Self-initiated lifestyle changes during a fasting-mimicking diet programme in patients with type 2 diabetes: a mixed-methods study.

BACKGROUND: Lifestyle changes, especially regarding diet quality and physical activity, are important in the management of type 2 diabetes (T2D). This mixed-methods study explores self-initiated lifestyle changes in patients with T2D who followed a periodic fasting-mimicking diet (FMD). METHODS: Quantitative data were obtained from the Fasting In diabetes Treatment trial (November 2018 to August 2021) in which 100 participants with T2D, using metformin only or no medication, were randomised to receive a monthly 5-day FMD for twelve months next to usual care, or usual care only. Diet quality and physical activity questionnaires were completed at baseline, six and twelve months. Changes over time were analysed using linear mixed models. Focus groups were organized with FMD participants to explore experiences regarding self-initiated lifestyle changes. The qualitative data was analysed using the Theoretical Domains Framework. RESULTS: Questionnaires were available from 49 FMD participants and 43 controls. No differences in diet quality were found. Total physical activity in the FMD participants changed from 34.6 to 38.5 h per week (h/wk) from baseline to twelve months, while in controls it changed from 34.9 to 29.0 h/wk (between group difference, p = 0.03). In six focus groups with FMD participants (n = 20), individual participants perceived the FMD as an encouragement for (minor) lifestyle changes. There were no barriers to behaviour change related to the FMD. Important facilitators of healthy behaviour were an increase in awareness of the impact of lifestyle on health (knowledge), better physical fitness (physical) and health improvement (reinforcement). Facilitators unrelated to the FMD included family support (social influences) and opportunities in the neighbourhood (environmental context and resources), while barriers unrelated to the FMD were experiencing health problems (physical) and social events (social influences). CONCLUSIONS: Using an FMD for five consecutive days per month did not affect diet quality in between FMD periods in quantitative analysis, but increased the number of hours per week spent on physical activity. Qualitative analysis revealed self-initiated improvements in both diet quality and physical activity in individual participants using an FMD. Healthcare professionals could use an FMD programme as a 'teachable moment' to stimulate additional lifestyle changes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT03811587. Registered 22 January 2019.

The impact of square dancing on psychological well-being and life satisfaction among aging women.

As the most popular sport among middle-aged and elderly women in China, square dancing has both physical and psychological benefits for menopausal women. Previous studies have shown that square dance exercises can promote the physical health of older women, but there is a lack of research on the influence of middle-aged and elderly women on mental health and mediating variables. Therefore, this study starts with one of the important indicators of mental health-positive affects, aiming to explore the impact of square dance on the positive emotions of elderly women and further explore the mediating mechanisms involved. We send out The Physical Activity Rating Scale, the Positive and Negative Affect Scale, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and the Satisfaction With Life Scale to a total of 2311 middle-aged and elderly women. SPSS 23 software and PROCESS were used to perform regression analysis and establish mediation models. Modeling results show square dance exercises could positively predict positive affect through the chain mediating effect of psychological resilience and life satisfaction. The results of this study are of great significance for promoting the extensive participation of middle-aged and elderly women in sports and protecting their mental health.

The contribution and interplay of implicit and explicit processes on physical activity behavior: empirical testing of the physical activity adoption and maintenance (PAAM) model.

The adoption and maintenance of physical activity (PA) is an important health behavior. This paper presents the first comprehensive empirical test of the Physical Activity Adoption and Maintenance (PAAM) model, which proposes that a combination of explicit (e.g., intention) and implicit (e.g., habit,, affect) self-regulatory processes is involved in PA adoption and maintenance. Data were collected via online questionnaires in English, German, and Italian at two measurement points four weeks apart. The study included 422 participants (Mage= 25.3, SDage= 10.1; 74.2% women) from Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Canada, and the U.S. The study results largely supported the assumptions of the PAAM model, indicating that intentions and habits significantly mediate the effects of past PA on future PA. In addition, the effect of past PA on future PA was shown to be significant through a mediation chain involving affect and habit. Although the hypothesis that trait self-regulation moderates the intention-behavior relationship was not supported, a significant moderating effect of affect on the same relationship was observed. The results suggest that interventions targeting both explicit and implicit processes may be effective in promoting PA adoption and maintenance.

