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Background: While evidence consistently demonstrates that physical activity is beneficial to mental health, it remains relatively unknown how physical activity benefits mental health, and which factors influence the effect of physical activity on mental health. This understanding could vastly increase our capacity to design, recommend, and prescribe physical activity in more optimal ways. The purpose of this study was to systematically review and synthesise evidence of all mediators and moderators of the relationship between physical activity and mental health., Methods: Systematic searches of four databases (i.e., Scopus, PsycINFO, PubMed, and SPORTDiscus) identified 11,633 initial studies. Empirical studies that quantitatively assessed physical activity, or conducted a physical activity intervention, measured a mental health outcome, and tested one or more mediator or moderator of the relationship between physical activity and mental health were included. A total of 247 met the inclusion criteria; 173 studies examined mediation and 82 examined moderation., Results: Results of the best-evidence synthesis revealed strong evidence for 12 mediators including affect, mental health and wellbeing, self-esteem, self-efficacy, physical self-worth, body image satisfaction, resilience, social support, social connection, physical health, pain, and fatigue. Moderate evidence was identified for a further 15 mediators and eight moderators., Conclusions: Findings should inform the design of future physical activity interventions to ensure optimal effects on mental health related outcomes. Additionally, if health professionals were to take these mediators and moderators into consideration when prescribing or recommending physical activity, physical activity would likely have a greater impact on population mental health., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: To investigate cardiovascular disease mortality associated with longitudinal changes in body weight, and recreational and nonrecreational physical activity during the obesogenic transition in the United States since the 1970s., Methods: Data were analyzed from 4921 individuals aged 25-74 years who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1971 and 1979 and follow-up studies to 1992. Mortality was confirmed by searching the National Death Index or proxy interview; clinical data were collected in person. Changes in self-reported recreational and nonrecreational physical activity categories over time were coded as stable, increase, or decrease. Competing risks regression was used to determine hazard ratios adjusted for covariates. A logit model in a generalization method was used to explore mediation effects of change in body weight., Results: Compared with the "moderate-vigorous stable" group (reference), individuals who remained inactive ("inactive stable") or reduced their participation in physical activity ("active to inactive") experienced the highest mortality, with a 50% to 176% and 22% to 222% relative increased hazard ratios for nonrecreational and recreational physical activity, respectively, across all models adjusted for covariates. This corresponded to significant loss of life (up to 3 y; all P < .05). Individuals who became active ("inactive to active") were not at increased risk. We found weak (but nonstatistically significant) evidence of mediation effects of body weight change on mortality., Conclusions: Longitudinal changes in moderate-vigorous recreational and nonrecreational physical activity were important predictors of cardiovascular disease mortality during the obesogenic transition period in the United States and were mostly unexplained by changes in body weight.

Objectives: This consensus statement from Sports Medicine Australia and the Australian Psychological Society aims to provide guidance to practitioners on the ways that physical activity can be promoted to maximise benefits to mental health., Methods: Following the Clinical Consensus Statement protocol, an expert group comprised of eight members with expertise in physical activity and mental health articulated recommendations regarding five physical activity contextual factors: type, physical environment, delivery, domain, and social environment., Results: To optimise the mental health benefits of physical activity, we recommend: i) activity selection be guided by factors associated with adherence and enjoyment as opposed to any specific type (type); ii) facilitators (i.e., teachers, coaches, instructors, practitioners) deliver organised physical activity sessions using an instructional style that satisfies individuals' basic needs for autonomy, competence and social connection (delivery); iii) participation in physical activity with others who provide support, facilitate positive interactions, or make people feel valued, so long as it does not undermine a preference to be active alone (social environment); iv) where possible and appropriate, some physical activity should be undertaken outside in pleasant natural environments (physical environment); and, v) at least some physical activity be undertaken during leisure-time or via active travel, where possible prioritising activities one personally chooses to undertake (domain)., Conclusions: The type, domain, physical and social environment of physical activity, as well as the way in which it is delivered, will determine mental health outcomes. Practitioners can use these recommendations to optimise the effects of physical activity on mental health., Competing Interests: Declaration of interest statement The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Physical activity (PA) is beneficial for the prevention and management of psychological distress. However, no studies have investigated which combination/s of PA prescribed in the current global guidelines (i.e. aerobic moderate-to-vigorous PA [MVPA] and muscle-strengthening exercise [MSE]) are most strongly linked to reduced psychological distress. This study aimed to examine how PA guidelines adherence is associated with psychological distress. Using cross-sectional data of adults (n = 14,050) who participated in the 2012-2016 Health Survey for England, four categories of self-reported PA guidelines adherence were created: meeting none, only MSE, only aerobic MVPA, meeting both (exposure variables). Psychological distress (outcome) was measured using the General Health Questionnaire-12. The likelihood of experiencing high levels of psychological distress (cut-point of ≥4) across guidelines adherence categories was examined using logistic regression models adjusted for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. About 17% of adults experienced high levels of psychological distress; 37.5% did not adhere to any PA guidelines (category 1), 1.3% met only MSE (category 2), 35.5% met only aerobic MVPA (category 3), and 25.7% met both guidelines (category 4). Compared to category 1, the likelihood of experiencing high psychological distress was lowest in category 4 (OR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.54-0.77) followed by category 3 (OR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.67-0.90), while it did not differ in category 2 (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 0.75-2.05). This is the first study to identify the association between PA guidelines adherence and psychological distress in a large population sample. Findings suggest that meeting both aerobic MVPA and MSE guidelines might be most beneficial for mental health., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Physical self-concept and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) are fundamental components of adolescents' health and well-being. Previous research suggests that physical self-concept and MVPA share reciprocal relations whereby physical self-concept is both an antecedent (i.e., self-enhancement) and outcome (i.e., skill development) of MVPA. However, these studies rely on subjective reports of MVPA, which can produce social desirability bias and challenge youth's recall capabilities. In order to address this gap, we test a reciprocal effects model examining the interplay between adolescents' physical self-concept and its facets and 7 days of objectively measured MVPA., Method: Australian adolescents ( N = 1,767) completed 4,136 time-specific observations across 3 waves of data. Structural equation modeling was used to test the reciprocal effects model., Results: After controlling for body mass index and sex, results only supported the role of MVPA as an antecedent of physical self-concept. The percentage of time adolescents spent in MVPA during school was especially important to predicting a higher physical self-concept in the future., Conclusions: Findings did not support a reciprocal effects model of physical self-concept and objectively measured MVPA. Rather, physical self-concept and facets were outcomes of school-based MVPA, suggesting emphasis be placed on promoting adolescents' physical activity participation. This study demonstrates the benefits that school MVPA provides to adolescents' development of a positive physical self-concept, which is essential to optimizing long-term health and well-being. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

School-based physical education (PE) provides opportunities to accumulate moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), but many students are insufficiently active during PE lessons. Providing teachers with feedback regarding their students' physical activity may increase the effectiveness of PE for achieving MVPA goals, but existing physical activity monitoring technologies have limitations in class environments. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop and validate a system capable of providing feedback on PE lesson MVPA. Equations for translating step counts to %MVPA were derived from measures in 492 students who concurrently wore an ActiGraph GT3X+ (ActiGraph) and Yamax pedometer (Yamax) during a PE lesson. To enhance feedback availability during PE lessons, we then developed a bespoke monitoring system using wireless tri-axial pedometers (HMM) and a smart device app. After developing and testing the monitoring system, we assessed its validity and reliability in 100 students during a PE lesson. There was a strong correlation of 0.896 between step counts and accelerometer-determined %MVPA and quantile regression equations showed good validity for translating step counts to %MVPA with a mean absolute difference of 5.3 (95% CI, 4.4-6.2). The physical activity monitoring system was effective at providing %MVPA during PE lessons with a mean difference of 1.6 ± 7.1 compared with accelerometer-determined %MVPA (7% difference between the two measurement methods). Teachers and students can use a smart device app and wireless pedometers to conveniently obtain feedback during PE lessons. Future studies should determine whether such technologies help teachers to increase physical activity during PE lessons., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose: The primary aim of this study was to test the effect of a school-based physical activity intervention on adolescents' performance in mathematics. A secondary aim was to explore potential mechanisms that might explain the intervention effect., Methods: The Activity and Motivation in Physical EDucation intervention was evaluated using a two-arm cluster randomized controlled trial in 14 secondary schools located in low socioeconomic areas of Western Sydney, Australia. Study participants (n = 1173) were grade 8 students (mean age = 12.94 yr, SD = 0.54). The multicomponent intervention was designed to help teachers maximize students' opportunities for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during physical education (PE) and enhance students' motivation toward PE. Mathematics performance was assessed as part of national testing in grade 7, which was the year before the trial began and then again in grade 9. Potential mediators were: (i) proportion of PE lesson time that students spent in MVPA and leisure time MVPA (%), measured using Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometers, and (ii) students' self-reported engagement (behavioral, emotional, and cognitive) during mathematics lessons. Mediators were assessed at baseline (grade 8) and follow-up (grade 9, 14-15 months after baseline)., Results: The effect of the intervention on mathematics performance was small-to-medium (β = 0.16, P < 0.001). An intervention effect was observed for MVPA% in PE (β = 0.59, P < 0.001), but not for leisure time MVPA or any of the engagement mediators. There were no significant associations between changes in potential mediators and mathematics performance., Conclusions: The Activity and Motivation in Physical EDucation intervention had a significant positive effect on mathematics performance in adolescents. However, findings should be interpreted with caution as the effect was small and not associated with changes in hypothesized mediators.

