Digital Commons Network^™

Identification Of Objective (Measurable) Effects Of Systematic Physical Activity Of Young Women Participating In Slavica® Dance Training, Justyna Bolek-Adamek, Damian Bojar

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: Multiple data suggest that cardio workouts improve young women’s cardiorespiratory fitness and heart rate. The main goal of this paper is to identify objective (i.e. measurable) effects of systematic physical activity in young women participating in Slavica Dance training. Material and methods: Twenty-six young women, aged 20–21 years, constituted one group. Aerobic capacity, anaerobic threshold, heart rate and anaerobic energy metabolism were measured before and after the 8-week training period. Results: Regular participation in the Slavica Dance training resulted in a statistically significant increase in the volume of oxygen delivered and used per minute by the subjects’ bodies (3.0% …

Prevalence Of Physical Inactivity And Its Geographical Distribution In Yazd City, 2014–2015, Masoud Mirzaei, Mohsen Mirzaei, Seyed Ali Almodaresi, Hossein Fallahzadeh, Mahdi Shahryari, Shahin Eslami Farsani, Seyyed Mohammad Hossein Hosseini

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: One of the most important risk factors for non-communicable diseases is physical inactivity. This study was conducted to determine the geographical distribution of physical inactivity in Yazd City to identify places that need intervention. Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive analysis conducted based on Geographic Information System (GIS). The data for residents between 20 to 69 years in Yazd city of Yazd Health Study (YaHS) yielded 8727 people. The short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF) was used. The SPSS V.19 and ARC Map10.5 software were used to analyze the data. Results: The pattern of geographical distribution …

The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Healthy Lifestyles In Rural Families., Keisha M. England, Bethany Forseth Hanson, Maheen Bangash, Rohit Bhagat, Megan Murray, Dana Bakula, Ann M. Davis

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

The purpose of the current study is to understand how the early portion of COVID-19 pandemic impacted the health behaviors of rural families participating in a healthy lifestyles intervention. Caregivers of rural children participating in a healthy lifestyles intervention were invited to participate in a structured interview regarding how the COVID-19 pandemic affected their family and family health behaviors. Interviews were transcribed and the research team conducted a rigorous inductive thematic analysis. Structured qualitative interviews with caregivers (n=30) resulted in 5 saturated themes: (a) caregivers reported new or exacerbated mental health concerns and stress among family members, largely due to …

Too Masculine For Healthcare, Too Feminine For Intense Sports: Correlation Between Gender Conformity And Pro-Health Behaviours, Aleksandra Pawlowska, Kornelia Lipowska, Daniel Krokosz

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: The goal of this paper is to examine to what extent levels of femininity and masculinity are associated with practicing several types of health behaviours among individuals who are physically active and inactive. Material/Methods: A total of 559 individuals aged between 35 and 45 (M = 39.4; SD = 3.2) took part in the study. The inactive group consisted of 211 individuals (n = 85 women, n = 126 men), and the active group consisted of 348 individuals (n = 131 women, n = 217 men). The participants completed the following pen-and-paper questionnaires: the Psychological Gender Inventory, the Health …

Epigenetic Impact Of The Parents' Physical Activity On The Health Of Their Children, Agnieszka Boron

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

All parents’ dream is to have healthy children. The question whether the parents' lifestyle affects the quality of their progeny's health has been bothering scientists and society for many years. Based on epidemiological studies, it has been shown that physical activity during pregnancy is beneficial both for the health of the mother and the newborn. A significant number of studies conducted so far have shown that exercises performed by fathers modulate future generations by affecting the sperm epigenome. Epigenetics plays a key role in transmitting the response of the parents' environment and their lifestyle onto the characteristics and health of …

Correlation Between Participation In Physical Activity And Healthy Nutrition: An Example Of A Sports Science Faculty, Yasemin Ari, Ergün Çakir

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: It is important to encourage people to participate in physical activities and to develop motivational approaches to healthy nutrition in order to maintain a healthy life. This study was conducted to examine the relationship between the physical activity levels of university students and their attitudes to healthy nutrition. Material and methods: 392 (153 female and 239 male) university students voluntarily participated in the study. In the study, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and the Attitude Scale for Healthy Nutrition (ASHN) were used. Results: As a result of the analysis conducted in the study group, in the comparison …

