Lifestyle habits among a sample of middle school adolescents in Tunisia

Abstract Introduction Adolescent health is a major global concern today. In fact, adolescence is the period of life where different risky behaviors can take hold and is therefore the best prevention phase to guarantee healthy lifestule in adulthood. We aimed to assess the lifestyle of middle school adolescents and to highlight the main behaviors such as the eating habits, the physical activity and the personal hygiene. Methods We carried out a cross sectional study among a sample of adolescents from December 2017 to January 2018 and we involved two middle school schools in the region of Monastir in Tunisia. The questionnaire GSHS (the Global school-based student health survey) was used. Results In total, 802 participants were enrolled with a mean age of 13.6 ±1.9 years, ranged from 11 to 16 years old. Females represented 51.9% of the study population. More than one third of the students (36%) reported rarely or never eating breakfast with a significant difference in girls more than in boys (62.8% vs 37.2%, p < 10-3). Almost half of students (46.2%) reported drinking sugary sodas at least once a day and 86.3% of them reported consuming fast food more than two times per week. In addition, 59.4% of middle school students reported eating fruit more than twice a day and 24.3% eating vegetables at least three times a day. Regarding physical activity, our results showed that 24.4% of middle school students were physically active (1 hour minimum during the day) every day for the last 7 days, boys more than girls (56.5% vs 43.5%, p = 0.02). In addition, 39.7% of students declared they sit at least three hours a day. As for personal hygiene, our study found that 9.3% of students never, or rarely, washed or brushed their teeth; boys more than girls (69.3% vs 30.7%, p = <0.001). Conclusions Our results provide additional evidence on the need to combat sedentary lifestyle and encourage healthy nutrition and physical activity among adolescents. Key messages Understanding the health needs and concerns of young people contribute to implement effective health programs. Interventions in young people should act on various aspects of the lifestyle to ensure an optimal effect.

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The Effectiveness of Equipment Provisions on Rural Middle School Students’ Physical Activity During Lunch Recess

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2019-0661 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 287-295

Author(s):

Hyeonho Yu ◽

Pamela H. Kulinna ◽

Shannon C. Mulhearn

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Middle School ◽

Middle School Students ◽

Visual Analysis ◽

Leisure Activity ◽

Environmental Intervention ◽

School Students ◽

Baseline Phase ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Eighth Grade Students

Background: Environmental provisions can boost students’ discretionary participation in physical activity (PA) during lunchtime at school. This study investigated the effectiveness of providing PA equipment as an environmental intervention on middle school students’ PA levels and stakeholders’ perceptions of the effectiveness of equipment provisions during school lunch recess. Methods: A baseline–intervention research design was used in this study with a first baseline phase followed by an intervention phase (ie, equipment provision phase). A total of 514 students at 2 middle schools (school 1 and school 2) in a rural area of the western United States were observed directly using the System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth instrument. Interviews were conducted with stakeholders. Paired-sample t tests and visual analysis were conducted to explore differences in PA levels by gender, and common comparison (with trustworthiness measures) was used with the interview data. Results: The overall percentage of moderate to vigorous PA levels was increased in both schools (ranging from 8.0% to 24.0%). In school 2, there was a significant difference in seventh- and eighth-grade students’ moderate to vigorous PA levels from the baseline. Three major themes were identified: (1) unmotivated, (2) unequipped, and (3) unquestionable changes (with students becoming more active). Conclusions: Environmental supports (access, equipment, and supervision) significantly and positively influenced middle school students’ lunchtime PA levels.

