement in regular physical activity. This study aims to explore the relationship between emotional self-regulation, general procrastination, physical activity procrastination, and physical activity levels among adults. Understanding these mechanisms can inform the development of interventions aimed at increasing physical activity engagement and ultimately promoting overall health and well-being. Methods 186 adults from general population participated in an online survey. They completed questionnaires assessing emotional self-regulation, general procrastination, and physical activity procrastination. Physical activity level was measured based on self-reported average weekly exercise minutes over the past year. Participants were then categorized into four activity levels according to the World Health Organization’s guidelines for physical activity and sedentary behavior. Results Our results showed that lower levels of emotional self-regulation were significantly associated with lower levels of physical activity. Furthermore, this relationship was serially mediated by both general procrastination and physical activity procrastination. Specifically, individuals with lower levels of emotional self-regulation had a greater tendency to engage in general procrastination, which subsequently increased their tendency to delay or avoid physically active behaviors. As a result, these individuals had lower overall engagement in regular exercise or training. Conclusions The results suggest that emotional self-regulation plays a critical role in influencing procrastination and physical activity. Lower levels of self-regulation affect this indirectly through increased tendencies toward both general and specific form of procrastination related to engaging in physically active behaviors. These findings highlight the importance of targeting interventions aimed at improving emotional self-regulation skills to reduce procrastination and increase physical activity, thereby promoting healthier lifestyles and well-being. Future research should explore potential strategies to effectively address these barriers while promoting long-term adherence to physically active behaviors.

An Evaluation of the Sharing Dance Public School Program on Physical Literacy.

Introduction: Physical literacy (PL) is a multidimensional concept that includes the domains of movement competence, positive affect, social participation, and the confidence, motivation, and knowledge and understanding necessary for regular engagement in physical activity. The Sharing Dance Public School Program was created by Canada's National Ballet School specifically designed to promote PL through dance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the program to improve PL in grade 4 to 6 children over the course of a school year. Methods: Children were initially recruited from two schools including an intervention and a control school. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, data collection was prematurely terminated which resulted in baseline and mid-point data from the intervention group only. As such, participants included 57 children (n = 28 females, Mage = 10.34 ± 0.85 years) that engaged in the dance program once per week for 50 minutes. Assessments of PL included a direct measure of movement competence (PLAYfun) and a self-report measure (survey) to assess the other domains of PL. Results: Significant improvements were found in movement competence. However, significant decreases were found for fun and enjoyment, confidence, and social participation. No changes were observed for knowledge and understanding or overall PL. Conclusions: Findings from the present study are encouraging as they provide initial evidence for the support of community-based PL programs, such as the Sharing Dance Public School Program, to help children develop their movement competence. Future research is needed to further evaluate the effectiveness of the Sharing Dance Public School Program over a school year, and when compared to a control group, as was initially intended.

Comparing preferences to evaluations of barrier self-efficacy for two strength training programs in US older adults.

Engagement in regular physical activity is one of the best strategies for older adults to remain healthy. Unfortunately, only 35% of older adults meet guidelines for muscle strengthening activities. Eliciting participant preferences is one possible way to improve physical activity engagement. However, other sources of participant input to improve uptake and maintenance remain uninvestigated. This study compared preferences to self-efficacy ratings for two strength training programs. We conducted a national cross-sectional survey of 611 US adults over age 65. We compared two participant evaluations (the preferred program and the program for which they had higher barrier self-efficacy) of two hypothetical strength training programs (45 minutes performed three times per week (traditional) and 5 minutes performed daily (brief)). Most participants (68%) preferred the brief strength training program. The difference in self-efficacy ratings was an average of 1.2 (SD = 0.92). One in five participants preferred a strength training program for which they had less self-efficacy; nearly all of these participants (92%) preferred the traditional strength training program but had more self-efficacy for the brief strength training program. Older adults reported preferring and having more self-efficacy for a brief compared to a traditional strength training program. Differences in self-efficacy ratings between the two strength training programs were large. Preferences were often not congruent with ratings of self-efficacy. Preferences for strength training programming may not always reflect the program most likely to be maintained. Future investigations should evaluate differences in behavioral uptake, maintenance, and outcomes from two comparative strength training interventions using preferences and self-efficacy.

