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

The Effect of Test Anxiety on Nutritional Habits, Anthropometric Measurements, and Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Adolescents

Objective: Since exam periods are used as a benchmark to determine academic achievement, they may result in increased anxiety, changes in dietary behavior, weight fluctuations and increased gastrointestinal symptoms in students. For this reason, this research was conducted to evaluate the effect of test anxiety on nutritional status and gastrointestinal symptoms in adolescents.

Methods: This study was conducted with 104 senior high school students who agreed to participate in the study in a private and public school in Ankara 7 months before the exam and 1 month before the exam to evaluate the effect of exam anxiety on nutritional status and gastrointestinal symptoms of students preparing for the university exam. Health status, nutritional status, anthropometric measurements, information about exam anxiety, International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form, Test Anxiety Inventory, Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, Food Frequency Questionnarie (FFQ) were asked to the students.

Results: In both genders, the mean BMI-Z score increased during the second evaluation, indicating a significant difference in various dietary and lifestyle factors such as meal frequency, water intake, and nutrient intake. Most students were classified as minimally active. Additionally, the total score of affective, delusional, and test anxiety inventory increased closer to the exam date. Weak positive correlations were observed between gastrointestinal symptoms and affective, delusional, and test anxiety scores during the first evaluation, while a moderately strong positive correlation emerged during the second evaluation.

Conclusion: The results of the current study support that students experience increased gastrointestinal symptoms during the exam period. Nutrition and stress reduction educations should be given in high schools both during and before the exam period in a multidisciplinary team consisted of dietitians and psychologists in order to provide healthy stress management.

Physical Fitness and Sleep-Related Problems Among Adolescents: Findings From the EHDLA Study

Physical fitness, particularly cardiorespiratory fitness, has been shown to positively impact sleep quality. However, the relationship between overall physical fitness and sleep-related problems in adolescents remains underexplored. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the association between overall physical fitness and sleep-related problems in adolescents. This cross-sectional study included 812 adolescents (median age: 14 years [interquartile range = 12-17]; 54.9% girls) from the Eating Healthy and Daily Life Activities (EHDLA) data. Physical fitness was measured objectively using the Assessing the Levels of PHysical Activity and fitness (ALPHA-Fit) battery for children and adolescents and a flexibility test, while sleep-related problems were evaluated using the BEARS sleep screening tool (B = Bedtime problems, E = Excessive daytime sleepiness, A = Awakenings during the night, R = Regularity and duration of sleep, S = Snoring). Generalized linear models were used to examine the association of overall physical fitness with the different components of sleep-related problems. The odds of experiencing sleep-related problems decreased significantly with each kilogram increase in handgrip strength (odds ratio [OR] = 0.97, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.94-0.99), and with each standard deviation increase in overall physical fitness (OR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.59-0.99). In contrast, despite not statistically significant, an increase in long jump appeared to reduce the sleep-related problems (OR = 0.91; 95% CI 0.82-1.02), while a longer time in the 4×10-m shuttle run test might increase sleep problems (OR = 1.12; 95% CI 0.98-1.28). In conclusion, greater levels of physical fitness, particularly muscular strength, may be key for reducing sleep-related problems, emphasizing the importance of personalized training programs.

Sleep Alterations in the Population of the Metropolitan Area of Mexico and Their Association with Lifestyle Changes During COVID-19 Confinement

Home confinement due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) led to lifestyle changes that increased sleep disturbances, particularly in areas with higher infection and mortality rates. This study is a retrospective study based on data collected through an online survey conducted during the COVID-19 confinement. It aims to analyze changes in sleep quantity and quality and their association with lifestyle changes in the metropolitan area of Mexico City. A total of 899 adults from this area completed an online questionnaire between June 2020 and February 2021. This study assessed sleep quantity, sleep quality, insomnia symptoms, and lifestyle changes during the confinement period. Results showed that sleep quantity increased (7.10 ± 1.37 vs. 7.43 ± 1.42 h, p < 0.0001), with more participants, especially young adults and women, reporting later bed and wake-up times. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index increased by 1.4 units, with poor sleep quality associated with lifestyle during confinement. Insomnia symptoms, sleep latency, and poor sleep quality also increased, particularly in women. Males and those without chronic comorbidities were less likely to experience poor sleep quality, while tobacco use and later bedtimes increased this risk. This study concludes that, while sleep quantity increased, sleep quality declined, particularly among young adults, women, and those with unhealthy lifestyles. These findings could guide sleep health initiatives tailored to specific lifestyle changes in different population groups.

The Effect of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Sleep Pattern on Success in Medical Students

This study investigates the effects of nutrition, physical activity, and sleep patterns on the academic performance of medical students, with a focus on how these lifestyle factors can be incorporated into medical education. A questionnaire-based survey involving 330 medical students from two universities was conducted to collect data on demographic characteristics, nutrition, sleep patterns, and physical activity. Academic performance was assessed by obtaining students' grade point averages (GPAs) from the respective faculties' deanships. The relationship between lifestyle factors and academic success was examined using advanced statistical analysis methods: cluster analysis and biplot method. The correlation of the lifestyle factors and GPAs was visualized in a low- dimensional space with a biplot. The findings revealed that students residing with their families, without outside work commitments, engaging in daily walking, and maintaining regular sleep patterns achieved significantly higher GPAs. Students were divided into two distinct clusters based on lifestyle factors and differences in GPA to determine the factors with the greatest impact on academic performance including the impact of studying on physical activity, self-perception of nutritional quality, engagement in daily walking, and self-perception of physical activity. There was a significant statistical difference in GPA values between the clusters. This study highlights the importance of integrating lifestyle medicine into the medical curriculum emphasizing the importance of a stable family life, regular sleep routines, and engagement in physical activity for better academic performance. By promoting healthy behaviors within the medical education, educators can support the well-being and academic success of students. Further research is needed to establish causal relationships and explore potential interventions to support medical students in achieving optimal lifestyle habits for academic success.

Impact of ambient air pollution on physical activity engagement among university students

Introduction

PM2.5 poses significant health risks with prolonged exposure, potentially reducing physical activity levels. This study aims to investigate the impact of ambient PM2.5 levels on physical activity engagement among individuals.

Methods

The retrospective cross-sectional study involved 423 students from Chiang Mai University residing there between January and August 2023. We used the validated Thai version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire to assess physical activity intensity during high and low pollution periods. Individuals who engage in at least 150 min of moderate-intensity or 75 min of high-intensity physical activity per week meet the recommended physical activity guidelines. Multiple logistic regression analyzed air pollution's relation to physical activity intensity, and Cochran's Q-test compared activity levels across pollution periods.

Results

Recommended physical activity prevalence was 76.36% during high PM2.5 and 71.63% during low PM2.5 periods, it showed higher physical activity during polluted periods (p = 0.049). Individuals' behavior showed a preference for indoor exercise (p < 0.001), consistent PM2.5 level checks (p < 0.001) during high PM2.5 periods. Internal motivation significantly associated with recommended physical activity in both low and high PM2.5 periods (aOR = 2.46, 95% CI = 1.14 - 5.27 and aOR = 4.00, 95% CI = 1.84 - 8.70, respectively). The outdoor exercise significantly associated with the recommended physical activity only during the low PM2.5 period (aOR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.03 - 2.87).

Conclusion

University students showed increased physical activity intensity during high PM2.5 periods, favoring indoor exercise in polluted environments. This behavioral shift highlights environmental pollution's influence on lifestyle choices and cornering on health outcomes. Government and university support is crucial for implementing measures to mitigate PM2.5 pollution, including promoting safe indoor exercise, enhancing pollution control measures, and developing air quality monitoring and warning systems.

