The effect of physical activity on sleep quality, well-being, and affect in academic stress periods

Can physical activity foster mental health by preventing addictive social media use? – A longitudinal investigation during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to an increase of mental health problems like depression, anxiety, stress symptoms, and Internet-based addictive behaviors. Therefore, the present longitudinal study investigated whether physical activity might prevent addictive social media use (SMU) and thus foster positive mental health (PMH) and decrease negative mental health (NMH).

Methods

Data were assessed in a sample of 356 participants (Mage = 27.43, SDage = 6.59) from Germany via online surveys at two measurement time points in spring 2020 (baseline, BL) and one year later in spring 2021 (follow-up, FU). Moderated mediation analyses were conducted for the investigation of the relations.

Results

Analyses revealed that addictive SMU (BL) mediated the relationship between physical activity (BL) and PMH (FU) as well as symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress (FU). Moreover, the association between physical activity and addictive SMU was moderated by the level of burden caused by COVID-19 (BL), i.e., it was significant for medium and high, but not for low burden.

Limitations

The mostly female and relatively young sample limit the generalizability of the current findings. Moreover, the relationships should be investigated in further countries to different time points.

Conclusions

The findings indicate positive effects of physical activity on PMH and NMH by the reduction of tendencies of addictive SMU. Especially people who experience high levels of burden by COVID-19 may benefit from regular physical activity. This could be a cost-effective, low-threshold prevention strategy for meeting the pandemic induced challenges for mental health.

Predicting Chronic Stress among Healthy Females Using Daily-Life Physiological and Lifestyle Features from Wearable Sensors

Background

Chronic stress is a highly prevalent condition that may stem from different sources and can substantially impact physiology and behavior, potentially leading to impaired mental and physical health. Multiple physiological and behavioral lifestyle features can now be recorded unobtrusively in daily-life using wearable sensors. The aim of the current study was to identify a distinct set of physiological and behavioral lifestyle features that are associated with elevated levels of chronic stress across different stress sources.

Methods

For that, 140 healthy female participants completed the Trier inventory for chronic stress (TICS) before wearing the Fitbit Charge3 sensor for seven consecutive days while maintaining their daily routine. Physiological and lifestyle features that were extracted from sensor data, alongside demographic features, were used to predict high versus low chronic stress with support vector machine classifiers, applying out-of-sample model testing.

Results

The model achieved 79% classification accuracy for chronic stress from a social tension source. A mixture of physiological (resting heart-rate, heart-rate circadian characteristics), lifestyle (steps count, sleep onset and sleep regularity) and non-sensor demographic features (smoking status) contributed to this classification.

Conclusion

As wearable technologies continue to rapidly evolve, integration of daily-life indicators could improve our understanding of chronic stress and its impact of physiology and behavior.

A longitudinal study of morning, evening, and night light intensities and nocturnal sleep quality in a working population

We aimed to investigate whether higher light intensity in the morning is associated with better nocturnal sleep quality and whether higher light intensities in the evening or night have the opposite effect. Light intensity was recorded for 7 consecutive days across the year among 317 indoor and outdoor daytime workers in Denmark (55-56° N) equipped with a personal light recorder. Participants reported sleep quality after each nocturnal sleep. Sleep quality was measured using three parameters; disturbed sleep index, awakening index, and sleep onset latency. Associations between increasing light intensities and sleep quality were analyzed using mixed effects models with participant identity as a random effect. Overall, neither white nor blue light intensities during morning, evening, or night were associated with sleep quality, awakening, or sleep onset latency of the subsequent nocturnal sleep. However, secondary analyses suggested that artificial light during the morning and day contrary to solar light may increase vulnerability to evening light exposure. Altogether, we were not able to confirm that higher morning light intensity significantly improves self-reported sleep quality or that higher evening or night light intensities impair self-reported sleep quality at exposure levels encountered during daily life in a working population in Denmark. This suggests that light intensities alone are not important for sleep quality to a degree that it is distinguishable from other important parameters in daily life settings.

What do adolescents and young adults strive for in sport and exercise? An explorative study on goal profiles in sport and exercise

In sport and exercise promotion, it is important to consider goals because achieving these goals leads to a sense of well-being and behaviour adherence. Individuals often pursue multiple goals simultaneously. Therefore, it is also important to not only consider each individual's combination of goals but also to identify so-called "goal profiles". Taking a developmental-psychological perspective, the goal profiles of adolescents may differ from those of young adults. Furthermore, goal profiles might differ concerning the self-determined motivation, sport and exercise behaviour, and gender. Therefore, both age groups, 966 adolescents and 636 young adults, were questioned by self-report on their goals in sport and exercise, self-determined motivation, sport and exercise behaviour, and gender. A multiple-group-analysis for latent-profile-solutions was conducted resulting in six goal profiles for both age groups. As expected, the shape of these profiles differed qualitatively for the majority of adolescents and young adults: In adolescents, goals such as contact and the perception of challenge were more prominent, whereas in young adults, health, figure/appearance, and distraction/catharsis were dominant. Validation analyses support the profiles identified as they differ in self-determined motivation, sport and exercise behaviour, and gender. To more efficiently tailor interventions, an age-specific focus on goal profiles seems promising.

Physical Activity under Stress: A Perspective of HAPA and Individual Differences

Aims: Physical activity is an effective way for people to cope with stress. However, people often decrease their physical activity in response to stressors. Therefore, we aimed to understand the relationship between perceived stress and physical activity from an outcome expectancies perspective and investigated the moderating role of future orientation in this relationship. Methods: This study recruited 425 students who completed a three-wave survey at six-week intervals. A moderated mediation model was used to examine the mediating effects of outcome expectancies and the moderating effects of future orientation. Results: The results indicated that outcome expectancies mediated the relationship between perceived stress and physical activity. This relationship was moderated by future orientation. In particular, the mediating effects were significant for people with a high future orientation, but not for those with a low future orientation. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate the adaptive function of future orientation in response to general stress. Importantly, the link between perceived stress and reduced physical activity could be mitigated by encouraging people to focus on future consequences. Future studies should consider developing intervention strategies that help those struggling with stressful contexts.

The Association Between Depressive Symptomology, Psychological Burden Related to COVID-19, and Engagement in Physical Exercise Among College Students

Introduction: The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in substantial changes to the normalcy of daily life. Research conducted in Western Europe point to elevated levels of depression, rumination and worry as well psychological burden. These in turn impact the capacity of individuals to adhere to lockdown measures and health-protective behaviours. Investigations of these pandemic-related mental health constructs in the Middle East appears sparse. Moreover, there is an immense need to investigate the potential for simple strategies that might be used by individuals whilst in lockdown to combat the onset of mental health difficulties. Regular physical exercise may prove valuable in this regard. Objective: To investigate the potential mediational role of engagement in physical exercise on the association between depression and psychological burden related to COVID-19. Method: A sample of 1,322 participants (mage = 19.50 years, SD = 1.54) completed measures of depression and psychological burden related to COVID-19 and self-reported their frequency of physical exercise. Data were collected between February and May 2021 in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Results: Analyses revealed statistically significant associations between depression and psychological burden as well as between elevated depression and reduced physical exercise. Mediation analyses in which the potential mediational role of physical exercise was examined were not significant. Conclusions: Depression and psychological burden related to the pandemic appear to be prevalent in these Middle Eastern locations. Whilst physical exercise appears to be beneficial in combating depression, it does not appear to be a sufficient strategy for impeding the experience of psychological burden. Investigation of the contribution of additional strategies is required.