The mediating role of resilience and interaction anxiousness in the effects of physical activity on mobile phone addiction among Chinese college students.

Recent studies have shown that regular physical activity (PA) can positively influence mobile phone addiction (MPA) behaviors in college students. However, it remains unknown whether this effect is mediated by other factors. Evidence suggests that resilience and interaction anxiousness may be candidate mediators that partly explain the positive effect of PA on MPA. This study aims to explore the impact of PA on MPA through a mediation model, and the role of resilience and interaction anxiousness in this relationship. The participants were 590 college students (272 males; mean age = 19.67) who completed a psychosocial battery, including the international physical activity questionnaire-short form (IPAQ-SF), the connor - davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC), the interaction anxiousness scale (IAS), and the mobile phone addiction index (MPAI). Correlations of variables were computed using Pearson's test. Mediation models were tested using SPSSS PROCESS macro with the regression bootstrapping method. PA were negatively associated with MPA behavior (r=-.21, p < 0.01). Resilience and interaction anxiousness moderated the relationship between PA and MPA. More importantly, PA could also influence MPA through the chain-mediating effects of resilience and interaction anxiousness. It is essential to improve resilience and reduce interaction anxiousness to reduce MPA problems through regular engagement in PA among college students.

Protocol for a prospective, randomized, controlled trial of Mental Contrasting with Implementation Intentions (MCII) to enhance the effectiveness of VA's MOVE! weight management program: WOOP (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan) VA

IntroductionIntensive weight management programs are effective but often have low enrollment and high attrition. Lack of motivation is a key psychological barrier to enrollment, engagement, and weight loss. Mental Contrasting with Implementation Intentions (MCII) is a unique imagery technique that increases motivation for behavior change. We describe our study protocol to assess the efficacy and implementation of MCII to enhance the effectiveness of VA's MOVE! or TeleMOVE! weight management programs using a procedure called “WOOP” (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan) for Veterans. We hypothesize that WOOP+MOVE! or TeleMOVE! (intervention) will lead to greater MOVE!/TeleMOVE! program engagment and consequently weight loss than MOVE!/TeleMOVE! alone (control). MethodVeterans are randomized to either the intervention or control. Both arms receive the either MOVE! or TeleMOVE! weight management programs. The intervention group receives an hour long WOOP training while the control group receives patient education. Both groups receive telephone follow up calls at 3 days, 4 weeks, and 2 months post-baseline. Eligible participants are Veterans (ages 18–70 years) with either obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) or overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) and an obesity-associated co-morbidity. At baseline, 6 and 12 months, we assess weight, diet, physical activity in both groups. The primary outcome is mean percent weight change at 6 months. Secondary outcomes include changes in waist circumference, diet, physical activity, and dieting self-efficacy and engagement in regular physical activity. We assess implementation using the RE-AIM framework. ConclusionIf WOOP VA is found to be efficacious, it will be an important tool to facilitate weight management and improve weight outcomes.Clinical Trial Registration: NCT05014984

Supporting children’s participation in active travel: developing an online road safety intervention through a collaborative integrated knowledge translation approach

ABSTRACT Even though regular engagement in physical activity (PA) among children can support their development and encourage the adoption of healthy lifelong habits, most do not achieve their recommended guidelines. Active travel (AT), or any form of human-powered travel (e.g., walking), can be a relatively accessible, manageable, and sustainable way to promote children’s PA. One common barrier to children’s engagement in AT, however, is a reported lack of education and training. To support children’s participation in AT, this paper presents the development of a comprehensive 4-module online road safety education intervention designed to improve children’s knowledge and confidence regarding AT. Using a qualitative integrated knowledge translation (iKT) approach undertaken with community collaborators (n = 50) containing expertise in health promotion, public safety, school administration, and transportation planning, our inductive thematic analysis generated fourth themes which constituted the foundation of the intervention modules: Active Travel Knowledge: Awareness of Benefits and Participation; Pedestrian Safety and Skills: Roles, Responsibilities, and Rules; Signs and Infrastructure: Identification, Literacy, and Behaviour; Wheeling Safety and Skills: Technical Training and Personal Maneuvers. Each theme/module was then linked to an explicit learning objective and connected to complementary knowledge activities, resources, and skill development exercises. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Physical Activity in Cerebral Palsy: A Current State Study.