A virtually supervised exercise program improved fitness and mental wellness in healthy and comorbidity older adult individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic affected older adults worldwide. Sedentary older adults experienced more severe adverse health effects due to their shelter-in-place. Physical activity was strongly recommended during periods of social distancing. The present study evaluated the impact of a virtually supervised exercise program on the physical fitness and mental health of Mexican older adults during the pandemic's lockdown. Methods: Participants were 44 older adults who were assigned to one of four physical fitness groups: a healthy control group (Ctrl-H, n = 15), a comorbidity control group (Ctrl-COM, n = 9), an exercise group without comorbidities (Exe-H, n = 11), and an exercise group with comorbidities (Exe-COM, n = 9). The participants engaged in a 60-min, virtually-supervised concurrent exercise session three times/week for 12 weeks. Fitness was measured using the online Senior Fitness Tests and the 4-m Gait Speed Test. Mental health was evaluated through virtual interviews using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Within-subject pre vs. post-intervention comparisons tested for significant differences, between-groups and over time. Results: Significant interactions were found in the scores of the Geriatric Depression Scale (p ≤ 0.0001; ηp2 = 0.35), the Hamilton Depression Scale (p ≤ 0.0001; ηp2 = 0.35), resilience scores (p ≤ 0.0001; ηp2 = 0.46), lower-body strength (p ≤ 0.0001; ηp2 = 0.32), timed up-and-go test (p = 0.018; ηp2 = 0.18), the 6MWT distance scores (p ≤ 0.0001; ηp2 = 0.39), and the 4-m gait speed test scores (p = 0.011; ηp2 = 0.20). Conclusion: A long-term virtually-supervised exercise program conducted during the COVID-19 lockdown period led to marked improvements in both the fitness and mental health of older Mexican adults. Comorbidities did not diminish these benefits. These findings provide empirical support for online exercise programs in the daily routines of older adults to make clinically meaningful improvements in both physical and mental well-being.

The association between health behaviours and academic performance moderated by trait mindfulness amongst university students: an observational study.

Objectives: To target health communication at less health-conscious groups, evidence on health behaviours' effects on non-health-related outcomes - such as academic performance - is necessary. Recent research has highlighted the associations of various health behaviours on academic performance of university students. However, there is a lack of research investigating the most predominant health behaviours simultaneously and their association with academic performance, as well as the factors that potentially influence the direction or strength of these associations. Therefore, this study investigated (I) which of the predominant health behaviours (physical activity, healthy diet, sleep, sedentary behaviour, alcohol consumption, smoking, drug use) are most associated with academic performance and (II) whether the personal resource of trait mindfulness moderates these associations. Methods: An online survey was conducted amongst university students during the 2021 summer semester. Group differences in academic performance regarding health behaviours were analysed using ANOVA (N = 1,049). A first linear regression model (N = 571), considering all selected health behaviours simultaneously, assessed their association with academic performance. A second model (N = 540) assessed interaction effects of health behaviours and trait mindfulness. Separate regressions assessed each interaction's association with academic performance. Results: Sleep, fruit and vegetable consumption, and gender were significantly associated with academic performance. The second model showed no significant interaction effects. Conclusion: Targeting sleep and fruit and vegetable consumption might be the most promising strategies for elevating students' academic performance, thereby enabling health communication strategies to reach groups driven by performance improvements rather than health benefits.

Association between residential environment and emotional wellbeing among older adults in China: the mediating effect of health lifestyle.