Correlation Between Physical Activity and Learning Concentration, Self-Management, and Interpersonal Skills Among Korean Adolescents

This study aimed to investigate the association between physical activity participation and key developmental competencies-learning concentration, self-management, and interpersonal skills-among Korean adolescents. Data were drawn from the 2021 Study on the State of Play Culture of Children and Adolescents and Measures to Support Growth, conducted by the Korea Adolescent Policy Institute. The study participants included elementary, middle, and high school students in Korea, consisting of 1507 males (53.3%) and 1322 females (46.7%), totaling 2829. We analyzed the data using frequency distribution, chi-square test, and multivariate logistic regression. The results revealed a significant sex difference in the duration of physical activity, with boys spending more time engaging in physical activity than girls. In addition, time spent on physical activities decreased as the school grade level increased. Notably, the more time Korean adolescents spent engaging in daily physical activity, the higher they rated their learning concentration, self-management, and interpersonal skills. These findings suggest the need to promote greater physical activity among adolescents-particularly among girls-which can help improve learning concentration, self-management, and interpersonal skills.

A U-shaped relationship between chronic academic stress and the dynamics of reward processing

Despite the potential link between stress-induced reward dysfunctions and the development of mental problems, limited human research has investigated the specific impacts of chronic stress on the dynamics of reward processing. Here we aimed to investigate the relationship between chronic academic stress and the dynamics of reward processing (i.e., reward anticipation and reward consumption) using event-related potential (ERP) technology. Ninety healthy undergraduates who were preparing for the National Postgraduate Entrance Examination (NPEE) participated in the study and completed a two-door reward task, their chronic stress levels were assessed via the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The results showed that a lower magnitude of reward elicited more negative amplitudes of cue-N2 during the anticipatory phase, and reward omission elicited more negative amplitudes of FRN compared to reward delivery especially in high reward conditions during the consummatory phase. More importantly, the PSS score exhibited a U-shaped relationship with cue-N2 amplitudes regardless of reward magnitude during the anticipatory phase; and FRN amplitudes toward reward omission in high reward condition during the consummatory phase. These findings suggest that individuals exposed to either low or high levels of chronic stress, as opposed to moderate stress levels, exhibited a heightened reward anticipation, and an augmented violation of expectations or affective response when faced with relatively more negative outcomes.

Less smartphone and more physical activity for a better work satisfaction, motivation, work-life balance, and mental health: An experimental intervention study

Employees' work satisfaction and mental health are crucial for an organization's productivity. The current experimental study on employees (Ntotal = 278) from different professional sectors and workplaces in Germany investigated how to improve both by changes of daily non-work-related smartphone use time and physical activity time. For one week, the smartphone group (N = 73) reduced its daily smartphone use by one hour, the physical activity group (N = 69) increased its daily physical activity by 30 minutes, the combination group (N = 72) followed both interventions, the control group (N = 64) did not change its behavior. Online surveys assessed work-related and mental health-related variables at three measurement time points (baseline; post-intervention; two-week follow-up). The reduction of smartphone use time and the combination of both interventions increased work satisfaction, work motivation, work-life balance, and positive mental health significantly; experience of work overload and problematic smartphone use significantly decreased. All interventions decreased depressive symptoms and enhanced sense of control significantly. Following the present findings, a conscious and controlled reduction of non-work-related smartphone use time and its combination with more physical activity could improve employees' work satisfaction and mental health in the organizational context either as an addition to established training programs or as a separate time- and cost-efficient low threshold program.

The Relationship between Sleep and Physical Activity by Age, Race, and Gender

Cardiometabolic diseases remain the leading cause of death in the United States. Lifestyle factors contribute the majority of risk for these diseases. Although diet and exercise have been the primary focus of research on modifiable behaviors to target for interventions to prevent cardiometabolic disease, recent evidence suggests that sleep also plays an important role. Indeed, the updated American Heart Association campaign includes sleep as one of its "Essential Eight". This review details the reciprocally reinforcing positive relationship between sleep and daytime physical activity behaviors and explores how this relationship differs based on age, gender and race. For example, interventions to improve moderate intensity physical activity may be particularly beneficial to women, older adults, and Black Americans, who are at increased risk for sleep disturbances. Communicating to Americans the importance of managing their time to meet current physical activity and sleep recommendations is a challenge given that there are so many competing behaviors consuming large amounts of time (e.g., social media, gaming), but is critical given the importance of these behaviors for cardiometabolic health.

Adherence Patterns and Health Outcomes in Spanish Young Women Participating in a Virtual-Guided HIIT Program: Insights from the Randomized Controlled WISE Trial

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

A notable decline in physical activity from late adolescence to early adulthood affects young women especially. This study aimed to investigate adherence to an unsupervised virtual-guided high-intensity interval training (HIIT) exercise program among young women in Spain.

METHODS

A total of 106 participants were recruited and randomized to the Women's Involvement in Steady Exercise (WISE) trial exercise program, administered remotely via a mobile app, and a control group. The primary outcome was adherence measured through daily steps. Secondary variables were patient-reported outcomes of physical activity, quality of sleep, and quality of life, assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Health Lifestyle and Personal Control Questionnaire (HLPCQ), respectively. The assessments were performed over 6 months, before the intervention (T0), at the halfway of the program (T1), and at the end (T2).

RESULTS

Daily steps revealed a decrease from baseline to final assessment in both groups. Secondary outcomes indicated a shift in physical activity levels, showing a transition from low to moderate and high activity perception. While sleep quality deteriorated post-intervention, quality of life showed no changes.

CONCLUSIONS

The WISE trial highlights the potential and challenges of an unsupervised virtual-guided HIIT program for young women. While an improvement in physical activity levels was noticed, it also led to a decrease in daily steps and poorer sleep quality. These findings suggest a complex relationship between exercise and lifestyle factors, which could potentially have the greatest impact.

The Presence of a Pet Dog Is Associated with a More Balanced Response to a Social Stressor

Acute and chronic stress each have physical manifestations in the human body that can lead to many negative health impacts. Today, reported stress levels worldwide are at an all-time high, spurring the search for non-pharmaceutical interventions to maintain healthy stress levels. In this study, we examined whether a pet dog’s presence influences healthy adults’ acute stress responses as assessed through self-reports, heart rate, plasma cortisol, and salivary alpha-amylase. Participating pet dog owners were randomly assigned to undergo the Trier Social Stress Test either with their pet dog or alone. While there was no group difference in perceived anxiety levels, participants undergoing the acute psychological stressor with their pet dogs present had significantly lower heart rates, lower plasma cortisol responses, and higher salivary alpha-amylase responses than people without their dogs. Those who participated without their dogs had a statistically flat alpha-amylase response, which is typically associated with extreme or pathological stress. These findings extend the potential effects of pet dogs beyond merely lowering their owner’s stress levels to maintaining a healthier, balanced response across the sympathoadrenal medullary axis and hypothalamic–pituitary-adrenal axis.

Associations of an Online Health Coaching Intervention with Movement Behaviors and Perceived Health: A Mediation Analysis

The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of an online coaching intervention that included goal setting with movement behaviors and perceived general health (GH) and emotional wellbeing (EW) in college students. Participants were college students from a university within the western United States (N=257; 57.2% female). Participants met with health coaches in an online setting for one hour and goals were set for physical activity (PA) and/or sleep duration. PA, sleep duration, and perceptions of GH and EW were collected at baseline and at 2- and 4-weeks after the coaching session within a single arm research design. Mediation analyses determined the indirect effect (IE) of each movement behavior both after the health coaching session and after goal setting on the GH and EW outcomes in addition to the bidirectional association between GH and EW. No movement behavior positively mediated the associations with GH or EW after the health coaching session or after goal setting, although after goal setting PA and weeknight sleep at 2-weeks associated with GH at 4-weeks (β=0.16-0.39, p<0.01) and associated with EW at 4-weeks (β=0.22-0.25, p<0.01). EW mediated the associations of the health coaching session on GH (IE=0.19, p<0.001) and GH mediated the association of the health coaching session on emotional wellbeing (IE=0.09, p<0.001). In conclusion, movement behaviors correlated with GH and EW, but no positive mediating associations were observed. After the health coaching session, EW mediated the association with GH and vice-versa, suggesting a bidirectional association between the two health perceptions.