This document analyzes a survey conducted in three geographical areas in Spain, focusing on centers for individuals with cerebral palsy (CP). The study aims to determine the adherence rate to recommended physical activity guidelines, assess if there is a decline in interest in physical activity over time, identify the stage at which this decline occurs, and explore potential mechanisms, tools, or strategies to sustain long-term engagement in regular physical activity for this population. The 36-item questionnaire comprises multiple-choice, open-ended, and Likert scale-type questions. Data were collected on physical activity frequency and duration, daily living activities, and demographics. Statistical analysis identified patterns and relationships between variables. Findings reveal that only a 17.6% meets the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations regarding regular physical activity (RPA), decreasing in frequency or number of days a week, (3.7 d/w to 2.9 d/w; p < 0.01) and duration (50.5 min/d to 45.2 min/d; p < 0.001) with age, especially for those with higher Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) mobility levels. Obesity slightly correlates with session duration (ρ = -0.207; p < 0.05), not mobility limitations. Gender has no significant impact on mobility, communication, or physical activity, while age affects variables such as body mass index (BMI) and engagement (p < 0.01). A substantial proportion follows regular physical activities based on health professionals' advice, with interest decreasing with age. To improve adherence, focusing on sports-oriented goals, group sessions, and games is recommended. These findings emphasize the importance of personalized programs, particularly for older individuals and those with greater mobility limitations.

Promoting physical activity for health benefits via a 10-week mobile-application-based personal training programme

ABSTRACT Mobile-application-based interventions promoting engagement in regular physical activity have been shown to afford weight loss, although the wider health benefits remain unknown. This exploratory intervention study quantified the effects of a 10-week mobile-application-based personal training programme combined with nutritional education content, considering physical and psychosocial health-related outcomes. Eleven healthy individuals completed the intervention, comprising physical activity prescription (resistance and high-intensity interval training), nutritional education, a daily step target and online personal trainer support. Outcomes included anthropometrics, circumferential measurements, resting heart rate, blood pressure, aerobic capacity, self-rated health, physical activity enjoyment scale, and the Pittsburgh sleep quality index. Significant improvements in body mass, circumferential measurements and aerobic capacity (p < 0.05) were observed amongst participants. Mobile-application-based interventions promoting physical activity may elicit improvements in physical health outcomes. Although healthy individuals were recruited for the purpose of this study, further research is now warranted to explore the potential health-related benefits of such mobile-applications amongst targeted groups such as disengaged, inactive populations, or individuals with long-term health conditions.

Teaching under pressure: assessing burnout among high school teachers.

the increasing demands and responsibilities placed upon teachers are causing overwhelming stress. As a result, many teachers struggle with managing their workload effectively, which increases their susceptibility to burnout. This study aims to investigate burnout among high school teachers in Tetouan, Morocco, and explore the various contributing factors. a cross-sectional study was conducted involving teachers who completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory and a comprehensive questionnaire covering personal attributes and professional responsibilities. We then used statistical software to analyze the collected data. Results: the study, involving 258 high school teachers, highlights a significant prevalence of burnout, with levels ranging from moderate to high. Particularly notable is the prevalence of emotional exhaustion, which affected 43% of the participants, whereas depersonalization (46%) and personal accomplishment (47%) exhibited relatively lower levels of concern. In addition, a thorough analysis revealed significant correlations between burnout rates and contributing factors, including gender, number of classes taught, class size, weekly working hours, and engagement in regular physical activity. this study highlights the substantial prevalence of burnout among high school teachers, emphasizing the urgency of teacher well-being. It enhances the understanding of the association between burnout and different work-related and lifestyle factors, enabling the identification of appropriate interventions. The interaction between burnout and these factors implies the need to further investigate gender-specific and workload-related preventive measures.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND DEMENTIA PREVENTION: THE ROLE OF HEALTH COGNITIONS AMONG 50+ HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS IN ISRAEL