Activities, Housing Situation and Other Factors Influencing Psychological Strain Experienced During the First COVID-19 Lockdown in Switzerland

Background: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis and the corresponding first nationwide lockdown from mid-March to 10 May 2020 engendered considerable psychological strain among people in Switzerland. This study analyzes determinants of changes in subjective levels of psychological strain experienced during the lockdown. Methods: An online survey conducted as part of a larger mixed methods study examined the material and emotional aspects of individual reactions to the lockdown from a socio-ecological perspective. Participants (N = 5932) were asked about their personal and employment status, housing features, changes in various activities (e.g., physical activity, watching TV, social media use) and aspects of mental distress and well-being. Results: A substantial share of participants reported to feel depressed (33%) and anxious (43%) more often during the COVID-19 lockdown than before, whereas significantly (p < 0.001) less persons reported a decrease of these negative feelings (depressed 17%; anxious 14%). Women, single people, students and people who lost their jobs or were temporally unemployed due to the lockdown experienced a particularly strong increase of subjective psychological strain. Important residential factors reducing subjective psychological strain were the general comfort of the housing situation and having a private garden or multiple types of outdoor space. Considering leisure activities, the strongest positive psychological effect resulted from increased physical activities, followed by reading and cooking. However, 45% of the participants reported a decreased frequency of physical activity during the lockdown compared to before, whereas significantly less persons (26%) reported a corresponding increase (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Consistent with other studies, the results indicate a substantial reduction of subjective psychological well-being of the population during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Switzerland. The psychological burdens which the participants experienced differ depending on personal characteristics and situational factors. Negative psychological and economic consequences and gender inequalities should accordingly be carefully considered and actively prevented when designing COVID-19 measures. Supportive economic and social, cognitive and behavioral psychological interventions need to be designed and implemented to maintain the well-being of residents during lockdown.

The Benefits of Physical Activity and Positive Mental Health for Reducing the Burden of COVID-19: Validation from a Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Investigation in China and Germany

Many people experience high burden by the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and its consequences for health and everyday life. The present cross-national study investigated potential factors that can reduce the burden by COVID-19 in China and Germany. Cross-sectional and longitudinal (China: N = 474, baseline, BL: 2015, follow-up, FU: 2020; Germany: N = 359, BL: 2019, FU: 2020) data on physical activity (e.g., jogging) (BL/FU), positive mental health (PMH) (BL/FU), and burden by COVID-19 (FU) were collected via online surveys. In both countries, physical activity was positively associated with PMH, and both variables were negatively related to burden by COVID-19. Furthermore, PMH mediated the link between physical activity and burden. The mediation model was significant when physical activity and PMH were assessed at the BL, while burden was measured at the FU; and it was also significant when all variables were assessed at the FU. The present findings reveal that physical activity in combination with PMH can reduce the experience of burden by COVID-19. Conscious fostering of physical activity and PMH is supported as an effective strategy to reduce the negative impact of the pandemic outbreak on mental and physical health. Additional benefits such as increased adherence to governmental measures around COVID-19 are discussed.

Chronic stress experience, sleep, and physical activity: Relations with change in negative affect and acute stress response to a naturalistic stressor

OBJECTIVES

Prior research indicates that chronic stress increases allostatic load and alters individuals' affective response to stress. Recent studies have linked health-related behaviours including poor sleep and physical inactivity with elevated negative affect responses to stress. This study extends prior work to investigate chronic stress experience, sleep, and physical activity as predictors of negative affect and acute stress experience during acute, sustained naturalistic stress.

DESIGN

Students (N = 637) were assessed during an academic semester and end-of-term final exam period.

METHODS

Self-report ratings of chronic stress experience, negative affect, acute stress experience, sleep, physical activity, demographics, and health were obtained. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses examined the extent to which chronic stress experience, sleep duration and sleep quality, habitual physical activity, and their interactions, predicted changes in negative affect and acute stress experience during final exams. Health-related behaviours were also examined as mediators between chronic stress experience and changes in negative affect and acute stress experience.

RESULTS

Greater chronic stress experience and shorter exam period sleep duration, but not habitual sleep duration or physical activity, predicted greater increases in negative affect and acute stress experience. Poorer overall sleep quality was a significant predictor in these models and partially mediated the relation between chronic stress experience and negative affect and acute stress experience.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings highlight the importance of chronic stress experience and sleep in predicting individuals' affective health during naturalistic stress. Interventions that reduce chronic stress experience and improve sleep may help individuals' buffer against impairments to affective health during these episodes.

Does More Sedentary Time Associate With Higher Risks for Sleep Disorder Among Adolescents? A Pooled Analysis

Purpose: To investigate the association between sedentary behavior and anxiety-induced sleep disorder at a global perspective. Methods:A total of 254,924 adolescents (mean age: 14.45 ± 1.42 years; 52.8% girls) who participated in the Global School-Based Student Health Survey were included for analysis. Self-reported questionnaires assessed anxiety-induced sleep disorder and sedentary behavior. Multivariable logistic regression analysis and countrywide meta-analysis were used for investigating the association between sedentary behavior and anxiety-included sleep disorder. Results:The results showed that sedentary time was linearly associated with higher OR of anxiety-related sleep disorder in adolescents across the countries and that 8 h or more per day increased the OR by 2.17 times. Countrywide meta-analysis showed that 8 h or more per day of sedentary behavior yielded an OR = 1.40 (95% CI = 1.34-1.46) of anxiety-induced sleep disorder. Moreover, the association between sedentary behavior and sleep anxiety was significant in adolescents over the age of 11 years regardless of sex. Conclusions:The findings from this study suggest that as sedentary behavior increases, sleep disorders also increase, independently of sex among adolescents. Effective preventive strategies are needed to be taken to decrease sedentary behavior that could be used to improve mental health and sleep quality among adolescents.

