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Background: Research suggests there is considerable opportunity to improve children's movement behaviors while they are being cared for by their grandparents. An understanding of the extent to which grandparent practices facilitate children's engagement in physical activity is critical to the development of health interventions targeting grandparent caregivers. This study examined the activity-related beliefs and practices of grandparents and their association with grandchildren's engagement in various movement behaviors while in grandparental care. Methods: Australian grandparents (N = 1190; 60% women) who provided regular care to a grandchild aged 3–14 years were recruited via a web panel provider to complete an online survey. The survey assessed grandparents' physical activity-related beliefs (eg, perceived importance) and practices (eg, support and social control) and their grandchildren's engagement in physical activity (unstructured, structured, and outdoor play) and screen-based activities while in grandparental care. Results: The importance of grandchildren's physical activity was rated highly by grandparents. Grandparents' support for their grandchildren's physical activity was positively associated with their grandchildren's engagement in structured physical activity, unstructured physical activity, and outdoor play. Negative social control was associated with greater engagement in screen-based activities. Other correlates of grandchildren's physical activity and screen-based activities included grandparents' own engagement in these activities. Conclusions: Findings highlight the importance of reinforcing the beliefs and practices that positively influence children's movement behaviors and addressing those that have unintended consequences. Encouraging grandparents to support their grandchildren's physical activity and discouraging forms of negative social control are likely to be important in efforts to promote physical activity in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: Objective: A greater understanding of the challenges and opportunities for tobacco control in Australia can assist with accelerating efforts in this space. This study sought to explore these challenges and identify priorities for policy and practice. Methods: Interviews were conducted with 31 individuals working in tobacco‐ and/or nicotine‐related research, policy and practice in Australia. Interviewees were tobacco control and cessation advocates, researchers, public servants and health practitioners representing a range of government and non‐government organisations. Results: Commonly reported challenges included e‐cigarettes distracting from evidence‐based reform, lack of government investment, a misperception that tobacco control is ‘done’ and tobacco industry interference. Advocating for tobacco control to be high on political agendas, sustained investment in evidence‐based measures, improved support for cessation and addressing industry interference were considered important means of addressing these challenges. Conclusions: Several challenges are perceived to be hampering Australia's tobacco control efforts. The attention being devoted to e‐cigarettes at the expense of effective control measures warrants immediate addressing. Implications for public health: Increasing awareness that smoking continues to be the leading cause of preventable death, developing an evidence‐based national cessation strategy and implementing measures that protect tobacco control efforts from vested interests are critical to reducing smoking prevalence rates., Australia has long been recognised as a world leader in tobacco control, with the proportion of adult daily smokers decreasing from 28% in 1989–90 to 11% in 2020–21 and the [...]

: Objective: Little attention has been given to the health status and lifestyle behaviours of expectant fathers. This study aimed to examine health‐related variables in a cohort of expectant fathers to identify potential focus areas for interventions designed to optimise health and wellbeing outcomes in this group. Methods: Partners of pregnant women who accessed antenatal services at a large maternity unit in a Western Australian hospital were recruited as part of the ORIGINS Project. Analyses were conducted on data from 498 expectant fathers who were primarily of mid and high socioeconomic status. Results: Participants reported relatively low levels of smoking and alcohol consumption and higher physical activity compared to national averages. Weight status was consistent with population norms for adult males: 76% were overweight or obese and 62% had a waist girth ≥94cm. Conclusions: Expectant fathers may benefit from health interventions, especially in relation to managing their weight during this phase of their lives and beyond. Implications for public health: Pregnancy represents a valuable opportunity to engage fathers‐to‐be in health interventions. Given identified links between paternal weight status and offspring outcomes, interventions focusing on achieving and maintaining a healthy weight among expectant fathers could be beneficial for families., Parents play a determining role in their children's health and wellbeing from preconception onwards.[sup.1] Influence occurs via a range of pathways including epigenetic, environmental and behavioural mechanisms.[sup.2,3] In terms of [...]

