Prevalence and trends in Australian adolescents’ adherence to 24-hour movement guidelines: findings from a repeated national cross-sectional survey

Background 24-hour movement guidelines recommend a healthy balance of high levels of physical activity, low levels of sedentary behaviour and appropriate sleep duration each day. At present, surveillance data on how Australian adolescents are performing against these guidelines are lacking. This study aims to describe the extent to which Australian secondary school students are adhering to the physical activity, sedentary recreational screen time and sleep duration recommendations outlined in the national 24-hour movement guidelines for children and young people. It also examines whether there are socio-demographic differences in levels of compliance and if there have been significant changes in these behaviours over time. Methods A repeated national cross-sectional survey of students in grades 8 to 11 (ages 12-17 years) was conducted in 2009-2010 (n=13,790), 2012-2013 (n=10,309) and 2018 (n=9,102). Students’ self-reported physical activity, screen time and sleep behaviours were assessed using validated instruments administered in schools via a web-based questionnaire. Results In 2018, around one in four students (26%) did not meet any of the 24-hour movement guidelines, while only 2% of students met all three. Adherence to the sleep duration recommendation was highest (67%), with substantially smaller proportions of students meeting the physical activity (16%) and screen time (10%) recommendations. Differences in adherence by sex, grade level and socio-economic area were apparent. Students’ compliance with the screen time recommendation has declined over time, from 19% in 2009-2010 to 10% in 2018. However, there has been no significant change in the proportion meeting the physical activity (15% in 2009-2010 cf. 16% in 2018) and sleep duration (69% in 2009-2010 cf. 67% in 2018) recommendations. Compliance with all three guidelines has remained very low (<3%) across each survey round. Conclusions There is considerable scope to improve Australian adolescents’ physical activity and sedentary behaviours in line with the national 24-hour movement guidelines. Policy proposals and environmental interventions, particularly those focused on replacing sedentary screen time with physical activity (e.g. promotion of active commuting to/from school), are needed to better support Australian adolescents in meeting the 24-hour movement guidelines.

Asociación entre el peso de mochilas escolares con el modo de desplazamiento al colegio y dolor musculoesquelético

The aims of this study were; 1- Analyze the mode of commuting of the school children to school, the weight and type of school bags they were carrying and musculoskeletal pain separately by sex. 2- Analyze the association between weights of school bags with mode of commuting to school. A total of 76 children (8.8 ± 0.3 years, 50% children) participated in the study. The Pediatric Pain questionnaire was used to determine the presence or absence of pain. The PACO questionnaire was used to know the mode of commuting to school. The results showed that the active commuting were higher in boys than girls (p =0.042). In addition, there was a significant association between meeting the school bags weight recommended and active commuting from school to home (OR =3.88, p =0.039). Meeting with the weight of the school bags recommended may favor the non-appearance of musculoskeletal pain and active commuting to school. Los objetivos del estudio fueron; 1- Analizar el modo de desplazamiento de los escolares al colegio, el peso y tipo de mochilas transportadas y dolores músculos-esqueléticos diferenciados por sexo. 2- Analizar la asociación entre el peso de las mochilas con el modo de desplazamiento al colegio. Un total de 76 escolares (8.8±0.3 años, 50% niños) participaron en el estudio. El cuestionario Pediátrico de Dolor sirvió para determinar la presencia o no de dolor. El cuestionario PACO fue utilizado para determinar el modo de desplazamiento al colegio. Los resultados indicaron que las niños se desplazaron más de forma activa que los niñas (p =0.042). Además, existió una asociación significativa entre cumplir con el peso recomendado de las mochilas y el desplazamiento activo del colegio al hogar (OR =3.88, p =0.039). Cumplir con el peso recomendado de las mochilas está asociado a la ausencia de dolor musculo-esquelético y el desplazamiento activo al colegio.