Relationships between Depression, Daily Physical Activity, Physical Fitness, and Daytime Sleepiness among Japanese University Students

In Japan and other developed countries, the lifestyles of many—particularly the younger generation—have been disrupted in recent years. This disruption may manifest as a decrease in physical activity and deterioration in the quality and quantity of sleep. Depressive tendencies are also increasing among university students. This study examined the relationship between mental health, physical activity, physical fitness, and daytime sleepiness. Eighty-five undergraduate students participated in this study (52 men and 33 women, aged 18.9 (±1.4) years). Physical activity levels were measured using an accelerometer (Lifecorder, Kenz, Nagoya, Japan) for two weeks. To evaluate their level of physical fitness, maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O₂max) was calculated by an indirect method using a cycle ergometer. Depressive tendencies and daytime sleepiness were evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The PHQ-9 score was positively correlated with sleepiness (r = 0.35, p = 0.001) and total steps per day (r = 0.39, p < 0.001). Moreover, the PHQ-9 score was positively correlated with V˙O₂max (r = 0.25, p = 0.019). The PHQ-9 score was higher in students with good exercise habits or part-time jobs. An important finding was the positive correlation between depression and variables related to physical activity levels. These results suggest that vigorous physical activity, such as exercise and part-time jobs, might be positively associated with depressive tendencies among university students.

Direct and Stress-Buffering Effects of COVID-19-Related Changes in Exercise Activity on the Well-Being of German Sport Students

Maintaining or initiating exercise activity in the COVID-19 pandemic may act as a buffer against the observed stress-related deterioration in well-being, with emotion regulation (ER) discussed as a possible moderator. Therefore, the present study investigated the interaction between stress, exercise activity (EA), and ER on mood. In an online survey, 366 German sports science students (56% women, Mage = 23.04, SD = 2.87) reported their stress levels (general and COVID-19-specific), mood (energy, valence, calmness), EA before and during the pandemic, and use of ER strategies in spring 2020. Pandemic-related change in EA was calculated as residual change. Due to gender differences in mental health and EA, the main and interaction effects were tested in twelve hierarchical regression analyses, separately for men and women. Overall, EA significantly decreased during the pandemic and was positively associated with energy in both men and women. ER was positively associated with women's energy, but negatively with all three mood dimensions in men. Only one three-way interaction appeared significant: in the case of high stress, low levels of EA and high use of ER were associated with the greatest deteriorations in energy in men. Our findings suggest that EA may buffer deteriorations in energy in men with high stress and difficulties in ER.

The role of anxiety and depression in the relationship between physical activity and sleep quality: A serial multiple mediation model

BACKGROUND

Physical inactivity exacerbates poorer sleep quality, but potential underlying mechanisms of this association remain unknown. The present study aims to disentangle the pathways linking psychical activity to sleep quality through the serial mediation effect of anxiety and depression in a Chinese population.

METHODS

Data analyzed were from Guangdong Sleep and Psychosomatic Health Survey, a cross-sectional population-based study with a representative sample of adult inhabitants aged 18-85 years living in Guangdong province, China. A total of 13,768 participants were included with the response rate of 80.4%. Singe and serial mediation analyses were conducted to examine whether anxiety and depression mediated the relationship between physical activity and sleep quality, independently and jointly.

RESULTS

Both direct and indirect effects of physical activity on sleep quality were found. As predicted, anxiety and depression mediated the relationship between physical activity and sleep quality (B _Anxiety = -0.17, 95% bootstrap CI: -0.20 to -0.15; B _Depression= -0.25, 95% bootstrap CI: -0.28 to -0.21), respectively. In addition, serial mediation analyses indicated that the association of physical activity and sleep quality is mediated by anxiety and depression in a sequential manner (B = -0.13, 95% bootstrap CI: -0.15 to -0.11).

LIMITATIONS

The primary limitation of the study is the cross-sectional design, which limits the causal inference ability.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the role of anxiety and depression as serial mediators of the relationship between physical activity and sleep quality. Thus, exercise-based programs focusing on improving sleep could benefit from a multi-faceted approach therapeutically targeting psychiatric disorders.

Repetitive negative thinking mediates the relationship between addictive Facebook use and suicide-related outcomes: A longitudinal study

Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) and addictive Facebook use have been shown to be associated with suicide ideation and suicidal behavior. The present longitudinal study aimed to investigate whether the association between addictive Facebook use and suicide-related outcomes is mediated by RNT. Data of 191 German Facebook users (M _age  = 26.17, SD _age  = 6.63) were assessed at two measurement time points over a one-year period (first measurement = T1, second measurement = T2) via online surveys. The significant positive association between addictive Facebook use (T1) and suicide-related outcomes (T2) was significantly mediated by RNT (T1). In contrast, a check test that included RNT (T1) as predictor and addictive Facebook use (T1) as mediator revealed no significant mediation effect. The current results demonstrate that if addictive Facebook use leads to RNT suicide ideation and attempts become likely. Therefore, RNT and addictive Facebook use should be taken into account when assessing individuals for risk of suicide.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak: Addictive social media use, depression, anxiety and stress in quarantine - an exploratory study in Germany and Lithuania

Background

To slow down the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments of many countries introduced various behavioral measures starting March 2020. The measures included domestic quarantine (not leaving home) for infected or potentially infected people. Due to the need for social distancing, online activity increased in spring 2020. This could foster the risk for addictive social media use (SMU). The present study investigated tendencies of addictive SMU and their relationship with depression, anxiety and stress symptoms specifically among individuals who stayed in domestic quarantine due to COVID-19 in Germany and Lithuania.

Methods

In Germany (N = 529; quarantine group: n = 157, non-quarantine group: n = 372) and in Lithuania (N = 325; quarantine group: n = 54, non-quarantine group: n = 271), data were assessed via online surveys in spring 2020.

Results

In both countries, persons in quarantine had higher levels of addictive SMU, depression, anxiety and stress symptoms than individuals who were not in quarantine. The difference was significant only for addictive SMU in the German sample. The significant positive correlations between addictive SMU and symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress were stronger in both quarantine groups than in the non-quarantine groups.

Limitations

The mostly female, young and well-educated composition of both investigated samples limits generalizability of the current findings.

Conclusions

Results reveal first evidence that the use of social media during domestic COVID-19 quarantine might contribute to the increase of addictive tendencies and negatively impact well-being. Alternative ways of daily routine during the quarantine are discussed.

Examining the Moderator Role of Sleep Quality in the Relationship Among Test Anxiety, Academic Success and Mood

This study explored associations among test anxiety, GPA, sleep quality, and mood in college students. Data were collected from undergraduate students (N = 316). Results revealed that higher levels of test anxiety and sleep impairment predicted negative mood in undergraduates. Findings suggest that prioritizing sleep could help improve overall mood among students with test anxiety. Future studies should work toward clarifying the complex and reciprocal relationship between sleep and test anxiety.

