Bidirectional associations between adiposity and physical activity: a longitudinal study from pre-puberty to early adulthood.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate directional influences in the association between adiposity and physical activity (PA) from pre-puberty to early adulthood. Methods: In the Calex-study, height, weight, body fat and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) were measured at age11.2-years, 13.2-years and 18.3-years in 396 Finnish girls. Body fat was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, calculating fat mass index (FMI) as total fat mass in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. LTPA level was evaluated using a physical activity questionnaire. In the European Youth Heart Study (EYHS), height, weight and habitual PA were measured at age 9.6-years, 15.7-years and 21.8-years in 399 Danish boys and girls. Habitual PA and sedentary behaviour were assessed with an accelerometer. Directional influences of adiposity and PA were examined using a bivariate cross-lagged path panel model. Results: The temporal stability of BMI from pre-puberty to early adulthood was higher than the temporal stability of PA or physical inactivity over the same time period both in girls and boys. In the Calex-study, BMI and FMI at age 11.2-years were both directly associated with LTPA at age 13.2-years (ß = 0.167, p = 0.005 and ß = 0.167, p = 0.005, respectively), whereas FMI at age 13.2-years showed an inverse association with LTPA at age 18.3-years (ß = - 0.187, p = 0.048). However, earlier LTPA level was not associated with subsequent BMI or FMI. In the EYHS, no directional association was found for physical inactivity, light-, moderate-, and vigorous-PA with BMI during the follow-up in girls. In boys, BMI at age 15.7-years was directly associated with moderate PA (ß = 0.301, p = 0.017) at age 21.8-years, while vigorous PA at age 15.7-years showed inverse associations with BMI at age 21.8-years (ß = - 0.185, p = 0.023). Conclusion: Our study indicates that previous fatness level is a much stronger predictor of future fatness than level of leisure-time or habitual physical activity during adolescence. The directional associations between adiposity and physical activity are not clear during adolescence, and may differ between boys and girls depending on pubertal status.

The Effect of Mindfulness Intervention on the Psychological Skills and Shooting Performances in Male Collegiate Basketball Athletes in Macau: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

BACKGROUND: This study adopted a quasi-experimental design to examine the effect of a 7-week mindfulness intervention on the psychological coping ability and shooting performance of college-level male basketball athletes in Macau. METHODS: A total of 43 male college basketball athletes in Macau were selected as the participants. Besides the regular basketball training, the intervention group (n = 23) received a 7-week mindfulness training; the weekly mindfulness intervention session lasted around one hour according to the mindfulness training manual for athletes, while the control group (n = 20) did not receive any mindfulness training. Before and immediately after the 7-week intervention, all players performed the following tests: the "Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire", the "Acceptance and Action Questionnaire", the "Sport Competition Anxiety Test", the "Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale", and three shooting tests. An independent-sample t-test and a paired-sample t-test were used to analyze the between- and within-group differences. Moreover, a repeated measures ANOVA was used to assess the group, time, and group-by-time effects on psychological skills and shooting performances. RESULTS: The intervention resulted in both significant between-group and within-group differences in mindfulness level, acceptance level, attention level, three-point, and free-throw shooting performances (all p < 0.05, Cohen's d ranging from 0.565 to 1.117). CONCLUSION: While further study is necessary, the present study suggests that the 7-week mindfulness training program can significantly improve psychological outcomes and shooting performance in Macau college basketball athletes. Future studies involving competition settings and objective metrics will aid in verifying mindfulness as the prevalent practice among basketball practitioners and athletes.

Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Promoting Athletic Performance and Related Factors among Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trial.

In recent years, mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been widely applied in competition sports with respect to athletic performance and mental health promotion, whereas evidence of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) has not been well summarized. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze the existing evidence on the effects of MBIs on improving athletic performance, mindfulness level, mindfulness-related psychological components (e.g., acceptance, self-compassion, flow), and mental health (e.g., burnout, stress, psychological well-being) among athletes. Following the PRISMA guidelines, a literature search was implemented on five electronic databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, and ScienceDirect) and relevant review papers. The article selection, risk of bias assessment, and data extraction were performed by two investigators independently. The standardized mean difference (SMD) was calculated to evaluate the effects of interventions using the random effect model. Among the 1897 original hits, thirty-two eligible RCT studies were included in the systematic review, of which seven were involved in the meta-analysis. The results showed that MBIs were effective in promoting athletes' athletic performances (by narrative synthesis), mindfulness-level (n = 3; SMD = 0.50, 95% CI = [0.17, 0.83]; I2 = 45%, p = 0.16), and mindfulness-related psychological components (n = 5; SMD = 0.81, 95% CI = [0.53, 1.10], I2 = 77%, p =0.001), while no significant intervention effects were found on the mental health of athletes (n = 4; SMD = -0.03, 95% CI = [-0.35, 0.29], I2 = 89%, p < 0.001). Our findings preliminarily support the potential effectiveness of MBIs, whereas more high-quality RCTs were needed in the future.

