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OBJECTIVES: Research on links between social, geographic, and cultural determinants of health has been thwarted by inadequate measures of culture. The purpose of this study was to improve the measurement of community culture, defined as shared patterns of attitudes and behaviors among people within a neighborhood that distinguish it from others, and to examine dimensions of culture, independent of socioeconomic and demographic factors, and their relationships with health. STUDY DESIGN: A survey research design with correlational analyses was used. METHODS: A survey packet including the Community Culture Survey - Revised (CCS-R), demographic, health, and other individual-level measures was administered through convenience sampling across the United States (US) and to a sample in Thailand from 2016 to 2018. US county-level variables were obtained from zip codes. RESULTS: 1930 participants from 49 US states (n = 1592) and Thailand (n = 338) completed all CCS-R items, from which 12 subscales were derived: Social Support & Connectedness, Responsibility for Self & Others, Family Ties & Duties, Social Distress, Urban Diversity, Discontinuity, Church-Engaged, External Resource-Seeking, Locally Owned Business-Active, Power Deference, Next Generation Focus, and Self-Reliance. Neighborhood culture subscale scores varied more by geography than by participants demographics. All subscales predicted one or more health indicator, and some of these relationships were significant after adjusting for participant age and county-level socioeconomic variables. Most of the significant differences on subscales by race/ethnicity were no longer significant after adjusting for participants age and county-level socioeconomic variables. Most rural/urban and regional differences in culture within the US persisted after these adjustments. Based on correlational analyses, Social Support & Connectedness and Responsibility for Self & Others were the best predictors of participants overall health and quality of life, and Responsibility for Self & Others was the best predictor (inversely) of the CDCs measures of social vulnerability. CONCLUSIONS: Neighborhood culture is measurable, multi-dimensional, distinct from race/ethnicity, and related to health even after controlling for age and socioeconomic factors. The CCS-R is useful for advancing research and practice addressing the complex interactions between individuals, their neighborhood communities, and health outcomes.

The growth of the self-concept through increasing perspectives, identities, resources, and efficacy is known as self-expansion and typically involves novelty, challenge, interest, and/or excitement. Self-expansion is positively associated with health factors including self-reported physical activity (PA). This study is the first to investigate self-expansion and daily PA, and with a PA monitor. Fifty community participants completed baseline questionnaires, wore a Fitbit One and completed daily self-report questionnaires for 28 days, and completed follow-up questionnaires. Daily surveys included questions about both general and PA-specific self-expansion. Across the 4 weeks, steps taken was positively correlated with both general (all maximum likelihood r = 0.17) and PA-specific self-expansion (maximum likelihood rs of 0.15 and 0.16), and PA-specific self-expansion was positively correlated (maximum likelihood rs of 0.38 and 0.50) with aerobic activity. Future research should investigate this relationship in a larger more diverse sample and test whether PA-specific self-expansion can be utilized as an acceptable, feasible, and effective intervention to increase daily steps and other forms of PA.

New approaches are needed to address low physical activity levels among older adults and to promote daily physical activity tailored to their interests and abilities. This study aimed to review the current literature analyzing the physiological demands of exergames in older adults. A systematic database search was conducted in October 2020 and March 2022. A total of 3,540 studies were screened, and 16 were incorporated into the data analysis. The studies included 527 participants, 61% female, with a mean age of 72.3 ± 4.7 years. Analyzed physiological parameters included mean heart rate, rate of perceived exertion, and metabolic equivalents or oxygen uptake. Exergames are capable of offering light- to moderate-intensity activity for older adults (mean heart rate: 108 ± 9.1 bpm; mean rate of perceived exertion: 11.5 ± 1.8; metabolic equivalents: 2.7 ± 0.7). Although implications are positive, high diversity was found in the study design according to intervention duration and assessment of physiological parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of an adolescent peer-led health curriculum in changing physical activity and fruit and vegetable social-cognitive and behavioural variables among Filipino American adolescents in Hawai'i for participants and peer educators. Design: Quasi-experimental design. Setting: One high school on Oahu, Hawai'i. Method: Filipino American adolescents aged 16-18 years from a grade 12 health class were recruited and trained as peer educators to deliver a health curriculum to grades 9-11 health classes over 8 months. We examined peer educators' influence on physical activity and fruit and vegetable social-cognitive (knowledge, stage of change, self-efficacy and enjoyment) and behavioural variables (physical activity and consumption). Participants and peer educators completed baseline and follow-up questionnaires. Results: Compared with controls, intervention students showed an increase in physical activity knowledge and self-efficacy. Multiple regression analysis predicted higher physical activity knowledge and moderate-vigorous physical activity follow-up scores for members of the intervention group. A significant effect was found for physical activity stage of change and moderate-vigorous physical activity for peer educators over time. No significant effect was found for any fruit and vegetable variables. Conclusion: A peer-led health curriculum may be a viable method to change physical activity social-cognitive and behavioural variables in Filipino American adolescents and peer educators.

