Establishing early physical activity (PA) habits is vital for long-term health, with parents considered as key influencers on children’s PA. Yet, most previous parent–offspring dyads examining PA associations were cross-sectional, rarely used device-based measures, and often overlooked movement composition. The aim of this study was to determine whether mother’s and father’s waking movement composition is cross-sectionally or longitudinally associated with those of their children. The SOPHYA cohort recruited families from a nation-wide population-based random sample stratified by child’s sex, birth year, and language. All youth aged 6–16 years and their parents officially residing in Switzerland, were eligible. Baseline and follow-up assessment occurred in 2013–2015 and 2019–2020, respectively. Questionnaire information and accelerometer measurements were collected remotely. The main predictor was parental movement composition at baseline. The associations between parental and child movement compositions were examined using Dirichlet regression models, adjusting for child’s age and sex, parental education, and language region. The endpoints were children's movement composition at baseline (cross-sectional) and follow-up (longitudinal), respectively. Baseline assessment provided accelerometer and self-reported covariate data for the same measurement week in 686 mother–child and 373 father-child pairs. Follow-up assessment provided accelerometer data for 263 children with maternal and 149 with paternal baseline data. Cross-sectionally, replacing parental sedentary behaviour (SB) with moderate-to-vigorous activity (MVPA) (mothers: 0.10, p < 0.001; fathers: 0.09, p = 0.002) or replacing SB with light physical activity (LPA) (mothers: 0.13; < 0.001; fathers: 0.09; p < 0.005) was associated with similar, but smaller shifts in children. Longitudinally, replacing parental SB with LPA was associated with similar, but smaller shifts in children five years later (mothers: coefficient: 0.12, p = 0.021; fathers: coefficient: 0.10, p = 0.108). The cross-sectional change in children’s LPA/SB ratio predicted from a parent’s 20

Children are likely to imitate their parent’s behavior, a concept known as parental modelling. This analysis embedded in the longitudinal SOPHYA cohort investigates whether mother’s and father’s measured or reported physical activity (PA) is cross-sectionally and predictively associated with their offspring’s measured or reported PA behavior. It assesses whether this association is independent of socioeconomic and physical neighborhood characteristics. In the population-based SOPHYA cohort, a sub-sample of 356 children and adolescents aged 6 to 16 at the onset were asked to wear accelerometers for 7 days at baseline (2014) and follow-up (2019). In parallel, valid parental accelerometer data was obtained at baseline. Information on children’s, adolescent’s and parent’s sports club and cycling habits as well as parental support was available from self-reported questionnaires answered during the accelerometry weeks. Multivariate linear and logistic regression models assessed the cross-sectional and predictive associations between parent’s PA behavior and their offspring’s accelerometer-based physical activity, cycling and participation in organised sport. The models were incrementally adjusted for the perceived physical environment (PE) and the socioeconomic environment index (SEP). Having a mother who meets PA guidelines for moderate and vigorous activity (MVPA) was predictively associated with children’s MVPA at follow-up (coefficient 5.3; 95

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Switzerland prioritized vaccination for school staff to mitigate the economic and societal impacts of school closures. However, there is limited research on vaccine acceptance and hesitancy among school staff in Switzerland. This study aimed to explore the arguments used by school staff to justify COVID-19 vaccination decisions in public and private institutions across Switzerland’s German-, French-, and Italian-speaking regions. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling from a national survey and through snowball techniques. Data were collected from interviews with 47 participants employed in nurseries, kindergartens, primary schools, middle schools, and special education facilities, conducted between November 2021 and March 2022. Interviews were analyzed using a primarily inductive approach, complemented by elements of abductive and deductive reasoning to identify key principles guiding decision-making. Among the participants, 36 had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 11 remained unvaccinated. We extracted four main themes: respondents considered four principles (i.e. self-protection, protection of others, return to normality, and institutional loyalty) as starting points in their decision-making process and then developed different arguments, either in support or against vaccination. The findings illustrate the complexity of vaccine hesitancy within the school context, where individual decisions are shaped by a combination of rational, moral, political and identity-related factors. This study contributes to the theoretical understanding of vaccination decision-making processes, particularly in school settings. It highlights the importance of considering vaccine hesitancy in the workplace and underscores the need for tailored communication strategies that address specific concerns within professional groups.