Inter-relationships of depressive and anxiety symptoms with suicidality among adolescents: A network perspective.

BACKGROUND: Persons with suicidality including suicidal ideation (SI), suicide plans (SP) and/or suicide attempts (SA) are at higher risk for future suicide than those without suicidality. To reduce the risk of future suicide, it is important to understand symptoms of emotional distress that have the strongest links with SI, SP and SA. This network analysis examined item-level relations of depressive and anxiety symptoms with suicidality among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Adolescents between 12 and 20 years of age were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), and individual binary reponse (no/yes) items assessing SI, SP, and SA during the pandemic. The structure of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and suicidality was characterized using "Expected Influence" and "Bridge Expected Influence" as centrality indices in the symptom network. Network stability was tested using a case-dropping bootstrap procedure. Node-specific predictive betweenness was computed to examine short paths of anhedonia, other depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms with suicidality. A Network Comparison Test (NCT) was conducted to examine whether network characteristics differed based on gender. RESULTS: Prevalence rates of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and suicidality were 44.60 % (95% confidence interval (CI) = 41.53-47.67 %), 31.12 % (95%CI = 28.26-33.98 %), and 16.95 % (95%CI = 14.63-19.26 %), respectively, in the study sample. The network analysis identified GAD3 ("Worry too much") as the most central symptom, followed by GAD6 ("Irritability") and PHQ6 ("Guilt") in the sample. Additionally, PHQ6 ("Guilt"), GAD6 ("Irritability"), and PHQ2 ("Sad mood") were bridge nodes linking depressive and anxiety symptoms with suicidality. A flow network indicated that the connection between S ("Suicidality") and PHQ6 ("Guilt") reflected the strongest connection, followed by connections of S ("Suicidality") with GAD2 ("Uncontrollable worrying"), and S ("Suicidality") with PHQ2 ("Sad mood"). Finally, PHQ2 ("Sad mood") was the main bridge node linking anhedonia with other depressive and anxiety symptoms and suicidality in the sample. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the potential importance of reducing specific depressive and anxiety symptoms as possible means of reducing suicidality among adolescents during the pandemic. Central symptoms and key bridge symptoms identified in this study should be targeted in suicide prevention for at-risk adolescents.

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.

Validity of three smartwatches in estimating energy expenditure during outdoor walking and running.

Commercially wrist-worn devices often present inaccurate estimations of energy expenditure (EE), with large between-device differences. We aimed to assess the validity of the Apple Watch Series 6 (AW), Garmin FENIX 6 (GF) and Huawei Watch GT 2e (HW) in estimating EE during outdoor walking and running. Twenty young normal-weight Chinese adults concurrently wore three index devices randomly positioned at both wrists during walking at 6 km/h and running at 10 km/h for 2 km on a 400- meter track. As a criterion, EE was assessed by indirect calorimetry (COSMED K5). For walking, EE from AW and GF was significantly higher than that obtained by the K5 (p < 0.001 and 0.002, respectively), but not for HW (p = 0.491). The mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) was 19.8% for AW, 32.0% for GF, and 9.9% for HW, respectively. The limits of agreement (LoA) were 44.1, 150.1 and 48.6 kcal for AW, GF, and HW respectively. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.821, 0.216 and 0.760 for AW, GF, and HW, respectively. For running, EE from AW and GF were significantly higher than the K5 (p < 0.001 and 0.001, respectively), but not for HW (p = 0.946). The MAPE was 24.4%, 21.8% and 11.9% for AW, GF and HW, respectively. LoA were 62.8, 89.4 and 65.6 kcal for AW, GF and HW, respectively. The ICC was 0.741, 0.594, and 0.698 for AW, GF and HW, respectively. The results indicate that the tested smartwatches show a moderate validity in EE estimations for outdoor walking and running.