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Nutrition intake and physical activity in a middle school in New York City

International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health ◽

10.1515/ijamh-2014-0035 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 335-340 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Marisol Gonzalez ◽

Ronald Feinstein ◽

Carina Iezzi ◽

Martin Fisher

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Middle School ◽

New York ◽

New York City ◽

Middle School Students ◽

York City ◽

Screen Time ◽

Great Variability ◽

School Students ◽

Significant Difference

Abstract Purpose: The threat of childhood obesity has never been greater. Behavior changes implemented during childhood and adolescence are believed to be the most successful means of thwarting the progression of this epidemic. The American Academy of Pediatrics has developed a public health campaign that promotes awareness of clinical guidelines for nutrition and physical activity. The campaign is based on a concept developed by the Maine Center for Public Health referred to as “5-2-1-0 Healthy”. The simple clear message of this concept outlines steps families can take to help prevent and treat childhood obesity. The purpose of the present study is to determine the current level of compliance and health education needs of a middle school population related to the “5-2-1-0” concept. Methods: A modified version of the 2010 National Youth Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) was distributed to students at a private, nonsectarian, middle school in New York City. The school is located in the borough of Manhattan, but includes youngsters from all five boroughs of the city. The questions were grouped and analyzed according to “5-2-1-0” categories. Surveys were scored, and the association between targeted questionnaire items and demographic variables (i.e., sex and grade) was examined. Results: All 140 students completed the survey, and there was great variability in their responses to both the nutrition and physical activity questions. Of all students, 65% reported eating one cup or more of fruit daily, and 38% reported eating one cup or more of vegetables daily. There was no statistically significant difference reported in consumption of fruits or vegetables by gender or grade. Over 60% of students indicated <2 h of DVD/video or computer/video game time per day, while 10% indicated more than 3 h per day for each. A significant difference existed in the screen time reported between grades (more screen time by the older students) and a statistically significant difference also existed in the amount of physical activity reported by gender and grade (more physical activity by males and younger students). There was no difference in the reported consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages by gender or grade. Conclusion: In a cohort of middle school students in New York City, there was great variability in compliance with the principles represented by the “5-2-1-0” concept. Changes in health behaviors were noted as students went from 6th to 7th to 8th grade, with physical activity decreasing and screen time increasing. Consequently, health curriculum topics for middle school students should focus on physical activity and screen time, while continuing to emphasize the need for proper nutrition.

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Physical Activity and Its Relationship with Life Satisfaction among Middle School Students: A Cross-Culture Study

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12176932 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (17) ◽

pp. 6932

Author(s):

Sisi Chen ◽

Walter King Yan HO ◽

Md. Dilsad Ahmed

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Middle School ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

Middle School Students ◽

Life Experience ◽

Cross Culture ◽

School Students ◽

Satisfaction Scale ◽

Study Results ◽

Significant Difference

This study examined the association between physical activity (PA) levels and life satisfaction for middle school students from Macau, Taipei, and Qianjiang. A total of 1002 middle school students (grades 7 to 9) were recruited in 2015 from three cities (Macau, N = 322; Taipei, N = 325; and Qianjiang, N = 355). Physical Activity Rank Scale-3 was used to evaluate the frequency, intensity, and duration of the PA. Further, students’ PA behaviors and life satisfaction were assessed using the Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (MSLSS) devised by Zhang. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, t-test, and one-way ANOVA were conducted to process the data. In both Macau and Taipei, the life satisfaction of adolescents was significantly associated with adolescents’ amount of PA (p < 0.05). A significant relationship was observed between self-satisfaction and PA in students from both Macau and Taipei (p < 0.05). The study results indicate the importance of life experience in PA. The more PA that a student engaged in, the higher the level of life satisfaction they obtained. There was a significant difference in the overall life satisfaction among adolescents in Macau, Taipei, and Qianjiang.

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The Role of Recreational Spaces in Meeting Physical Activity Recommendations Among Middle School Students

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.8.s1.s8 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 8 (s1) ◽

pp. S8-S16 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Virginia Rall Chomitz ◽

