Context The mental health benefits of physical activity are well established. However, less is known about whether the relationship between physical activity and mental health is consistent across ...different life domains. It is important to understand how context may influence the relationship between physical activity and mental health so that interventions and policy guidelines can be tailored to maximize positive effects. Evidence acquisition In 2015, systematic searches of four databases identified 13,435 records, of which 98 studies met the inclusion criteria. Evidence synthesis Included studies were published between 1988 and 2015 and had a combined sample size of 648,726. Of the 98 included studies, 93 examined leisure-time physical activity, 14 examined work-related physical activity, 15 examined transport physical activity, 16 examined household physical activity, three examined school sport, and three examined physical education. Multi-level meta-analyses showed that leisure-time physical activity ( r =0.13) and transport physical activity ( r =0.13) both had a positive association with mental health. Leisure-time physical activity ( r = –0.11) and school sport ( r = –0.09) both had an inverse association with mental ill-health. However, physical activity was not consistently associated with lower mental ill-health across domains, as work-related physical activity was positively associated with mental ill-health ( r =0.09). Household physical activity and participation in physical education had no relationship with mental health or mental ill-health. Conclusions The domain in which physical activity occurs influences the relationship between physical activity and mental health and should, therefore, be considered when developing interventions, treatment programs, and policy guidelines.
Evidence suggests that physical self-concept is associated with physical activity in children and adolescents, but no systematic review of this literature has been conducted.
The primary aim of this ...systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the strength of associations between physical activity and physical self-concept (general and sub-domains) in children and adolescents. The secondary aim was to examine potential moderators of the association between physical activity and physical self-concept.
A systematic search of six electronic databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, ERIC, Web of Science and Scopus) with no date restrictions was conducted. Random effects meta-analyses with correction for measurement were employed. The associations between physical activity and general physical self-concept and sub-domains were explored. A risk of bias assessment was conducted by two reviewers.
The search identified 64 studies to be included in the meta-analysis. Thirty-three studies addressed multiple outcomes of general physical self-concept: 28 studies examined general physical self-concept, 59 examined perceived competence, 25 examined perceived fitness, and 55 examined perceived appearance. Perceived competence was most strongly associated with physical activity (r = 0.30, 95% CI 0.24-0.35, p < 0.001), followed by perceived fitness (r = 0.26, 95% CI 0.20-0.32, p < 0.001), general physical self-concept (r = 0.25, 95% CI 0.16-0.34, p < 0.001) and perceived physical appearance (r = 0.12, 95% CI 0.08-0.16, p < 0.001). Sex was a significant moderator for general physical self-concept (p < 0.05), and age was a significant moderator for perceived appearance (p ≤ 0.01) and perceived competence (p < 0.05). No significant moderators were found for perceived fitness.
Overall, a significant association has been consistently demonstrated between physical activity and physical self-concept and its various sub-domains in children and adolescents. Age and sex are key moderators of the association between physical activity and physical self-concept.
The aim of our systematic review and meta-analysis was to quantitatively synthesise the effects of school-based peer-led interventions on leaders' academic, psychosocial, behavioural, and physical ...outcomes. Eligible studies were those that: (i) evaluated a school-based peer-led intervention using an experimental or quasi-experimental study design, (ii) included an age-matched control or comparison group, and (iii) evaluated the impact of the intervention on one or more leader outcomes. Medline, Sportdiscus, Psychinfo, Embase, and Scopus online databases were searched on the 24th of October, 2022 which yielded 13,572 results, with 31 included in the narrative synthesis and 12 in the meta-analysis. We found large positive effects for leaders' attitudes toward bullying (d = 1.02), small-to-medium positive effects for leaders' literacy (d = 0.39), and small positive effects for leaders' self-esteem (d = 0.18). There were mixed findings for behavioural outcomes and null effects for physical outcomes. Notable limitations of this research are the inclusion of a relatively small number of studies, and high heterogeneity in those included. Our findings have the potential to inform educational practice, but also highlight the need for further research examining the mechanisms that might account for the observed effects. Our systematic review was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021273129).