Abstract Background Diets largely contribute to the global disease burden, and a third of global warming emissions. We assessed the climate footprint reduction effect of framing the climate impact of diets as a collective action problem (social dilemma), compared or in combination with a reflective intervention (information) and a choice architecture intervention (nudge). Interactions with lifestyle factors were examined. Methods A randomised 2X2X2 between-subjects online experiment was conducted among university students ≥18 years, enrolled at a Swiss university, and not following a medically prescribed diet. The outcome was the mean climate footprint of food choices (in kg CO2-eq), based on a Life Cycle Assessment. Meals varied in climate footprints while adhering to the Swiss dietary guidelines. Results This analysis focused on the subset of meat eaters (n = 1691). Median age was 24 years, and 59.85% (n = 1012) were female. Seven intervention groups resulted in significantly lower climate footprints compared to the control. The social dilemma plus a nudge menu was the most effective behavioural intervention leading to 20.20% footprint reduction (b = -1.20 kg CO2-eq) compared to the control group (Mcontrol=5.94, SDcontrol=2.76; Mdilemma+nudge=4.74, SDdilemma+nudge=2.09 t(436) = -5.10, p < 0.001). Lifestyle factors linked to a higher climate footprint of food choices included adhering to a low-calorie diet (b = 1.21 kg CO2-eq, p < 0.05), or a muscle gain diet (b = 2.12 kg CO2-eq p < 0.05) and practising physical activities (PA) while adhering to a muscle-gain diet (Aerobic/Cardio: 3.82 kg CO2-eq, p < 0.05; Muscle-strengthening: 2.24 kg CO2-eq, p < 0.05). Conclusions The combination of reflective collective action communication and menu nudges is an effective strategy to mitigate the climate footprint of food choices in education institutions. Adherence to a muscle-gain diet was identified as a critical but manageable lifestyle factor linked to a higher climate footprint. Key messages • The dilemma plus a nudge was the most effective to reduce the climate footprint of food choices. • This combined intervention can manage the high climate footprints linked to lifestyle factors.

INTRODUCTION:Quality of life (QoL) is an important health indicator among children and adolescents. Evidence on the effect of physical activity (PA)-related behaviors on QoL among youth remains inconsistent. Conventional accelerometer-derived PA metrics and guidelines with a focus on whole weeks may not adequately characterize QoL relevant PA behavior.OBJECTIVE:This study aims to a) identify clusters of accelerometer-derived PA profiles during weekend days among children and adolescents living in Switzerland, b) assess their cross-sectional and predictive association with overall QoL and its dimensions, and c) investigate whether the associations of QoL with the newly identified clusters persist upon adjustment for the commonly used PA metrics moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and time spent in sedentary behavior (SB).METHODS:The population-based Swiss children's Objectively measured PHYsical Activity (SOPHYA) cohort among children and adolescents aged 6 to 16 years was initiated at baseline in 2013. PA and QoL information was obtained twice over a five-year follow-up period. The primary endpoint is the overall QoL score and its six dimension scores obtained by KINDL® questionnaire. The primary predictor is the cluster membership of accelerometer-derived weekend PA profile. Clusters were obtained by applying the k-medoid algorithm to the distance matrix of profiles obtained by pairwise alignments of PA time series using the Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) algorithm. Secondary predictors are accelerometer-derived conventional PA metrics MVPA and SB from two combined weekend days. Linear regression models were applied to assess a) the cross-sectional association between PA cluster membership and QoL at baseline and b) the predictive association between PA cluster membership at baseline and QoL at follow-up, adjusting for baseline QoL.RESULTS:The study sample for deriving PA profile clusters consisted of 51.4% girls and had an average age of 10.9 [SD 2.5] years). The elbow and silhouette methods indicated that weekend PA profiles are best classified in two or four clusters. The most differentiating characteristic for the two-clusters classification ("lower activity" and "high activity"), and the four-clusters classification ("inactive", "low activity", "medium activity", and "high activity"), respectively was the participant's mean counts per 15-seconds epoch. Participants assigned to high activity clusters were younger and more often male. Neither the clustered PA profiles nor MVPA or SB were cross-sectionally or predictively associated with overall QoL. The only association of a conventional PA metrics with QoL while adjusting for cluster membership was observed between MVPA during the weekend days and social well-being with a mean score difference of 2.4 (95%CI: 0.3 to 4.5; p = 0.025).CONCLUSION:The absence of strong associations of PA metrics for the weekend with QoL, except for the positive association between MVPA during the weekend days and social well-being, is in line with results from two randomized studies not showing efficacy of PA interventions on youth QoL. But because PA decreases with age, its promotion and relevance to QoL remain important research topics. Larger longitudinal study samples with more than two follow-up time points of children and adolescents are needed to derive new novel accelerometer-derived PA profiles and to associate them with QoL dimensions.

