Background: To promote regular physical activity (PA), health promotion campaigns must be relevant to the intended audience based on the process of developing, enacting, or maintaining their PA intentions. Previous research has identified 4 major PA persona profiles of campaign audiences based on intention, behavior, habit, and identity: "nonintenders," "unsuccessful adopters," "successful adopters," and "successful maintainers." To maximize uptake, PA promotion campaigns must also be tailored to the sociodemographic characteristics of the intended audiences. The purpose of this study was to assess sociodemographic differences across these persona profiles. Methods: Secondary cross-sectional analyses were conducted on a pooled sample of 3 survey data sets (ntotal= 8122): a national poll of the Canadian population and audience feedback from 2 Canada-wide PA promotion campaigns. Participants were classified into persona profiles using an existing classification. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses assessed whether persona profiles differed on sociodemographic variables: age category, gender, sexual orientation, duration lived in Canada, race, education, and income. Results: With univariate analyses, persona profiles could be characterized by age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, race, and income; odds ratios ranged from very small to small. With multivariate analysis, disability (odds ratio: 1.68-2.51) and sexual orientation (odds ratio: 1.90-2.14) were the most distinct of other persona profiles compared with "successful maintainers." Conclusions: Participants with disability or who identified as 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual) were the least likely to enact or maintain PA intentions. These audiences with lower societal privilege are most likely to need tailored PA promotion campaign content addressing unique barriers and facilitators to becoming "successful maintainers."
Movement behaviours (e.g., sleep, sedentary behaviour, light physical activity [LPA], moderate to vigorous physical activity [MVPA]) are associated with numerous health and well-being outcomes. Compositional data analyses (CoDA) accounts for the interdependent nature of movement behaviours. This systematic review and meta-analysis provides a timely synthesis of the first decade of CoDA research examining the association between movement behaviours, health, and well-being in school-aged children. Databases were systematically searched for peer-reviewed studies examining CoDA associations between movement behaviours and health or well-being in school-aged children (5.0-17.9 years). All health and well-being outcomes were eligible for inclusion, as were all methods of reporting CoDA results. Where possible meta-analyses were conducted. Twenty-six studies were included in the review. Sample sizes ranged from 88 − 5,828 (median = 387) participants and the mean ages ranged from 8 to 16 years. Regression parameters (kstudies=16) were the most common method of reporting results, followed by substitution effects (kstudies=12), optimal compositions (kstudies=3), and movement behaviour clusters (kstudies =1). Weighted compositional means of movement behaviours were calculated (e.g., 49.8 min/day of MVPA). For regression analyses, results were generally null, though some favourable trends were observed for MVPA and unfavourable trends for LPA and sedentary behaviour within individual health and well-being outcomes categories. Meta-analyses of substitutions supported the benefits of MVPA, with the risks of reducing MVPA for other movement behaviours being double the magnitude compared to the benefits of adding MVPA. The most consistent conclusions within this review align with previous reviews that support the benefits of MVPA. Further, some evidence supported 24-hour movement behaviour guideline recommendations of increasing sleep and decreasing sedentary behaviour. This review also quantified not only the need to promote MVPA, but perhaps more importantly the urgency needed to preserve the limited MVPA children currently accumulate. Findings reinforce the “more/less is better” messages for movement behaviours, but do not allow us to recommend more specific balances of movement behaviours. As CoDA of movement behaviours progresses and accumulates further research, the methods and discussion points within the current review can aide future meta-analyses aimed at advancing the precision health guidance needed for optimizing children’s health and well-being.