Assessment Of The Diet And Body Composition Of Students Recreationally Training Team Sports, Filip Michal Borys, Beata Zysk, Adrianna Zanko, Dominika Chimkowska, Joanna Smarkusz-Zarzecka, Barbara Kielczewska, Lucyna Ostrowska

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: Knowledge about nutrition and supplementation during increased physical activity is still insufficient among people recreationally training sports. The aim of the study was to assess the diet, supplementation and nutritional status, as well as to characterize the body composition of students who recreationally train team sports. Material and methods: The study group consisted of 49 students from team sports sections (19 basketball, 10 volleyball and 20 football). The research tools used in the study were: a 24-hour nutritional interview, a questionnaire (concerning dietary supplementation, the frequency and duration of training) and the results of body composition analysis. Results: The …

Mental And Physical Health In General Population During Covid-19: Systematic Review And Narrative Synthesis, Feifei Wang, Szilvia Boros

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: The outbreak of COVID-19 changed the normality of daily life. Due to mobility restriction measures, physical and mental health in general population became a remarkable concern for researchers and health professionals. Material and methods: This article briefly reviews the evidence of mental and physical health consequences during COVID-19 pandemic. The review was conducted in October 2020 through PubMed and Web of Science with the searching frame: Mental health and Physical health and COVID-19. The study selection process followed the PRISMA flow diagram. Results: The reported mental consequences were mainly negative psychological effects including stress symptoms, anxiety, and depression. The …

The Faith, Activity, And Nutrition (Fan) Dissemination And Implementation Study: Changes In And Maintenance Of Organizational Practices Over 24 Months In A Statewide Initiative, Sarah Wilcox Phd, Kelsey R. Day, Ruth P. Saunders, Danielle E. Jake-Schoffman, Andrew T. Kaczynski, Jessica Stucker, Caroline G. Dunn, John Bernhart Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Background

Few studies have examined the impact of ecological health promotion interventions on organizational practices over time, especially in faith-based settings. This statewide dissemination and implementation study examined change in organizational practices and their predictors across a 24-month period, as well as maintenance of change.

Methods

Using a pre-post quasi-experimental design, church coordinators from 92 United Methodist Churches in South Carolina (42% predominantly African American congregations) completed surveys at baseline, and immediate, 12-, and 24-months post-training regarding physical activity (PA) and healthy eating (HE) organizational practices consistent with the Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN) program (opportunities, policies, pastor support, messages) …

Teen Reactions To A Self-Representational Avatar: A Qualitative Exploration, Emily Baysden, Ninna Mendoza, Chishinga Callender, Zhigang Deng, Debbe Thompson

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Purpose: This research presents findings from a qualitative exploration of the reactions of adolescents (12-14 years old) to navigating an exergame with an avatar created from multiple scans of the player (referred to as a self-representational avatar).

Methods: Post-gameplay interviews were conducted with adolescents following participation in a 20-min laboratory session (21.2 ± 0.8 min, mean ± SD) where the self-representational avatar was navigated through an exergame. Verbatim transcripts (n = 40) were coded and analyzed by 2 independent coders using hybrid thematic analysis for this secondary data analysis. Codes were reviewed to identify themes representing adolescents' reactions.

Results: Four …

Fit To Be Good: Physical Fitness Is Negatively Associated With Deviance, Kenneth Tai, Yuchuan Liu, Marko Pitesa, Sandy Lim, Yew Kwan Tong, Richards Arvey

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

While modern organizations generate economic value, they also produce negative externalities in terms of human physical fitness, such that workers globally are becoming physically unfit. In the current research, we focus on a significant but overlooked indirect cost that lack of physical fitness entails—deviance. In contrast to early (and methodologically limited) research in criminology, which suggests that physically fit people are more likely to behave in a deviant manner, we draw on self-control theory to suggest the opposite: that physically fit people are less likely to engage in deviance. In Study 1, concurrent as well as time-lagged analyses of a …

Symptom Clusters, Physical Activity, And Quality Of Life: A Latent Class Analysis Of Children During Maintenance Therapy For Leukemia, Mary C Hooke, Michelle A Mathiason, Audrey Blommer, Jessica Hutter, Pauline Mitby, Olga Taylor, Michael E Scheurer, Alicia S Kunin-Batson, Wei Pan, Marilyn J Hockenberry

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Children undergoing treatment for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) report co-occurring symptoms of fatigue, sleep disturbances, and depression as a symptom cluster. Physical activity (PA) may influence symptom severity and quality of life (QOL).