The backbone symptoms of depression: a network analysis after the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Macao.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted the working lives of Macau residents, possibly leading to mental health issues such as depression. The pandemic served as the context for this investigation of the network structure of depressive symptoms in a community sample. This study aimed to identify the backbone symptoms of depression and to propose an intervention target. Methods: This study recruited a convenience sample of 975 Macao residents between 20th August and 9th November 2020. In an electronic survey, depressive symptoms were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Symptom relationships and centrality indices were identified using directed and undirected network estimation methods. The undirected network was constructed using the extended Bayesian information criterion (EBIC) model, and the directed network was constructed using the Triangulated Maximally Filtered Graph (TMFG) method. The stability of the centrality indices was evaluated by a case-dropping bootstrap procedure. Wilcoxon signed rank tests of the centrality indices were used to assess whether the network structure was invariant between age and gender groups. Results: Loss of energy, psychomotor problems, and guilt feelings were the symptoms with the highest centrality indices, indicating that these three symptoms were backbone symptoms of depression. The directed graph showed that loss of energy had the highest number of outward projections to other symptoms. The network structure remained stable after randomly dropping 50% of the study sample, and the network structure was invariant by age and gender groups. Conclusion: Loss of energy, psychomotor problems and guilt feelings constituted the three backbone symptoms during the pandemic. Based on centrality and relative influence, loss of energy could be targeted by increasing opportunities for physical activity.

Operationally defining physical literacy in Chinese culture: Results of a meta-narrative synthesis and the Panel's recommendations.

Purpose: The definition of physical literacy (PL) needs to be explored by researchers from educational, public health, and sports organisations in Chinese culture; an adequate definition and theoretical framework of PL can then be embraced within different contexts and according to cultural influences. Methods: This meta-narrative synthesis of literature in this area included a series of planning, search, mapping, appraisal, synthesis, and recommendation phases. The literature was translated into English and circulated among international experts to seek suggestions. A total of 74 articles were included in the PL definition synthesis and 28 were included for philosophical synthesis in this study. Results: Based on three rounds of discussions, the final agreement was reached among panel members regarding the defining statements and practical and theoretical models of PL in Chinese culture. According to consensus, PL is the integration of physical, perceptual, cognitive, psychological, and behavioural capabilities, echoing with the need for an active, healthy, and fulfilling lifestyle, which involves continuous positive interactions with the environment and embodied engagement in physical activities for life. The framework addressed five domains (physical, sensory-perceptual, cognitive, psychological, and behavioural) and one important overlapping factor (dynamic environment). A further explanation was provided in the defining statement to assist in understanding the concept. Conclusion: It is suggested that the cultural interpretation and historical background of PL in Chinese discourse should be addressed and respected. The development of a specific cultural definition statement of PL in one country could provide implications for PL researchers worldwide.

Network analysis of depression, anxiety, insomnia and quality of life among Macau residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Although the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has greatly impacted individuals' mental health and quality of life, network analysis studies of associations between symptoms of common syndromes during the pandemic are lacking, particularly among Macau residents. This study investigated the network structure of insomnia, anxiety, and depression and explored their associations with quality of life in this population. METHOD: This online survey was conducted in Macau between August 18 and November 9, 2020. Insomnia, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and quality of life were assessed with the Insomnia Severity Index, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire, and World Health Organization Quality of Life-brief version, respectively. Analyses were performed to identify central symptoms and bridge symptoms of this network and their links to quality of life. RESULTS: 975 participants enrolled in this survey. The prevalence of depressive, anxiety and insomnia symptoms were 38.5% (95% confidence interval (CI): 35.5%-41.5%), 28.8% (95%CI: 26.0%-31.7%), and 27.6% (95% CI: 24.8%-30.4%), respectively. "Sleep maintenance" had the highest expected influence centrality, followed by "Trouble relaxing", "Interference with daytime functioning", "Irritability", and "Fatigue". Five bridge symptoms were identified: "Sleep problems", "Restlessness", "Irritability", "Severity of sleep onset", and "Motor activity". The insomnia symptom, "Sleep dissatisfaction", had the strongest direct relation to quality of life. CONCLUSION: Insomnia symptoms played a critical role in the distress symptom network regarding node and bridge centrality as well as associations with quality of life among Macau residents. Close attention to these symptoms may be critical to reducing risk and preventing exacerbations in common forms of distress in this population.

Identification of central symptoms in Internet addictions and depression among adolescents in Macau: A network analysis.