Denise Burke Aske ◽

Julia McDonald ◽

Howard Cabral ◽

Karen Ann Hacker

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Middle School ◽

Middle School Students ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

School Students ◽

Space Utilization ◽

Chi Square ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

8Th Grade

Background:There is growing recognition of the importance of recreational space utilization for promoting physical activity (PA) among youth.Methods:An cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 926 diverse 6th-8th grade students in Somerville, MA. Participants completed the 2007 Youth Risk Surveillance Survey (YRBS). Chi-square testing and logistical regression modeling were performed to predict meeting national PA recommendations for moderate, vigorous, and 60 minutes or more (60+) PA.Results:The participants reported meeting recommended PA levels for moderate (27%), vigorous (70%) and 60+ (21%) PA. In multivariate analysis, being male and speaking English were significantly associated with meeting all 3 PA recommendations. Recreational spaces significantly associated with meeting PA recommendations included neighborhood parks and walk/bike paths, playing fields and courts, and recreational centers. Recreational space utilization varied by gender, race/ethnicity, and language.Conclusions:Recreational space utilization was an important predictor of meeting PA recommendations among middle school students. Our results showed that PA attainment and recreational space utilization varied by demographic characteristics. The role of each recreational space in predicting PA varied depending on the outcome used. This study demonstrates the potential use of YRBS data to inform resource allocation for PA promotion in diverse communities.

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Comparison of Health Awareness in South Korean Middle School Students According to Type of Online Physical Education Classes during the COVID-19 Pandemic

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18157937 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (15) ◽

pp. 7937

Author(s):

Jung-In Yoo ◽

Joung-Kyue Han ◽

Hyun-Su Youn ◽

Joo-Hyug Jung

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Middle School ◽

Physical Education ◽

Middle School Students ◽

Disease Management ◽

Health Awareness ◽

School Students ◽

Significant Difference ◽

And Performance ◽

Online Group

Coronavirus disease 2019 popularized online classes to prevent educational deficits affected by the pandemic. This study aimed to assess the differences in the importance and performance of health awareness in Korean middle school students according to the types of online physical education classes they attended during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Overall, 583 participants were selected using a convenience sampling method; the data were obtained through an online survey using Google forms. Frequency analysis, reliability analysis, independent sample t-test, and importance–performance analysis were performed. First, the differences between importance and performance were found to be the most for sleep and physical activity management, and the least for disease and hygiene management. In addition, both groups demonstrated higher importance and performance for hygiene and disease management. There were significant differences in the importance and performance of all the sub-factors. Second, hygiene, disease management, and mental health management were found in quadrant I in both groups, while physical activity, sleep, and dietary habit management were in quadrant III. No factors were in quadrants II and IV. Correspondingly, there was no significant difference in adolescents’ health awareness between the assignment-based online group and interactive online group.

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Traumatic Effects of the COVID-19 Outbreak in Middle School Students and Caregivers

Psychiatry Investigation ◽

10.30773/pi.2021.0016 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 553-560

Author(s):

Merve Aktaş Terzioğlu ◽

Ahmet Büber

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Middle School ◽

Middle School Students ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

School Students ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Low Socioeconomic ◽

Divorced Families ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Scale Scores

Objective To investigate the traumatic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on middle-school students and their parents. Methods This epidemiological cross-sectional study was conducted with middle-school students in Denizli. A questionnaire consisting of the IES-R, CRIES-13 and a sociodemographic data form was delivered online. A total of 1059 participants who fully completed the questionnaire were included for analysis. Results The IES-R total and subdimension scores and the CRIES-13 scores were found to be significantly higher in families with an income level of ≤2,500 TL. The CRIES-13 scores of children were found to be significantly higher in divorced families. No statistically significant difference was determined between the IES-R total and subdimension scores of the parents who were healthcare workers and the CRIES-13 scale scores of their children. Conclusion A statistically significant, positive, moderate relationship was found between the IES-R scale total and subdimension scores of parents and the CRIES-13 scale scores of children. A low socioeconomic level was seen to increase the prevalence of anxiety in adults and adolescents. The children of divorced families were found to be at higher risk of PTSD. Successful management of mental health symptoms in parents will reflect positively on the mental health status of their children.