Teachers' competence: How to protect teachers' mental health from the burden caused by students' private in-class use of technical devices?

The current study investigated how students' private in-class use of technical devices is associated with teachers' mental health. Data of 361 teachers from primary and secondary schools in Germany were assessed via online surveys. The present cross-sectional results show a positive association between burden caused by the students' private in-class use of technical devices and teachers' depression symptoms. Both were negatively linked to teachers' positive mental health (PMH) and teachers' competence in handling students' private in-class use of technical devices. In a moderated mediation analysis, the association between burden and depression symptoms was mediated by PMH. Teachers' competence moderated the link between PMH and depression symptoms. Specifically, the higher the competence, the weaker the relationship between both variables. Thus, the protective effect of teachers' competence could be especially important in persons with low PMH. Competence training in handling students' use of technical devices is discussed as a potential step that could protect teachers' mental health.

Associations between sleep, physical activity, and emotional well-being in emerging young adults: Implications for college wellness program development

Objectives: To examine sleep, physical activity, and their joint associations with physical functioning and affect. Participants: 108 undergraduates completed questionnaires assessing sleep, activity levels, emotional well-being and physical health markers. Results: Participants reported poor sleep quality, suboptimal sleep duration, and inconsistent physical activity. Poor sleep quality was associated with higher fatigue for both active and insufficiently active groups (F = 9.94, p = .002). There was a significant interaction between activity level and sleep duration on negative affect (F = 7.14, p = .009). Students who reported insufficient physical activity and less than 6 hours of sleep had the highest negative affect. Conclusions: Poor sleep quality was associated with increased fatigue. Students who inconsistently exercise and have suboptimal sleep may be at greater risk for affective difficulties. We recommend that college wellness interventions jointly target health behaviors and affect to optimize prevention efforts aimed at addressing physical and mental health outcomes, including depression and chronic illness.

Relationship between the floating toe and the center-of-pressure position in an upright posture among students

[Purpose] The incidence of floating toes in children is increasing. Although the anteroposterior center of pressure in children is present posteriorly, its relationship with the floating toe is unclear. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between the position of the anteroposterior center of pressure and the floating toe in an upright posture in children. [Participants and Methods] In this cross-sectional study, a Win-Pod (Medicapteurs) platform was used to measure the position of the anteroposterior center of pressure in 208 boys and 195 girls from Japanese elementary schools. Using images of the plantar footprint, floating toes were assessed and the floating toe score was calculated. [Results] The anteroposterior center of pressure position was situated 32.3 ± 8.2% from the heel. The floating toe score of all the participants was 3.5 ± 2.4, with a very high rate of 98%. The floating toe score had a significant, moderate correlation with age, height, weight, and the anteroposterior center-of-pressure position. Multivariate analysis revealed an association between the floating toe score and the anteroposterior center-of-pressure position, height, and weight. [Conclusion] There is significant relationship between the anteroposterior center-of-pressure position and the floating toe score in an upright posture in Japanese elementary school students.

Inhalation effect of lychee-scented candles on stress and sleep quality among adults and the elderly: a pilot randomized controlled study

[Purpose] This pilot study aims to investigate the effects of inhaling lychee-scented candles on stress and sleep quality among adults and the elderly. [Participants and Methods] Thirty participants were randomly assigned to either the control (n=15) or experimental (n=15) groups. The experimental group inhaled the scent from the lychee soy wax candle prior to going to bed for four weeks (20 minutes/session, three days/week). Perceived stress was assessed using the Suanprung Stress Test-20 (SPST-20), while sleep quality was assessed using the Thai-Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (Thai-PSQI). All outcomes were determined at the baseline two weeks to four weeks after scent inhalation. [Results] The results indicated significant differences in sleep quality between the two groups. The experimental group showed a statistically significant improvement in sleep quality compared to the control group. Although, there was no difference between groups, the experimental group presented significant decrease in stress as time passed whereas the opposite trend was seen for the control group. [Conclusion] This preliminary study suggests that the inhalation of lychee soy wax candles over a four-week period improved sleep quality in adults and the elderly but had no effect on reducing stress.

Bi-directional relationships between physical activity and stress in college aged students: a brief report

Young adults entering college are exposed to new and ever-changing stressors that powerfully affect health and academic achievement. While engaging in physical activity can help to manage the experience of stress, stress itself is an important barrier to activity. The purpose of this study is to examine the bidirectional relationships between physical activity and momentary stress among college students. We further examined whether these relationships were modified by trait mindfulness. Undergraduate students (N = 61) completed a single measure of trait mindfulness and up to 6 daily ecological momentary assessments of stress for one week while wearing an ActivPAL accelerometer. Activity variables were aggregated in the 30, 60, and 90 min before and following each stress survey. Multilevel models revealed significant negative relationships between stress ratings and total volume of activity both preceding and following the survey. Mindfulness did not modify these relationships but was independently and negatively related to momentary reports of stress. These results underscore the importance of developing activity programming for college students that addresses stress as a powerful and dynamic barrier to behavior change.

Physical activity and nutrition in relation to resilience: a cross-sectional study

A healthy lifestyle is often discussed as being a characteristic of or a prerequisite for quality of life. In phases of high subjective stress (work overload, negative thoughts), however, its protective function can be limited. The two present survey studies examined two facets of a health-related lifestyle (physical activity and nutritional awareness), in particular, the correlations with general life satisfaction and their adaptive function in respect to stress (resilience). In addition, because episodes of increased stress can have a negative effect on eating, the interactions with the consumption of less healthy food were examined. Two cross-sectional studies were conducted successively with adults aged between 18 and 72 in Germany. Study 1 (N = 685) examined the research questions with correlations, moderated regression analyses, and structural equation models. Study 2 (N = 628) differentiated between sport, occupational and daily activities. Study 1 showed that the amount of physical activity and nutritional awareness are correlated with life satisfaction. The relationship between stress appraisals and general life satisfaction was moderated by physical activity and nutritional awareness (stress-buffer effect). Study 2 replicated the stress-buffer effects of nutritional awareness, daily activities, and occupational activities. Both studies showed that stress is associated with consumption of less healthy food and found interactions with physical activity and nutritional awareness. Discussed are the adaptive role of physical activity and nutritional awareness in times of stress.Trial Registration EK UniBw M 23-06, 12/16/2022.

Quantifying Digital Biomarkers for Well-Being: Stress, Anxiety, Positive and Negative Affect via Wearable Devices and Their Time-Based Predictions

Wearable devices have become ubiquitous, collecting rich temporal data that offers valuable insights into human activities, health monitoring, and behavior analysis. Leveraging these data, researchers have developed innovative approaches to classify and predict time-based patterns and events in human life. Time-based techniques allow the capture of intricate temporal dependencies, which is the nature of the data coming from wearable devices. This paper focuses on predicting well-being factors, such as stress, anxiety, and positive and negative affect, on the Tesserae dataset collected from office workers. We examine the performance of different methodologies, including deep-learning architectures, LSTM, ensemble techniques, Random Forest (RF), and XGBoost, and compare their performances for time-based and non-time-based versions. In time-based versions, we investigate the effect of previous records of well-being factors on the upcoming ones. The overall results show that time-based LSTM performs the best among conventional (non-time-based) RF, XGBoost, and LSTM. The performance even increases when we consider a more extended previous period, in this case, 3 past-days rather than 1 past-day to predict the next day. Furthermore, we explore the corresponding biomarkers for each well-being factor using feature ranking. The obtained rankings are compatible with the psychological literature. In this work, we validated them based on device measurements rather than subjective survey responses.