BACKGROUND: Internet addiction (IA) and depression are common among adolescents and often are co-occurring. This study examined the network structures of IA and depressive symptoms (depression hereafter) in adolescents. METHODS: A total of 1,009 adolescents were recruited. IA and depression were measured using the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and the 9 items-Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), respectively. A network analysis was conducted to identify central symptoms and bridge symptoms using centrality indices. Network stability was evaluated using the case-dropping procedure. The Network Comparison Test (NCT) was conducted to examine whether network characteristics differed by gender. RESULTS: Network analysis revealed that nodes IAT-15 ("Preoccupation with the Internet"), IAT-2 ("Neglect chores to spend more time online"), PHQ-6 ("Guilty"), and IAT-16 ("Request an extension for longer time spent online") were the most central symptoms within the model of coexisting IA and depression. The most important bridge symptom was node IAT-11 ("Anticipation for future online activities"), followed by IAT-12 ("Fear that life is boring and empty without the Internet") and IAT-19 ("Spend more time online over going out with others"). Gender did not significantly influence the network structure. The IA and depression network model showed a high degree of stability. CONCLUSION: The central symptoms along with key bridge symptoms identified could be potentially targeted when treating and preventing IA and depression among adolescents.

Prevalence of depression and its associated factors among adolescents in China during the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak.

BACKGROUND: The outbreak of the 2019 coronavirus disease outbreak (COVID-19) had a detrimental impact on adolescents' daily life and studying, which could increase the risk of depression. This study examined the prevalence of depressive symptoms (depression hereafter) among Chinese adolescents and its associated factors. METHODS: An online survey was conducted during the COVID-19 outbreak in China. Adolescents aged 11-20 years who currently lived in China were invited to participate in the study. Data were collected with the "SurveyStar" platform using the Snowball Sampling method. Depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). RESULTS: A total of 9,554 adolescents participated in the study. The prevalence of depression was 36.6% (95% CI [35.6%-37.6%]); the prevalence of mild and moderate-severe depression was 9.2% (95% CI [8.9%-9.5%]) and 27.4% (95% CI [26.9%-27.9%]), respectively. Female gender (OR = 1.235, P < 0.001), senior secondary school grade (OR = 1.513, P < 0.001), sleep duration of <6 h/day (OR = 2.455, P < 0.001), and living in Hubei province (total number of infected cases > 10,000) (OR = 1.245, P = 0.038) were significantly associated with higher risk of depression. Concern about COVID-19 (OR = 0.632, P < 0.001), participating in distance learning (OR = 0.728, P = 0.001), sleep duration of >8 h/day (OR = 0.726, P < 0.001), exercise of >30 min/day, and study duration of ≥4 h/day (OR = 0.835, P < 0.001) were associated with lower risk of depression. CONCLUSION: Depression was common among adolescents in China during the COVID-19 outbreak. Considering the negative impact of depression on daily life and health outcomes, timely screening and appropriate interventions are urgently needed for depressed adolescents during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Internet addiction among adolescents in Macau and mainland China: prevalence, demographics and quality of life.

Internet addiction (IA) is common among adolescents and significantly determined by sociocultural and economic factors. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of IA among adolescents between Macau and mainland China and also examine its association with quality of life. A total of 2892 secondary school students were included. Standardized instruments were used to measure IA, depressive symptoms and quality of life. The overall prevalence of IA was 23.7%, with 32.5% in Macau and 19.8% in mainland China. Students in Macau were more likely to suffer from IA than those in mainland China (OR = 2.15, p < 0.001). Correlates of IA included being in higher school grades, poor academic performance, and more severe depressive symptoms. Students with IA reported lower quality of life in physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains. IA is common among Chinese adolescents, particularly in Macau. Considering the negative impact of IA on health and quality of life, regular screening and effective interventions should be undertaken for young Internet users.

Bidirectional Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdowns on Health Behaviors and Quality of Life among Chinese Adults.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created challenges that have caused profound changes in health behaviors. This study aimed to explore how COVID-19 is affecting the health-related quality of life (QoL) among Chinese adults. METHODS: The data of health-related behaviors and QoL were collected via online surveys from 2289 adults (mean age = 27.8 ± 12 years) who had been isolated at home for an average of 77 days. RESULTS: More than 50% of the respondents reported that their time engaged in daily physical activity (PA) decreased, while sedentary behavior (SB) time increased compared with that before the lockdown. Only 20% of the respondents reported engaging in moderate-to-vigorous PA, 23% of adults reported changed their diets to be healthier, and 30% reported consuming more vegetables, fruits, and milk products than before home-isolation. During home-isolation, 75.2% of the adults rated their sleep quality as very good, and 65% reported that they were satisfied with their QoL. Sleep quality mediated the relationship between PA and QoL. CONCLUSION: The two-to-three-month home-isolation has had mixed effects on adult health behaviors in China. The participants were found to have focused more on their eating quality and patterns, which had a positive influence on their QoL. However, people should be encouraged to exercise at home with limited space to maintain a generally healthy lifestyle during a prolonged quarantine.