Associations between Park and Playground Availability and Proximity and Children’s Physical Activity and Body Mass Index: The BEACH Study

A cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate the relationship between the availability and proximity to parks and playgrounds and physical activity (PA). Moreover, the accessibility to parks and playgrounds and its association with active commuting to/from school (ACS) and body mass index (BMI) were analyzed. The sample was composed of children aged 6–12 years old from the BEACH (Built Environment and Active CHildren) study in Valencia, Spain. The availability and proximity to parks and playgrounds were calculated at different buffer sizes (250, 500, 1000 and 1250 m) using geographical information system data. PA out of school was assessed using accelerometers. Sociodemographics and ACS were measured with a parent questionnaire. Objectively measured weight and height were used to calculate BMI. Mixed linear regression analyses were conducted for each exposure variable, adjusting for sociodemographics, neighborhood walkability level, and participant clustering. The number of parks and playgrounds were positively associated with moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) and total PA (TPA); including light PA and MVPA, during weekdays, in different buffer sizes. A negative relationship between distance to the nearest playground and TPA during weekdays was found. In addition, the number of playgrounds was positively related to ACS in different buffer sizes, whereas park land area was negatively related to the BMI percentile. This study highlights the importance of assessing the availability and proximity to parks and playgrounds in children’s neighborhoods when PA behavior and weight status are analyzed. Study findings may help policymakers when targeting interventions to promote health-enhancing behaviors in children.

Failure to Launch: Predictors of Unfavourable Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Trajectories from Childhood to Adolescence: The Gateshead Millennium Study

In a previous study based on this cohort, only 15% of the participants belonged to a favourable physical activity/sedentary behaviour trajectory group (characterised by relatively high moderate–vigorous intensity physical activity and relatively low sedentary behaviour across childhood and adolescence). Since this favourable trajectory is protective against obesity, we aimed to identify factors associated with membership of this group. In this longitudinal study, 671 participants were assessed at ages 7, 9, 12 and 15 years. Participants’ demographics, socio-economic status (SES) and physical activity environment such as, sports club participation and commuting school were assessed at ages 7, 9 and 12 and analysed with favourable trajectory membership as an outcome using multinomial logistic regression. Sex (male) and SES (higher) were the non-modifiable factors associated with favourable trajectory group. Of the modifiable factors, commuting to school at age 7, a safe environment to play at age 7 and sports club participation at age 12 were all associated with more than 2.0 times increased probability of being in the most favourable trajectory. Future interventions to promote a favourable trajectory could focus on girls and participants with low SES. Promoting active commuting, safe local spaces to play and sports participation should also help lead to a favourable trajectory for physical activity and sedentary behaviour across childhood and adolescence.

Barriers and Determinants of Active Commuting to School in Slovenia

There is a growing body of literature reporting the health benefits of active commuting to school. This study investigated barriers and determinants of active commuting in children in Slovenia living within walking or cycling distance to school, i.e., 3 km. The sample consisted of 339 children (163 girls) aged 11–14 years who reported their mode of commuting, as well as their parents who described the socioeconomic environment of the family. Every third child in this study traveled to school exclusively by car/public transport, while every fifth participant used a passive means of transport when returning home from school. Potential household poverty, education of the mother and parental encouragement for physical activity were not associated with the commuting mode. In addition, conformist family barriers dominated among reasons for not choosing active commuting. A distance to school that was perceived to be too long was the most frequently cited barrier (72% of participants who passively commuted in both directions), followed by concern about being late for school (38% of participants who passively commute in one direction). Parents from all social strata who drive their children to school in either one or both directions while living in a walking or cycling range are a promising target population for active commuting interventions.

Translation and Validation of the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction in Active Commuting to and from School (BPNS-ACS) Scale in Young Portuguese Students

Active commuting to and from school (ACS) is a strategy to enhance physical activity levels in youths. To promote ACS, it is important to understand the factors that lead to this behaviour. With this in mind, an adaptation of the Basic Psychological Needs in Exercise Scale for ACS was developed, named the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction in Active Commuting to and from School (BPNS-ACS) scale. This study aimed to translate and evaluate the psychometric properties of the BPNS-ACS scale in young Portuguese students. A cross-sectional study was designed. A total of 338 students (212 girls, 126 boys), aged between 11 and 19 years old from 31 Portuguese cities participated in this study. To provide validity evidence based on the questionnaire’s internal structure, confirmatory factor analyses were performed to test the three dimensions of the BNPS-ACS scale. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis indicated an acceptable fit to the data. The internal consistency of the measures was accepted as the composite reliability values ranged from 0.78 to 0.94. The evaluation of psychometric properties provided evidence of the adequacy of this questionnaire among Portuguese youth aged 11 to 19 years old.