Background and aims: With the prevalence of e‐cigarette use among Australian youth increasing significantly in recent years, greater attention is being paid to encouraging and supporting cessation. However, research to inform such efforts is lacking. The present study sought to (i) measure desire to quit e‐cigarette use and actual quitting attempts among young Australians and (ii) explore correlates of quitting‐related cognitions and behaviours. Design, setting and participants: This was a cross‐sectional on‐line survey conducted in Australia. The participants were 14−25‐year‐old e‐cigarette users (n = 602; 53% women). Measurements: Desire to quit vaping and attempts to quit vaping were the primary dependent variables. The independent variables included several individual (e.g. harm perceptions, perceived appeal of vapes), social (descriptive norms) and environmental (e.g. ease of e‐cigarette access) factors. Findings A majority of respondents (61%) expressed a desire to quit vaping, and just over half (55%) had made a quit attempt. Finding vapes easy to access was associated with both a lack of desire [odds ratio (OR) = 0.71] and attempts to quit (OR = 0.77), while self‐reported addiction to vaping (OR = 1.42 and OR = 3.11) and perceiving vaping to be associated with mental health risks (OR = 1.30 and OR = 1.40) were positively correlated with these variables. Perceiving that vaping is common among people of one's age (OR = 0.82) and finding vapes appealing (OR = 0.55) were associated with a lack of desire to quit, while perceiving vaping to have physical health risks was positively associated with quitting desire (OR = 1.58). School‐based education on vaping was associated with reporting an attempt/s to quit (OR = 0.47). Conclusions: This survey of young Australian e‐cigarette users suggests a high level of desire to quit using e‐cigarettes and attempts to quit. Increasing knowledge regarding the physical and mental health risks associated with e‐cigarette use may assist with promoting quitting‐related intentions. Changing social norms, reducing the accessibility of e‐cigarettes and reducing the appeal of the products also constitute potential means of increasing the desire to quit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: Objective: Little is known about how to effectively encourage higher levels of activity among older people. This study tested the effectiveness of a public service advertisement designed according to recommendations for communicating with older audiences and featuring five types of moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity: tennis, line dancing, cycling, swimming and jogging. Methods: A survey administered to 1,200 Australians aged 50+ years assessed effects of the public service advertisement on: motivation (intrinsic and extrinsic); perceived believability, relevance, and effectiveness; and feelings elicited (e.g. interest, hope, guilt). Open‐ended questions enabled respondents to describe aspects of the ad they considered to be most and least effective. Results: Moderate to high scores were obtained on the motivation measures and the ad evaluation criteria of perceived effectiveness, likeability, believability and personal relevance. Mean scores for the feelings measures were generally low, with the exception of the positive feelings of being interested, inspired, hopeful and determined. Conclusions: The results suggest physical activity promotion ads can be motivating across age and socioeconomic subgroups of older people. Implications for public health: Ads aiming to encourage older people to be more physically active may be accepted and effective if they depict everyday older people enjoying a range of relevant activities., Engaging in appropriate levels of moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is critical for healthy ageing.[sup.1,2] Participation can delay age‐related morbidity and disability, extend the period of independent living and enhance quality [...]

INTRODUCTION Emerging research suggests an association between psychological distress and e-cigarette use. However, our understanding of young adults' experiences of this relationship is limited. We explored young adults' experiences of psychological distress and e-cigarette use. METHODS We conducted semi-structured interviews with 18- to 24-year-old university students (n=13; 77% female; mean age=21.5 years) based in Victoria, Australia. Interviews were conducted May-June 2023. Data were subject to reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS Individuals reported that they or their friends had initiated e-cigarette use to manage their psychological distress (e.g. low mood, social isolation, stress). Immediate stress reduction following use and subsequent nicotine dependence appeared to maintain use. CONCLUSIONS A reciprocal relationship likely exists between psychological distress and e-cigarette use whereby psychological distress contributes to use initiation and use maintains distress. Public campaigns and health services should provide: 1) education on adaptive coping/stress management strategies and the signs of nicotine dependence, and 2) support to manage nicotine dependence and the psychological distress that can arise from addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]