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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, [...]

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.

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]

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]

Despite the increased health risks of a sedentary lifestyle, only 49 % of American adults participate in physical activity (PA) at the recommended levels. In an effort to move the PA field forward, we briefly review three emerging areas of PA intervention research. First, new intervention research has focused on not only increasing PA but also on decreasing sedentary behavior. Researchers should utilize randomized controlled trials, common terminology, investigate which behaviors should replace sedentary behaviors, evaluate long-term outcomes, and focus across the lifespan. Second, technology has contributed to an increase in sedentary behavior but has also led to innovative PA interventions. PA technology research should focus on large randomized trials with evidence-based components, explore social networking and innovative apps, improve PA monitoring, consider the lifespan, and be grounded in theory. Finally, in an effort to maximize public health impact, dissemination efforts should address the RE-AIM model, health disparities, and intervention costs., Author(s): Beth A. Lewis [sup.1] , Melissa A. Napolitano [sup.2] , Matthew P. Buman [sup.3] , David M. Williams [sup.4] , Claudio R. Nigg [sup.5] Author Affiliations: (1) 0000000419368657grid.17635.36School of [...]

Author(s): Claudio R. Nigg [sup.1] , Danielle E. Jake-Schoffman [sup.2] , E. Amy Janke [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) 0000 0001 1482 1895grid.162346.4Office of Public Health Studies, University of Hawaii, 1960 [...]

Non-communicable diseases (i.e., chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, diabetes and obesity) result in 36 million deaths each year. Individuals' habitual participation in a single health-risk behaviors substantially contribute to morbidity and mortality (e.g., tobacco use, daily fast food intake, etc.); however, more concerning is the impact of typically co-occurring or clustering of multiple health-risk behaviors. This burden can be minimized through successful cessation of health-risk behaviors and adoption of healthy behaviors; namely healthy lifestyle adoption or multiple health behavior change (MHBC). MHBC is a developing field and future research recommendations are provided to advance MHBC research. A valid measure of MHBC (i.e., lifestyle) is warranted to provide the needed basis for MHBC investigations and evaluations. MHBC is thought to occur through shared co-variation of underlying motivating mechanisms, but how these relationships influence behavior remains unclear. A better understanding of the relationship between behaviors and the related motivating mechanisms (and potential cross-relationship of influences) is needed. Future research should also aim to improve lifestyles through understanding how to change multiple health behaviors. Finally, MHBC research should target the development of sustainable interventions which result in lasting effects (e.g., capacity, systems, policy and environmental changes), with dissemination considered during development. Focusing MHBC research in these areas will increase our understanding and maximize the impact on the health of populations., Author(s): Karly Geller [sup.1] , Sonia Lippke [sup.2] , Claudio R. Nigg [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) 0000 0001 2195 6763grid.259956.4Department of Kinesiology and Health, Miami University, 106 Phillips Hall, 45056, [...]