OBJECTIVES: This study examined changes in symptoms and QOL during ALL maintenance in children categorized by symptom cluster and explored the influence of PA and symptoms on QOL.

METHODS: Self-report of fatigue, sleep disturbance, and depression; QOL; and PA were measured at the beginning and end of maintenance in 42 children aged 3 to 18 years with ALL. Children were categorized into symptom cluster groups based …

Longitudinal Association Of Biological Maturation With Physical Activity Behaviors In Girls Transitioning From 5th To 7th Grade, Russell R. Pate, Marsha Dowda Ph.D., Rod L. Dishman, Joseph Gorab, Agnes Bucko, Ruth P. Saunders Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Introduction

This longitudinal study determined if social cognitive variables influence physical activity in girls stratified on the basis of maturity status.

Methods

Participants attended South Carolina public schools (Mage in 5th grade = 11.1 years) and included a cohort of 529 girls who provided physical activity data in the 5th grade and in 6th and/or 7th grade. The measure of maturity status was age at peak height velocity (APHV) estimated from maturity offset when the children were in the 5th grade. The Earlier Maturity (EM) group included girls whose APHV was one standard deviation or more below the mean APHV …

Special Olympics Fitness Assessment Project, Vanessa G. Garza, Victoria I. Moreno

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Fitness is an important aspect of the Special Olympics mission. Physical activity, adequate nutrition, and hydration enhance athletes’ sports performance and improve health and overall quality of life. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is under a service contract, assist Special Olympics International in data collection to evaluate the effectiveness of their Fit 5 program intervention. Analyze the health and fitness status of the Rio Grande Valley Special Olympics Athletes and the effectiveness of the Fit 5 program in the area. METHODS: Participant eligibility were current special Olympic athletes aged 18 and older in the Rio Grande Valley area. Forty-six …

What Works And For Whom? Outcome Evaluation Of An E-Mail Walking Program Delivered Through Cooperative Extension, Elizabeth Richards, Stephanie Woodcox, Anna Forster

School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Introduction: Get WalkIN’ is a 12-week, e-mail-based walking promotion program. The purpose of this study was to (1) compare sociodemographics of participants who enrolled versus completed the program; and (2) evaluate program feasibility/acceptability from perspectives of program participants and county-based Extension Educators who implemented the program. Methods: Participants (N = 875), recruited by county-based Extension Educators, were asked Likert-scale questions (eg, ease of reading the e-mails and frequency of e-mails) to assess program acceptability and open-ended questions regarding improvements. Educators (N = 55) were asked Likert-scale and open-ended questions regarding program training, recruitment, strengths, and areas for improvement. Descriptive statistics …

Behavior Change Trajectories And Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factor Clustering During The Transition To College: A Feasibility Pilot Study, Alexandra N. Smith, Lauren Q. Higgins, Simon Higgins

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 15(5): 125-141, 2022. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is typically diagnosed in adults; however, MetS risk factors are growing in prevalence during youth and young adulthood. Though the transition from high school to college is associated with adverse changes in lifestyle behaviors that may contribute to MetS risk factor development, the relationship between pre-college MetS risk status and transition-related behavior change is unknown. This prospective study aimed to describe the relationship between pre-college MetS risk status and transition-related behavior change trajectories in college-bound students. Moreover, it aimed to assess the feasibility of the study design, including acceptability …

Designing An Adaptive Adolescent Physical Activity And Nutrition Intervention For Covid-19-Related Health Challenges: Formative Research Study., Amanda Grimes, Joseph S Lightner, Kimberly Pina, Evelyn Donis De Miranda, Emily Meissen-Sebelius, Robin P. Shook, Emily A. Hurley

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: With rates of childhood obesity continually increasing, effective physical activity and nutrition interventions are needed. Formative research is used to tailor interventions to different cultural and geographic contexts and can be vital in adapting intervention strategies in the face of significant disruptive circumstances (like COVID-19).

OBJECTIVE: We conducted formative research via in-person and web-based focus groups among middle schoolers and parents to better understand the facilitators and barriers to physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption and to inform the design of a large intervention for a low-income, urban setting in the US Midwest.

METHODS: We conducted 2 phases …

Exercise Interventions For Relieving Anxiety Symptoms For People With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review, Kathryn Riis

College of Health Sciences Posters

Background: Clinical anxiety is a common comorbidity in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The focus of interventional therapies tends to be activities which improve gross motor function, communication, social interactions, and other behavioral skills. Certain forms of exercise have been successful in lowering anxiety levels while improving physical function.