The patterns of problematic social media use (SMU) and their relationship with online flow, life satisfaction, depression, anxiety and stress symptoms in Lithuania and in Germany

The present study investigated problematic social media use (SMU) in Lithuania and in Germany. In two student samples (Lithuania: N = 1640; Germany: N = 727), problematic SMU, flow experienced during SMU, life satisfaction, depression, anxiety and stress symptoms were assessed by online surveys. Latent Class Analysis resulted in a four-group classification of participants due to their levels of problematic SMU characteristics: low-symptom, low-withdrawal, high-withdrawal, and high-symptom. The proportion of participants in the low-symptom group was significantly higher in Germany than in Lithuania. In contrast, significantly more Lithuanian participants belonged to both withdrawal groups. No significant country differences were found for the composition of the high-symptom group. In both countries, a series of Structural Equation Models showed that the level of flow, depression, anxiety and stress symptoms was the highest in the high-symptom group, and the lowest in the low-symptom group. Life satisfaction revealed the reversed result pattern. The current findings show that students from Lithuania and Germany can be grouped considering their problematic SMU level. Individuals in the four groups differ due to their level of mental health. Especially members of the high-symptom group might benefit from external controlling strategies of their time spent on SM, while members of the withdrawal groups are suggested to train their SMU self-control.

How stress affects sleep and mental health: nocturnal heart rate increases during prolonged stress and interacts with childhood trauma exposure to predict anxiety

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Stress can adversely impact sleep health by eliciting arousal increase and a cascade of endocrine reactions that may impair sleep. To date, little is known regarding continuous effects of real-world stress on physiological sleep characteristics and potential effects on stress-related psychopathology. We examined effects of stress on heart rate (HR) during sleep and total sleep time (TST) during prolonged real-world stress exposure in medical interns. Moreover, we investigated the influence of previous stress and childhood trauma exposure on HR during sleep, TST, and its interaction in predicting anxiety.

METHODS

We examined a sample of 50 medical students prior to and during their first internship, a well described real-world stressor. HR and TST were continuously collected over 12 weeks non-invasively by a wrist-worn activity monitor. Prior to starting the internship, at baseline, participants reported on their sleep, anxiety, and childhood trauma exposure. They also tracked stress exposure during internship and reported on their anxiety symptoms 3 months after this professional stress.

RESULTS

Mean HR during sleep increased over time, while TST remained unchanged. This effect was more pronounced in interns exposed to childhood trauma exposure. In multilevel models, childhood trauma exposure also moderated the relation between individual HR increase and development of anxiety.

CONCLUSIONS

Prolonged stress may lead to increased HR during sleep, whereas individuals with childhood trauma exposure are more vulnerable. Childhood trauma exposure also moderated the relation between individual HR increase and development of anxiety. These findings may inform prevention and intervention measures.

Enhancing smart healthcare in dentistry: an approach to managing patients' stress

This paper presents a model of a smart healthcare service for stress management in dental patients during the interventions. The main goal is to provide dental clinics with a model that enables introducing a stress management service into everyday practice and provides patients with a better experience in a typically stressful situation. The approach is based on employing wearable sensors for monitoring physiological parameters, and a mobile application for progressive muscle relaxation therapy. Dental patients were divided into experimental and control groups. Participants from the experimental group were treated with progressive muscle relaxation through mobile health application with audio content, and patients from the control group were not exposed to any relaxation method. Heart rate was measured in both groups through three test phases: pre-intervention, intervention, and post-intervention. Evaluation of the anxiety level was performed using the STAI test. Results show that the measured heart rate in the post-intervention phase is lower than in the intervention phase in both testing groups, as well as in the pre-intervention phase. STAI scores were significantly higher in the control group through all test phases. The research found that the proposed system applied to dentist patients may relieve their anxiety symptoms and decrease stress level, which improves the patients' experience and leads to higher patients' satisfaction.

The Relationship Between Anxiety Levels, Sleep, and Physical Activity During COVID-19 Lockdown: An Exploratory Study

Nowadays and worldwide, the attention is focused on coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and its consequences on mental health are yet to be fully understood. It is important to capture differences in anxiety levels among populations, groups, and the gender-related variation. Therefore, the present study had two main purposes: (1) to characterize the levels of state anxiety and trait anxiety by examining gender-related, sleep-related, and physical activity-related variations in a nonrepresentative sample of the Portuguese population during the first weeks of lockdown; and (2) to explore the possible relationship between trait anxiety and state anxiety and the possible role of gender as a moderator. This cross-sectional study comprised 1,332 Portuguese adults (aged 18-55 years old) recruited online during COVID-19 outbreak measures. Participants answered to sociodemographic data and the Portuguese version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Gender differences were found in both state anxiety (p = < 0.001; d = 0.385) and trait anxiety (p = < 0.001; d = 0.467) with females presenting higher values. People reporting doing more physical activity than usual during COVID-19 lockdown presented lower levels of state anxiety (p = < 0.001; d = 0.200). People reporting more satisfaction with the quality of sleep presented lower levels of both state anxiety (p = < 0.001; d = 0.701) and trait anxiety (p = < 0.001; d = 0.899). Variation associated with the physical activity level (low, moderate, and high) was significantly different among groups in both state anxiety (p = < 0.001) and trait anxiety (p = < 0.001). When analyzing in more detail separating the levels of physical activity, participants performing moderate and high physical activity showed lower values of state and trait anxiety compared to participants with low physical activity. Participants performing high physical activity also showed lower values of state anxiety compared to participants performing moderate physical activity. Higher levels of trait anxiety were related to higher levels of state anxiety, but this association was not moderated by gender. Interventions aiming to support people psychologically during this outbreak should consider anxiety as well as gender and possible behavioral changes in sleep and physical activity, for example. Health professionals should not only consider the anxiety related to the situation we are living but also address trait anxiety to help overcome COVID-19 psychological consequences.

Sleep and physical activity in university students: A systematic review and meta-analysis

University students have low levels of physical activity and report disturbances to sleep, which are independently associated with poor health outcomes. Some research suggests that there is a bi-directional relationship between sleep and physical activity in adults. However, the relationship between sleep and physical activity in university students has not yet been evaluated. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to qualitatively synthesise and quantitatively evaluate the evidence for the association between sleep and physical activity in university students. Twenty-nine eligible studies were included, with a total of 141,035 participants (43% men and 57% women). Only four studies used device-based measures of sleep and/or physical activity, with the remainder including self-report measures. Qualitative synthesis found that the majority of studies did not find any association between sleep and physical activity in university students. However, random-effects meta-analysis showed that moderate-to-high intensity physical activity was associated with lower PSQI scores (e.g., better sleep quality) [r = -0.18, 95% CI (-0.37, 0.03), p = 0.100]. Further, a weak negative association between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity level and sleep duration was also found [r = -0.02, 95% CI (-0.16, 0.12), p = 0.760]. As the findings of this review are predominantly derived from cross-sectional investigations, with limited use of device-based measurement tools, further research is needed to investigate the relationship between sleep and physical activity in university students. Future studies should employ longitudinal designs, with self-report and device-based measures, and consider the intensity and time of physical activity as well as records of napping behaviour.