Abstract Background Although dementia cannot be cured, it can be prevented by adopting various health behaviors, including regular physical activity. The current study sought to i) estimate the participation of Israel-born healthy individuals aged 50 years or older in regular physical activity; ii) assess the associations linking Health Belief Model variables (Rosenstock, 1966, 1974) and engagement in regular physical activity. Method This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021-2022, using online convenience sampling. The study included 328 Israel-born participants aged 50 years or older. Physical activity was assessed by asking whether participants regularly engaged in physical activity (type of activities/times per week/minutes). Cognitive perceptions were assessed using the Motivation to Change Lifestyle and Health Behaviors for Dementia Risk Reduction questionnaire (Kim et al., 2014). Results The average weekly minutes of physical activity was 165.62 (S.D. 176.17), whereas only 43.6% performed 150 minutes of physical activity weekly. A multivariate linear regression indicated that among all of the model’s variables, perceived severity (β=-.204, p&amp;lt;.001), cues to action (β=.134, p&amp;lt;.001), feminine gender (β=-.155, p&amp;lt;.01), and low income (β=-.113,p&amp;lt;.05) emerged as significant predictors of weekly minutes of physical activity. The model explained 14.2% of the variance in the performance of weekly minutes of physical activity [F(7,320)=12.22, p&amp;lt;.001]. Conclusions The current research underlines the role of health cognitions (perceived severity, barriers, and cues for action) regarding engagement in physical activity. The results of the current study might serve as a basis for intervention programs among various target populations.

EFFECTS OF ENGAGEMENT IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BY INFORMAL CAREGIVERS ON THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE

Abstract Informal caregivers are more likely to have poorer health and wellbeing than non-caregivers. Studies have shown the health benefits of engagement in physical activity (PA) among caregivers. However, little is known about whether and how caregiver engagement in PA promotes or protects caregiver wellbeing. We examined (1) the association of caregiver engagement in PA with caregiver quality of life (QoL) and (2) the moderating effect of caregiver engagement in PA on the relationship between caregiving stressors and QoL. We used data on 278 care-recipient/caregiver dyads from the baseline interview of a longitudinal study of caregivers of older adults in Singapore. Multivariable regression first examined whether caregiver engagement in PA (assessed by number of days in a week with at least 30 minutes of PA, self-reported) was associated with physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains of QoL. Subsequently, interaction terms between caregiving stressors (care-recipient physical, memory, behavioral, and mood impairments) and caregiver engagement in PA were introduced and tested. We found that caregiver engagement in PA had a positive association with psychological, social, and environmental domains of QoL. Furthermore, caregiver engagement in PA mitigated the negative association between care-recipient mood impairment and caregiver QoL in the physical and social domains. Our findings suggest that QoL of informal caregivers of older adults may be improved or protected by their regular engagement in PA, especially if their care-recipients have mood impairments. Providers serving caregivers should encourage caregivers to engage in PA and equip them with the necessary support to do so.

Association of Physical Activity and Exercise with Physical Performance and Muscle Mass in Older Adults: Results from the Longevity Check-Up (Lookup) 7+ Project.

Regular engagement in physical activity (PA) or physical exercise (PE) is effective at improving physical performance and body composition in older adults. Less is known about the benefits that may be obtained through combining PA with PE and whether the effects of activity habits differ between men and women. This study cross-sectionally investigated the association of PA and/or PE with physical performance and anthropometric measures in a large and relatively unselected sample of older adults enrolled in the Longevity Check-up (Lookup) 7+ project. Participants were individuals 65 years and older living in the community who were recruited in unconventional settings across Italy. Adherence to PA or PE was operationalized as involvement in light walking or various types of exercise, respectively, at least twice weekly for a minimum of 30 min per session throughout the last 12 months. Physical performance measures included handgrip strength and five-time sit-to-stand (5STS) tests. Lower-limb muscle power and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) were estimated through validated equations. We analyzed data of 4119 participants, of whom 2222 (53.4%) were women. The mean age was 72.8 ± 5.8 years in men and 72.1 ± 5.4 years in women. Regular engagement in PA + PE was reported by 139 (7.3%) men and 100 (4.5%) women. Results indicated that regular walking activity and/or PE were significantly associated with better physical performance and greater ASM with sex-specific patterns. Associations were also influenced by the type of activity, physical performance assessment tool, and anthropometric parameters. Men engaged in PA + PE performed better on the 5STS test and had greater handgrip strength, ASM, and relative and specific muscle power than those practicing either PA or PE. In women, the combination of PA and PE was associated with greater handgrip strength. The findings of this study indicate that older adults regularly practicing PA + PE had better physical performance than those who only engaged in either modality. In men, the combination of PA and PE was also associated with greater ASM.