Physical activity interventions that promote cardiorespiratory (CRF) and muscular fitness (MF) may improve mental health in young adolescents. However, less is known about the links between fitness ...and mental health in older adolescents, as they are an understudied population. In addition, the association between MF and adolescents' mental health is less clear than it is for CRF. Our primary aim was to investigate whether MF is independently associated with mental health in a sample of older adolescents. Our secondary aim was to determine if the association between fitness and mental health was moderated by sex, socio-economic status (SES) or weight status. Participants were 670 students (16.0 0.4 years, 44.6% female) from 20 secondary schools in New South Wales, Australia. Mental health (well-being and internalizing problems) was self-reported using the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. We assessed CRF using the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run and MF using the push-up and standing long jump tests. After controlling for CRF, MF was not associated with mental health. CRF was associated with well-being (β = 0.20, p < .001) and internalizing problems (β = −0.27, p < .001). The strength of association between CRF and mental health was stronger in girls, than boys. No interaction effects were observed for SES or weight status. Although cross-sectional, our findings provide further evidence of the potential benefits of CRF for adolescents' mental health (i.e., well-being and internalizing problems), particularly girls. However, MF may be less relevant for mental health among this population.
•Muscular fitness was not associated with mental health after adjusting for cardiorespiratory fitness.•Cardiorespiratory fitness was moderately associated with older adolescents' well-being and internalizing problems.•The association between cardiorespiratory fitness and mental health was stronger for girls, than boys.
There is a positive relationship between children's movement competence and physical activity, with a further relationship established between physical activity and childhood obesity. The Movement ...Oriented Games Based Assessment (MOGBA) is a delivery and assessment intervention designed to improve children's complex movement skills, based on principles of motor development and assessment theories. MOGBA aims to improve children's movement competence, physical fitness and self-perceptions (physical and game) and increase children's moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). MOGBA is to be used in the 'Made to Play' initiative, involving 105 sports and activity programs across 21 countries, involving over 25 million children. A multi-site cluster randomized controlled trial will take place across three global sites (UK, Ireland and Australia). Each site will recruit eight primary schools (four experiment, four control) with each school providing two separate classes of children from age ranges 8-12 years (Site n = ~300, total n = 904). After baseline assessments, schools will be randomly allocated to an experimental or wait-list control group. Following two half-day workshops, trained facilitators will deliver the MOGBA intervention for 9 weeks. The main intervention components include delivery of 14 games-based activities with associated assessments of children's movement and differentiation to meet children's needs by manipulating space, effort and relationships. The primary outcome of the trial is to improve children's' movement competence (The Dragon Challenge), with secondary outcomes of improving children's' in-activity and leisure-time MVPA (5-day accelerometer), physical fitness (standing long jump and push ups) and self-perceptions (physical and game). Data will be analysed using multilevel modelling approaches. The MOGBA intervention has been designed to improve children's movement competence and scalable interventions based on MOGBA could be applied across programs within the Made to Play initiative, globally. The trial is registered at the Australia New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12619001320145p, 27 Sep 2019).
Abstract Introduction The primary aim was to examine longitudinal associations between changes in screen-time and mental health outcomes among adolescents. Methods Adolescents (N = 322, 65.5% ...females, mean age = 14.4 ± 0.6 years) reported screen-time and mental health at two time points over a school year. Multi-level linear regression analyses were conducted after adjusting for covariates. Results Changes in total recreational screen-time ( β = −0.09 p = 0.048) and tablet/mobile phone use ( β = −0.18, p < 0.001) were negatively associated with physical self-concept. Changes in total recreational screen-time ( β = −0.20, p = 0.001) and computer use ( β = −0.23, p = 0.003) were negatively associated with psychological well-being. A positive association was found with television/DVD use and psychological difficulties ( β = 0.16, p = 0.015). No associations were found for non-recreational screen-time. Conclusion Changes in recreational screen-time were associated with changes in a range of mental health outcomes.
The primary objective was to evaluate the impact of the ‘Switch-off 4 Healthy Minds’ (S4HM) intervention on recreational screen-time in adolescents.