To reduce the spread of COVID-19, schools closed and moved to remote learning in many countries and municipalities. At the time of this study, Switzerland maintained the position that schools should be prioritized to remain open. The state of knowledge regarding the challenges that school staff encountered during the pandemic was limited. The aim of this study was to qualitatively explore the impact of COVID-19 and related measures in Switzerland on the professional life of school staff in terms of challenges, strategies, and benefits. Data were collected between November 2021 and March 2022. We conducted interviews with 47 participants working in nurseries, kindergartens, primary, middle, special, and after-schools across Switzerland. The majority were women and part of the teaching staff. Most had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Participants reported various challenges such as isolation, loneliness, and 'dryness' of work, pedagogical alienation and deontological distress, privacy loss, and confusion regarding health measures. They also cited different strategies, namely resuming simple activities, finding the right degree of transgression, recreating normality with children, and continuous adaptation. Finally, they identified some benefits, i.e. improvements in education regarding hygiene standards, greater acceptance of illness and death as a normal part of life, recognition of the privilege of being able to attend school in-person, and valorization of cultural diversity. We highlight the importance of listening to staff's concerns, enacted strategies, and perceived benefits and taking them into account when developing appropriate and effective public health and communication efforts.

The SOPHYA-cohort-study investigated whether the objectively characterized and perceived residential neighborhood of Swiss youth predict accelerometer-measured physical activity and activity in specific domains (participation in a sports club and cycling) five years later. At baseline in 2014, 1230 children and adolescents aged 6 to 16 years participated and wore accelerometers for 7 days. Of these children, 447 participated again in the follow-up study in 2019 and provided longitudinal accelerometer measurements. Sociodemographic factors and perceptions of the local neighbourhood were assessed by questionnaire. Specific objective environmental data (e.g. built environment or social environment) was modelled to the children’s address at baseline. Multivariate linear and logistic regression models were applied to identify short- and long-term characteristics that are associated with accelerometer-based physical activity, cycling and participation in organised sport. If the neighborhood-score as perceived by the parents in 2014 was in the middle or lowest tertile, children were significantly less active cross-sectionally in 2014 (-41.1 (-78.0;-4.2) and -52.4 (-88.6;-16.2) counts per minute, cpm), and five years later (-52.4 (-88.6;-16.2) and 48.1 (-86.6;-9.7) cpm). In addition, they were also less likely to accumulate active minutes above the median at both measuring points compared to peers of the same age and sex. Using objective environmental data modeled around the children’s residential address, similar associations were found: In the tertile with the lowest proportion of green space children achieved less cpm in 2014, while a high main street density and a low socioeconomic environment, respectively, hindered physical activity tracking above the median longitudinally. Also for cycling and participation in a sport club, the associations with the perceived and objective environment were more pronounced in the longitudinal analyses. The results suggest that growing up in a physical activity friendly neighborhood increases the likelihood of remaining active during adolescence and early adulthood. Interventions should be implemented to ensure that children growing up in an unfavorable neighborhood do not fall behind at an early stage.

