Older and More Experienced? Comparing Mainland Chinese International Students in Canada on Social Cognitive Correlates of Leisure Time Physical Activity, Acculturation, and Mental Health by Study Year

Background: Physical activity is a mandatory component of many university programs in China and there is evidence that Chinese students value physical activity for health (Chen & Liu, 2008); however, academics are generally prioritized as students advance in their studies (Ha, Macdonald, & Pang, 2010). Among international students in the United States, Asian students were found to have some of the lowest rates of physical activity, which could be linked with many combinations of cultural, environmental, and individual barriers (Yoh, Yang, & Gordon, 2008). Physical activity may aid in healthy transitions for Chinese international students. Aim: Chinese international students were compared by study year on physical activity, mental health, culture, and social cognitive theory variables. Method: First year (n = 92), second year (n = 52), and senior (n = 77) international students studying in Canada were compared on physical activity, self-efficacy, intention, access, stress, acculturative stress, subjective well-being, acculturation, and self-construal. The relationships between the social cognitive, mental health, culture variables, and physical activity were also compared. Results: Senior students perceived fewer places to do physical activity and more discrimination compared to first- and second-year students. Senior students experienced more academic pressure and guilt towards their family compared to second year students. First year students reported more general stress compared to second year students. Self-efficacy, intention, and exercise to reduce stress shared relationships with vigorous physical activity. Subjective well-being was related to moderate physical activity, and self-efficacy and independent self-construal were related to walking. Walking decreased by study year. Conclusions: Physical activity may be used to improve mental health for Chinese international students, but interventions may need to be adjusted or implemented depending on the academic stage of the student

Assessing support for mental health policies among policy influencers and the general public in Alberta and Manitoba, Canada

Abstract Background There is a need to improve mental health policy in Canada to address the growing population burden of mental illness. Understanding support for policy options is critical for advocacy efforts to improve mental health policy. Our purpose was to describe support for population-level healthy public policies to improve mental health among policy influencers and the general public in Alberta and Manitoba; and, identify associations between levels of support and sociodemographic variables and relative to the Nuffield Bioethics Intervention Ladder framework. Methods We used data from the 2019 Chronic Disease Prevention Survey, which recruited a representative sample of the general public in Alberta (n = 1792) and Manitoba (n = 1909) and policy influencers in each province (Alberta n = 291, Manitoba n = 129). Level of support was described for 16 policy options using a Likert-style scale for mental health policy options by province, sample type, and sociodemographic variables using ordinal regression modelling. Policy options were coded using the Nuffield Council on Bioethics Intervention Ladder to classify support for policy options by level of intrusiveness. Results Policy options were categorized as ‘Provide Information’ and ‘Enable Choice’ according to the Nuffield Intervention Ladder. There was high support for all policy options, and few differences between samples or provinces. Strong support was more common among women and among those who were more politically left (versus center). Immigrants were more likely to strongly support most of the policies. Those who were politically right leaning (versus center) were less likely to support any of the mental health policies. Mental health status, education, and Indigenous identity were also associated with support for some policy options. Conclusions There is strong support for mental health policy in Western Canada. Results demonstrate a gap between support and implementation of mental health policy and provide evidence for advocates and policy makers looking to improve the policy landscape in Canada