Affective reactions to real-life stressors and the role of physical activity in sports students - An Ambulatory Assessment study

Students are exposed to a variety of stressors that can negatively affect their health and performance. Using an Ambulatory Assessment approach, this study investigated whether and how positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) changed in response to real-life stressors in sports students. In addition, the study investigated how physical activity (PhyA) moderated affective reactions to stressors. 62 participants of a German university (m = 23, f = 38, d = 1; age: M = 21.55 years, SD = 2.47) reported their daily stressors, affective states and PhyA (context, intensity and duration) six times per day via smartphone over five days (30 prompts per participants). To test the hypotheses multilevel models were calculated. Stressor context predicted affective reactions. PA was lower and NA was higher when general (financial problems) or academic (exam periods) stressors were reported. General PhyA had a positive effect on sports students affect (higher PA, lower NA). However, when PhyA was performed in exercise classes within their study program and a stressor was reported, PA decreased. The results showed that certain stressors interact negatively with affective states. Furthermore, the results suggested that PhyA, depending on the context where it occurred, may also induce negative affective changes in this target group of sport students. More studies need to examine how PhyA moderates affective reactions to stressors and examine the influences of context specific PhyA (e.g., type of PhyA) in more detail.

Coping with the Stress through Individual and Contextual Resilient Factors in Primary School Settings

Children face school stress as students through all educational stages. A negative association between resilience and stress has been demonstrated by many authors, but most of these studies have been carried out in higher educational stages. So, the aim of the present study is, on the one hand, to find out the level of stress of primary school children and also the types of stressful situations in school settings, and on the other hand, to analyze the effect of individual and contextually resilient factors on their level of school stress. The study involved 427 children between 6 and 12 years of age, who were administered the IECI school stress scale and the RES-PRIM Resilience questionnaire for children. Descriptive analyses, correlations, and regression analyses were performed on the data. Results showed an average level of school stress, with the most stressful situations being: participating in too many activities, concentration problems, and nervousness when being asked by the teacher in class. Predictive analysis showed that part of the school stress could be explained by both individual factors (self-esteem, introspection, future purpose, and social skills) and resilient contextual factors (teacher support, parental support, and peer support). It is concluded that it is necessary to pay more attention to the transitions between different educational stages with programs that reinforce academic information and encourage the development of individual resilient skills, stressing the importance of the role of teachers, peers, and parents as support groups.

The Effect of Physical Activity on Sleep Quality and Sleep Disorder: A Systematic Review

Regular physical activity has several health benefits, including improved sleep quality and symptoms of sleep disorders. With the known benefits of moderate-intensity activities to sleep quality and a growing interest in using physical activity as a treatment approach for different sleep disorders, we conducted a systematic review to provide evidence-based data on the association between physical activity and sleep. A systematic search was carried out in PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online), Google Scholar, and Scopus, using predetermined search terms (Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms) and keywords. The included studies focused on exploring the effect of physical activity on sleep quality and sleep disorders or the association between physical activity and sleep outcomes. Relevant data were extracted, and the quality of the studies was evaluated using suitable methods. The collected findings were synthesized and discussed. The findings of this systematic review have potential implications for healthcare, public health policies, and health promotion.

The Effect of Outdoor and Indoor Group Exercise Classes on Psychological Stress in College Students: A Pilot Study with Randomization

Emerging evidence suggests that outdoor group exercise may reduce stress more than indoor group exercise because the outdoor environment provides unique mental health benefits. Stress leads to illnesses and diseases, but exercise mitigates harmful impacts. This study explored differences in perceived stress and outdoor physical activity participation among college students in an indoor or outdoor group exercise class. Data were collected pre-, mid- (after four sessions), and post-intervention (after eight sessions). Seventeen participants indicated an interest in the study, but 13 signed up. Participants completed a four-week group exercise intervention that met twice weekly in outdoor and indoor conditions. Mixed ANOVAs with Tukey post hoc tests determined between-group differences in perceived stress and outdoor physical activity levels. Partial eta-squared (η2p) estimated effect sizes. Significant differences in perceived stress scores existed across time for the whole sample [f(2, 12) = 48.359, p < 0.001, η2p = 0.890] and for the interaction between time and condition [f(2, 12) = 10.051, p = 0.003, η2p = 0.626]. Post hoc analysis revealed that the outdoor group's perceived stress (p < 0.001) was reduced more than the indoor group post-intervention (p = 0.028).

Striking a balance: how long physical activity is ideal for academic success? Based on cognitive and physical fitness mediation analysis

Balancing physical activity and studying is an important issue facing Chinese teenagers. Therefore, numerous studies have found that engaging in physical activity can promote academic performance among students. However, what is the optimal duration of physical activity? This study used data from the China Education Panel Survey, with a sample size of 18,009 valid respondents. General linear regression analysis was conducted using Stata 17 software to evaluate the effects of different durations of physical activity, cognitive ability, and physical Fitness on academic performance among adolescents. Furthermore, the "Bootstrap Mediation" method and the "Maximum Likelihood Estimation" method were used to analyze whether physical health and cognitive ability have significant mediating effects. The present study reveals the following findings: (1) There exists a non-linear relationship between students' academic performance and the duration of physical exercise. The greatest improvement in academic performance is observed when the exercise duration reaches 2 hours. (2) Physical exercise can enhance students' academic performance by promoting physical health and cognitive abilities. (3) Gender heterogeneity is observed, with the optimal exercise duration for male students being 2 hours, while female students exhibit the highest academic performance when exercising for one hour. This study provides theoretical guidance for research on adolescents' participation in physical Activity and improving academic performance, enabling adolescents to engage in physical Activity more scientifically and rationally.

Sleep Quality of Undergraduate Medical Students during and Post-Lockdown: A Cross-Sectional Research

Background

The COVID-19 and associated lockdowns have significantly impacted the lives of undergraduate medical students, including their sleep quality. This study attempts to investigate how sleep patterns, sleep quality, and associated factors altered during and post-lockdown.

Material and Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 171 medical students from colleges registered under the National Medical Council participated. The study used a validated PSQI questionnaire. The data collected through Google forms were analyzed using SPSS v2021.

Result

Among 171 study participants, 9.4% had bad sleep quality during lockdown which reduced to 4.7% post-lockdown significantly. Sleep latency and sleep duration were also significantly affected by the lockdown. There was a weak correlation between PSQI score during and post-lockdown, suggesting that individuals with poor sleep quality during lockdown also had poor sleep post-lockdown. According to the study, poor sleep quality decreased after lockdown as opposed to lockdown, with improvements in sleep latency and decreased use of sleep duration.

Conclusion

However, there was a weak correlation between PSQI score during and post-lockdown. Increased screen time during lockdown negatively affected sleep quality, emphasizing the importance of practicing sleep hygiene and promoting outdoor activities to reduce stress levels and improve mental health.

