The influence of vocational fitness on mental and physical health in full-time care-giving workers

Abstract This study examined the feasibility of employing an assessment battery developed in Germany, investigating mental and physical health of university music students, in Canada. Using a cross sectional design, first-semester music and control students were recruited at two university campuses. Eligibility criteria were: 1) first-semester, full-time undergraduate music major (case) or in another university program (control), 2) over the age of 16. Exclusion criteria were: 1) diagnosis of neurological, orthopaedic or psychological condition, 2) diagnosis of infection or systemic disease, 3) regular consumption of medication for pain or mental health diagnosis, 4) varsity athlete, 5) for controls only, enrollment in music courses where a grade is assigned for music performance (e.g. studio lessons). Both groups completed questionnaires and physical testing, including range of motion, core strength and pressure pain threshold. Data for 19 music and 50 control students were analysed. Musician participants demonstrated tendencies towards poorer mental and physical health. This German protocol is feasible in a Canadian university setting. Canadian music students demonstrate similar mental and physical health outcomes to those in the literature and in the parent study. The results of this feasibility study should be confirmed in a larger study.

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Disappointing Prospects for Distance Education

Standards and Monitoring in Education ◽

10.12737/1998-1740-2021-9-1-42-48 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 42-48

Author(s):

A. Razumovskiy

Keyword(s):

Distance Education ◽

Physical Health ◽

Educational Environment ◽

Educational Process ◽

Full Time ◽

Social Psychological ◽

Mental And Physical Health ◽

Personal Education

On the basis of a variety of literature on educational, social, psychological sciences, the conditions for the qualitative life of the educational process are determined, including, first of all, the problems of the formation of morality, responsibility and initiative of the student, as well as his mental and physical health. The true end result is the fact of the fundamental impossibility of replacing full-time or personal education with its detached, irresponsible distance form. The transformation of the educational environment through personalities from each other leads not only to the depletion of opportunities to acquire quality knowledge, but also to intimate loneliness with disastrous consequences for moral, mental and physical health.

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Household chaos, maternal stress, and maternal health behaviors in the United States during the COVID-19 outbreak

Women s Health ◽

10.1177/17455065211010655 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 ◽

pp. 174550652110106

Author(s):

Chelsea L Kracht ◽

Peter T Katzmarzyk ◽

Amanda E Staiano

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

United States ◽

Confidence Interval ◽

Physical Health ◽

Maternal Stress ◽

The United States ◽

Poor Sleep ◽

Full Time ◽

Household Chaos ◽

Mental And Physical Health

Objectives: Household chaos, including disorder, noise, and crowding within the home, is a risk factor for poor mental and physical health. Household chaos may act upon maternal behaviors of physical activity and sleep, potentially via higher stress. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationships among household chaos, maternal stress, and maternal physical activity and sleep, and identify barriers to home organization during the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: A cross-sectional study using an online survey of 1721 mothers of preschoolers (ages = 3.0–5.9 years) in the United States was conducted in May 2020 during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and early reopening. Mothers reported demographic characteristics, household chaos, stress, physical activity and sleep, and barriers to home organization during the outbreak. Mediation models were conducted among household chaos, stress, and physical activity and sleep with adjustment for covariates. Results: About half of mothers were middle income (48.2%), employed full-time prior to the outbreak (59.1%), and met the physical activity (47.7%), and sleep guideline (49.7%, 7–9 h/day). Household chaos and stress were both negatively related to physical activity and sleep. For every 1 unit increase in mother’s current stress, mothers were 11% (95% confidence interval = 6% to 16%) less likely to meet the physical activity guideline and 19% (95% confidence interval = 14% to 23%) less likely to meet the sleep guideline. Household chaos was positively related to stress. Stress partially mediated the relationship between household chaos and physical activity and sleep. Virus concerns, occupational changes (i.e. teleworking), and lack of childcare were barriers to home organization. Conclusion: During the COVID-19 outbreak, many mothers had poor sleep and physical activity, which was associated with household chaos and stress. Opportunities to promote order at the individual, household, and community level may result in beneficial mental and physical health in mothers of young children during the COVID-19 outbreak and beyond.

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