BACKGROUND:Historically, physical activity (PA) promotion campaigns have been evaluated with social cognitive approaches that are limited in explaining the PA intention-behavior gap and distinguishing between behavioral adoption and maintenance. The purpose of this research was to develop and test a simple classification that addresses PA intention-behavior translation and maintenance, using action control and dual-process theories with 4 items (PA intentions, behavior, habit, and identity). METHODS:A classification was developed on one population (n = 1350) and tested on 2 PA campaign populations (n = 376 and n = 6396). The a priori criterion for success was for the resultant profiles to each account for ≥10% of the sample and collectively account for ≥85% of the sample. RESULTS:The initial classification produced 4 profiles: (1) "nonintenders" (ie, low intentions, low PA, low habit, and low identity); (2) "unsuccessful adopters" (ie, high intentions, low PA, low habit, and low identity); (3) "successful adopters" (ie, high intentions, high PA, low habit, and low identity); and (4) "successful maintainers" (ie, high intentions, high PA, and high habit, or high identity); which collectively accounted for 87.6% of the sample. The 2 test samples revealed 2 profiles ("successful adopters" and "successful maintainers") that accounted for 69.8% and 70.9% of the samples, respectively. CONCLUSIONS:The classification produced 4 profiles; however, only 2 profiles were revealed in the test samples. These differences may have been the result of the PA campaign populations being more inclined toward translating intentions and maintaining behavior. Future research should assess profile distributions across diverse campaign audiences.
Introduction La pandémie de COVID-19 a intensifié les effets des facteurs de risque associés à la santé mentale des adolescents, en particulier les préoccupations financières. Par ailleurs, on sait que le soutien social offre une protection contre les problèmes de santé mentale pendant les périodes de stress. C’est dans ce cadre que nous avons exploré l’effet des préoccupations financières sur les variations des symptômes d’anxiété et de dépression chez les adolescents canadiens avant et pendant la pandémie, pour déterminer si le soutien social apporté par la famille et les amis modérait ces variations. Méthodologie Nous avons analysé des données couplées sur deux ans provenant des vagues 2018-2019 (avant la pandémie) et 2020-2021 (pendant la pandémie) de l’étude COMPASS pour 12 995 élèves canadiens du secondaire. Nous avons réalisé une série de régressions linéaires multiniveaux pour explorer les principales hypothèses à l’étude. Résultats Les élèves ont obtenu un score moyen de 7,2 (écart-type : 5,8) pour l’anxiété (échelle GAD-7) et de 10,0 (6,5) pour la dépression (échelle CESD-10), et 16,1 % des élèves ont déclaré avoir eu des préoccupations financières pendant la pandémie. Les préoccupations financières ont constitué un facteur de prédiction important et statistiquement significatif de scores d’anxiété plus élevés (+1,7 entre ceux qui ont répondu « vrai/le plus souvent vrai » et ceux qui ont répondu « faux/le plus souvent faux ») pendant la pandémie, mais non en ce qui concerne les scores de dépression. Il existe un lien entre un faible soutien de la part de la famille et des amis et l’anxiété ainsi qu’entre un faible soutien de la part de la famille et la dépression. Aucune interaction importante n’a été observée entre le soutien social et les préoccupations financières. Conclusion Les préoccupations financières liées à la pandémie ont été fortement associées à l’anxiété dans notre large échantillon d’adolescents canadiens. Les initiatives cliniques et sanitaires doivent tenir compte des préoccupations financières des adolescents et de leurs liens avec l’anxiété en période de crise.