Investigation of the Effects of Physical Activity Level on Posture, Depression and Sleep Quality in University Students

University years are a critical period for physical activity, which has physical, mental, and social benefits throughout life. This study aimed to understand how the posture, depression, and sleep quality levels of university students with different physical activity levels are affected and to emphasize the importance of interventions that increase physical activity levels. Our study included 366 students from Ankara Medipol University who were studying in 2022-2023 and agreed to participate in our study. Postures of students; with Posture Screen Mobile, physical activity levels; with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), depression levels; with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Sleep quality; with the Sleep Quality Scale and Sleep Variables Questionnaire (SQS-SVS) were evaluated. According to the results obtained from the study, when the beck depression inventory scores of the students were compared according to their physical activity levels, there was a difference in favor of the physically active group (p&lt;0.05), while no difference was found in the sleep quality scale scores (p&gt;0.05). No difference was observed between the groups when the posture disorders were compared according to the student's physical activity levels (p&gt;0.05). When university students were classified according to different physical activity levels, it was determined that sleep quality and posture disorders did not change, while depression levels were positively affected as activity levels increased. Directing students to physical activities and evaluating their posture and directing them to necessary activities is essential.

Bidirectional associations of physical activity, sleep, and self-reported mental health in young adults participating in an online wellness intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the bidirectional associations of physical activity (PA), sleep, and mental health in young adults participating in an online wellness intervention from October 2021 to April 2022.

Methods

Participants were a sample of undergraduate students from one US university (N = 89; 28.0% freshman; 73.0% female). The intervention was a 1-h health coaching session that was delivered either once or twice by peer health coaches on Zoom during COVID-19. The number of coaching sessions was determined by random allocation of participants to experimental groups. Lifestyle and mental health assessments were collected at two separate assessment timepoints after each session. PA was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form. Weekday and weekend sleep were assessed by two one-item questionnaires and mental health was calculated from five items. Cross-lagged panel models (CLPMs) examined the crude bidirectional associations of PA, sleep, and mental health across four-time waves (i.e., T1 through T4). To control for individual unit effects and time-invariant covariates, linear dynamic panel-data estimation using maximum likelihood and structural equation modeling (ML-SEM) was also employed.

Results

ML-SEMs showed that mental health predicted future weekday sleep (β = 0.46, p < 0.001) and weekend sleep predicted future mental health (β = 0.11, p = 0.028). Although CLPMs showed significant associations between T2 PA and T3 mental health (β = 0.27, p = 0.002), no associations were observed when unit effects and time-invariant covariates were accounted for.

Conclusion

Self-reported mental health was a positive predictor of weekday sleep and weekend sleep positively predicted mental health during the online wellness intervention.

Investigating associations between physical activity, stress experience, and affective wellbeing during an examination period using experience sampling and accelerometry

Previous studies reported that physical activity could buffer the negative association of psychological stress with affective wellbeing. However, the studies that examined this relation in everyday life have assessed physical activity only by self-report but not with objective measures such as accelerometry. We therefore investigated the associations of both subjectively and objectively measured physical activity with stress experiences and affective wellbeing. A total of 90 university students participated in a 10-day experience sampling and diary study during their examination period and reported about stress experiences, physical activity, and affective states. Physical activity was additionally assessed using accelerometry in 50 of the participants. Subjectively assessed physical activity and objectively assessed light physical activity were associated with feeling less stressed in the evening. Also, light physical activity during the day was associated with a smaller increase/higher decrease in feeling stressed from morning to evening. The association of stress experience with negative affect was moderated by objective light physical activity. No interactive effects of stress intensity and physical activity on affective wellbeing were found. On stressful days, physical activity may buffer the negative association between stress and affective wellbeing. Particularly light physical activity as assessed with accelerometry seems to play an important role. It may be beneficial for students' affective wellbeing to increase or at least maintain physical activity during examination periods.

An Evaluation of MINDFIT—A Student Therapeutic Running Group as a Multi-Layered Intervention in the United Kingdom

Background: Mental health is an ever-increasing concern for UK Universities and is underreported. Creative and dynamic approaches to tackle student wellbeing are important. In 2018, Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) Student Wellbeing Service initiated a pilot study of a therapeutic running programme ‘MINDFIT’ that combined physical activity, led by a counsellor, alongside a psychoeducation approach to support student mental health. Methods: Mixed methods were used which included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), evaluating low mood and depression, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7), evaluating levels of anxiety. Results: A total of 28 students were triaged onto a weekly programme over three semesters. Overall, 86% of the participants completed the programme. A promising reduction in the scores for PHQ-9 and GAD-7 was found at the end of the programme. Focus groups, with student participants, were held to gather qualitative data for analysis. After thematic analysis, three main themes emerged: “Creating a safe community”, “Making progress” and “Pathways to success”. Conclusions: MINDFIT was an effective and engaging multi-layered therapeutic approach. Recommendations identified the importance and effectiveness of the triage process in recruiting students and sustainability of the programme through the continued engagement of students post programme. More research is required to identify the long-term effects of the MINDFIT approach and how applicable it is to higher education contexts.

Clinical Impacts of Interventions for Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior on Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Recently, physical activity has increasingly become the focus in patients with chronic obstructive airway disease (COPD) because it is a strong predictor of COPD-related mortality. In addition, sedentary behavior, which is included as a category of physical inactivity including such behaviors as sitting or lying down, has an independent clinical impact on COPD patients. The present review examines clinical data related to physical activity, focusing on the definition, associated factors, beneficial effects, and biological mechanisms in patients with COPD and with respect to human health regardless of COPD. The data related to how sedentary behavior is associated with human health and COPD outcomes are also examined. Lastly, possible interventions to improve physical activity or sedentary behavior, such as bronchodilators and pulmonary rehabilitation with behavior modification, to ameliorate the pathophysiology of COPD patients are described. A better understanding of the clinical impact of physical activity or sedentary behavior may lead to the planning of a future intervention study to establish high-level evidence.

Effects of academic self-regulation on procrastination, academic stress and anxiety, resilience and academic performance in a sample of Spanish secondary school students

Introduction

One of the biggest challenges facing students today is procrastination, which is closely related to stress, anxiety and, in the most severe cases, depression. The aim of the present study is to analyze the influence of academic self-regulation on procrastination, academic anxiety and stress, academic resilience and academic performance.

Method

The sample consisted of 991 high school students aged between 16 and 19 years (M = 17.25; SD = 3.45). A structural equation model was used to analyze the relationship between the study variables.

Results

Analyzes showed that academic self-regulation negatively predicted procrastination. In turn, procrastination positively predicted academic stress and anxiety. However, resilience exerted a protective influence by being positively related to academic stress and anxiety. Finally, resilience positively predicted academic performance, whereas stress and anxiety negatively predicted academic performance.

Conclusion

Thus, the importance of generating strategies for students to learn to self-regulate in academic contexts, manage emotions, foster motivation and develop strategies to help them overcome the vicissitudes they face is emphasized.

Physical Activity and Sleep Quality Association in Different Populations: A Meta-Analysis

The meta-analysis statistical methodology was used to test the effect of physical activity intervention on sleep quality. According to the preliminary results of the meta-analysis, moderating variables (age stage and physical activity intensity) were included for further study. On this basis, measures and schemes to improve sleep quality through physical activity were put forward. A preliminary Endnote X9 search of relevant literature from six electronic databases (Web of Science, Medline, PubMed, CNKI, PsycINFO and Wanfang) was performed. The results showed the following: (1) The overall test effect of physical activity intervention on sleep quality was not significant (p = 0.15). (2) Moderate- and low-intensity physical activity had significant effects on sleep quality (moderate intensity d = 2.56, p = 0.015; low-intensity d = 1.38, p = 0.03), while high-intensity physical activity had no obvious effect on sleep quality (d = 1.12, p = 0.32). (3) There were differences in the effect of physical activity on sleep quality at different ages. The effect of physical activity on sleep quality was more obvious in children and middle-aged and elderly people (children d = 1.24, p = 0.03; middle-aged and elderly people d = 1.98, p = 0.037), but not in young people (d = 1.32, p = 0.11). Conclusion: The overall effect of physical activity on sleep quality was not significant. Physical activity had an obvious effect on the sleep quality of children and middle-aged and elderly people but had no obvious effect on young people. Moderate-intensity physical activity had a certain effect on sleep quality, but high-intensity physical activity had no obvious effect on sleep quality. Future studies need to confirm these findings with a good large sample and moderating variables.

