ABSTRACT
Background: Much evidence has indicated that physical activity is associated with mental health benefits, such as fewer depression symptoms. Psychological resilience captures a broader mental health phenomenon that may be influenced by other factors as well. Yet, there are few studies examining the association between muscle-strengthening exercises (MSEs) with mental health outcomes, especially positive outcomes (e.g., subjective wellbeing). The study aimed to test the association between MSE with subjective wellbeing and resilience among a large sample of Chinese adolescents. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among primary and middle school students in Shenzhen, China. MSE frequency, subjective wellbeing, and resilience were measured. Data from a total of 67,281 children and adolescents aged 10-17 years (51.9% men and 48.1% women) were included in the analysis. Mixed effect models were performed to assess how weekly MSE frequency (0-7 days) related to the levels of subjective wellbeing and resilience, adjusting for potential confounding variables (e.g., sex and grade). Sensitivity analyses were also conducted. Results: Compared to participants with no MSE, the levels of subjective wellbeing were higher in those with higher MSE frequencies [range of ß: 0.29 (1 day per week) to 1.98 (7 days per week)]. The frequency of MSE was also positively correlated to better resilience [range of ß: 0.50 (1 day per week) to 4.40 (7 days per week)]. All associations remained significant in sensitivity analyses. Conclusion: More frequent MSE was associated with superior subjective wellbeing and resilience of Chinese children and adolescents. Increasing MSE may be beneficial for promoting positive mental health outcomes among children and adolescents.
ABSTRACT
Individual, meteorological, and environmental factors are associated with cognitive function in older age. However, little is known about how meteorological and environmental factors interact with individual factors in affecting cognitive function in older adults. In the current study, we used mixed effects models to assess the association of individual, meteorological, and environmental factors with cognitive function among older adults in urban areas. Data from 2623 adults aged 60 to 91 years from 25 provinces (or autonomous regions/municipalities) from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) were used. We used the memory test in CFPS to measure memory function, while meteorological data from the daily climate data set of China's surface international exchange stations, and the traffic and greening data compiled by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) of China, were used to assess meteorological and environmental factors. The ICC of the empty model indicated that 7.7% of the variation in memory test scores for the older adults was caused by provincial characteristics. Results showed that the temperature and relative humidity of provinces moderated the effect of gender on the memory function for the older urban adults. Specifically, in the high temperature areas, memory scores for females were higher than those of males, and in the middle humidity areas, memory scores were also higher for the females than those of males. This study explained how meteorological and environmental factors played roles in influencing demographic factors on memory function among older adults. Further research is needed to better define the role and potential mechanism of this moderation.