Introduction: The association between the residential environment and emotional wellbeing (EWB) in older adults has received extensive attention from gerontologists, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the mediating mechanism of how residential environment affects emotional wellbeing has not been fully explored. This study examined the effects of the residential environment on EWB and the mediating role of health lifestyle. Methods: This study analyzed the survey data of 493 rural and 515 urban older adults from 2021 Chinese General Social Survey. General linear regression and structural equation models were used to examine the effects of residential environment and health lifestyle. Results: Urban participants exhibited clear advantages in EWB, residential environment, and physical activity. Residential environment significantly affected the EWB of older adults, and health lifestyle played a mediating role in this relationship. The residential environment and health lifestyle did not significantly affect EWB in rural participants. Discussion: This study revealed differences in the effects of health lifestyles and residential environments on EWB among older adults in rural and urban settings in China. This study provided empirical evidence of mental health disparities between older rural and urban Chinese residents.

Twenty-four-hour physical activity patterns associated with depressive symptoms: a cross-sectional study using big data-machine learning approach.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a global burden with profound personal and economic consequences. Previous studies have reported that the amount of physical activity is associated with depression. However, the relationship between the temporal patterns of physical activity and depressive symptoms is poorly understood. In this exploratory study, we hypothesize that a particular temporal pattern of daily physical activity could be associated with depressive symptoms and might be a better marker than the total amount of physical activity. METHODS: To address the hypothesis, we investigated the association between depressive symptoms and daily dominant activity behaviors based on 24-h temporal patterns of physical activity. We conducted a cross-sectional study on NHANES 2011-2012 data collected from the noninstitutionalized civilian resident population of the United States. The number of participants that had the whole set of physical activity data collected by the accelerometer is 6613. Among 6613 participants, 4242 participants had complete demography and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) questionnaire, a tool to quantify depressive symptoms. The association between activity-count behaviors and depressive symptoms was analyzed using multivariable logistic regression to adjust for confounding factors in sequential models. RESULTS: We identified four physical activity-count behaviors based on five physical activity-counting patterns classified by unsupervised machine learning. Regarding PHQ-9 scores, we found that evening dominant behavior was positively associated with depressive symptoms compared to morning dominant behavior as the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results might contribute to monitoring and identifying individuals with latent depressive symptoms, emphasizing the importance of nuanced activity patterns and their probability of assessing depressive symptoms effectively.

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

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

Are incremental exercise relationships between rating of perceived exertion and oxygen uptake or heart rate reserve valid during steady-state exercises?

Background: Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) is considered a valid method for prescribing prolonged aerobic steady-state exercise (SSE) intensity due to its association with physiological indicators of exercise intensity, such as oxygen uptake (V̇O2) or heart rate (HR). However, these associations between psychological and physiological indicators of exercise intensity were found during graded exercise tests (GXT) but are currently used to prescribe SSE intensity even though the transferability and validity of the relationships found during GXT to SSE were not investigated. The present study aims to verify whether (a) RPE-HR or RPE-V̇O2 relations found during GXTs are valid during SSEs, and (b) the duration and intensity of SSE affect these relations. Methods: Eight healthy and physically active males (age 22.6 ± 1.2 years) were enrolled. On the first visit, pre-exercise (during 20 min standing) and maximal (during a GXT) HR and V̇O2 values were measured. Then, on separate days, participants performed 4 SSEs on the treadmill by running at 60% and 80% of the HR reserve (HRR) for 15 and 45 min (random order). Individual linear regressions between GXTs' RPE (dependent variable) and HRR and V̇O2 reserve (V̇O2R) values (computed as the difference between maximal and pre-exercise values) were used to predict the RPE associated with %HRR (RPEHRR) and %V̇O2R (RPEV̇O2R) during the SSEs. For each relation (RPE-%HRR and RPE-%V̇O2R), a three-way factorial repeated measures ANOVA (α = 0.05) was used to assess if RPE (dependent variable) was affected by exercise modality (i.e., RPE recorded during SSE [RPESSE] or GXT-predicted), duration (i.e., 15 or 45 min), and intensity (i.e., 60% or 80% of HRR). Results: The differences between RPESSE and GXT-predicted RPE, which were assessed by evaluating the effect of modality and its interactions with SSE intensity and duration, showed no significant differences between RPESSE and RPEHRR. However, when RPESSE was compared with RPEV̇O2R, although modality or its interactions with intensity were not significant, there was a significant (p = 0.020) interaction effect of modality and duration yielding a dissociation between changes of RPESSE and RPEV̇O2R over time. Indeed, RPESSE did not change significantly (p = 0.054) from SSE of 15 min (12.1 ± 2.0) to SSE of 45 min (13.5 ± 2.1), with a mean change of 1.4 ± 1.8, whereas RPEV̇O2R decreased significantly (p = 0.022) from SSE of 15 min (13.7 ± 3.2) to SSE of 45 min (12.4 ± 2.8), with a mean change of -1.3 ± 1.5. Conclusion: The transferability of the individual relationships between RPE and physiological parameters found during GXT to SSE should not be assumed as shown by the results of this study. Therefore, future studies modelling how the exercise prescription method used (e.g., RPE, HR, or V̇O2) and SSE characteristics (e.g., exercise intensity, duration, or modality) affect the relationships between RPE and physiological parameters are warranted.