The relationship between burden caused by coronavirus (Covid-19), addictive social media use, sense of control and anxiety

The outbreak of Covid-19 has significantly restricted people's everyday life and contributed to enhanced social media use (SMU). The present study investigated the relationship of burden caused by Covid-19 and addictive SMU. Data were assessed in a sample of 550 users of social media (age: M (SD) = 27.08 (6.74)) from Germany via online surveys in spring 2020. In a moderated mediation analysis, the positive association between burden and addictive SMU was significantly mediated by the level of perceived sense of control. Anxiety symptoms significantly moderated the relationship between sense of control and addictive SMU. Specifically, the link between both variables was significant only for medium and high levels of anxiety symptoms. The present findings disclose the mechanisms that can contribute to the development of addictive tendencies during the pandemic outbreak. Potential practical implications and ways of how the negative consequences of burden caused by Covid-19 might be prevented are discussed.

The Tridirectional Relationship among Physical Activity, Stress, and Academic Performance in University Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Higher education students often suffer from physiological and psychological health problems caused by stress, which may negatively impact their academic performance (AP). Physical activity (PA) can be a promising strategy to buffer these stress-induced complaints. Therefore, the aim of this investigation was to summarize evidence for the tridimensional construct of PA, stress, and AP, as well as to quantify the relationships among these variables. Five databases (PubMed, Scopus, SMEI, ERIC, and Web of Science) were systematically searched in November 2019 for publications that examined PA, stress, and AP of university students, without any restrictions regarding the publication period. The systematic review includes four original research studies with a moderate-to-high risk of bias. Results of included studies were narratively summarized and quantified in a meta-analysis using random effect models. Whereas study results point to a positive relation between PA and AP, relationships between PA and stress seem to be negative, while the relation between stress and AP is undecided. The meta-analysis found no significant associations and considerable heterogeneity of the results. Findings indicate a research gap concerning the connection of PA, stress, and AP in university students. Future studies should use validated measuring tools and consider the timepoint of data collection in order to extract truly stressful periods.

The association between depression symptoms, psychological burden caused by Covid-19 and physical activity: An investigation in Germany, Italy, Russia, and Spain

The outbreak of Covid-19 required the re-organization of everyday life. While some people accepted this challenge, other experienced the current situation as a heavy burden that impedes the adaptation to the new life conditions. The present study investigated factors that can impact the level of burden caused by Covid-19. Burden, depression symptoms and frequency of physical activity (e.g., jogging, cycling) were assessed via online surveys in overall 1,931 people from four countries (Germany: N = 625; Italy: N = 936; Russia: N = 230; Spain: N = 140). Similar result patterns were found in all country-specific samples. Burden by Covid-19 was significantly positively associated with depression symptoms, while it was significantly negatively linked to physical activity. Moreover, physical activity buffered the association between depression symptoms and burden. The present cross-national findings emphasize the protective effect of physical activity specifically in times of Covid-19. This issue should be addressed in governmental programs to longitudinally protect mental and physical health and to enhance the willingness to adhere to the anti-Covid-19 measures among the population.

The effects of standing tutorial meetings on physical activity behavior in undergraduates: A randomized controlled trial

This study explored the effects of using standing desks in tutorial meetings on the physical activity behavior (PAB) of undergraduate students. Standing desks have been introduced to minimize the detrimental health effects of prolonged sedentary behavior (SB). The effectiveness of using standing desks has not been explored among undergraduate students - a population showing high SB. Ninety-six undergraduate students were randomly assigned to a sitting or standing tutorial group that ran for nine weeks, and their PAB was monitored using the activPAL3™ triaxial activity monitor. To check for potential compensatory or other covarying behaviors, the students' PAB was monitored on tutorial and non-tutorial days. PAB monitoring was conducted in week 4-5, and a follow-up measurement was conducted in week 9 to examine longer-term effects. In week 4-5, the stand group (n = 41) showed less SB (β = -0.092, SE = 0.044, 95% CI: -0.179, -0.006) and more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (β = 0.320, SE = 0.160, 95% CI: 0.004, 0.635) compared to the sit group (n = 36). On tutorial days, the stand group showed more light physical activity (LPA) than the sit group (p < .001, d = 1.04). In week 9, there was an exam on the last day of that week. Nonetheless, the stand group (n = 37) showed less SB (p < .001, d = 0.378) and more LPA (p = .008, d = 0.725), while breaking up prolonged SB more frequently (p = .007, d = 0.696) on the tutorial day compared to the sit group (n = 32). Overall, undergraduates attending standing tutorial meetings showed less SB and more LPA than those attending conventional, seated tutorial meetings. Standing tutorial meetings can contribute to a more active lifestyle for undergraduates.

Stress and behavioral changes with remote E-exams during the Covid-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study among undergraduates of medical sciences

Emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) forced the worldwide higher educational institutes to adopt distance learning mode. Further, remote electronic exams (E-exams) were considered as mode of assessment. Objectives: This cross-sectional study evaluated the students' experience of remote E-exams during the COVID-19 pandemic among Medical Sciences students in Jordan. Materials and Methods: A survey of 29 questions was prepared on Google forms and distributed among students at Faculties of Medical Sciences (Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing and Applied Medical Sciences) at Jordan University of Science and Technology. The questions include students' demographics, stress experience, and factors contributing to stress as well as behavioral changes related to remote E-exams. Responses were analyzed using descriptive, cross tabulation and Chi-square tests. Results: Among 1019 respondents, 32% reported more stress with remote E-exams. This was associated with academic major and gender. Among students with more stress during remote E-exams, the exam duration, mode of questions navigation and technical problems (exam platform and internet connectivity) appeared as the main factors related to stress in 78%, 76% and >60%, respectively. Other factors include concern regarding the teaching methods, exam environment and students' dishonesty. Remote E-exams had negative impact on students' dietary habits (increase consumption of caffeine and high energy drinks, high sugar food, fast food), sleep (reduction in sleeping hours, more consumption of insomnia medications), physical activity (less exercises) and smoking habits (increase). Conclusion: Results suggested a negative impact of E-exams on students within Medical Faculties. Robust exam platform and remote mock E-exams are recommended to reduce students' potential stress. A stress-free environment is very essential to encourage students to adopt remote E-exams, particularly if the pandemic will take longer. Various awareness programs about students' habits related to dietary, sleep quality, physical activity and smoking are highly valuable for students' health benefits. This is of particular importance since the current students at Faculties of Medical Sciences are the future health care providers.