Cluster randomized controlled trial with study ...measures at baseline and 6-months (post-intervention). Eligible participants reported exceeding recreational screen-time recommendations (i.e., >2h/day). In total, 322 adolescents (mean age=14.4±0.6years) from eight secondary schools in New South Wales, Australia were recruited. The S4HM intervention was guided by Self-Determination Theory and included: an interactive seminar, eHealth messaging, a behavioral contract and parental newsletters. The primary outcome was recreational screen-time. Secondary outcomes included mental health (i.e., well-being, psychological distress, self-perceptions), objectively measured physical activity, and body mass index (BMI). Outcome analyses were conducted using linear mixed models and mediation was examined using a product-of-coefficients test.
At post-intervention, significant reductions in screen-time were observed in both groups, with a greater reduction observed in the intervention group (−50min/day versus −29min, p<0.05 for both). However, the adjusted difference in change between groups was not statistically significant (mean=−21.3min/day, p=0.255). There were no significant intervention effects for mental health outcomes, physical activity or BMI. Significant mediation effects for autonomous motivation were found.
Participants in both the S4HM intervention and control groups significantly reduced their screen-time, with no group-by-time effects. Enhancing autonomous motivation might be a useful intervention target for trials aimed at reducing adolescents' recreational screen-time.
ACTRN12614000163606.
•Reductions in screen-time were not statistically significant.•No intervention effects were found for mental health, physical activity or BMI.•Intervention effect was partially mediated by increases in autonomous motivation.
This two-phase study involved the design, development, and evaluation of netball-specific high-intensity interval training sessions (Netball-HIIT) for use with netballers of varied ages and ...abilities. In Phase 1 (2020), a systematic analysis of netball GPS data from 30 netball players and gameplay video footage (10 h) was conducted, followed by the design and testing of five 8 min Netball-HIIT sessions involving 100 netball players (age 21 ± 8.44 years; Australia). In Phase 2 (2021), the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of delivering one Netball-HIIT session each week for five weeks was assessed using a two-armed, dose-matched, randomized, controlled feasibility study with netball players (born in 2010) (Netball HIIT n = 15; Netball Knee Program: NKP n = 15). Cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness was assessed at baseline and 6 weeks. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models and Cohen's
effect sizes. Netball-HIIT sessions were highly rated by players, and higher average (139 bpm) and peak heart rates (156 bpm) were detected amongst Netball-HIIT participants (KNP = 127 bpm and 152 bpm). We observed a large effect for cardiorespiratory fitness (+2.4 laps,
= 0.89), and a small to medium effect for muscular fitness (push-ups +1.2,
= 0.49; standing jump +0.8 cm,
= 0.36) in favor of Netball-HIIT, suggesting that coach-led Netball-HIIT may provide a time-efficient and effective training component for use in netball.
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the feasibility and efficacy of the Great Leaders Active StudentS (GLASS) program, a school-based peer-led physical activity and object control skill ...intervention. Design: The study employed a quasi-experimental design. Methods: The study was conducted in two elementary schools, one intervention and one comparison, in Newcastle, New South Wales (NSW), Australia from April to June 2015 (N = 224 students). Peer leaders (n = 20) in the intervention school received training to deliver two 30-min object control skill sessions per week to students in Kindergarten, Grades 1 and 2 (5-8 years, n = 83) over one school term (10 weeks). The primary outcome was pedometer assessed physical activity during school hours. Secondary outcomes included students' object control skill competency and peers' leadership self-efficacy and teacher ratings of peers' leadership skills. Results: Almost all (19/20) GLASS sessions were delivered by peer leaders who reported high acceptability of the program. The treatment-by-time interaction for students' physical activity during school hours was not significant (p = 0.313). The intervention effect on students' overall object control skills was statistically significant (mean difference 5.8 (95% CI 4.1, 7.4; p ( 0.001)). Teacher-rated peer leadership significantly improved (0.70; 95% CI 0.38-1.01); p ( .001)). Conclusions: The GLASS program was found to be both feasible and acceptable. The intervention also resulted in improvements in students' overall object control skills as well as teacher-rated peers' leadership behaviours. Future fully powered trials using peer leaders to deliver fundamental movement skill (FMS) programs are warranted. (Autor).
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