Aerobic exercise improves verbal working memory sub-processes in adolescents: behavioral evidence from an N-back task.

Background: Studies on the effects of aerobic exercise on working memory (WM) have mainly concentrated on the overall effects, yet there is little knowledge on how moderate intensity aerobic exercise impacts the sub-processes of verbal WM (VWM) in adolescents. To address this gap, two experiments were conducted to explore the influence of aerobic exercise on the maintenance and updating sub-processes of VWM. Methods: In Experiment 1, a mixed experimental design of 2 (exercise habit: high vs. low) × 3 (memory load: 0-back vs. 1-back vs. 2-back) was used to compare VWM and its sub-processes in 40 adolescents. In Experiment 2, a 2 (group: intervention vs. control) × 3 (time point: pretest vs. 1st post-test vs. 18th post-test) × 3 (memory load: 0-back vs. 1-back vs. 2-back) mixed experimental design was used to investigate the acute and long-term effects of moderate intensity aerobic exercise on VWM and its sub-processes in 24 adolescents with low exercise habits. Results: The results of Experiment 1 showed that VWM performance and its sub-processes in the high exercise habit group were better than those in the low exercise habit group. The results of Experiment 2 showed that the effects of the long-term exercise intervention were superior to those of the acute exercise intervention, and both were superior to the pretest. Meanwhile, it was found that aerobic exercise intervention had a greater effect size on the updating sub-process of VWM. Conclusion: In conclusion, the results indicated that moderate intensity aerobic exercise could enhance the performance of VWM and its sub-processes in adolescents, and long-term intervention showed greater improvement effects compared to acute intervention, especially in the updating sub-process of VWM.

Loneliness predicts decreased physical activity in widowed but not married or unmarried individuals.

Background: Physical activity is associated with improved health and function in older adults, yet most older adults are sedentary. Loneliness is associated with decreased physical activity at the cross-section, but longitudinal studies are scarce. We examined longitudinal associations between loneliness and physical activity-and whether they were modified by marital status and network size (the number of children, relatives, and friends a person interacts with at least once a month). Methods: We analyzed data from 1,931 older adults without dementia at baseline from the Rush Memory and Aging Project with a mean follow-up of 4.8 years (mean age 79.6 ± 7.7, 74.9% women). Loneliness was assessed using the de Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. Physical activity was assessed as the frequency with which participants engaged in five categories of activities (e.g., walking, gardening, calisthenics, bicycling, and swimming). Linear mixed effects models examined associations between baseline loneliness and change in physical activity over time after adjusting for demographics, depressive symptoms, global cognition, disability, network size, marital status, social support, and social and cognitive activities. We assessed for effect modification by marital status and network size. Results: Associations between loneliness and physical activity differed by marital status. In widowed individuals, baseline loneliness was associated with a 0.06 h/week greater decrease in physical activity per year compared to those who were not lonely (p = 0.005, CI -0.1, 0.02)-which equaled a 150% decrease in physical activity per year. Loneliness did not predict a statistically significant decrease in physical activity in married or unmarried individuals. Discussion: Loneliness is associated with decreased physical activity in widowed older adults and should be considered in the design of interventions to prevent or slow the decline in physical activity and promote healthy aging.