Green Space and Physical Activity in China: A Systematic Review

Green space may play an essential role in residents’ physical activity (PA), but evidence remains scattered in China. This study systematically reviewed scientific evidence regarding the influence of green space on PA among residents in China. Keyword and reference searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, EBSCO, and CNKI from the inception of an electronic bibliographic database to May 2021. Eligibility criteria included the following: study designs—observational (e.g., longitudinal or cross-sectional studies) and experimental studies; study subjects—people of all ages; exposures—green space (e.g., parks, vegetation areas, open green fields); outcomes—leisure-time and work/school-related PA (e.g., active commuting); and country—China. All but two studies identified at least one measure of green space to be associated with PA. Street greenness was associated with increased odds of active commuting (e.g., cycling) and walking, and a reduced risk of physical inactivity. Access to green space was associated with increased PA levels and green space usage. Distance to green space was inversely associated with the odds of PA. By contrast, evidence linking overall greenness exposure to PA remains limited. Future studies adopting experimental study design are warranted to establish more robust scientific evidence of causality between green space and PA in China. Future studies are also warranted to examine the underlining mechanisms and the differential impacts of green space on population subgroups in China.

New Self-Report Measures of Commuting Behaviors to University and Their Association with Sociodemographic Characteristics

Active commuting provides an opportunity for increased physical activity levels by a simple, inexpensive, and easy way to be incorporated in daily routines and could be considered a steppingstone for achieving a sustainable society since it provides physical, psychological, environmental, and economic benefits. Objective: (a) to describe the commuting patterns to and from university in students regarding gender, (b) to provide new self-report variables to measure the active commuting behavior, and (c) to examine the sociodemographic characteristics associated with commuting behaviors. Material and Methods: A total of 1257 university students (52.4% females) participated (22.4 ± 5.6 years old) from three Chilean universities located in different cities. Results: 56.1% of women and 42.0% men use public bus to and from university. The commuting energy expenditure was higher in active commuting followed by public and private modes of commuting (p < 0.001). The most active commuters were those older (men: OR = 3.637; 95% CI = 1.63, 8.10; women: OR = 8.841; 95% CI = 3.94, 13.78), those who lived in university residence (men: OR = 12.432; 95% CI = 4.39, 35.19; women: OR = 3.952; 95% CI = 1.31, 11.85), belonged to low socioeconomic level (men: OR = 3.820; 95% CI = 1.43, 10.18; women: OR = 4.936; 95% CI = 1.63, 14.90), and to public universities (men: OR = 26.757; 95% CI = 10.63, 67.34; women: OR = 8.029; 95% CI = 3.00, 21.48). Conclusion: The sociodemographic characteristics may influence in the mode of commuting to university. New variables of commuting behaviors may be efficient to quantify the physical activity.

Un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales sobre el efecto de la salud en la intención de practicar desplazamiento activo: estudio de la invarianza factorial por sexo y edad (A structural equation model about the effect of health on behaviour intention to pra

En los últimos años ha habido un elevado crecimiento de problemas de salud en las personas, tales como obesidad, sobrepeso, diabetes, etc. Una forma de combatir este problema es el desplazamiento activo. El objetivo de este trabajo es evaluar el efecto de la salud, el confort y la conciencia medioambiental sobre la intención de practicar desplazamiento activo, así como estudiar la invarianza factorial por sexo y edad. Para ello se diseñó un cuestionario y se distribuyó mediante un muestreo por conveniencia con efecto de bola de nieve, obteniéndose 448 respuestas válidas. Para el análisis se especificó y estimó un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales con AMOS. Los resultados permitieron verificar la fiabilidad y validez del modelo de medida y del modelo estructural. De igual modo, los resultados permitieron concluir que se cumple la invarianza factorial para la variable sexo, pero no se cumple la invarianza factorial estricta para la variable edad. Abstract. A growing of health problems in people have been in recent years, as obesity, overweight, diabetes, etc. Active commuting is a way to combat these problems. The objective of this work is to assess the effect of health, comfort and environmental awareness on behaviour intention to practice active commuting, as well as to study the factorial invariance by sex and age. For this purpose, a questionnaire was designed and distributed by means of a convenience sample with snowball effect. 448 responses were obtained from this sample. The specification and estimation of structural equation model with AMOS was designed for the analysis of the data. The results show that the reliability and validity of measurement model and structural model is verified. The results also show that factorial invariance by sex is verified but strict factorial invariance for age is not verified.