Objective: The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the effectiveness of the use of exercise as an intervention to reduce anxiety in people with ASD.

Methods: Two databases, PubMed and Medline, were searched utilizing key terms. This yielded 35 articles for review. PRISMA systematic search procedures identified 9 …

Obesity, Physical Activity And Prostate Cancer: An Overview, Joanna Kruk, Joshua Bernstein, Basil Aboul-Enein

Health & Wellness Department Faculty Publications and Research

Obesity and a lack of sufficient physical activity (PA) are recognized as risk factors for most civilization diseases, including cancer. This study synthesized the current evidence evaluating the relationship between excess body weight and prostate cancer (PCa) in the relation to the disease risk, progression, and mortality, and identifies biological plausibility of the association. We also estimated the importance of PA in intentional body weight loss. Several electronic major databases to identify eligible articles were searched until March 2022. A total 22 observational articles, the literature on the underlying biological mechanisms, and the crucial evidence of a role of PA …

Optimal Frequency Intensity Of Physical Activity To Reduce The Risk Of Hypertension In The Korean Population, Jang Won Son, Sukho Lee, Minsoo Kang, Yun A. Shin, Jae Hyun Kim

Faculty and Student Publications

PURPOSE: Regular physical activity (PA) is an effective lifestyle modification for preventing hypertension. This study aimed to analyze the optimal frequency of PA required to reduce the incidence of hypertension in the Korean population. Most Korean studies have included only small samples and limited age ranges. METHODS: The present study analyzed 16,299,865 participants aged ≥20 years (44.25±12.74 years) from the 2009 to 2012 Korean National Health Insurance Corporation Survey database. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to assess the frequency and intensity of physical activity. Hazard ratios for incident hypertension were analyzed by physical activity participation, age, and sex …

The Acute, Systemic Effects Of Aerobic Exercise In Recently Concussed Adolescent Student‑Athletes: Preliminary Findings, P.R. Worts, J.R. Mason, Scott O. Burkhart, M.A. Sanchez-Gonzakez, J.S. Kim

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Objectives Examine the acute effects (pre-, during, post-intervention) of two different intensities of aerobic exercise or rest on autonomic, oculomotor, and vestibular function and symptom burden in patients with a recent sport-related concussion (SRC) and compare their responses to sex-matched, age-stratified, non-concussed (HEALTHY) student-athletes.

Methods Student-athletes between the ages of 13 and 18 that presented to the sports medicine clinic within Day 3–7 post-SRC and from local schools were recruited for a randomized controlled trial (RCT). The participants were administered the Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS), King-Devick (K-D), and Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) before and after the intervention. Heart rate variability …

Health Educator Experience: Recommendations For Physical Activity For Mental Health In Women, Patricia Schneider

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health issues, specifically anxiety and depression, continue to be a public health crisis in the United States. Despite the established therapies of pharmacology and cognitive behavioral therapy, not all patients seek or find relief using these methods. Therefore, other treatment strategies need to be studied. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand the experiences of health educators who use physical activity as a strategy for anxiety and depression management among middle-aged women as well as their own attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioral controls. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) was leveraged as the theoretical foundation for …

Indirect Effects Of Soldier Healthy Eating And Physical Activity On Suicidal Ideation Through Psychological Health Symptoms In Active-Duty Military, Nicolas Oakey-Frost, Benjamin Trachik, Michelle L. Ganulin, Mathew L. Lopresti, Michael N. Dretsch, Raymond P. Tucker

Faculty Publications

The suicide rate within the military continues to rise. New approaches for prevention are needed which capitalize on existing strengths, are scalable at multiple levels, and promote mental fortitude. Healthy eating (HE) and physical activity (PA) represent scalable practices and methods for promoting mental health and protective factors within the military. A cross-sectional sample of N = 1019 active-duty Soldiers completed self-report measures of HE, PA, major depressive disorder (MDD) symptoms, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms, and suicidal ideation (SI). Moderated mediation analyses using bootstrapping techniques were used to determine if HE and PA interact to relate to lower SI …

The Influence Of Menopause And Cardiorespiratory Fitness On Lipoprotein Particles In Midlife Women, Corinna Serviente, Melody Chalvin, Sarah Witkowski