Physical activity, dietary habits and sleep quality before and during COVID-19 lockdown: A longitudinal study

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the health public authorities to impose a lockdown as an epidemiological containment strategy. This study aimed to provide information regarding the impact of the mandatory confinement on the physical activity, eating disorders risk, sleep quality and well-being on a Spanish sample. An online survey that included the Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Eating Attitude Test-26, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was administered two days after the state of alarm was stablished in Spain and five days after such measures began to be eased. Out of the 693 people who answered the first questionnaire, 161 completed the second one. These participants spent a total of 48 days locked at home, a period during which a significant worsening in all the variables assessed except for the risk of developing eating disorders, was observed: weight (kg), 67.3 ± 14.8 vs 67.7 ± 15.1, p = 0.012; physical activity (MET minutes per week), 8515.7 ± 10260.0 vs 5053.5 ± 5502.0, p < 0.001; sleep problems (total score), 6.2 ± 3.5 vs 7.2 ± 3.9, p < 0.001; self-perceived well-being (score), 4 (3-4) vs 3 (3-4), p < 0.001. The confinement had a significant differential effect on physically active participants, who experienced a significant decline (p < 0.05) on their physical activity levels, quality of sleep and well-being; whereas physically inactive participants did not experience significant changes. Findings from this longitudinal study indicate that a lockdown period due to COVID-19 had a negative impact on the physical activity levels, sleep quality and well-being in a group of physically active Spanish adults. Public health authorities should be aware that people who usually lead an active lifestyle, might be particularly susceptible to such disruptions.

Positive mental health mediates the relationship between physical activity and suicide-related outcomes: a three-year follow-up study

Suicide belongs to the leading causes of death worldwide. The present longitudinal study investigated physical activity (for example jogging, cycling) and positive mental health (PMH) as potential factors that can reduce the risk of suicide ideation and suicidal behavior. Data of 223 participants (79.4% women; Mage(SDage) = 22.85 (4.05)) were assessed at two measurement time points over a three-year period (2016: first measurement = baseline (BL); 2019: second measurement = follow-up (FU)) via online surveys. The results reveal a significant positive relationship between higher physical activity (BL) and higher PMH (BL). Higher scores of both variables were significantly negatively linked to lower suicide-related outcomes (FU). Moreover, the association between higher physical activity (BL) and lower suicide-related outcomes (FU) was significantly mediated by higher PMH (BL). The current findings demonstrate that physical activity in combination with PMH can reduce the risk of suicide-related outcomes. Fostering physical activity and PMH may be relevant strategies in the prevention of suicide ideation and suicide behavior.

Sex and racial/ethnic differences in sleep quality and its relationship with body weight status among US college students

Objective: To examine sex and racial/ethnic differences in sleep quality and the association between sleep quality and body weight status among US college students. Participants: A nationally representative sample (N = 324,767) of college students from 2011 to 2015. Methods: A secondary data analysis of cross-sectional data. Results: Women showed poorer sleep quality (nights per week getting enough sleep to feel rested) than men (4.00 versus 4.34 days; p < .001). In both men and women, compared with non-Hispanic whites, racial/ethnic minorities showed lower sleep quality (p < .001). Compared with normal weight participants, overweight participants had poorer sleep quality (p = .007) among men, and both overweight (p = .004) and obese participants (p < .001) had lower sleep quality among women. Conclusions: Understanding sex and racial/ethnic sleep differences and the association between sleep and body weight status is important for colleges to promote college students' healthy sleep.

Moderation Effect of Physical Activity on the Relationship Between Fear of COVID-19 and General Distress: A Pilot Case Study in Arabic Countries

Aims

This study aimed to investigate the effects of the fear of COVID-19, level of physical activity, and gender on negative stress (distress) in an Arab population by means of structural equations based on partial least squares.

Materials and Methods

The sample population comprised of 459 participants from four Arab countries (age M = 33.02, SD = 8.46; n = 237 women and n = 222 men). The level of education was basic (<9 years of study; n = 144), secondary/vocational (between 9 and 12; n = 178), and university (n = 137). The “Fear of COVID-19” Scale, the short form of the “International Physical Activity Questionnaire,” and the “Perceived Stress Scale” questionnaires were disseminated by emails and social networks via Google Forms. SMARTPLS software version 3.2.9 was used to model the relationships between the variables under study.

Results

Results confirmed the links between level of physical activity, fear of COVID-19, and gender, showing a significant mediating effect of the fear of COVID-19 on the relationship between gender and general distress. The level of physical activity was also found to influence the fear of COVID-19, varying depending on gender. In addition, the model highlighted the presence of a moderation effect of the level of physical activity.

Conclusion

Based on the model presented in the present study, we can conclude that the COVID-19 pandemic has a profound impact on psychological distress in the target populations. The impact of the level of physical activity on psychological distress is shown to be very important during the pandemic phase.

The effect of regular aerobic exercise on sleep quality and fatigue among female student dormitory residents

Background

Emerging research shows a high prevalence of fatigue and sleep problems among university students. The present study evaluates the effects of regular aerobic exercise on sleep quality and fatigue level among female students (ages 18–26) who reside in dormitories.

Methods

This quasi-experimental study involving 67 participants consisted of one experimental group (i.e., assigned aerobic exercise) and one control group (i.e., not assigned aerobic exercise). Participants in the experimental group received three one-hour sessions aerobic exercise weekly ranging from mild to moderate intensity for eight-week. Sleep quality and fatigue level were evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and standard Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20), respectively. These variables were assessed at baseline, week four, and week eight of the study.

Results

After four and 8 weeks of the intervention, participants in the aerobic group showed improvement in the score of sleep quality (p < 0.001 and p < 0.0001, respectively) and its components (except for sleep duration after 4 weeks intervention). Also, aerobic exercise resulted in a significant reduction of the total score of fatigue and its dimensions in weeks four and eight, compared to the control group (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Four-week aerobic exercise with mild intensity had no significant effect on sleep duration. Conversely, intensified aerobic exercise for 8 weeks influenced all components of sleep quality.

Trial registration

The study was registered on 6/2/2015 in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) with number IRCT201412282324N15.

The Differential Role of Coping, Physical Activity, and Mindfulness in College Student Adjustment

Research has examined the function of stress management techniques, including coping, physical activity, and mindfulness on college students’ adjustment. The present study examined the differential contributions of three stress management techniques to students’ maladaptation (perceived stress, depression, anxiety, and loneliness) and adaptation (self-esteem). Undergraduate students (N = 1185) responded to an online survey. Hierarchical linear regression results indicated that all three stress management techniques – coping, physical activity, and mindfulness – were related to the five outcomes as predicted. Higher levels of disengagement coping strategies were related to higher perceived stress, anxiety, and depression. Components of mindfulness emerged as a strong predictor of adaptation.

Decrease of well-being and increase of online media use: Cohort trends in German university freshmen between 2016 and 2019

Research from the U.S. described a decrease of subjective well-being and an increase of online media use in young adults today. The present study investigated whether similar trends occur in Germany. Data of overall 1985 university freshmen (four cohorts: 2016: N=658, 2017: N=333, 2018: N=562, 2019: N=432) were collected by online surveys in the years 2016 to 2019. The comparison of the four cohorts revealed a significant increase of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms, as well as of the use of social platforms from 2016 to 2019. In contrast, positive mental health (PMH) significantly decreased over the years. No significant changes of the gaming behavior were found. A slight significant positive relationship occurred between the negative variables of well-being and online media use. The association between PMH and online media use was significantly negative. Thus, cohort trends found in the U.S. can at least rudimentarily be replicated in Germany. Young adults in 2019 seem to have lower levels of well-being and to engage in more use of social platforms than older cohorts.