The effect of physical exercises program on social functioning, alexithymia, and sense of coherence among patients with bipolar disorders: A randomized control trial.

BACKGROUND: Despite evidence that physical exercises have been helpful in the treatment of various psychiatric disorders, it is unclear whether these data can be generalized to bipolar disorder. The use of physical exercises is challenging and hopeful among patients with bipolar disorders. Few studies have examined the efficacy of physical exercise for patients with bipolar disorders. OBJECTIVE: Investigate the effect of applying physical exercises program on social functioning, alexithymia, and sense of coherence among patients with bipolar disorders. METHODS: This study followed a randomized control trial design "pre and post-test." Patients were randomly allocated to intervention (n = 25) and control groups (Waiting list) (n = 25). The Social Functioning Scale, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and Sense of Coherence scales were applied in the study. Pre-test and post-tests were administered to investigate the effect of applying the physical exercises program between December 2022 to March 2023. RESULTS: A statistically significant increase in the mean sense of coherence and social functioning scores among the study group. Mean alexithymia scores were significantly decreased among the study group between pre, immediately after, and after a three-month follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Physical exercises are an adjunctive treatment modality that is helpful for patients with bipolar disorders. Nurse educators and service providers should reconsider the physical health care requirements for patients with bipolar disorders to equip them to manage the common comorbidities in people with mental illness.

Evaluation of an exercise program incorporating an international cycling competition: a multimodal intervention model for physical, psychological, and social wellbeing in residential aged care.

BACKGROUND: The transition into residential aged care is frequently associated with a reduction in physical activity, social engagement, and emotional wellbeing. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of a 26-day international cycling competition (Road Worlds Competition for Seniors), incorporating elements of exercise, audiovisual cycling footage, social engagement, and gamification, on the physical, psychological, and social well-being of aged care residents. We aimed to use findings to inform the development of a multi-modal intervention model to maximise wellbeing for older adults. METHODS: Residents (N = 32) participated in a mixed-methods single-group intervention pilot study that compared pre-and post-competition measures for the following wellbeing domains; physical, psychological, and social. In addition, interviews were conducted with residents (n = 27) and staff (n = 6) to explore their experiences. RESULTS: Measures identified significant improvements across multiple wellbeing domains, including functional fitness, depression, self-efficacy, and social network sizes. Findings from the interview data indicated that the multimodal components involved in the program delivery were valued by staff and residents who enjoyed the gamification, audiovisual cycling footage, social engagement, opportunities for reminiscence, and camaraderie between peers, staff, and volunteers. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight a constellation of benefits across physical, psychological, and social domains of wellbeing and inform a model for innovative multidimensional programs in residential aged care. The benefits for residents with varying physical and cognitive abilities support the use of creative strategies that maximise inclusion and engagement for residents.

Feasibility and acceptability of a home-based virtual group exercise program in global Asian adult population: Baseline characteristics of a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: To determine the potential influence of a home-based virtual group exercise on people's long-term overall health consequences in global Asian population. METHODS: We recruited 1021 participants from more than 7 regions across the globe including Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, United States, Canada, Europe, and other regions. All the participants attended the virtual group Qigong exercise 60-minute bi-weekly with instructors for 6 months from June 2022 to December 2022. The physical, mental, and social well-being and other variables were measured via online questionnaires. RESULTS: The majority were 51 to 65 (50.6%) years old, female (90.2%), married (68.5%), and came from Taiwan (48.9%). Older adults had higher scores on measures of overall health and exercise adherence, and lower scores on measures of sleep quality and depressive symptoms compared with younger counterparts (P < .05). Most of them (95.3%) acknowledged that the improvement of health status was their motivating factor for exercise. Eighty nine percent of the participants believed that social media played an important role in this exercise program. CONCLUSION: This study will suggest such approach has great potential to reduce health disparities and can be implemented to underserved population who has limited recourses to join in-person exercise program.