OBJECTIVE:We aimed to analyze the associations between movement behaviors (physical activity, screen time, and sleep), independently and jointly, and suicidal thoughts/ideation among Brazilian adolescents according to race/ethnicity.METHODS:This cross-sectional study surveyed 4,081 adolescents aged 15-19 years (49.9% females) across all Brazilian geographic regions. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Within the sample, 31.0% (n = 1,264) self-reported as White and 69.0% (n = 2,817) as Black. Adolescents who declared one or more times/week suicidal thoughts/ideation were considered as a risk group. Accruing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during leisure time, reduced recreational screen time, and good sleep quality were the exposures investigated. We evaluated both additive and multiplicative interactions between race/ethnicity and movement behaviors. Binary logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR), marginal means effects, and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).RESULTS:Black adolescents who met 1 (OR: 0.34; [95% CI: 0.22-0.52]), 2 (OR: 0.17 [0.11-0.27]), or 3 (OR: 0.13 [0.07-0.26]), and White adolescents who met 1 (OR: 0.35 [0.21-0.57]), 2 (OR: 0.14 [0.08-0.26]), or 3 (OR: 0.11 [0.04-0.31]) of the movement behavior targets had lower odds of suicidal thoughts/ideation than Black adolescents who did not meet any of the movement behavior targets. Black adolescents who did not meet any of the movement behavior targets had higher suicidal thoughts/ideation odds than the other adolescent's groups.CONCLUSIONS:We identified an inverse association between meeting individuals and combinations of movement behavior targets with suicidal thoughts/ideation. Among Black adolescents who did not meet any targets, these associations were more evident.
The purpose of this study was to explore the adaptations that schools made to physical activity programs and facilities, and disparities by area urbanicity and income, during the first school year after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a convenience sample of 132 secondary schools in Canada, school contacts responded to an annual survey in the 2020–2021 school year on changes to physical activity programs and facilities, and related staff training. Content analysis categorized open-ended text responses, and schools were compared based on area urbanicity and median income. Most schools canceled all interschool sports (88.9%) and intramurals (65.9%). New programs were added by 12.6% of schools, and about half (49%) of schools reported some continuing programs, most of which were sports programs, followed by facility and equipment access. Physical activity facilities were closed in 18.1% of schools, while 15.7% had new facilities added, and 11% temporarily converted facilities into learning spaces. Large/medium urban schools were at greater odds of having made any change to their facilities compared to schools in rural/small urban areas (odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 2.3 (1.1, 4.8)). The results demonstrate the considerable scale and nature of the restrictions in school provisions of physical activity opportunities during this period, as well as the resourcefulness of some schools in adding new programs and facilities.
•Movement behaviours consisted of sleep, physical activity, and screen time.•Mental health measures included flourishing, resiliency, anxiety and depression.•Best day scenarios maximized sleep and physical activity while minimizing screen.•For transgender youth small difference in activity associated better mental health.•Screen use associated with less severe poor mental health in boys.
Background To assess whether changes in breakfast and water consumption during the first full school year after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic varied based on sex/gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status among Canadian adolescents. Methods Prospective annual survey data collected pre- (October 2019-March 2020) and post-COVID-19 onset (November 2020-June 2021) the Cannabis, Obesity, Mental health, Physical activity, Alcohol, Smoking, and Sedentary behaviour (COMPASS) study. The sample consisted of 8,128 students; mean (SD) age = 14.2 (1.3) years from a convenience sample of 41 Canadian secondary schools. At both timepoints self-reported breakfast and water consumption were dichotomized as daily or not. Multivariable logistic generalized estimating equations with school clustering were used to estimate differences in maintenance/adoption of daily consumption post-COVID-19 based on demographic factors, while controlling for pre-COVID-19 behaviour. Results Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals are reported. Females (AOR = 0.71 [0.63, 0.79]) and lower socioeconomic status individuals (AOR Lowest:Highest =0.41 [0.16, 1.00]) were less likely to maintain/adopt daily breakfast consumption than male and higher socioeconomic status peers in the 2020–2021 school year. Black identifying individuals were less likely than all other racial/ethnic identities to maintain/adopt plain water consumption every day of the week (AOR = 0.33 [0.15, 0.75], p < 0.001). No significant interaction effects were detected. Conclusions Results support the hypothesis that changes in nutritional behaviours were not equal across demographic groups. Female, lower socioeconomic status, and Black adolescents reported greater declines in healthy nutritional behaviours. Public health interventions to improve adherence to daily breakfast and water consumption should target these segments of the population. Trial Registration Not a trial.