Engagement in Physical Activity and Quality of Life Among Informal Caregivers of Older Adults

Objectives This study examined (1) the association of caregiver engagement in physical activity (PA) with their quality of life (QoL) and (2) the moderating effect of caregiver engagement in PA on the relationship between several caregiving stressors and their QoL, among informal caregivers of older adults. Methods Multivariable regression was applied to data from 278 adult caregivers, aged 23–90 years, in Singapore. Results Engagement in PA by caregivers was positively associated with psychological, social relationships, and environment domains of their QoL. Caregiver engagement in PA also mitigated the negative association between care-recipient mood impairment and QoL of caregivers in the physical health and social relationships domains. Discussion QoL of caregivers may be improved or protected by their regular engagement in PA, especially when their care-recipients have mood impairment. Policymakers and practitioners should encourage caregivers to engage in PA and provide them with the necessary support to do so.

Neuromarkers associated with two levels of physical activity in persons with chronic conditions.

Although research has largely focused on the effects of physical activity (PA) on the brain, less is known about the influence of the brain on engagement in healthy-living behaviors, such as regular PA. In this secondary analysis of a study of brain activity and participation in healthy-living behaviors, we examined relationships between the activation of selected brain networks and PA in persons self-managing chronic conditions. Fifty-eight individuals with chronic conditions underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while exposed to a protocol consisting of listening to emotion-focused and analytic-focused information and measures of activation of three neuromarkers were obtained: default mode network (DMN), task-positive network (TPN), and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). In an exploratory analysis, we assessed differences in neuromarker activation between two PA levels (representing higher and lower accelerometry-measured PA levels) of 1) moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) minutes, 2) metabolic equivalents expended (METs), and 3) daily steps. Results showed positive associations between MVPA and DMN (r = 0.31, P = 0.018), steps and DMN (r = 0.28, P = 0.035), and MVPA and vmPFC (r = 0.29, P = 0.026). No associations were found between the TPN and any of the PA measures. Individuals with high MVPA and METs had higher DMN values compared with those with low MVPA (t = -2.17, P = 0.035) and METs (t = -2.02, P = 0.048). No differences in TPN and vmPFC were found among PA levels. These results suggest that providing health information that activates the emotion-focused brain network may be more useful than analytic-focused information (centered on logic and reasoning) to assist people with chronic conditions to engage in more PA.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The influence of the brain on engagement in regular physical activity (PA) has not been well studied. We examined relationships between the activation of three neuromarkers and two PA levels in 58 persons self-managing chronic conditions. Findings suggest that individuals who optimally process health-information when the emotional tone is high (Empathic Network; DMN) may engage in more PA compared with individuals who respond to health information when the emotional tone is low (Analytic Network; TPN).

Volunteer-led online group exercise for community-dwelling older people: a feasibility and acceptability study

BackgroundDespite the clear benefits of physical activity in healthy ageing, engagement in regular physical activity among community-dwelling older adults remains low, with common barriers including exertional discomfort, concerns with falling, and access difficulties. The recent rise of the use of technology and the internet among older adults presents an opportunity to engage with older people online to promote increased physical activity. This study aims to determine the feasibility and acceptability of training volunteers to deliver online group exercises for older adults attending community social clubs.MethodsThis was a pre-post mixed-methods study. Older adults aged ≥ 65 years attending community social clubs who provided written consent and were not actively participating in exercise classes took part in the feasibility study. Older adults, volunteers, and staff were interviewed to determine the acceptability of the intervention. The intervention was a once weekly volunteer-led online group seated strength exercises using resistance bands. The duration of the intervention was 6 months. The primary outcome measures were the feasibility of the intervention (determined by the number of volunteers recruited, trained, and retained, participant recruitment and intervention adherence) and its acceptability to key stakeholders. Secondary outcome measures included physical activity levels (Community Health Model Activities Programme for Seniors (CHAMPS) questionnaire), modified Barthel Index, Health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L), frailty (PRISMA-7) and sarcopenia (SARC-F), at baseline and 6 months.ResultsNineteen volunteers were recruited, 15 (78.9%) completed training and 9 (47.3%) were retained after 1 year (mean age 68 years). Thirty older adults (mean age 77 years, 27 female) participated, attending 54% (IQR 37–67) of exercise sessions. Participants had no significant changes in secondary outcome measures, with a trend towards improvement in physical activity levels (physical activity in minutes per week at baseline was 1770 min, and 1909 min at six months, p = 0.13). Twenty volunteers, older adults, and staff were interviewed and found the intervention acceptable. The seated exercises were perceived as safe, manageable, and enjoyable.ConclusionsTrained volunteers can safely deliver online group exercise for community-dwelling older adults which was acceptable to older adults, volunteers, and club staff. Trials registrationNCT04672200.