This study investigated the corresponding change between psycho-social predictors and physical activity (PA) behavior and if these relationships were dependent on the stages of change from the Transtheoretical Model in Minority American adolescents. We conducted a longitudinal field study with N = 357 students aged 13-18 years (M = 14.24 years, SD = 0.88); predominantly Filipino (61.2%) using a test-retest design assessing psycho-social PA predictors (enjoyment, self-efficacy, family support, friends' support, knowledge, stage of change) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) at two time points over six months. Hierarchical regression results indicated that a positive change of enjoyment, knowledge about PA and family support predicted a change of MVPA, independently of stage. The time-varying covariation showed the importance of the current stage of change for enjoyment, self-efficacy and support of friends for a change of MVPA. Overall, our findings suggest that an individual's current stage of change should be considered to determine individually appropriate starting points and goals for designing interventions to promote PA among Minority American adolescents., Author(s): Eliane S. Engels [sup.1] , Claudio R. Nigg [sup.2] , Anne K. Reimers [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.5330.5, 0000 0001 2107 3311, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, , Gebbertstr. 123b, 91052, Erlangen, [...]

Background/Objectives: As research on yoga with school children is growing, this study investigated the effects a semester of yoga versus physical education on children's physical activity and psychosocial indicators. Methods: Physical activity and psychosocial variables were assessed at Time 1 (January/February) and Time 2 (April/May) through self-report surveys (n = 157; 63% female, age: m = 10.38, sd = 0.81 years) for the intervention (Hatha yoga classes) and control groups (standard physical education classes). The intervention group was also observed regarding pedometer and System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time data. Results: The results revealed a trend towards an increase for the control and a decrease for the intervention group in stress levels. The pedometer results showed a trend towards an increasing number of steps/min. Skill practice had the greatest increase with time dedicated to that activity. The observation results revealed a significant difference in activity from Time 1 to Time 2. The major differences were decreases in sitting and being very active, and an increase in walking. Conclusions: Given the observation data and our study design limitations, the study results showed similarities between Hatha yoga and physical education in terms of increasing physical activity levels and psychosocial variables; thus, yoga may be a viable alternative to children's physical education in this regard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the crucial role of mentoring, little literature exists that addresses distance mentoring among health researchers. This article provides three case studies showcasing protégés at different stages of career development (one in graduate school, one as an early-stage researcher, and one as an established researcher). Each case study provides a brief history of the relationship, examines the benefits and challenges of working together at a distance, and discusses the lessons learned from both the mentor and the protégé over the course of these relationships. A mentoring model, examples of mentoring communications, and potential promising practices are also provided and discussed.

The article discusses the process of updating and aligning the Swiss Physical Activity (PA) guidelines with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. The Swiss guidelines were updated to reflect global recommendations while considering Switzerland's unique characteristics and cultural context. The updated guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for Swiss citizens to lead healthier, more active lives and contribute to global efforts to improve public health. Stakeholder engagement and consultation were integral to ensuring broad acceptance and implementation of the guidelines. The article focuses specifically on movement recommendations for pregnant and postnatal women in Switzerland. [Extracted from the article]