1.Background The Olympic motto,"Faster,Higher,Stronger—Together",represents the pursuit of athletic excellence,united as a global community."Excellence,respect and friendship"are the Olympic values.Both the motto and values are multifaceted and holistic in nature,and all-encompassing in their reach while recognizing no single entity rises above the others.Collectively,these foundational statements anchor the Olympic movement in its quest to build a better world through sport.
The COVID-19 pandemic intensified the impact of risk factors for adolescent mental health, including financial worry. Social support has shown to protect from negative mental health during times of stress. We examined the effect of financial worry on changes in anxiety and depression symptoms among Canadian adolescents prior to and during the pandemic, and assessed whether social support from family and friends moderated any changes. We analyzed 2-year linked data from the 2018/19 (pre-pandemic) and 2020/21 (during-pandemic) waves of the COMPASS study, with reports from 12 995 Canadian secondary school students. A series of multilevel linear regressions were conducted to examine the main hypotheses under study. Students scored an average (SD) of 7.2 (5.8) on the anxiety (GAD-7) and 10.0 (6.5) on the depression (CESD-10) scales; 16.1% reported they experienced financial worry during the pandemic. Financial worry was a strong and significant predictor of increased anxiety scores (+1.7 score between those reporting “true/mostly true” versus “false/mostly false”) during the pandemic, but not for depression scores. Low family and friend support were associated with anxiety, and low family support was associated with depression. No significant interactions were detected between social support and financial worry. Pandemic-related financial worry was significantly associated with anxiety in our large sample of Canadian adolescents. Clinical and public health initiatives should be aware of adolescents’ financial worry and its associations with anxiety during times of crisis.
Background Several recent global events may have impacted adolescent sleep and exacerbated pre-existing disparities by social positions. Current understanding of sleep among adolescents is critical to inform interventions for a more equitable future, given the short and long-term consequences of inadequate sleep on health and well-being This study aimed to provide contemporary evidence on sleep disparities by key social positions among adolescents in Canada. Methods Cross-sectional analyses were conducted using self-reported data collected during 2020–2021 (the first full school year after the COVID-19 pandemic onset) from 52,138 students (mean age = 15.0) attending 133 Canadian secondary schools. Multiple regression models were used to test whether sleep quality (how well students slept during past week), duration (weekday, weekend, weighted daily average), and guideline adherence (8–10 h/day) differed by sex/gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES). Results Females reported a mean [95% CI] difference of -1.7 [-3.7, 0.4] min/day less sleep on weekdays than males, but 7.1 [4.5, 9.6] min/day more sleep on weekends, resulting in no difference in average daily sleep between males and females. Females were less likely to report good quality sleep compared to males (AOR = 0.57 [0.54, 0.60]). SES followed a generally monotonic trend where higher scores were associated with more sleep on weekdays (Δ highest:lowest = -28.6 [-39.5, -17.6]) and weekends (Δ highest:lowest = -17.5 [-3.8, -31.2]) and greater likelihood of higher sleep quality (AOR highest:lowest = 3.04 [2.35, 3.92]). Relative to White adolescents, weekday and average daily sleep duration were lower among all other racial identities; mean differences ranged from ~ 5–15 min/day, with Black students reporting the least sleep. Conclusions Differences in sleep duration and quality were most profound among adolescents from the lowest and highest SES. Racial disparities were more evident on weekdays. Compensatory weekend sleep appears more pronounced in females than males. Addressing sleep inequities is critical, as a robust predictor of multiple health outcomes.