Physical activity and glycemic control among adults living with coronary heart disease

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): University of Akureyri Research Fund Landspitali University Hospital Science Fund Background The most common comorbidity in coronary heart disease (CHD) is diabetes mellitus (DM). The presence of DM or pre-diabetes mellitus in addition to CHD further increases health risks. Engagement in regular physical activity (PA) has been shown to improve health and well-being and increase life expectancy. For that reason, it is important to explore the role of PA when the diseases coexist and how PA can be used effectively as part of treatment to improve coronary patients’ health. Purpose The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between the level of PA and glycemic control in adults with CHD. Methods This study had a cross-sectional design. The participants were adults who had been admitted to one of two main hospitals in Iceland between October 2017 and November 2018 following a CHD incident. Data was collected six months after hospital discharge with questionnaires, physical measurements, blood samples, and from medical files. The Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to measure PA. The participants were categorized into four groups according to their PA level (mostly sedentary; light; moderate; or high PA) and the relationship between PA levels and long-term glycemic control (glycated hemoglobin percentage (HbA1c%)) was explored using one-way ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc test. Results The sample consisted of 346 individuals. Their mean age was 64.6 years (SD = 8.9), 80.1% were males and 20.9% had diabetes. The mean HbA1c% was 5.9% (SD = 0.9; range = 4.6%-12.8%). The PA questionnaire classified 15.1% of the participants as mostly sedentary, 43.6% engaged in light PA, 33.2% engaged in moderate PA and 8.1% engaged in high levels of PA (Figure 1). An analysis of variance revealed a significant difference in mean HbA1c% values between groups F(3, 343) = 8.56, p &amp;lt; 0.001. Post-hoc comparisons showed that the mean HbA1c% of the least active individuals (M = 6.4%, SD = 1.5) was significantly higher than in all other groups. However, there were no significant group differences between those who engaged in light PA (M = 5.8%, SD = 0.7), moderate PA (M = 5.8%, SD = 0.6) and high levels of PA (M = 5.7%, SD = 0.8), (Figure 2). Conclusion PA was associated with small benefits in glycemic control among individuals with CHD. These findings emphasize the importance of PA in the treatment and management of CHD, and indicate that even small amounts of PA may be of value.Figure 1:Distribution of PA levelsFigure 2:HbA1c% according to PA level L

Capabilities, Opportunities, and Motivation: Exploring Fitness Program Experiences of Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

Although there are many benefits to regular engagement in physical activity, adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities often do not engage in or near the recommended amount of physical activity. Barriers, such as lack of perceived capability, accessible environments, transportation, social support, and or knowledgeable support staff, may limit participation in physical activity. The present study used qualitative methods to explore the experiences of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities enrolled in a fitness program. We used field observations and photo-elicited semi-structured interviews to explore what capabilities, opportunities, and motivations facilitate or hinder engagement in fitness classes and their experiences in the program. We used the COM-B model to deductively interpret and analyze the data through thematic analysis. Major themes were identified around types of support and preferences for physical over sedentary activities. Instructor, client, and family support were identified as important in facilitating interest, engagement, and skill. Dependency on others for financial and transportation support was also reported as important for participants to access the fitness program. This study provides valuable insight into the interactions and experiences of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including what keeps them engaged in a fitness program as it relates to capabilities, opportunities, and motivation.

Correlates of Physical Activity in Brazilian Older Adults: The National Health Survey 2019.

