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The study of the physical activity engagement (PA) has given rise to a relevant research agenda in a wide range of fields, such as its close relationship with subjective well-being, self-perceived health and social capital. Previous evidence has identified interrelationships among these variables, but without considering different levels of physical activity. We have thus considered three levels of activity: light (walking), moderate and vigorous. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) is undertaken on data from Spain's National Health Survey in 2011–2012 to analyse these interrelationships. The SEM shows a simultaneous and bidirectional relationship between different levels of PA (moderate and vigorous activities) and happiness, with a more robust association stemming from happiness to PA than vice versa. This relationship is mediated through health. From a policy perspective, this implies a virtuous circle: involvement in different levels of PA increases happiness and self-perceived health, while happiness involves higher PA and subsequent positive increases in health and happiness. Nevertheless, this virtuous circle does not always run successfully when social capital is considered to mediate the relationship between PA and happiness, which might explain why it has proven to be very difficult for health policymakers to fight against inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle within a great part of the population. Highlights We investigate bidirectional interrelationships between different levels of physical activity (PA) and happiness. We consider the mediation role played by self-perceived health (SPH) and social capital. Our results highlight a network of association between different levels of PA, SPH, social capital and happiness. SPH positively mediates this relationship for any type of PA level, whereas social capital only mediates positively when vigorous PA is developed. From a health policy perspective, the simultaneity between PA levels and happiness implies a virtuous circle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze changes over time and the predictive value of baseline and changes of sedentary time (ST) and physical activity (PA) on pain, disease impact, and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) at 2‐ and 5‐year follow‐up in women with fibromyalgia. Methods: This is a longitudinal and exploratory study with three time points. A total of 427 women with fibromyalgia (51.4 ± 7.6 years) were followed after 2 (n = 172) and 5 years (n = 185). ST and PA (light and moderate‐to‐vigorous [MVPA]) were assessed using triaxial accelerometers. Pain, disease impact, and HRQoL were measured using: pressure pain threshold, the pain subscale of the revised fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQR), the bodily pain subscale of the 36‐item short‐form health survey (SF‐36), a visual analog scale (VAS), the FIQR, and the SF‐36 physical and mental components. Results: Over 5 years, pressure pain threshold, ST, light PA, and MVPA variables were worsened, while FIQR and SF‐36 variables were improved (Cohen's d < 0.1–0.3). Baseline ST or light PA were not associated with future outcomes, whereas greater MVPA at baseline was associated with better SF‐36 bodily pain at 5‐year follow‐up (β = 0.13). Reducing ST and increasing light PA were associated with better bodily pain (β = −0.16 and 0.17, respectively) and SF‐36 physical component (β = −0.20 and 0.17, respectively) at 5‐year follow‐up. Increasing MVPA was associated with less pain (pressure pain threshold, VAS, and FIQR‐pain) and better SF‐36 physical component at 2‐ and 5‐year follow‐up (β's from −0.20 to 0.21). Conclusions: Objectively measured variables slightly worsened over years, while for self‐reported outcomes there was a trend for improvement. Reductions in ST and increases in light PA and MVPA were associated with better HRQoL at 5‐year follow‐up, and increases in MVPA were additionally associated with better pain and HRQoL at 2‐year follow‐up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To characterize the levels of objectively measured time spent in sedentary activities (sedentary time) and physical activities in female patients with fibromyalgia and compare them with the levels in age-matched healthy control women. Methods The study comprised 413 female patients with fibromyalgia (mean ± SD age 51.9 ± 7.4 years) and 188 female control subjects (age 50.9 ± 7.5 years). Sedentary time, the amount of time spent engaged in physical activity, and step counts were measured using triaxial accelerometry. The amounts of time (minutes/day) during which the participants were engaged in sedentary behaviors as well as in physical activity of different intensities (light, moderate, and moderate-to-vigorous) and the step counts were calculated. Results The amount of time spent in sedentary behavior was longer in patients with fibromyalgia compared with controls (estimated mean ± SEM difference 39 ± 8 minutes/day; P < 0.001). The patients with fibromyalgia spent less time than controls engaged in light physical activity (mean ± SEM difference −21 ± 7 minutes/day; P = 0.005), moderate physical activity (mean ± SEM difference −17 ± 3 minutes/day; P < 0.001), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (mean ± SEM difference −19 ± 3 minutes/day; P < 0.001). The patients with fibromyalgia took fewer steps/day compared with the control subjects (mean ± SEM difference −1,881 ± 262 steps/day; P < 0.001). Only 20.6% of the patients with fibromyalgia and 46.3% of the control subjects fulfilled the recommendation for 150 minutes/week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in bouts of at least 10 minutes/bout (χ2 = 41.8, P < 0.001). Similarly, only 16.0% of the patients fulfilled the recommendation for ≥10,000 steps/day compared with 44.7% of the control subjects (χ2 = 56.8, P < 0.001). Both the patients and the control subjects were more active (physical activity of all intensities and numbers of steps) on weekdays than on weekend days (all P ≤ 0.001). Conclusion Female patients with fibromyalgia spent more time in sedentary behaviors and were less physically active than age-matched controls. The low proportions of female patients with fibromyalgia and control subjects who met the physical activity and step count recommendations is worrisome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]