Adolescents' attitudes, habits, identity and social support in relation to physical activity after the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study focuses on adolescents' cognitive processes, behaviors and social support (SS) as they relate to physical activity (PA) before and after the pandemic. The aims of the study were: (1) to investigate the changes in adolescents' engagement in moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and examine the changes in PA-related attitudes and behaviors before and after the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) to analyze the correlations between the significant changes that were found, PA engagement, and SS. The survey targeted third-year middle school students of Italian nationality, attending male and female mixed classes, residents in urban, periphery and sub-urban areas, living in families with different incomes, and different habits of engaging in PA. A longitudinal study was developed using a standardized questionnaire. The questionnaire was administered in April-May 2023 to a sample of 952 students aged 11/14 residing in the Marche region in Central Italy. Increasing values were found in the post-COVID-19 phase for all the cognitive processes and attitudes, in particular, those regarding habits (0.66 vs 0.50, + 32%) and identity (0.70 vs 0.55, + 27%) related to PA. Significant correlations were found between these values and VPA engagement and between the values of the same indicators and SS (p < 0.01). The strongest relationship was found with the dimension of identity (r = 0.51; r = 054).

Motivating factors for physical activity participation among individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A qualitative study applying the motivation, opportunity, and ability model.

OBJECTIVE: The study aims to explore the driving forces behind physical activity engagement among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, focusing on motivation, opportunity, and capability. DESIGN: A phenomenological qualitative study applied the motivation, opportunity, and capability model, conducted in two respiratory units of a Chinese university hospital. METHODS: Participants, selected by age, gender, and illness duration, included inpatients during the interview sessions and those recently discharged within six months. One-on-one semi-structured interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed by the Colaizzi seven-step method. RESULTS: Seventeen participants diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for over one year aged between 66 (range: 42-96) participated. Three major themes were identified: Inspiring participation motivation-transitioning from recognizing significance to habit formation; Offering participation opportunities-reiterating demand for personalized strategies and ideal environmental settings; Enhancing participation capability-addressing strategies for overcoming fears, setting goals, ensuring safety, and adjusting activity levels. CONCLUSIONS: This research underscores the vital role of inspiring participation motivation, offering opportunities, and enhancing the capability for participation in effective engagement. Advocating increased attention from healthcare departments, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, improving activity guidance and counseling effectiveness, and considering individual preferences can significantly benefit those patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who hesitate or are unable to participate in physical activities, thereby increasing the dose of non-leisure time physical activity.

Physical exercise and college students' sense of meaning in life: Chain mediating effect test.

BACKGROUND: To explore the impact mechanism of physical exercise on the sense of meaning in life of college students, and analyze the chain mediating effect between self-concept and self-control. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted on 923 college students in China using the Physical Exercise Rating Scale (PARS-3), Life Meaning Scale, Self Concept Scale, and Self Control Scale. RESULTS: (1) Physical exercise, self-concept, self-control and sense of meaning in life are significantly related to each other; (2) Self-concept and self-control play a chain mediating role between physical exercise and college students' sense of meaning in life, with an effect value of 0.042, accounting for 5.48% of the total effect. CONCLUSION: Physical exercise can directly enhance the sense of meaning in life of college students, and can also indirectly enhance it not only through the mediating effect of self-concept and self-control, but also through the chain mediating effect of the two. These results provide theoretical reference for college students to improve their sense of life meaning and mental health education.