Engagement in physical activity (PA) depends on intrapersonal, interpersonal/cultural, organizational, physical environment and political factors. Considering that it is important to understand this phenomenon in different populational contexts, this study aimed to investigate the factors related to engagement in PA according to sociodemographic aspects, eating habits, self-rated health, activities of daily living, noncommunicable diseases, mental health and public policies in Brazilian older people. This study had a cross-sectional design and used data from the Brazilian National Health Survey, 2019. Sample size was composed of 22,726 participants, aged 60 years or older, of both sexes, and all the data were collected by interview/questionnaire. According to the adjusted logistic regression, males were more active than females (OR = 1.59 (95% CI 1.40-1.80)), and those living in northern and northeastern Brazil were more likely to be inactive when compared to the southeastern region. Moreover, those with a higher educational level and income (OR = 1.36 (1.06-1.73) and OR = 1.60 (1.22-2.11)); with healthy eating habits (OR = 1.05 (1.03-1.06)); with positive self-rated health (OR = 2.67 (95% CI 1.51-4.71)); with better functional autonomy (OR = 1.22 (1.17-1.27)); and who reported that there was some public place (square, park, closed street, beach) to go for a walk, exercise or practice sport close to their home were more likely to be active (OR = 1.49 (1.34-1.67)). Sociodemographic factors, healthy eating habits, positive self-rated health, higher functioning in activities of daily living and living close to places where PA is practiced were associated with regular engagement in PA (i.e., ≥150 min/week).

Sedentary Behavior, Dietary Habits, and Cardiometabolic Risk in Physically Active Children and Adolescents.

Sedentary behavior has been associated with several cardiometabolic risk factors during childhood. However, little is known about the impact of sedentary behavior on the health and eating habits of physically active children and adolescents. To evaluate the association between sedentary behavior and cardiometabolic risk factors and eating habits in physically active children and adolescents. This cross-sectional study was conducted, including 516 physically active children and adolescents (10 to 18 years old; both sexes) enrolled in the social project "Estação Conhecimento-Vale" were evaluated. Biochemical and lifestyle variables (questionnaire) were collected. Sedentary behavior was determined indirectly (questionnaire), by using sitting time ≥ 3 hours per day as a cutoff point. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant for all tests. Sedentary behavior was not associated with overweight/obesity (odds ratio = 0.72 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.325-1.389]), hypertriglyceridemia (odds ratio = 0.63 [95% CI: 0.306-1.297]), low HDL cholesterol (odds ratio = 0.57 [95% CI: 0.323-1.019]), or high non-HDL cholesterol (odds ratio = 0.63 [95% CI: 0.283-1.389]). However, children and adolescents with sedentary behavior were more likely to regularly consume food in front of the television (odds ratio = 1.96 [95% CI: 1.114-3.456]) and to consume at least one ultra-processed food per day (odds ratio = 2.42 [95% CI: 1.381-4.241]). In addition, they were less likely to consume fruit regularly (odds ratio = 0.52 [95% CI: 0.278-0.967]). There was no association between sedentary behavior and cardiometabolic risk factors in physically active children and adolescents. However, sedentary behavior was associated with inadequate eating habits. Thus, we may suggest that the regular engagement in physical activity may attenuate the deleterious effects of sedentary behavior on the cardiometabolic parameters of children and adolescents.

An Explanatory Model of Violent Behavior, Self-Concept, and Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Consumption in Secondary Education Students.

Current scientific evidence establishes that regular physical activity engagement provides numerous physical and mental benefits. Thus, the present research aims at examining the relationships between violent behavior, self-concept, and consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis. Specifically, two objectives were defined: (a) analyze and establish the relationships between violent behaviors, the different dimensions of self-concept, and the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis as a function of physical activity engagement, (b) define and examine a proposed explanatory model, and (c) analyze the effect of self-concept on alcohol and tobacco consumption and physical activity engagement based on the explanatory model developed. For this purpose, a nonexperimental (ex post facto), descriptive, and cross-sectional study was conducted. For data collection, a sociodemographic questionnaire was administered alongside the Self-Concept Form 5 and the School Victimization Scale. It was shown that individuals engaging in more than three hours of physical exercise per week scored more highly on the social, family, physical, and emotional aspects of self-concept, whilst those who do not meet this criterion scored more highly on the academic aspect and on physical and verbal victimization. The present research concludes that engagement in more than 3 hours of physical activity per week led to benefits in a number of domains of self-concept whilst, at the same time, increasing levels of violence.