Early menarche has been associated with adverse health outcomes, such as depressive symptoms. Discovering effect modifiers across these conditions in the pediatric population is a constant challenge. We tested whether movement behaviours modified the effect of the association between early menarche and depression symptoms among adolescents. This crosssectional study included 2031 females aged 15-19 years across all Brazilian geographic regions. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire; 30.5% (n = 620) reported having experienced menarche before age 12 years (i.e., early menarche). We used the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to evaluate depressive symptoms. Accruing any moderate-vigorous physical activity during leisure time, limited recreational screen time, and having good sleep quality were the exposures investigated. Adolescents who experienced early menarche and met one (B: -4.45, 95% CI: (-5.38, -3.51)), two (B: -6.07 (-7.02, -5.12)), or three (B: -6.49 (-7.76, -5.21)), and adolescents who experienced not early menarche and met one (B: -5.33 (-6.20; -4.46)), two (B: -6.12 (-6.99; -5.24)), or three (B: -6.27 (-7.30; -5.24)) of the movement behaviour targets had lower PHQ-9 scores for depression symptoms than adolescents who experienced early menarche and did not meet any of the movement behaviours. The disparities in depressive symptoms among the adolescents (early menarche vs. not early menarche) who adhered to all three target behaviours were not statistically significant (B: 0.41 (-0.19; 1.01)). Adherence to movement behaviours modified the effect of the association between early menarche and depression symptoms.
Objective To provide contemporary evidence of how dietary intake and eating behaviours vary by social positions among adolescents. Methods We used survey data collected during the 2020–2021 school year from 52,138 students attending 133 secondary schools in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec, Canada. Multiple regression models tested whether self-reported indicators of dietary intake and eating behaviours differed by gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES). Results Females were more likely than males to skip breakfast, restrict eating, and consume fruit, vegetables, and fast food on more days. Gender-diverse/“prefer not to say” students were more likely to restrict eating than males and the least likely to consume breakfast and drink water daily, and fruits and vegetables regularly. Black and Latin American students were more likely to restrict eating and consume purchased snacks and fast food, and less likely to drink water daily than white and Asian adolescents. Daily breakfast consumption was most likely among Latin American students. Black students were the least likely to report eating breakfast daily and fruits and vegetables regularly. Lower SES was associated with lower odds of eating breakfast and drinking water daily and regular fruit and vegetable consumption, and higher odds of restrictive eating and purchased snack consumption. Fast food consumption had a u-shaped association with SES. Conclusion Results emphasize gender, racial/ethnic, and socioeconomic inequities in the diets and eating behaviours of adolescents. There is a critical need to address the structural factors contributing to inequities and prevent the consequences of dietary disparities.
This study examined changes in body mass and body mass index (BMI), physical activity, and dietary intake in Canadian university students during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two self-reported recall surveys were conducted: after the first lockdown in September 2020 (T1) and following the second lockdown in March 2021 (T2). Eligible participants were full-time undergraduate students attending a Canadian university and residing in Canada during the first year of the pandemic. At T1, 510 students (99 male, 411 female) completed the survey, and of those, 135 (32 males, 103 females) completed the survey at T2 (73% attrition). At both T1 and T2, most participants were 18-24 years of age (93% and 90%, respectively), Caucasian (73% and 78%, respectively), and resided in the province of Ontario (79% and 80%, respectively). Body mass increased from T1 to T2 (+0.91 ± 3.89 kg t(132) = -2.7, p = 0.008). BMI also increased from T1 to T2 (+0.30 ± 1.33 kg/m2 [t(130) = -2.5, p = 0.012), with a greater number of participants within the overweight range (19.8% versus 24.4%, respectively). At T1, 38% of the participants reported a decrease in physical activity, while the number of students reporting a decrease in activity increased to 56% at T2. Dietary energy intake decreased from 1678 ± 958 kcal/day at T1 to 1565 ± 842 kcal/day at T2 [c2(1) = 7.2, p = 0.007]. Diet quality also decreased, with participants not meeting the recommended daily allowance for essential macro and micronutrients. A decrease was observed in daily servings of fruits (-27%, p < 0.001), vegetables (-72%, p < 0.001), and grains (-68%, p < 0.001). In conclusion, despite a small decrease in dietary energy intake, a modest weight gain occurred during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in this cohort of Canadian university students, which was potentially related to decreased physical activity and diet quality.