Background: School-based physical education is an important public health initiative as it has the potential to provide students with regular opportunities to participate in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Unfortunately, in many physical education lessons students do not engage in sufficient MVPA to achieve health benefits. In this trial we will test the efficacy of a teacher professional development intervention, delivered partially via the Internet, on secondary school students' MVPA during physical education lessons. Teaching strategies covered in this training are designed to (i) maximize opportunities for students to be physically active during lessons and (ii) enhance students' autonomous motivation towards physical activity., Method: A two-arm cluster randomized controlled trial with allocation at the school level (intervention vs. usual care control). Teachers and Year 8 students in government-funded secondary schools in low socio-economic areas of the Western Sydney region of Australia will be eligible to participate. During the main portion of the intervention (6 months), teachers will participate in two workshops and complete two implementation tasks at their school. Implementation tasks will involve video-based self-reflection via the project's Web 2.0 platform and an individualized feedback meeting with a project mentor. Each intervention school will also complete two group peer-mentoring sessions at their school (one per term) in which they will discuss implementation with members of their school physical education staff. In the booster period (3 months), teachers will complete a half-day workshop at their school, plus one online implementation task, and a group mentoring session at their school. Throughout the entire intervention period (main intervention plus booster period), teachers will have access to online resources. Data collection will include baseline, post-intervention (7-8 months after baseline) and maintenance phase (14-15 months after baseline) assessments. Research assistants blinded to group allocation will collect all data. The primary outcome will be the proportion of physical education lesson time that students spend in MVPA. Secondary outcomes will include leisure-time physical activity, subjective well-being, and motivation towards physical activity., Discussion: The provision of an online training platform for teachers could help facilitate more widespread dissemination of evidence-based interventions compared with programs that rely exclusively on face-to-face training., Trial Registration: Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry- ACTRN12614000184673 . Registration date: February 19, 2014.

Physical activity (PA) is an effective and evidence-based intervention for the promotion of mental health, and prevention and treatment of mental health problems. However, little is known regarding the impact of contextual factors that may optimise the mental health benefits of PA. Contextual factors are the qualitative characteristics of PA that include its type, domain, physical and social environment, and delivery. We conducted an umbrella review of existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials that evaluated the effect of contextual factors of PA on mental health outcomes. A total of 42 reviews were included, and covered the delivery (n = 8), social environment (n = 6), physical environment (n = 7), and type of PA (n = 33). There were no meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials pertaining to the domain of PA. Evidence showed beneficial effects for supervised PA (delivery), PA undertaken inside or outside (physical environment), PA undertaken individually or in groups (social environment), and many types of PA including aerobic and resistance training. This suggests that variations in contextual factors may play a role in enhancing the MH benefits of PA. However, few direct comparisons, and heterogenous control groups, precluded meaningful comparisons across and within contextual factors. Further, greater attention needs to be paid to the systematic testing and reporting of the contextual factors of PA to optimise mental health and wellbeing. (PROSPERO registration: BLINDED FOR REVIEW). • Beneficial effects on mental health for supervised physical activity. • Physical activity both inside, outside, individually and in groups, was beneficial. • Several types of physical activity showed benefits to mental health and wellbeing. • No meta-analyses of RCTs pertaining to the domain of physical activity. • Variations in context may enhance the mental health benefits of physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this commentary are to (1) examine the current global physical activity recommendations for adults and its relation to mental health, based on findings from meta-analyses primarily of prospective studies, and (2) determine whether there is a need to extend the scope/focus of existing guidelines to ensure they are mental health informed. • Physical activity, even in low doses, associated with lower risk of mental illness. • Leisure and transport physical activity most likely to confer mental health benefits. • Current guidelines may not effectively address mental health outcomes. • Suggestions for updated guidelines are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]