Adolescents and young adults with asthma and allergies: Physical activity, self-efficacy, social support, and subsequent psychosocial outcomes

BACKGROUND Physical inactivity is a risk factor for chronic noncommunicable diseases. Insufficient physical activity has become an important public health problem worldwide. As mobile apps have rapidly developed, physical activity apps have the potential to improve the level of physical activity among populations. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the effect of physical activity apps on levels of physical activity among college students. METHODS A Web-based questionnaire was used to survey college students in Beijing from December 27, 2017, to January 5, 2018. According to a previous survey, 43% of college students using physical activity apps and 36% of those who never used such apps achieved the physical activity recommendations. In this study, the sample size was calculated to be 500. The questionnaire consisted of 5 parts: the use of physical activity apps, sports habits, social support, self-efficacy, and social demographic information. Structural equation modeling was used to test the relationships between the use of physical activity apps, self-efficacy, social support, and level of physical activity. RESULTS Of the 1245 participants, 384 college students (30.8%) used physical activity apps (in the past month). Of these 384 students, 191 (49.7%) gained new friends via the app. College students who were using physical activity apps had a higher level of physical activity and higher scores for social support and self-efficacy (<italic>P</italic><.001) than those who did not use such apps. The use of physical activity apps significantly affected the mediating effect of physical activity level through social support (beta=.126; <italic>P</italic><.001) and self-efficacy (beta=.294; <italic>P</italic><.001). Gender played an important role in app use, self-efficacy, and physical activity in the mediation model: male users spent more time on physical activity and had higher self-efficacy scores (<italic>P</italic><.001). CONCLUSIONS This study focused on college students in Beijing and found that the use of physical activity apps is associated with higher physical activity levels among these students. This effect is mainly through the mediation effect of social support and self-efficacy, rather than the direct effect of physical activity apps. The use of physical activity apps is associated with a higher social support level and higher self-efficacy score. Furthermore, a high social support level and high self-efficacy score are associated with higher physical activity levels.

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Understanding adolescents’ and young adults’ self-perceptions after cancer treatment in the context of a two-arm, mixed-methods pilot randomized controlled physical activity trial

Supportive Care in Cancer ◽

10.1007/s00520-020-05974-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Amanda Wurz ◽

Jenson Price ◽

Jennifer Brunet

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Young Adults ◽

Mixed Methods ◽

Cancer Treatment ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Self Perceptions ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

After Cancer

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Obesity in Children and Adolescents during COVID-19 Pandemic

Children ◽

10.3390/children8020135 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 135

Author(s):

Androniki Stavridou ◽

Evangelia Kapsali ◽

Eleni Panagouli ◽

Athanasios Thirios ◽

Konstantinos Polychronis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Young Adults ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Eating Behaviors ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Care Providers ◽

Weight Changes ◽

Sugary Drinks ◽

Precautionary Measures ◽

Obesity In Children

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to special circumstances and changes to everyday life due to the worldwide measures that were imposed such as lockdowns. This review aims to evaluate obesity in children, adolescents and young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A literature search was conducted to evaluate pertinent studies up to 10 November 2020. Results: A total of 15 articles were eligible; 9 identified 17,028,111 children, adolescents and young adults from 5–25 years old, 5 pertained to studies with an age admixture (n = 20,521) and one study included parents with children 5–18 years old (n = 584). During the COVID-19 era, children, adolescents and young adults gained weight. Changes in dietary behaviors, increased food intake and unhealthy food choices including potatoes, meat and sugary drinks were noted during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Food insecurity associated with financial reasons represents another concern. Moreover, as the restrictions imposed reduced movements out of the house, physical activity was limited, representing another risk factor for weight gain. Conclusions: COVID-19 restrictions disrupted the everyday routine of children, adolescents and young adults and elicited changes in their eating behaviors and physical activity. To protect them, health care providers should highlight the risk of obesity and provide prevention strategies, ensuring also parental participation. Worldwide policies, guidelines and precautionary measures should ideally be established.

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A Population-Based Survey to Determine Association of Perceived Social Support and Self-Efficacy With Self-Care Among Elderly With Diabetes Mellitus (Kerman City, Iran)

The International Journal of Aging and Human Development ◽

10.1177/0091415016689474 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 85 (4) ◽

pp. 504-517 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Vahidreza Borhaninejad ◽

Mohsen Shati ◽

Devender Bhalla ◽

Abedin Iranpour ◽

Reza Fadayevatan

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Social Support ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Self Care ◽

Population Based ◽

Foot Care ◽

Gender And Age ◽

Kerman City ◽

Population Based Survey

This survey examined association between social support and self-efficacy with self-care in elderly with diabetes. A total of 374 subjects were identified in Kerman city, Iran who responded to questionnaires on self-care, social support, and self-efficacy. Data were analyzed by using SPSS. Along with customary descriptive statistics, we also determined group difference for self-care, and Pearson correlation, and prediction value of various variables by using hierarchical multiple regression. And 67.37% of subjects were classified as poor adherence to self-care; 55.9% patients reportedly had good foot care habits, while 68.4% patients were not taking adequate physical activity. There was a significant correlation between self-care with social support and self-efficacy. Independent variables accounted for 44.3% of the variance in self-care. Diabetes care programs should aim to implement (a) weekly free-of-cost mass physical activity programs, (b) mass education adapted for gender- and age-based needs, and (c) informal social cohesion and companionship among general public.

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Organized Physical Activity Program Participation, Physical Activity, and Related Psychosocial Factors Among Urban Adolescents

The Journal of School Nursing ◽

10.1177/10598405211038962 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 105984052110389

Author(s):

Lorraine B. Robbins ◽

Jiying Ling ◽

Mei-Wei Chang

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Social Support ◽

Psychosocial Factors ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Screen Time ◽

Urban Adolescents ◽

Physical Activity Program ◽

Time Behavior ◽

Program Participation ◽

Activity Program

The study purpose was to examine whether adolescents who participated in organized physical activity (PA) programs differed from nonparticipants in motivation, social support, and self-efficacy related to PA; PA (min/hr); and sedentary screen time behavior. Thirty-nine 5th–7th grade adolescents participated in organized PA programs; 41 did not. Approximately 56.3% were Black, and 52.5% had annual family incomes <$20,000. Compared to nonparticipants, those who participated reported significantly higher social support ( M = 2.32 vs. 3.13, p < .001) and fewer hours watching television or movies on a usual weekend day ( M = 2.49 vs. 1.59, p = .016); and had higher accelerometer-measured vigorous PA ( M = 0.58 vs. 1.04, p = .009) and moderate-to-vigorous PA ( M = 2.48 vs. 3.45, p = .035). Involving adolescents in organized PA programs may be important for improving their moderate-to-vigorous PA, vigorous PA, and related psychosocial factors, as well as reducing sedentary screen time behavior.

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