Through a range of hypothetical mechanisms physical activity may provide benefits in the prevention of substance use across the lifespan. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the prospective association between physical activity and the initiation of current substance use among youth. The secondary objective examined if school connectedness mediated any prospective association. This longitudinal study included grade 9-12 students (n = 3244) with three years of linked data (2017-2020) from the COMPASS study. Multi-level logistic regressions were built to explore the association between changes in physical activity (meeting MVPA guidelines, outside of school sport participation, competitive school sport and non-competitive school sport) and the initiation of current substance use behaviours (cigarette, e-cigarettes, cannabis and binge drinking). Analyses examined if school connectedness mediated the association between physical activity and substance use. Results indicated that females who initiated 60 min of MVPA daily had greater than three times the odds of initiating current cigarette smoking (OR = 3.26 [1.45, 7.33]). Additionally, males who consistently participated in outside-of-school sport had greater than two times the odds of initiating current binge drinking (OR = 2.28 [1.43, 3.63]). Our mediation analysis demonstrated that sport participation may lower current e-cigarette and cannabis use through school connectedness. Overall, there was no evidence that physical activity confers broad, universal benefits in preventing substance use among Canadian youth. However, this is the first work to indicate that sport participation may provide a contextual experience that enhances school connectedness which in turn is associated with substance use prevention.
The purpose of this study was to assess if sub-populations of adolescents in Canada (i.e., race/ethnicity, sex/ gender, and socioeconomic status [SES]) experienced a larger change in physical activity and screen time between the 2019-2020 (pre-pandemic) and the 2020-2021 (mid-pandemic) school years. Longitudinally linked data from pre-pandemic and mid-pandemic school years of a prospective cohort study of secondary school students in Canada (n = 8209) were used for these analyses. Multivariable regression modelling tested the main effects of race/ethnicity, sex/gender, and SES on changes in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and screen time duration as well as adherence to Canada's 24-h Movement Guidelines. Overall between groups difference were assessed using type II analysis of deviance tests. Interactions between variables of interest were subsequently tested with a series of regression models compared to the main effects model using likelihood-ratio test. Post-hoc comparisons found Male participants' MVPA time decreased less compared to their female counterparts (M [95% CI] = -16.3 [-13.5, -19.2] min/day), but also reported greater increases in screen time compared to females (23.7 [14.7, 32.8] min/day) during the same period. MVPA in White participants decreased less than Asian participants (-10.7 [-19.5, -1.9] min/day) with a similar non-significant pattern observed in Black and Latin participants. Adolescents in higher SES categories fared better on adherence to MVPA (highest vs. lowest OR = 1.41 [0.97, 2.06]) and screen time recommendations(highest vs. lowest AOR = 3.13 [0.91, 11.11]). Results support the hypothesis that existing inequitable sociodemographic differences in MVPA participation and screen time have worsened throughout the pandemic.
Previous research has examined postsecondary student mental health and transitions into university. However, research focused on the transition out of university is lacking. Challenges may be experienced differently among population subgroups. We examined the mental health and support access of university students approaching graduation and differences by various social positions. Survey data were collected from final-year undergraduate students that had registered to graduate at a Canadian university in 2021 and 2022. Chi-square and linear regression models analyzed relationships between sociodemographic characteristics and mental health outcomes. Open-ended questions assessed barriers to accessing support and desired supports. Sexual/gender diverse students reported greater depressive symptoms than cisgender heterosexual students. Students without stressful childhood or current financial situations had lower depression and anxiety scores than their peers that experienced stressful financial situations, respectively. Formal support was more commonly accessed off-campus than on-campus in the past year. Differences in past-year support access were found by gender/sexuality, financial stress, age and race/ethnicity. Availability/scheduling was the most reported barrier to accessing campus-based services. Financial concerns were a common challenge and area for desired support. Implementing developmentally specific mental health support catering to the demands of this life period is necessary.