Exercise and Sport Studies: Faculty Publications

Lipoprotein particles may provide better information about cardiovascular risk than standard cholesterol measures for women. Whether lipoprotein subclasses change with menopausal stage is unclear. Given the high prevalence of low cardiorespiratory fitness in midlife women and benefit of cardiovascular disease risk, it is also important to understand the effect of fitness on lipoprotein profiles. This study evaluated the influence of menopausal status and fitness on lipoprotein particles in healthy midlife women. Lipoprotein particles were measured in high-(n = 25) and low-(n = 13) fit perimenopausal and late postmenopausal women, and in high-fit premenopausal (n = 10), perimenopausal (n = 12), …

Project Spraoi: The Implementation And Outcomes Of A Process Evaluation Of A School-Based Health Promotion Intervention, Yvonne Larrissa O’Byrne

Theses

Large multi-site school-based interventions are challenging to implement and difficult to evaluate due to the complex adaptive nature of schools as a research setting. This study focused on implementing a comprehensive process evaluation of a multicomponent primary school-based health promotion called Project Spraoi (PS), alongside intervention delivery, to aid the translation of outcomes and understand the moderating role of contextual factors on intervention delivery. PS is led by a physical activity (PA) specialist known as an Energizer and aims to improve children’s PA levels and reduce sedentary time by delivering 20 minutes extra daily moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) during …

Increasing Physical Activity Rates Among High School Girls In Jefferson County, Kentucky, Haley Copeland

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Obesity rates across the U.S. are increasing, especially among adolescent females. Physical activity rates have been associated with obesity and many related health outcomes. Regular physical activity can help adolescents improve their cardiorespiratory fitness, build strong bones, control their weight, and reduce depression ¹. It can also help reduce the risk of developing health conditions like heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, type II diabetes, and obesity ¹. Thus, physical activity among youth provides a risk factor to target, with the intention of eventually decreasing obesity rates.

Recommended physical education class CDC guidelines are not being met …

Essential Factors For A Healthy Microbiome: A Scoping Review, Patricia Grace-Farfaglia, Heather Frazier, Maura D. Iversen

Health Science Faculty Publications

Recent discoveries of the purpose and potential of microbial interactions with humans have broad implications for our understanding of metabolism, immunity, the host–microbe genetic interactions. Bioavailability and bioaccessibility of phytonutrients in foods not only enrich microbial diversity in the lower human gastrointestinal tract (GIT) but also direct the functioning of the metagenome of the microbiota. Thus, healthy choices must include foods that contain nutrients that satisfy both the needs of humans and their microbes. Physical activity interventions at a moderate level of intensity have shown positive effects on metabolism and the microbiome, while intense training (>70% VO₂max) …

Decreasing Physical Inactivity Among Adolescents, Anthony W. Ware

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAdolescents in the United States have become complacent about being involved in an adequate amount of physical activity and consuming a healthy diet. This has led to adolescents having health issues such as overweight status and obesity. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made recommendations for adolescents to maintain an adequate level of physical activity and to consume a healthy diet. In this study I hypothesized that students who were surveyed in the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey who practiced both physical activity and healthy diet recommendations together would have a lower …

“It’S Just Part Of Our Hospitality:” Examination Of Cultural Factors That May Inform Future Initiatives To Improve Health Outcomes In A Rural Appalachian Community, Lauren Cassidy Batey

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Diet and physical activity are influenced by a person’s culture and may contribute to the presence of health disparities within a geographic region. Health disparities are evident in Appalachia where a unique cultural identity exists. Culture-based initiatives focused on improving diet quality and increasing physical activity have improved health outcomes in diverse groups, yet interventions considering geographically tied cultures, like Appalachia, are limited. This study aims to identify specific aspects of Appalachian culture that influence health outcomes to inform and increase success of health focused interventions. Five focus groups were conducted in one rural Appalachian community in summer 2021. Grounded …

The Effectiveness Of Incorporating Physical Activity Into The Classroom: A Literature Review, Lauren Reynolds

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Keeping students engaged and achieving in their academic content in school is becoming a very difficult task for teachers all across the nation. A relatively new concept that many teachers and schools are attempting to try in order to accomplish this task is incorporating physical activity in the classroom. However, we still wonder just how effective this integration is and what are the effects across the various grade levels and subject areas? To answer this question, relevant articles were researched, and information was gathered on studies that have been previously done. Results show that overall physical activity incorporated in the …