Association between use of electronic vaping products and insufficient sleep among adolescents: Findings from the 2017 and 2019 YRBS

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Although studies have investigated the association between cigarette smoking and sleep outcomes among adolescents in the United States, few studies have examined the association between electronic vaping products (EVPs) use and insufficient sleep among adolescents. The objective of this study was to investigate the cross-sectional association between the use of EVPs and insufficient sleep among adolescents.

METHODS

Data were pooled from the 2017 and 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. An analytic sample of 28,135 adolescents (51.2% female) was analyzed using binary logistic regression. The dependent variable investigated was insufficient sleep, and the main independent variable was the use of EVPs.

RESULTS

Of the 28,135 adolescents, 22.6%, 19.2%, and 58.2% were current, former, and never users of EVPs, respectively. More than three in four adolescents (76.5%) did not obtain the recommended 8 h of sleep on an average school night. Controlling for demographic factors and other covariates, adolescents who currently used EVPs had 1.33 times higher odds of having insufficient sleep (AOR = 1.33, p < .001, 95% CI = 1.16-1.52), and adolescents who previously used EVPs had 1.29 times higher odds of having insufficient sleep (AOR = 1.29, p < .001, 95% CI = 1.15-1.44) when compared to adolescents who had never used EVPs. Adolescents were more likely to get insufficient sleep if they were older, non-Hispanic Black, had symptoms of depression, experienced suicidal ideation, engaged in excessive screen-time behaviors, or currently used alcohol. Physical activity had a protective effect on insufficient sleep.

CONCLUSION

This study found that EVPs use was associated with insufficient sleep among adolescents over and above demographic and other covariates. As EVP use increases among adolescents, it is important to consider the potential impact on multiple domains, including sleep. Future studies that employ longitudinal designs may offer additional insight into the mechanisms underlying the association between EVPs use and insufficient sleep.

Blunted reward responsiveness prospectively predicts emotional distress when exposed to a naturalistic stressor

Both stress and blunted reward responsiveness have been identified as core risk factors of depression. Whether blunted reward responsiveness increases psychological vulnerability to real-life stress from a dynamic perspective (from stress reactivity to recovery) has not been investigated. By utilizing a real-world stressful event (i.e. the final examination), this study aimed to explore the role of reward responsiveness in the stress-emotional distress relationship during stress reactivity and recovery phases. We followed 57 undergraduates with three assessments, from six weeks before examination weeks (T1, baseline), one day before the examinations (T2) to two weeks after the examinations (T3), therefore, covering stress reactivity (T1 to T2) and recovery (T2 to T3) phases. At baseline, reward responsiveness was measured as the Reward Positivity (RewP) in the doors task. Stress and emotional distress (anxiety and depression) were reported at T1, T2 and T3 to capture their dynamic changes. Results showed that self-report stress levels significantly increased from T1 to T2 (stress reactivity phase) and decreased from T2 to T3 (stress recovery phase). Furthermore, blunted reward responsiveness at baseline prospectively predicted emotional distress during the stress reactivity phase but not the recovery phase. Specifically, during the stress reactivity phase, higher perceived stress was associated with greater anxiety and depression only in participants with relatively smaller residual RewP amplitudes but not in participants with relatively larger residual RewP amplitudes. Our study demonstrated that a blunted reward responsiveness is a vulnerable factor of depression, especially when exposed to stress. Our findings provide insights into prevention and intervention for stress-related disturbance.

The Relationship between Physical Activity, Sleep Quality, and Stress: A Study of Teachers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted chaotic changes in the daily lives of K-12 teachers, resulting in increased stress and other mental health problems. Limited evidence regarding the relationship between physical activity, sleep, and perceived stress among teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic exists. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the association between physical activity, sleep quality, and perceived psychological stress among teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic. An online survey measuring physical activity, sleep quality, and perceived psychological stress was distributed across 47 US states between September and October of 2020. Data provided by 635 teachers (mean age: 42 ± 18 years, 74.6% female) were included in the present analysis. Results suggested a negative association between physical activity and perceived psychological stress. Mediation analyses indicated that teachers engaging in high levels of physical activity were more likely to have good quality sleep and, in turn, were less likely to report high levels of perceived stress. Physical activity and sleep-related interventions could help curtail the rising levels of psychological distress amongst K-12 teachers during stressful times such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Teachers, especially those that self-report as female and/or young, report high levels of stress. These high levels of stress are a serious challenge for school districts in terms of attracting and retaining qualified teachers in K-12 classrooms.

Changes in health behaviors and conditions during COVID-19 pandemic strict campus lockdown among Chinese university students

Objective

To explore how a stringent campus lockdown affects the physical activity (PA), sleep and mental health of Chinese university students living in student dormitories during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Data on PA, sleep and mental health were collected between 24 March and 4 April 2022 from 2084 university students (mean age = 22.4 years, 61.1% male students) via an online questionnaire distributed by the students’ advisers of each dormitory. The Chinese short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-C), Athens Insomnia Scale (CAIS) and General Health Questionnaire 12-item (GHQ-12) were applied. The Mann–Whitney test and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to evaluate the PA profile differences between genders, before and during the lockdown period and between students’ living environments. Chi-squared (χ2) or Fisher’s exact test was used to assess changes in health behaviors by gender and students’ living environment compared to before the lockdown. A mediation model was used to examine whether sleep disorder mediated the relationship between PA and mental health in different students’ living environments.

Results

Participants reported a significant decrease in weekly total PA levels (63.9%). Mean daily sedentary time increased by 21.4% and daily lying time increased by 10.7% compared to before lockdown. Among the participants, 21.2% had experienced insomnia, and 39.0% reported having high mental distress. Female students reported 10% higher rates of sleep disorders than male students (p < 0.001), and also experienced a higher incidence of mental disorders (p < 0.001). Students living with three roommates had a larger decrease in frequencies and durations of participation in light PA than other students (p < 0.001). PA was negatively associated with sleep and mental health, and sleep disorder was a mediating factor between PA and mental health in the students living with two and three roommates.

Conclusion

This study showed that strict lockdowns within university dormitories during the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative effect on the health of university students by changing their health behaviors, physical activity and sleep. Our findings indicate a need for strategies to promote an active lifestyle for students in space-limited dormitories in order to maintain health during a prolonged lockdown.

Female gender and low physical activity are risk factors for academic stress in incoming nursing students

PURPOSE

Nursing students suffer from stress more frequently than other students. The objective was to analyze the academic stressors that most affect new nursing students.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study on new nursing students.

FINDINGS

Two hundred and eighty-two students, 78% women, mean age of 21.46 (6.1) years. Giving presentations in class and lack of time for homework are the items that cause the greatest academic stress. Women had higher levels of academic stress, and higher levels of physical activity are related to lower academic stress.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Women have a higher level of academic stress. Doing sport is a protective factor that diminishes academic stress the more it is practiced. Encouraging nursing students to play sports could be beneficial in reducing their academic stress, with women benefiting the most.

