scholarly journals Does physical activity reinforce adolescents’ body-esteem? A cross-sectional study from Finland

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristiina Sari Anne Ojala ◽  
Pertti Raimo Tapio Huotari ◽  
Jari Juhani Villberg ◽  
Jorma Antero Tynjälä

Abstract Background Physical activity promotes a positive physical self-image, but less is known about whether the positive effect covers the general self-evaluation of adolescent appearance. The purpose of the study was to explore the association between physical activity and body-esteem in 15-year-old Finnish adolescents, via a country-representative cross-sectional study. Methods The data for the study were drawn from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study from 122 schools, comprising 15-year-old adolescents (N=1956) in Finland in 2014. The main measures were self-reported (i) moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and (ii) Body-esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults (BESAA). The measures also covered other relevant factors for body image, as highlighted in previous studies. A mixed effects linear regression analysis for body-esteem was conducted. The explanatory variables included were (i) MVPA; (ii) weight status, as defined by the international (IOTF) body mass index with cut-offs for thinness, overweight, and obesity; (iii) self-esteem; and (iv) socio-economic status. The covariates in the model were maturation state and ethnic background. Results In both genders, the body-esteem score increased linearly with physical activity. It was highest among adolescents who reported having been engaged in MVPA corresponding to the international recommendation for adolescents’ physical activity. MVPA was a significant determinant for body-esteem in boys, but not in girls. In both genders, lower body-esteem was in part explained by obesity, but general self-esteem was by far the most significant factor determining body-esteem. Conclusions The several positive effects of physical activity provide feasible explanations as to why body-esteem was higher among physically active adolescents than among those who were less physically active. However, physical activity was a significant determinant for body-esteem only in boys. The difference between genders should be taken into consideration in efforts to promote health and physical activity.

Author(s):  
Katarzyna Kwiatkowska ◽  
Katarzyna Kosińska-Kaczyńska ◽  
Izabela Walasik ◽  
Agnieszka Osińska ◽  
Iwona Szymusik

Background: No specific physical activity guidelines are available for women in multiple pregnancy. Aim of the study was to assess the knowledge and experience of women regarding physical activity during their latest twin pregnancy. Methods: A cross-sectional study including women after a twin delivery was conducted in Poland. A questionnaire was distributed in 2018 via web pages and Facebook groups designed for pregnant women. Results: 652 women filled out the questionnaire completely. Only 25% of women performed any physical exercises during twin gestation. The frequency of preterm delivery was similar in physically active and non-active participants. 35% of the respondents claimed to have gained information on proper activity from obstetricians during antenatal counselling while 11% claimed to be unable to identify the reliable sources of information. 7% of women admitted to feel discriminated by social opinion on exercising during a twin pregnancy. Conclusions: The population of women with a twin gestation is not sufficiently physically active and is often discouraged from performing exercises during gestation. Therefore, it is crucial to inform obstetricians to recommend active lifestyle during a twin gestation and to provide reliable information on physical activity to pregnant women. Further research on this topic is necessary in order for obstetric providers to counsel women on appropriate exercise with a twin pregnancy.


2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sameer Al-Ghamdi ◽  
Mamdouh M. Shubair ◽  
Abdulrahman Aldiab ◽  
Jamaan M. Al-Zahrani ◽  
Khaled K. Aldossari ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 2919 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose L. García-Soidán ◽  
Jesús García-Liñeira ◽  
Raquel Leirós-Rodríguez ◽  
Anxela Soto-Rodríguez

Background: This study aims to analyze the effect of physical activity practice on the postural control state of school children. If such an effect was detected, the second aim of the study was to identify which specific capacities of postural control benefited the most from physical activity. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed using a convenience sample of 118 healthy children (54 girls) with a mean age of 10.3 ± 1.2 years. Their weight and height were measured. The accelerometric assessment of balance included four different tests in static balance and walking. Results: Physical activity habit prevalence was 38.9% in girls and 60.9% in boys, and its frequency was 2.3 days per week in girls and 2.8 days in boys. The active children obtained lower accelerations, but the active and sedentary girls showed lower accelerometric values than the active boys. The logistic regression analysis demonstrated the influence of sex on the accelerations of the body (p < 0.001), regardless of the habit of physical activity. Conclusions: Active children have better postural control than sedentary children, although sedentary girls have better balance than active boys. Therefore, physical activity practice seems to favor a more efficient development of postural control, but it cannot level or reverse the effect of the neurophysiological factors that are conditioned by sex.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 154
Author(s):  
Kristiina Ojala ◽  
Pertti Huotari ◽  
Jari Villberg ◽  
Jorma Tynjälä

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-164
Author(s):  
Muneera Almurdi ◽  
◽  
Syamala Buragadda ◽  