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Step count for 7th and 8th grade students in structured and unstructured physical education classes

Physical Activity Review ◽

10.16926/par.2021.09.07 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 54-61

Author(s):

Necip Demirci ◽

Refika Yilmaz ◽

Ayda Karaca

Keyword(s):

Middle School ◽

Physical Education ◽

Middle School Students ◽

School Type ◽

School Students ◽

Step Counts ◽

Significant Difference ◽

8Th Grade ◽

Private And Public ◽

Type Data

The aim of the study was to analyze step counts of middle school students in structured and unstructured physical education classes (PE) according to age, gender, and school type. Data were collected on a sample of 74 students, 40 7th and 34 8th grade students recruited from private and public middle schools. Omron HJ-112 pedometers were used in this study to obtain step counts. There were statistically significant differences between boys and girls in the step counts in both structured and unstructured PE. A significant difference was observed between school types in step counts during structured PE in both genders, while no significant difference was found for unstructured PE. Significant difference was found between step counts of only boys of different grades in unstructured PE. Boys made more steps than girls both in structured and unstructured PE. In structured PE, 7th grade boys reached a higher number of steps than 8th grade boys.

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Using Social Cognitive Theory to Predict Intention to Smoke in Middle School Students

American Journal of Health Studies ◽

10.47779/ajhs.2015.170 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Garrett Miller ◽

Manoj Sharma ◽

David Brown ◽

Mohammad Shahbazi

Keyword(s):

Middle School ◽

Middle School Students ◽

Social Cognitive Theory ◽

Social Cognitive ◽

Cognitive Theory ◽

Self Control ◽

School Students ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Emotional Coping ◽

Cross Sectional Design

The purpose of this study was to use social cognitive theory to predict the frequency and intention for not smoking among middle school students. The study utilized a cross-sectional design (n=163) and administered a 38-item valid and reliable questionnaire. Frequency for smoking was predicted by environment not supportive to smoking (p < 0.0001) and emotional coping (p < 0.001) (Adjusted R2= 0.20). Intent to smoke was predicted by emotional coping (p < 0.0001); environment not supportive to smoking (p < 0.001), expectations for not smoking (p < 0.003), and self-control for not smoking (p <0.017) (Adjusted R2= 0.36).

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Relationships Among Extreme Sports Participation, Sensation Seeking, and Negative Risky Behaviors of Middle-School Students

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.722769 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Hu Chunmei ◽

He Lingling ◽

Ge Ning ◽

Li Yang

Keyword(s):

Middle School ◽

Middle School Students ◽

Sensation Seeking ◽

Participation Rate ◽

Sports Participation ◽

Risky Behaviors ◽

Gambling Behavior ◽

Drinking Alcohol ◽

School Students ◽

Extreme Sports

Objective: The aim was to investigate the relationships among extreme sports participation, sensation seeking, and negative risky behaviors (smoking, drinking alcohol, and gambling) for middle-school students.Methods: Using a convenience sampling procedure, all students from a middle school in a district of Chongqing were selected to participate in the survey, which included questions on their extreme sports participation rate, and smoking, drinking alcohol, and gambling behavior.Results: A sample of 2,987 middle-school students participated in this study. The results showed that the proportions of students participating in extreme sports, smoking, drinking alcohol, and gambling were 19.9, 4.8, 18.4, and 3.0%, respectively. There were significant differences between different genders, schools, place of residence, smoking, drinking, gambling, and sensation seeking of the participation rate of students of extreme sports, the rate of boys, junior middle-school students, urban students, smokers, alcohol drinkers, gamblers, and high-sensation-seeking students were relatively higher than that of girls, senior middle-school students, rural students, no-smokers, no-alcohol drinkers, no-gamblers, and low-sensation-seeking students. Alcohol drinking, gambling, and sensation seeking were associated with extreme sports participation, and the students who drank alcohol, who gambled, and who were high sensation seeking were more likely to participate in extreme sports than those who did not drink alcohol, who did not gamble, and who were low sensation seeking.Conclusion: Middle schools should integrate extreme sports education into physical education and risky-behavior education, strengthen relevant knowledge and safety training, and guide students to meet their sensation-seeking needs through participation in extreme sports instead of risky behaviors.

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