Lifestyle factors associated with poor sleep quality among undergraduate dental students at a Malaysian private university

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to look into the associations between lifestyle factors, gender, clinical level, and sleep quality among undergraduate dental students at a private university in Malaysia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A self-administered Pittsburg sleep quality index (PSQI) scale and the lifestyle and habits questionnaire-brief (LHQ-B) were used in this cross-sectional study. A global PSQI score of greater than 5 indicates poor sleep quality. All university dental students were invited to take part. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

A total of 338 students took part in the study, with a response rate of 90.4%. The proportion of females was higher (68.3 %) and more than half of the respondents (56.7 %) were in their clinical years. The prevalence of poor sleep quality was 36.7%. At multivariable level, poor sleep quality was associated with being male (OR=1.72 [95% confidence interval (1.05, 2.83)] and engaging in an unhealthy lifestyle for psychological health (OR=2.64 [95% confidence interval (1.34, 5.21)] and nutrition (OR=2.48 [95% confidence interval (1.028, 4.82)].

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of poor sleep quality among undergraduate dental students in our study was comparable to that found in other studies. Male students were more likely to have poor sleep quality than female students. Our findings indicate that poor sleep quality (PSQI score >5) may be linked to unhealthy lifestyle habits related to psychological health and nutrition. Health education that emphasizes these domains is essential for improving their lifestyle habits and sleep quality.

The influence of college students' academic stressors on mental health during COVID-19: The mediating effect of social support, social well-being, and self-identity

COVID-19 caused harmful mental consequences to the public, and mental health problems were very common among college students during the outbreak of COVID-19. Academic stressors were the main stress for college students, and social support, social well-being, and self-identity were widely known as protective factors for mental health. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the influence of academic stressors on mental health and the mediating effect of social support, social well-being, and self-identity among college students during the outbreak of COVID-19. With 900 college students as subjects, using the college students' academic stressors questionnaire, social support questionnaire, social well-being scale, self-identity scale, and depression anxiety stress scales (DASS-21), the results showed that: (1) academic stressors had a significantly negative correlation with social support, social well-being, and self-identity while having a significantly positive correlation with mental health; (2) academic stressors could positively predict mental health; (3) this effect was mediated by social support, social well-being, and self-identity; (4) work stressor was an important stressor during COVID-19, and had the same role as academic stressors in the structural equation model. The results of this study suggested that adjusting the academic stressors or work stressors of college students and enhancing social support could improve social well-being and self-identity, and might effectively protect their mental health under the COVID-19 pandemic environment.

Examining the relationship between academic stress and motivation toward physical education within a semester: A two-wave study with Chinese secondary school students

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between academic stress and motivation toward physical education (PE) through a longitudinal design with cross-lagged panel analyses. A sample of 556 Chinese secondary school students participated in the research and completed Perceived Locus of Causality Scale and Educational Stress Scale for Adolescents at the beginning of the semester and 3 months later. The results demonstrated that academic stress factors were positively related to less self-determined motivations except that worry about grades was positively related to more self-determined motivations within each time point. In addition, we found that academic stress negatively predicted more self-determined motivations but positively predicted less self-determined motivations, whereas worry about grades negatively predicted amotivation 3 months later. Meanwhile, the influence of amotivation on despondency was also found. These results suggest that academic stress can obstruct students’ participation in PE through an impact on self-determined motivation. Our findings also indicate that self-determined students in PE will seek academic achievement as well, which in turn improves students’ academic status.

Associations of physical activity with academic achievement and academic burden in Chinese children and adolescents: do gender and school grade matter?

Background

Physical activity (PA) was significantly associated with cognition and mental health in children and adolescent. However, there were few studies examining the associations of PA with academic achievement (AA) and academic burden (AB) by gender and school grade. Hence, this study aimed to 1) investigate the associations of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) with AA and AB in Chinese children and adolescents, and 2) assess whether these associations vary by gender and school grade.

Methods

Using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling design (at four different regions in Southern east China), 2653 children and adolescents (8–19 years old, 51.2% girls) were included. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data on study participants’ gender, school grade, family social economic status (SES), parental education level, MVPA, AA and AB. Binary logistic regression was applied to examine the associations of MVPA with AA (groups: above-average AA, average and below-average AA) and AB (groups: reporting AB, reporting no AB) with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). After testing gender*grade interaction, those associations were explored by gender and school grade separately.

Results

In the overall sample, compared with children and adolescents who did not meet the PA guidelines (at least 60 min MVPA daily), children and adolescents who met the PA guidelines were more likely to have above-average (OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.21–2.11) AA, and report no AB (OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.13–2.30). In both genders, meeting the PA guidelines was positively associated with above-average AA (OR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.01–2.03 for boys; OR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.43–3.44 for girls). However, the significant relationship between meeting the PA guidelines and AB was observed only in girls (OR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.17–3.39). Meeting the PA guidelines was positively associated with above-average AA (OR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.18–2.40), and reporting no AB (OR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.08–2.91) only in middle school students.

Conclusions

This study suggested that sufficient PA may be a contributary factor of improved AA and lower level of AB in Chinese children and adolescents. However, associations of PA with AA and AB may be different across gender or school grade. Promoting PA among girls or middle school students may be a good approach to improve AA and reduce AB.

Trends in Insomnia, Burnout, and Functional Impairment among Health Care Providers over the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background

COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the psychological well-being and quality of life of health care providers (HCPs).

Objectives

This study assessed the trends in prevalence and predictors of insomnia, burnout, and functional impairment among HCPs over the first year of the pandemic.

Methods

An online survey was conducted one month after the pandemic's onset (onset group) and a year later (one-year group). The demographic features of participants were collected. Insomnia, burnout, and functional impairment were assessed using Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Mini-Z survey, and Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), respectively.

Results

The onset group included 211 HCPs (mean (SD) age 34.7 (9.3) years and 73% men), while 212 HCPs participated in the one-year survey (mean (SD) age 35.9 (10.5) years and 69% men). High prevalence estimates were found in both onset and one-year groups of symptoms of insomnia (52% vs. 49%), of diagnosis of clinical insomnia (15% vs. 18%), with a high mean ISI score (8.4 vs. 8.7), but with no significant difference between the onset and one-year groups. Risk factors for clinical insomnia included age in both groups, lower income and contact level with COVID-19 patients/samples in the onset group, and lower Mini-Z scores and higher SDS scores in the one-year group. Approximately one-third of respondents reported at least one or more burnout symptoms, with a higher percentage in the one-year group (35.4%) than in the onset group (24.2%) (p=0.012). Younger age, lower monthly income, and higher ISI and SDS scores were risk factors for burnout in both groups. Greater perceived changes in social life were associated with burnout in the onset group. In contrast, higher weekly working hours, worse participants' evaluation of their institution's preparation, and more changes in workload were risk factors for burnout in the one-year group. The SDS score and its subscales scores were higher in the one-year group than in the onset group. Changes in workload and social life predicted higher SDS scores among both groups. Living with older people predicted higher SDS scores among the onset group, while contact level and estimated number of COVID-19 patients that participants engaged in during caring predicted higher SDS scores among the one-year group. ISI scores were significantly correlated with the Mini-Z scores and SDS scores in both groups, while the Mini-Z and SDS scores were significantly correlated only in the one-year group.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated high rates of insomnia, burnout, and functional impairment among HCPs during the pandemic. It reveals a significant rise in job burnout and functional impairment of HCPs overtime during the pandemic. Furthermore, high-risk subgroups are also highlighted for whom comprehensive psychosocial and occupational interventions might be warranted.

Effects of regular sport activities on stress level in sporting and non-sporting university students

Background

Regular sport has favourable influence on the physical and mental state. Our aim was to analyse the relationship between regular sport activities, body parameters, cortisol level, perceived stress and the frequency of psychosomatic symptoms in male and female university students.

