Is regular physical activity a key to mental health? Commentary on “Association between physical exercise and mental health in 1.2 million individuals in the USA between 2011 and 2015: A cross-sectional study”, by Chekroud et al., published in Lancet Psychiatry

Introduction: Inspite of the fact that the medical students have a greater awareness about a healthy lifestyle; their academic stress to perform well may poorly affect their pattern of physical activity and thus, compromise their overall health. Aim: To assess the level of physical activity among undergraduate medical students studying in various institutions across the state of Bihar and to evaluate the Metabolic Equivalent Task (MET) score so as to measure the intensity of physical activity performed by the participants. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among the undergraduate students, studying in different medical colleges across Bihar, India. An Online Google Form was created using a short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The collected data was analysed using Stata (Version 13) software. Results were presented as frequencies, mean and standard deviation. Chi-square test was applied to test for significant association at 0.05 level of significance. To identify the predictors of physical activity, multiple logistic regression analysis of the data was done. Results: A total of 1200 students participated in the study. Among these, 64.3% were males and 35.7% were females. More than half of the participants (57.6%) were aged <21 years. Majority of the participants (67.7%) had normal weight followed by overweight/obese (22.8%). Approximately, half of the participants (54.4%) reported availability of gym in their campus and only 26.7% of the participants were following regular routine of physical exercise. Maximum students under the study were residing in the hostel (89.4%); who were reaching college mainly by walking (74.8%), {OR=17.5 (12.9-23.5)}. On multivariate analysis; Body Mass Index (BMI), age, having an availability of gym in the campus and following a regular routine of physical exercise were found to be significant predictors of physical activity. Conclusion: In present study, the majority were sufficiently physically active. However, the low physical activity was observed among the overweight/obese participants is a distressing fact which may reflect the need to integrate the physical education electives in the curriculum

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Impact of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) on the Mental Health and Physical Activity of Pharmacy Students at the University of Zambia: A Cross-Sectional Study

10.1101/2021.01.11.21249547 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Steward Mudenda ◽

Moses Mukosha ◽

Chiluba Mwila ◽

Zikria Saleem ◽

Aubrey Chichoni Kalungia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Statistical Tests ◽

Time Factors ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Pharmacy Students ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The University ◽

The Impact

AbstractBackgroundThe novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a serious global health problem that has negatively impacted the mental health of students.MethodsWe conducted an online descriptive cross-sectional study among 273 undergraduate pharmacy students at the University of Zambia. A partial proportional odds regression model was used to determine the predictors of anxiety. All statistical tests were set at 95% confidence level (p<0.05).ResultsA response rate of 70% was obtained with the majority of the students being female 51.6%. Of the 273 respondents, 23.8% did not experience anxiety, 34.4% experienced mild anxiety, 24.9% experienced moderate anxiety while 16.9% experienced severe anxiety about COVID-19. It was also found that 61.2% of students reported that their attention to mental health increased during the COVID-19 pandemic whereas 44.3% reported an increased resting time with a significant reduction in relaxation 51.3% and physical activity 45.4% time. Factors that affected mental health included; reduced family care (OR: 2.27; 95% CI: 1.09-4.74), not changing attention to mental health (OR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.18-0.62), being in the final year of study (OR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.13-0.84), reduced time of resting (OR: 2.10; 95% CI: 1.26-3.50) and feeling helpless (OR: 0.42; 95% CI:0.23-0.75).ConclusionCOVID-19 negatively impacted the mental health and physical activity of pharmacy students at the University of Zambia. This can have negative health and academic outcomes for students going forward. Higher learning institutions and key stakeholders should implement measures to aid students to recover from the impact of COVID-19 on their mental health and physical activity.