Objectives: Menopause is the termination of a woman’s menstrual cycle for a year. In this condition, women’s health status declines due to hormonal changes and aging. Physical Activity (PA) is among the best available alternatives for managing menopause-related symptoms without any adverse effects. This study aimed to assess the relationship between PA and symptoms, such as fatigue, depression, and insomnia in Saudi menopausal women. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 60 menopausal women; they were divided into physically active and inactive groups. The group allocation was conducted based on their PA level determined by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short-Form (IPAQ-SF). Menopausal symptoms, such as fatigue, depression, and insomnia were assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), respectively, in the study groups. The association between PA and fatigue, depression, and insomnia was assessed using the Pearson correlation coefficient. The significance level was set at P≤0.05. Results: Fatigue, depression, and insomnia were more prevalent in physically inactive post-menopause women than the active women. A significant difference was observed in the outcome variables between the study groups. Furthermore, a significant association was detected between PA and fatigue, depression, and insomnia in the study participants. Discussion: Half of the explored menopausal women were physically active. Physically active menopausal women presented less fatigue, depression, and insomnia, compared to their inactive counterparts. This study suggested that PA positively impacted menopausal symptoms (fatigue, insomnia, & depression). Besides, the collected results highlighted the importance of physical activity among menopausal women.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tingting Yu ◽  
Chang Chen ◽  
Zhijuan Jin ◽  
You Yang ◽  
Yanrui Jiang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Sibship size and structure have a significant association with overweight and obesity in children, but the relationship with thinness has not been fully studied and understood, especially in Asia. This study evaluated the associations among number of siblings, birth order, and childhood thinness and investigated the association of number of younger or older siblings with childhood thinness.Methods: In this study, we performed a population-based cross-sectional study among 84,075 3- to 12-year-old children in Shanghai using multistage stratified cluster random sampling. We defined grades 1, 2, and 3 thinness according to the body mass index cutoff points set by the International Obesity Task Force and used multinomial logistic regression models to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI).Results: Compared with only children, for boys, children with two or more siblings were more likely to suffer from grade 2 (OR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.02, 1.64) and grade 3 thinness (OR = 1.60, 95% CI 1.07, 2.40); and the youngest child faced a higher risk of grade 2 (OR = 1.44, 95% CI 1.09, 1.90) and grade 3 thinness (OR = 1.53, 95% CI 1.01, 2.33). For girls, children with one sibling were more likely to suffer from grade 1 thinness (OR = 1.22, 95% CI 1.05, 1.42); the oldest child, middle child, and youngest child faced a higher risk of grade 1 (OR = 1.42, 95% CI 1.09, 1.84), grade 2 (OR = 1.26, 95% CI 1.03, 1.54), and grade 1 thinness (OR = 1.87, 95% CI 1.21, 2.88) respectively. There was no statistically significant relationship, however, between a larger number of younger or older siblings and childhood thinness.Conclusions: Regardless of sex, having either siblings or a higher birth order was positively associated with childhood thinness. The present study has suggested that future interventions to prevent childhood thinness should consider family background as an important factor, especially in multi-child-families.


Author(s):  
Purwaningsih Purwaningsih ◽  
Candra Panji Asmoro ◽  
Yenis Anggi Prastiwi

Abstract Introduction Antiretroviral therapy (ART) helps reduce the amount of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that enters the body in order to avoid acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and prevents the occurrence of opportunistic infections and complications. This study aims to describe the correlation between self-esteem and motivation with adherence of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in ART. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 91 PLWHA who joined a non-government organization (NGO) support group, determined through a purposive sampling technique. The demography, and questionnaires about self-esteem, motivation and adherence to ART were employed to collect the raw data. The data were then analyzed using Spearman’s rho test with the degree of significance at p < 0.05. Results The result showed that self-esteem (p = 0.000, r = 0.445) and motivation (p = 0.019, r = 0.246) had correlation with adherence of PLWHA with ART. Conclusion PLWHA can increase self-esteem and motivation so that they can improve ART adherence. Further research is expected to use an instrument more objectively as a measurement tool for ART adherence in addition to a questionnaire so as to obtain more accurate and specific results.


Author(s):  
Francisco Nataniel Macêdo Uchôa ◽  
Natalia Macêdo Uchôa ◽  
Thiago Medeiros da Costa Daniele ◽  
Romário Pinheiro Lustosa ◽  
Paulo Roberto de Castro Nogueira ◽  
...  

Background: The present study investigated the influence of body dissatisfaction (BD) on the self-esteem of Brazilian adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 1011 students at public and private schools in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil. The body shape questionnaire and the Rosenberg self-esteem scale were applied. Chi-square test, Student’s t-test, Pearson’s correlation, the odds ratio and binary logistic regression were used. Results: The rate of low self-esteem was 33.8% in the adolescents; 27.8% of the adolescents presented some degree of BD, with severe BD in 5.8%. A significant low negative correlation was found between self-esteem and BD in all the adolescents. In the Odds Ratio analysis, it was observed that the odds of having low self-esteem increased in adolescents with BD as compared to adolescents without BD, being 3.85 times higher in females (CI 95%, 2.12–6.99), 2.83 times higher in males (CI 95%, 1.22–6.58), 5.79 times higher in adolescents attending public schools (CI 95% 2.06–16.26), and 2.96 times higher in adolescents attending private schools (CI 95%, 1.79–4.88). Conclusions: Low self-esteem affected one-third of the adolescents, both male and female. BD and education in public schools are predictor variables of low self-esteem in adolescents.


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