Methods

Subjects were university students (N = 200). They were divided in sporting (more than 7 h week−1: 56 males (sm), 50 females (sf)) and non-sporting (less than 3 h week−1: 44 males (nsm) and 50 females (nsf)) groups. Body composition was estimated by Inbody720-analyser. Stress levels were measured by (1) free cortisol level in saliva measured by using IBL-ELISA kits and (2) questionnaires about psychosomatic symptoms and perceived stress scale.

Results

There were significant subgroup’ differences in body composition (fat%:sm:12.1 ± 6.0 vs. nsm:17.9 ± 6.8; sf:20.8 ± 5.5 vs. nsf:25.4 ± 5.7; muscle%:sm:50.3 ± 3.6 vs. nsm:47.6 ± 3.9; sf:43.8 ± 3.2 vs. nsf:41.7 ± 3.3), and in stress level (total scores:sm:21.0 ± 5.7 vs. nsm:23.3 ± 7.2; sf:25.5 ± 7.0 vs. nsf:28.0 ± 9.7). There were gender differences in the psychosomatic symptoms' frequency (total scores: sm: 14.6 ± 6.3 vs. sf: 20.4 ± 7.4; nsm: 14.9 ± 6.1 vs. nsf: 19.6 ± 8.2). The sporting students had larger muscle, smaller fat percentages, and lower level of stress. Basic level of salivary cortisol revealed significant relation with physical activity: sporting students had lower level of cortisol. This relation was reflected in higher percentage of students with low level of cortisol in the physically active subgroups (s/ns males: 29% vs. 15%; s/ns females: 18% vs. 5%) and in the higher percentage of female students with high level of cortisol in the non-sporting subgroup (27% vs. 11%).

Conclusion

Regular sport activity is positively related with lower stress levels in university students.

Relationship quality and support for family policy during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective

We examined how relationship satisfaction changed during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, as well as how relationship satisfaction related to public policy support.

Background

Conservation of resources (COR) theory suggests that societal-level stressors (such as a global pandemic) threaten familial and individual resources, straining couple relationships. Relationship satisfaction is in turn linked with important individual, familial, and societal outcomes, necessitating research on how COVID-19 impacted this facet of relationships.

Method

Drawing from an international project on COVID-19 and family life, participants included 734 married and cohabiting American parents of children under 18 years of age.

Results

Findings revealed relationship satisfaction declined moderately compared to retrospective reports of relationship satisfaction prior to the pandemic. This decline was more precipitous for White individuals, women, parents less involved in their children's lives, and those reporting higher levels of depressive symptoms. We also found that higher relationship satisfaction was associated with higher levels of support for family policy, particularly for men. At higher levels of relationship satisfaction, men and women had similarly high levels of support for family policy, while at lower levels, women's support for family policy was significantly higher.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic likely amplified facets of social inequality, which is especially concerning when considering the large socioeconomic gaps prior to the pandemic.

Implications

Therapists, researchers, and policy makers should examine how relationship satisfaction may have changed during the pandemic because relationship satisfaction is linked to child and adult well-being and relationship dissolution. Further, the link between relationship satisfaction and support for family policy deserves further scrutiny.

Using Structural Equation Modeling to Examine Pathways between Physical Activity and Sleep Quality among Chinese TikTok Users

TikTok, the most popular social media, brings various benefits to nowadays living. However, the problematic use of TikTok has also elicited a range of health problems, such as sleep problems. Physical activity (PA) appears to play a protective role in the problematic use of TikTok and its health consequences, but the pathways between PA and sleep health are understudied. Therefore, we aimed to propose a framework to check whether PA can benefit the sleep health of TikTok users by reducing bedtime delays for TikTok. Stress and mental health issues were also considered as they are potential mediators between PA and sleep health and may also influence the problematic use of smartphones. A cross-sectional investigation that involved 660 Chinese TikTok users was conducted in April 2021. The volume of PA, perceived stress (PSS-10), depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), bedtime delay for TikTok use, and sleep quality (PSQI) were investigated through an online questionnaire survey. Structural equation modeling was employed to examine pathways from PA to sleep quality through stress, mental health issues (depression and anxiety), and bedtime delay for TikTok. We found that PA exerted a significant effect on sleep quality through indirect pathways (β = −0.056, p = 0.001). Stress was a critical mediator of all indirect pathways, and the pathway mediated by stress and mental health issues made a major contribution to the total effect (β = −0.048, p = 0.002). The identified pathways mediated by bedtime delay for TikTok were relatively weak but significant. PA showed a distinct effect on bedtime delay for TikTok through stress and mental health issues (β = −0.043, p = 0.001). In conclusion, our framework highlights some pathways to understanding the benefits of PA on TikTok users’ sleep quality. Future research is warranted to explore extra indirect pathways and re-examine the causal relationships between variables.

Association of physical activity and positive thinking with global sleep quality

This study examined the association of different intensity levels of physical activity and positive thinking with a global sleep quality among college students. The research question was: to what degree were the different intensity levels of physical activity and positive thinking significantly associated with the global sleep quality among college students? We recruited students, who enrolled in regular physical education classes during a fall semester at a major public university. 553 students signed the consent form and indicated their voluntary participation in this study. The final data set for analysis consisted of 403 college students with the mean age of 19.01 years ± 1.559 years (217 males vs. 186 females) based on the results of data screening. They completed three questionnaires: International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Positive Thinking Scale (PTS) during a regular physical education class. The multiple regression model revealed that vigorous-intensity physical activity, positive thinking, and negative thinking were collectively and individually associated with the Global PSQI sleep quality (F = 19.389, p = .000), explaining 12.8% of the total variance in the Global PSQI sleep quality for the total sample. College students' engaging in vigorous intensity level of physical activity, and having a good level of positive thinking and a low level of negative thinking were both collectively and individually linked to the Global PSQI sleep quality.

Sleep quality and associated factors among undergraduate medical students during Covid-19 confinement

Problem considered

Methods

Results

Conclusion

The Beneficial Effect of the First COVID-19 Lockdown on Undergraduate Students of Education: Prospective Cohort Study

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has been spreading consistently since the beginning of 2020. On February 27, 2020, the first patient with coronavirus was diagnosed in Israel. On March 14, 2020, the Israeli government declared a general lockdown that lasted about a month, which altered the lives of the entire population.

Objective

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the change in the well-being, physical activity, and sleep quality of undergraduate students of education at 2 time points: before (November 2019) and during (April 2020) the first COVID-19 lockdown.

Methods

In total, 533 undergraduate students of education submitted an online questionnaire before the lockdown and at its end. The questionnaire comprised 4 parts: a (1) sociodemographic and (2) weekly exercise questionnaire taken from the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form; (3) sleep quality, rated using the Mini Sleep Questionnaire; and (4) well-being, rated using the short version of the Mental Health Inventory. This was a pre-post prospective cohort questionnaire study.

Results

It was predicted that there would be a decrease in the aforementioned parameters. Contrary to all expectations, an increase was observed in all 3. Results showed that during the lockdown, there was an increase in the level of exercise students engaged in. Overall, 102 (61.4%) of 166 students engaged in a greater amount of physical activity during the COVID-19 lockdown compared to 150 (40.9%) of 367 students who engaged in a greater amount of physical activity before COVID-19. Levels of sleep quality (mean 5.34 [SD 0.92] vs mean 5.12 [SD 0.46], P=.02) and well-being (mean 3.79 [SD 0.62] vs mean 3.67 [SD 0.59], P=.02) were also higher during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that undergraduate students seem to have taken advantage of the change in lifestyle due to the lockdown, directing the free time toward improving health by engaging in more physical activity, thus improving sleep quality and well-being.