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Associations of household food insufficiency with childhood depression and anxiety: a nationwide cross-sectional study in the USA

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054263 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. e054263

Author(s):

Siwen Zheng ◽

Amanda L Ngo ◽

Michele R Forman ◽

Anna L Barcellos ◽

Lauren Liao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Primary Caregivers ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Food Insufficiency ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Household Food ◽

The Usa ◽

Us Children

ObjectiveHousehold food insufficiency (HFIS) is a major public health threat to children. Children may be particularly vulnerable to HFIS as a psychological stressor due to their rapid growth and accelerated behavioural and cognitive states, whereas data focusing on HFIS and childhood mental disorders are as-yet sparse. We aimed to examine the associations of HFIS with depression and anxiety in US children.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingThe 2016–2018 National Survey of Children’s Health, a nationally-representative study.ParticipantsPrimary caregivers of 102 341 children in the USA.Primary and secondary outcome measuresPhysician diagnosed depression and anxiety were assessed by questionnaires administered to primary caregivers of 102 341 children. Multivariable logistic regression models estimated adjusted OR (aOR) for current depression or anxiety associated with HFIS measured through a validated single-item instrument.ResultsAmong children aged 3–17 years, 3.2% and 7.4% had parent-reported physician-diagnosed current depression and anxiety, respectively. Compared with children without HFIS, children with HFIS had approximately twofold higher weighted prevalence of anxiety or depression. After adjusting for covariates, children with versus without HFIS had a 1.53-fold (95% CI 1.15 to 2.03) and 1.48-fold (95% CI 1.20 to 1.82) increased odds of current depression and anxiety, respectively. Associations were slightly more pronounced among girls (aOR (95% CI): depression 1.69 (1.16 to 2.48); anxiety 1.78 (1.33 to 2.38)) than boys (1.42 (0.98 to 2.08); 1.32 (1.00 to 1.73); both P-for-interaction <0.01). The associations did not vary by children’s age or race/ethnicity.ConclusionsHFIS was independently associated with depression and anxiety among US children. Girls presented slightly greater vulnerability to HFIS in terms of impaired mental health. Children identified as food-insufficient may warrant mental health assessment and possible intervention. Assessment of HFIS among children with impaired mental health is also warranted. Our findings also highlight the importance of promptly addressing HFIS with referral to appropriate resources and inform its potential to alleviate childhood mental health issues.

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The Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety and Their Lifestyle Determinants in a Large Sample of Iranian Adults: Results from a Population Based Cross-Sectional Study

Serbian Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research ◽

10.2478/sjecr-2018-0079 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 163-170

Author(s):

Zeinab Alizadeh ◽

Awat Feizi ◽

Mehri Rejali ◽

Hamid Afshar ◽

Ammar Hassanzadeh Keshteli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Population Based ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Large Sample ◽

Increased Risk

AbstractAssociation of lifestyle-related factors and mental health has been less studied in Middle Eastern countries. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of two common mental health problems, i.e., depression and anxiety, and their lifestyle determinants in a large sample of Iranian population.This study was conducted within the framework of SEPAHAN population based cross-sectional study (N=4763(. The General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPPAQ) was used to assess physical activity and the Iranian-validated version of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was applied to screen for anxiety and depression. Logistic regression was used as the main statistical method for data analysis by SPSS version 16.0. A P-value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.The risk of anxiety and depression was 2.5 (OR=2.56,95% CI: 1.97-3.33) and 2.21(1.83-2.67) times higher in women than men, respectively. With every one-year increase in the age, the risk of anxiety decreased by 2% (OR=0.98,95% CI:0.97-0.99). Individuals with higher education had 56% lower risk of anxiety (OR=0.44,95% CI: 0.36-0.55) and 46% depression (OR=0.54,95% CI: 0.46-0.64) than the undergraduate group, and the risk of depression in the inactive (less than one hour of activity per week) group was 27% higher than the active group (OR=1.27,95% CI: 1.06-1.51). The risk of anxiety in the non-smoker group was 65% (OR=0.35,95% CI: 0.20-0.59) and depression was 64% lower than among smokers (OR=0.34,95% CI:0.22-0.53). In the ex-smoker group, the risk of anxiety was 60% (OR=0.40,95% CI:0.19-0.85) and depression was 59% lower than for the smoker group (OR=0.41,95% CI: 0.24-0.73).This current study’s results demonstrated significant associations between unhealthy lifestyle factors and increased risk of anxiety and depression. Hence, special attention must be paid to preventive intervention programmes aiming to enhance healthy lifestyle among at-risk populations.