BACKGROUND: Maintaining physical activity throughout life is crucial for overall health and wellbeing. Yet the age-related decline in average physical activity, a natural phenomenon also observed in animals, poses a challenge. This study aimed to investigate whether participation in organised sports supported by the Swiss Youth+Sports (Y+S) programme is associated with sustaining or enhancing physical activity among children and adolescents during 5 years of follow-up. METHODS: The longitudinal study was nested in the population-based SOPHYA (Swiss children’s Objectively measured PHYsical Activity) cohort. Participants aged 6–16 years at SOPHYA1 (2014) with complete accelerometer data from baseline and follow-up assessment (SOPHYA2, 2019) were included. The primary exposure was participation in organised sport during the follow-up period, calculated by linkage with the Y+S database as the number of days with at least one activity in Y+S-offered programmes for ages 5 to 20 years. The primary outcome was the categorisation of participants into physical activity “improvers” or “worseners”. Improvers in the respective physical activity categories – total activity counts per minute (CPM), minutes in moderate-to-vigorous activity (MVPA), minutes in light activity (LPA) and minutes in sedentary behaviour (SB) – increased or maintained their active physical activity during the 5 follow-up years. Information on confounders and effect modifiers (sex, age, body mass index (BMI), language region, household income, education) was obtained by self-report at baseline. Logistic regressions examined the relationship between organised sport participation and the probability of being a physical activity improver in each physical activity intensity category separately. Covariates for the final models were selected through a stepwise procedure based on the Bayesian information criterion from a maximal model containing all covariates as well as all two-way interactions with organised sport and between them. All models were a priori adjusted for technical variables (season of measurement; wear time; duration of follow-up). RESULTS: The analysis included 432 participants. There was a strong CPM, MVPA and LPA decline from 2014 to 2019, but an increase in SB. Nevertheless, the prevalence of improvers was 22.5% for CPM, 9.5% for MVPA, 26.9% for LPA and 9.7% for SB. Engagement in organised sport between 2014 and 2019 was positively associated with CPM, MVPA and SB, but not with LPA improver status. For 30 additional days of participation in organised sport over the five years of the study, the odds of being an improver vs being a worsener increased by 4.0% for CPM (95% CI: 0.13–7.69), 6.2% for MVPA (95% CI: 0.82–11.54) and 6.0% for SB (95% CI:−1.49–13.97). CONCLUSION: The results provide supporting evidence that organised sport in the context of the Swiss Y+S programme may empower the young to maintain an active lifestyle and even offset the age-related decline in physical activity.

ObjectivesTo identify and evaluate the difference between voluntary and mandatory food marketing policies and regulations targeting childhood obesity and to study the role of media, the food industry, and private associations in implementing such policies.MethodsA review of policies and legislation about unhealthy food marketing was conducted by searching and extracting relevant grey literature from the websites of international health agencies, food marketing pledge databases, GINA, and NOURISHING policy databases. Statutory laws and self-regulations of high-income countries were compared with each other and with the WHO recommendations.ResultsRegulations differ regarding target audience, nutrient profiling, communication media, and marketing techniques. To date, no country has implemented comprehensive regulations restricting all forms of unhealthy food marketing. Statutory laws are more meticulous and rigorous than self-regulatory policies.ConclusionThe goal of reducing childhood obesity through restrictions on unhealthy food advertising has not been met. While not welcomed by all actors, mandatory regulations may be more effective than voluntary measures in reaching this goal. A system for monitoring adherence to regulations and providing both incentives and penalties for violations is warranted.

Objectives: As there is no ranking designed for schools of Public Health, the aim of this project was to create one.Methods: To design the Public Health Academic Ranking (PHAR), we used the InCites Benchmarking and Analytics™ software and the Web Of Science™ Core Collection database. We collected bibliometric data on 26 schools of Public Health from each continent, between August and September 2022. We included 11 research indicators/scores, covering four criteria (productivity, quality, accessibility for readers, international collaboration), for the period 2017–2021. For the Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), a network gathering faculties across different universities, a specific methodology was used, with member-specific research queries.Results: The five top schools of the PHAR were: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Public Health Foundation of India, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, SSPH+, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.Conclusion: The PHAR allows worldwide bibliometric ordering of schools of Public Health. As this is a pilot project, the results must be taken with caution. This article aims to critically discuss its methodology and future improvements.