The relationship between narcissism, intensity of Facebook use, Facebook flow and Facebook addiction

INTRODUCTION

The present study investigated mechanisms that may contribute to the enhanced risk of narcissistic individuals to develop Facebook addiction.

METHODS

In a sample of 449 Facebook users (age: M(SD) = 31.07(9.52), range: 18-65) the personality trait narcissism, Facebook flow, intensity of Facebook use, and Facebook addiction were assessed by an online survey.

RESULTS

In a moderated mediation analysis, the positive relationship between narcissism and Facebook addiction was positively mediated by the level of flow experienced on Facebook. Intensity of Facebook use moderated the positive association between Facebook flow and Facebook addiction.

CONCLUSIONS

Excessive Facebook use may cause psychological dependence. Narcissistic individuals are at enhanced risk for this form of dependence that is fostered by experience of flow during Facebook use and intensity of Facebook use. Current results should be taken into account, when assessing individuals at risk for pathological Facebook use and when planning specific interventions to deal with it.

A pilot study using egocentric network analysis to assess holistic health benefits among a sample of university employees involved in a worksite fitness program

BACKGROUND

Working adults in the United States often do not engage in enough exercise to experience health benefits. With workplaces becoming increasingly sedentary, more emphasis is placed on providing exercise opportunities at work. Evidence suggests participating in exercise during the workday and socially connecting with others while exercising, can lead to positive health outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to examine whether mental and social health factors were related to increased exercise among employees participating in a worksite group exercise program.

METHODS

An egocentric network analysis was conducted on a sample of university employees (n = 57).

RESULTS

Regression analyses (Adjusted R2 = 0.501, F = 4.686, p = 0.001) suggest that depression (β= -0.548, p = 0.041), stress (β= 0.530, p = 0.016), nominating alters who exercise similarly (β= 0.326, t = 2.111, p = 0.045), average exercise scores across egonetworks (β= -0.330, t = -2.135, p = 0.043), and nominating other group exercise members (β= 0.579, t = 3.721, p = 0.001) were related to physical activity scores.

CONCLUSION

These findings provide empirical support for using group exercise environments as a mechanism for increasing exercise among employees. Specifically, fostering social connections between employees involved in the program can lead to greater physical activity scores. Future research should confirm these results in larger samples, along with determining more causal relationships with longitudinal and experimental designs.

Affect Improvements and Measurement Concordance Between a Subjective and an Accelerometric Estimate of Physical Activity

Abstract. Objectives: Physical activity (PA) positively influences several aspects of mental well-being including affect improvements. Yet, the fact that subjective and objective measures of PA often diverge challenges research on the relationship of PA and affect. Methods: Subjective (ecological momentary assessment, EMA) and objective (combined heart rate and accelerometric activity tracker) measures of PA alongside repeated ratings of positive and negative affects were obtained from 37 participants over 7 consecutive days. Results: Subjective and objective PA were significantly positively correlated. Affect improvements, that is, negative affect decrease as well as positive affect increase, were predicted by both subjective (EMA) and objective (activity tracker) data. Conclusions: Measurement concordance supports the validity of both assessment strategies. Affect improvements result from both subjective representations of one’s own activity as well as from physiological mechanisms of PA that one is not aware of, suggesting two independent routes to affect improvements.

Positive Mental Health Mediates the Relationship Between Facebook Addiction Disorder and Suicide-Related Outcomes: A Longitudinal Approach

Suicide-related outcomes increased among young adults in the last decade. Excessive use of social media was hypothesized to contribute to this development. This longitudinal study aimed to investigate whether Facebook Addiction Disorder (FAD) predicts suicide-related outcomes, and whether Positive Mental Health (PMH) buffers this effect. Data of 209 German Facebook users [M_age(SD_age) = 23.01 (4.45)] were assessed at two measurement time points over a 1-year period (first measurement = T1 and second measurement = T2) through online surveys. FAD was measured with the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale, PMH was assessed with the PMH-Scale, and suicide-related outcomes were measured with the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised. The significant positive association between FAD (T1) and suicide-related outcomes (T2) was significantly negatively mediated by PMH (T1). These results demonstrate that addictive Facebook use may enhance the risk of suicide-related outcomes. However, PMH contributes to the reduction of this risk. Therefore, addictive Facebook use and PMH should be taken into account when assessing individuals for suicide of risk.

A New Hypothesis on Anxiety, Sleep Insufficiency, and Viral Infections; Reciprocal Links to Consider in Today's "World vs. COVID-19" Endeavors

In today's ever-growing concerns about the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, many experience sleep insufficiencies, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep, sleep-related behavioral symptoms, and out-of-phase circadian rhythmicity despite the lack of history of earlier such symptoms. Meanwhile, the disruption in sleep bioparameters is experienced more in people with a history of sleep disorders. The behavioral sleep disorders in the current situations are prevalent given the today's amount of anxiety everyone is feeling about COVID-19. On the other hand, evidences indicated that the cross-link between impaired sleep efficiency and disrupted innate immunity makes people susceptible to viral infections. The present brief review highlights the links between psychosocial stress, sleep insufficiency, and susceptibility to viral infections in relevance to COVID-19 situation. The stress management measures, including addressing sleep-related disorders and sleep hygiene, will have a notable impact by harnessing immune response and thus reducing the susceptibility to viral infections.

Precision Medicine for Sleep Loss and Fatigue Management

Sleep loss is a widespread phenomenon and a public health threat. Sleep disorders, medical conditions, lifestyles, and occupational factors all contribute to insufficient sleep. Regardless of the underlying cause, insufficient sleep has well-defined consequences and the severity of said consequences partially influenced by individual characteristics. It is here where precision medicine needs to understand and define sleep insufficiency in hopes for personalizing medical approach to improve patient outcomes. Following a discussion on causes and consequences of sleep loss, this article discusses tools for assessing sleep sufficiency, mitigating strategies to sleep loss, and sleep loss in the context of fatigue management.

Relationship Between Daily Stress, Depression Symptoms, and Facebook Addiction Disorder in Germany and in the United States

This study investigated the link between experience of daily stress, depression symptoms, and the Facebook Addiction Disorder (FAD) in Germany and in the United States. In samples from both countries (German sample: N = 531; U.S. sample: N = 909), daily stress was positively associated with FAD. Depression symptoms significantly positively moderated this positive relationship. Thus, current findings demonstrate that depressed individuals who often tend to intensively use Facebook to escape from daily stress and to find relief and social support are at enhanced risk to develop FAD, which reinforces their negative symptoms. Therefore, interventions for depressed individuals should include alternative strategies to cope with daily stressors.