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Higher participation in physical activity is associated with less use of inpatient mental health services: A cross-sectional study

Psychiatry Research ◽

10.1016/j.psychres.2017.11.030 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 259 ◽

pp. 550-553 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Joseph Korge ◽

David Nunan

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Mental Health Services ◽

Health Services ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Inpatient Mental Health

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Domains and levels of physical activity are linked to adult mental health and wellbeing in deprived neighbourhoods: A cross-sectional study

Mental Health and Physical Activity ◽

10.1016/j.mhpa.2016.07.001 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

pp. 19-28 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Phil Mason ◽

Angela Curl ◽

Ade Kearns

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

Adult Mental Health ◽

Deprived Neighbourhoods

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Dose response association of objective physical activity with mental health in a representative national sample of adults: A cross-sectional study

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0204682 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 (10) ◽

pp. e0204682 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Paquito Bernard ◽

Isabelle Doré ◽

Ahmed-Jérôme Romain ◽

Gabriel Hains-Monfette ◽

Celia Kingsbury ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Dose Response ◽

National Sample ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Representative National Sample

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Physical activity, mental health and academic achievement: A cross-sectional study of Norwegian adolescents

Mental Health and Physical Activity ◽

10.1016/j.mhpa.2020.100322 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 ◽

pp. 100322 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ingeborg Barth Vedøy ◽

Sigmund Alfred Anderssen ◽

Hege Eikeland Tjomsland ◽

Knut Ragnvald Skulberg ◽

Miranda Thurston

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Academic Achievement ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Health And Academic Achievement

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Income-based inequalities in self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among adolescents in England and the USA: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040540 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. e040540

Author(s):

Shaun Scholes ◽

Jennifer S Mindell

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Low Income ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

High Income ◽

Absolute Difference ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Usa ◽

Low Income Households

ObjectiveQuantify income-based inequalities in self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in England and the USA by sex.DesignPopulation-based cross-sectional study.Participants4019 adolescents aged 11–15 years in England (Health Survey for England 2008, 2012, 2015) and 4312 aged 12–17 years in the US (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2016).Main outcome measuresThree aspects of MVPA: (1) doing any, (2) average min/day (MVPA: including those who did none) and (3) average min/day conditional on participation (MVPA active). Using hurdle models, inequalities were quantified using the absolute difference in marginal means (average marginal effects).ResultsIn England, adolescents in high-income households were more likely than those in low-income households to have done any formal sports/exercise in the last 7 days (boys: 11%; 95% CI 4% to 17%; girls: 13%; 95% CI 6% to 20%); girls in high-income households did more than their low-income counterparts (MVPA: 6 min/day, 95% CI 2 to 9). Girls in low-income households spent more time in informal activities than girls in high-income households (MVPA: 21 min/day; 95% CI 10 to 33), while boys in low-income versus high-income households spent longer in active travel (MVPA: 21 min/week; 95% CI 8 to 34). In the USA, in a typical week, recreational activity was greater among high-income versus low-income households (boys: 15 min/day; 95% CI 6 to 24; girls: 19 min/day; 95% CI 12 to 27). In contrast, adolescents in low-income versus high-income households were more likely to travel actively (boys: 11%; 95% CI 3% to 19%; girls: 10%; 95% CI 3% to 17%) and do more.ConclusionsPolicy actions and interventions are required to increase MVPA across all income groups in England and the USA. Differences in formal sports/exercise (England) and recreational (USA) activities suggest that additional efforts are required to reduce inequalities.

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