Objectives: This study aims to quantify the cross-sectional and prospective associations between quality of life (QoL) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).Methods: This study was based on the Swiss children’s Objectively measured PHYsical Activity cohort. The primary endpoint is the overall QoL score and its six dimensions. The main predictor is the average time spent in MVPA per day. Linear mixed effects and linear regression models respectively were used to investigate the cross-sectional and prospective associations between MVPA and QoL.Results: There were 352 participants in the study with complete data from baseline (2013–2015) and follow-up (2019). MVPA was positively associated with overall QoL and physical wellbeing (p = 0.023 and 0.002 respectively). The between-subject MVPA was positively associated with the overall QoL, physical wellbeing, and social wellbeing (p = 0.030, 0.017, and 0.028 respectively). Within-subject MVPA was positively associated with physical wellbeing and functioning at school (p = 0.039 and 0.013 respectively). Baseline MVPA was not associated with QoL 5 years later.Conclusion: Future longitudinal studies should employ shorter follow-up times and repeat measurements to assess the PA and QoL association.

COMMENTARY Int J Public Health, 22 December 2023 https://doi.org/10.3389/ijph.2023.1606967

Abstract Background The food sector contributes to a third of global Greenhouse gas emissions. Food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG) are policy tools that provide food advice compatible with health. There is a growing effort to include environmental sustainability in dietary guidelines, but less is known about the extent to which different countries include dietary recommendations with climate change mitigation potential. Methods Based on a systematic review and quantitative content analysis of food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG), a Dietary Climate Mitigation (DCM) score was developed to assess and rank the climate change mitigation potential of dietary guidelines at three levels: food life cycle, dietary patterns, and food groups. To avoid an overestimation of recommendations with relatively lower climate mitigation potential, the overall DMC score assigns higher weights to the dietary patterns and food groups sub-scores, compared to the food life cycle sub-score. Results Of the selected 92 countries, 38 mention environmental sustainability in their dietary guidelines. The Dietary Climate Mitigation (DCM) score ranged 4-84 (median 31.14 IQR 19.71-39.14, score range 0-100). Scores were significantly higher in high-income countries, dietary guidelines published after 2010, and those that explicitly address environmental sustainability. The highest scores are those from Belgium-Flemish, Australia, Zambia, Israel, Spain, Netherlands, Seychelles, Denmark, Sweden, and United Kingdom. Food advice with high climate mitigation potential are less frequent than advice with relatively lower mitigation potential. Conclusions Future dietary guidelines can be more aligned to health and climate goals if they factor in the differential environmental footprints of food choices. Explicit inclusion of environmental considerations in dietary advice has grown, yet most guidelines can still evolve from pro-environmental (intent-based), to environmentally significant (impact-based) food advice. Key messages • While there is a growth in dietary guidelines that mention environmental sustainability, most countries have still a low coverage of food recommendations with high climate mitigation potential. • To be compatible with planetary health, dietary guidelines can benefit from an impact-weighted approach to dietary advice.

Objectives: We compared socio-demographic characteristics, health-related variables, vaccination-related beliefs and attitudes, vaccination acceptance, and personality traits of individuals who vaccinated against COVID-19 and who did not vaccinate by December 2021.Methods: This cross-sectional study used data of 10,642 adult participants from the Corona Immunitas eCohort, an age-stratified random sample of the population of several cantons in Switzerland. We used multivariable logistic regression models to explore associations of vaccination status with socio-demographic, health, and behavioral factors.Results: Non-vaccinated individuals represented 12.4% of the sample. Compared to vaccinated individuals, non-vaccinated individuals were more likely to be younger, healthier, employed, have lower income, not worried about their health, have previously tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection, express lower vaccination acceptance, and/or report higher conscientiousness. Among non-vaccinated individuals, 19.9% and 21.3% had low confidence in the safety and effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, respectively. However, 29.1% and 26.7% of individuals with concerns about vaccine effectiveness and side effects at baseline, respectively vaccinated during the study period.Conclusion: In addition to known socio-demographic and health-related factors, non-vaccination was associated with concerns regarding vaccine safety and effectiveness.

Data to replicate the publication "Let's talk about COVID-19 vaccination: relevance of conversations about COVID-19 vaccination and information sources on vaccination intention in Switzerland?". This publication examines how public information sources and conversations about COVID-19 are associated with COVID-19 vaccination intention. Multivariable logistic regression and mediation analysis using generalized structural equation modeling were applied.