Habitual and acute exercise effects on salivary biomarkers in response to psychosocial stress

OBJECTIVE

Previous research suggests beneficial effects of physical exercise on stress reactivity due to cross-stressor adaptions of physiological stress response systems. However, results remain inconclusive and it is unclear whether only regular engagement in exercise modulates these physiological adaptations or if acute bouts of exercise can elicit similar adaptations. Thus, the aim of the current study was to investigate and compare the effects of habitual and acute exercise on physiological stress responses.

METHODS

84 male participants between 18 and 30 years (half of them were screened to be habitually high active or low active) were randomized into one of two groups: either an acute exercise intervention group (n = 42 with 50% being habitually high active) which engaged in 30 min of moderate-to-high intensity ergometer bicycling, or a control (placebo exercise) group which engaged in 30 min of light stretching (n = 42 with 50% being habitually high active). Following the intervention period, participants took part in a well validated psychosocial stress paradigm. Saliva samples were taken repeatedly to derive alpha-amylase and cortisol as stress-specific parameters. A multilevel growth curve approach was applied to analyse changes in the stress parameters over time.

RESULTS

Both, acute and habitual exercise have shown to be positively related to stress reactivity. In particular, a reduction in stress activation was found for both types of exercise, but only habitual engagement in exercise exhibited a beneficial effect on peak cortisol levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, people can profit from regular exercise (i.e. reduced activity of stress-response systems). However, even acute bouts of exercise preceding stress exposure showed beneficial effects on stress reactivity. This finding is particularly important as it may provide a (self-)regulatory mechanism for people facing conceivable acute stress situations.

The relationship between daily stress, social support and Facebook Addiction Disorder

The present study investigated the links between daily stress, social support, Facebook use, and Facebook Addiction Disorder (FAD). Two varieties of social support were considered, according to the communication channel: offline and online. In a sample of 309 Facebook users (age: M(SD) = 23.76(4.06), range: 18-56), daily stress was positively related to the intensity of Facebook use and to tendencies towards Facebook addiction. The link between daily stress and intensity of Facebook use was negatively moderated by perceived offline social support, indicating that individuals who received low levels of support offline were particularly likely to increase their Facebook use at higher levels of daily stress. Perceived online social support partly mediated the positive relationship between Facebook use intensity and tendencies towards FAD. It is remarkable that Facebook use intensity is systematically related to both positive (i.e., receiving online social support) and negative (i.e., building up FAD) consequences. Thereby, individuals who receive high levels of social support online tend to be at risk for tendencies towards FAD. Thus, while offline social support might protect mental health, online support might influence it negatively. This should be considered when assessing individuals at risk for obsessive Facebook use and when planning interventions to deal with FAD.

Sex Differences in Lifestyle Behaviors among U.S. College Freshmen

Within lifestyle behavior research, the sex of populations causes differences in behaviors and outcomes of studies. This cross-sectional study investigated lifestyle behavior patterns in college students, examining sex differences in four areas: Nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and stress. Data from over 1100 college freshmen across 8 United States universities were used for this cross-sectional analysis. Self-reported data assessed fruit and vegetable intake, fat percent intake, physical activity, perceived stress, and sleep quality. Statistical analysis included Pearson chi-squared and Mann–Whitney’s U tests for scores by sex. Likewise, healthy cut-offs were used to determine frequency of participants within range of the five tools. Males reported higher intake of both fruits and vegetables, and percent energy from fat than females. Males also reported higher physical activity levels, lower stress levels, and poorer sleep quality than females. Of the five self-reported tools, males were found to have a larger frequency of participants with healthy ranges than females. In a large college freshmen sample, sex was found to be related to general lifestyle behaviors which strengthen results reported in the previous literature. These findings shed light on the need for lifestyle behavior interventions among at-risk college students to enhance their behaviors to healthy levels.

Ways of coping with excessive academic stress among Korean adolescents during leisure time

PURPOSE

Korean adolescents are under excessive academic pressure because of the competitive college entrance examination. This study examined the characteristics of coping strategies on the academic stress experienced by senior high school students in Korea.

METHODS

A total of 11 adolescents who were preparing for the college entrance examination participated in this study. This study employed semi-structured in-depth interviews. A constructive grounded theory was employed to capture the characteristics of stress-coping strategies among adolescents.

RESULTS

After analyzing the data, we identified four themes as strategic attributes of stress-coping for academic stress among Korean adolescents: (a) creating coping strategies in a physically active manner; (b) creating coping strategies in a non-physical and positive form; (c) utilizing maladaptive coping mechanisms; and (d) relying upon religious belief and spiritual power.

CONCLUSION

This study indicates that Korean adolescents developed their own coping strategies to deal with various academic stressors through either positive or negative forms of leisure.

Correlates of nocturnal sleep duration, nocturnal sleep variability, and nocturnal sleep problems in toddlers: results from the GET UP! Study

OBJECTIVE

To explore the correlates of nocturnal sleep duration, nocturnal sleep variability, and nocturnal sleep problems in a sample of Australian toddlers.

METHODS

Participants were 173 toddlers (average age 19.7 ± 4.1 months) from the GET UP!

STUDY

Nocturnal sleep duration, nocturnal sleep variability, nap(s) and physical activity were measured using 24-h accelerometry (Actigraph GT3X+) over seven consecutive days. Nocturnal sleep problems were assessed using the Tayside Children's Sleep Questionnaire. Screen time was reported by the parents. Logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between potential correlates (ie, age, sex, socio-economic status, weight status, physical activity, screen time, nap(s), bedtimes, and wake-up times) and nocturnal sleep characteristics.

RESULTS

Older children were more likely to have greater sleep variability (OR: 1.97; 95% CI: 1.08-3.61). Less physical activity (OR: 2.38; 95% CI: 1.27-4.45), shorter nap(s) (OR: 2.42, 95% CI: 1.29-4.55), and later wake-up times (OR: 4.42; 95% CI: 2.32-8.42) were associated with higher odds of having longer nocturnal sleep duration. Late bedtimes were associated with shorter nocturnal sleep duration (OR: 0.09; 95% CI: 0.04-0.18) and with greater nocturnal sleep variability (OR: 1.97; 95% CI: 1.06-3.68). None of the potential correlates were associated with nocturnal sleep problems.

CONCLUSION

The present study identifies several correlates of nocturnal sleep duration (total physical activity, nap(s), bedtime, and wake-up time) and nocturnal sleep variability (age and bedtime), whereas no correlates were identified for nocturnal sleep problems. The association between late bedtimes and shorter nocturnal sleep duration and greater nocturnal variability suggests that these may be modifiable targets for future sleep interventions in early childhood.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12616000471482, 11/04/2016, retrospectively registered.