The effect of replacing sedentary behavior with different intensities of physical activity on depression and anxiety in Chinese university students: an isotemporal substitution model.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has suggested that engaging in regular physical activity (PA) can help to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety in university students. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the impact of reducing sedentary behavior (SB) and increasing light-intensity PA (LPA) on these symptoms. This study aims to address this gap by using isotemporal substitution (IS) models to explore how substituting SB with LPA or moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) affects depression and anxiety symptoms among university students. METHODS: The study recruited 318 university students with a mean age of 21.13 years. Accelerometers were used to objectively measure the time spent on SB, LPA, and MVPA, while depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). IS models using multivariable linear regression were employed to estimate the associations between different behaviors and depression and anxiety symptoms when 30 min of one behavior was substituted with another. RESULTS: In the single-activity model, less SB (ß = 0.321, 95% CI: 0.089, 1.297) and more MVPA (ß = -0.142, 95% CI: -1.496, - 0.071) were found to be significantly and negatively associated with depression scores, while less SB (ß = 0.343, 95% CI: 0.057, 1.014), LPA (ß = 0.132, 95% CI: 0.049, 1.023), and more MVPA (ß = -0.077, 95% CI: -1.446, - 0.052) were significantly and negatively correlated with anxiety scores. The IS analysis revealed that substituting 30 min of SB with LPA (ß = -0.202, 95% CI: -1.371, - 0.146) or MVPA (ß = -0.308, 95% CI: -0.970, - 0.073) was associated with improvements in depressive symptoms. Substituting 30 min of SB with MVPA (ß = -0.147, 95% CI: -1.863, - 0.034) was associated with reduced anxiety symptoms. CONCLUSION: Replacing 30 min of SB with MVPA may alleviate depression and anxiety symptoms in university students. Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of PA interventions on the mental health disorders of this population.

Experiences of living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in relation to physical activity - "How the hills became steeper and steeper": a qualitative interview study.

INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disease presenting with symptoms like dyspnoea, dry cough, and fatigue, which affect physical function and quality of life. No earlier qualitative studies have investigated physical activity in IPF. This study aims to explore experiences of living with IPF in relation to physical activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 14 participants living with IPF. The participants were 77 years old (range: 56-86) and diagnosed with IPF between 2 and 9 years ago. The analysis was performed by qualitative content analysis according to Graneheim and Lundman. RESULTS: The results indicated that life and one's ability to be physically active is affected by IPF. Despite this, it seems possible to navigate past obstacles, which was illustrated by an overall theme: "My life is constrained, but I am hanging on". Two major categories cover topics of IPF being a life changing diagnosis with changes in self-image and changed future plans regarding physical activity, as well as life. Physical activity was perceived to be challenging, yet in many ways used as a strategy, developed to manage life. CONCLUSIONS: IPF affects physical activity as well as life, from onset onwards. By developing strategies for facilitating physical activity as well as identifying barriers, it seems possible to maintain an active life despite the disease. The healthcare system needs to create support systems that meet different needs during different phases of the disease. TRIAL REGISTRATION: "FoU in Sweden" Research and Development in Sweden (id: 227081).

Exercise, grit, and life satisfaction among Korean adolescents: a latent growth modeling analysis.

BACKGROUND: Life satisfaction among Korean students is declining substantially, and multifaceted improvement efforts are required. METHODS: We analyzed longitudinal change trajectories for exercise, grit, and life satisfaction levels among Korean adolescents using latent growth modeling with longitudinal data from the Korean Children and Youth Panel Surveys of 2,142 students (male: 1,070, female: 1,072) from sixth grade (2020) through eighth grade (2022). RESULTS: The model, which tracked linear changes in the students' exercise, grit, and life satisfaction, showed consistent declines over three school years for all variables. We also identified a longitudinal causal relationship among exercise, grit, and life satisfaction. A higher grit intercept was associated with higher intercept for-and a partial mediating effect between-exercise and life satisfaction. The grit slope was positively related to the life satisfaction slope, and both the intercept and exercise slope had positive effects on life satisfaction. Moreover, grit had a longitudinal mediating effect between exercise and life satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: We discuss the longitudinal change trajectories of exercise, grit, and life satisfaction, the causal and mediating effects among them, and the implications of the findings. These findings bolster our understanding of Korean adolescents' life satisfaction and have practical significance for designing programs to improve their quality of life.