Purpose Islamophobia is a growing social problem that leads to the discrimination of Muslims. Using Group Conflict Theory and the Integrated Threat Theory as the theoretical frameworks, this study aims to measure the presence of Islamophobia in the hiring practices of the most southern state of Switzerland. Design/methodology/approach An experimental formative research study was conducted with employees. Based on CVs for two positions, back-office and front-office, candidates were selected for interviews and reasons were provided. Two variables were manipulated to represent the “Muslim appearance” on the CVs: the picture and the name. A content analysis of reasons was conducted in addition to descriptive statistics of survey responses. Findings A negative perception of Muslim candidates emerged from the answers with a clear difference between the two scenarios: candidates perceived to be Muslim were not rejected from the back-office position, but they were from the front-office position. Social implications Results demonstrate that hiring practices in Ticino Switzerland are, in some cases, based on a prejudicial attitude. As long as Muslims were “not seen as Muslims to the customers,” they were judged as acceptable for the job. This has implications for social marketing research and practice aimed to change this discrimination behavior. A next step could be to understand if it is fear of Muslims or fear of what the public might think of Muslims that cause the selection difference between the two jobs. Systems-wide and macro level social marketing research is well suited to investigate such problems and test solutions, in a local context, following the methodology used in this study. Originality/value A disturbing escalation of the phenomenon of Islamophobia has emerged across the globe. This paper examines a fundamental issue in equity and prosperity, which is equal opportunity for employment. Using experimental design, the authors find that discrimination exists in hiring practices, which is a problem that social marketing is well equipped to address.

To achieve global and country-level climate goals, changes in food production and population diets are essential. There is a growing attention to environmental sustainability aspects in national Food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG), but less is known about the extent to which different countries communicate food advice with climate change mitigation potential.A systematic review and quantitative content analysis of food-based dietary guidelines for the adult population were conducted. A score was developed to assess and rank the climate change mitigation potential of FBDG at three levels: food life cycle, dietary patterns, and food groups.Selection criteria were met by 93 FBDG from 92 countries. Overall, most countries include little low-emissions food advice in their dietary guidelines (Dietary Climate Mitigation score median 31.14, IQR 19.71-39.14, score range 0-100). Scores were significantly higher for high-income countries, guidelines published after 2010, and the 38 countries that explicitly mention environmental sustainability. Recommendations with high climate mitigation potential, such as limiting red meat consumption, are less frequent than those with relatively lower mitigation potential, such as reducing the transport impact of food. Positioning meat within a broader food group, so not as default, and recommending legume intake is already prevalent in most guidelines. Explicit meat replacements, legumes within the protein-rich food group, and maximum intake limits for dairy, meat, and red meat, are included in a growing minority. Future food-based dietary guidelines can be better aligned with human and planetary health by clearly communicating what dietary shifts have limited or substantial climate change mitigation potential.

Objectives: Health care professionals (HCPs) play an important role for patients’ vaccination decisions. To counsel patients/clients appropriately, HCPs need current factual knowledge about vaccines and strong communication skills.Methods: We conducted an online survey with physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and midwives in Switzerland (01.11.2020–31.03.2021). We evaluated: 1) interest in vaccination knowledge and counseling training; 2) vaccination recommendation practices; 3) experience with vaccination counseling/administration; 4) comfort level in addressing vaccine hesitancy (VH); 5) perspectives on patient/client VH, delays, and refusals.Results: In total, 1,933 practicing HCPs responded (496 physicians, 226 pharmacists, 607 nurses, 604 midwives). 43% physicians, 31% pharmacists, 15% nurses, and 23% midwives felt comfortable counseling VH patients/clients. 96% physicians, 98% pharmacists, 85% nurses, and 91% midwives were interested in additional vaccination-related training. All professionals mentioned safety, efficacy, and side effects as topics of most interest for additional training.Conclusion: Results demonstrate a high interest among HCPs for additional vaccination-related training. In addition to factual information about vaccination, such training will likely benefit from a communication component, given the low rates of comfort reported by HCPs when counseling VH patients/clients.