Customary physical activity and odds of depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 111 prospective cohort studies

Objective To explore whether physical activity is inversely associated with the onset of depression, we quantified the cumulative association of customary physical activity with incident depression and with an increase in subclinical depressive symptoms over time as reported from prospective observational studies. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis

Data from: Naturally-occurring changes in social-cognitive factors modify change in physical activity during early adolescence

Purpose. To determine whether naturally-occurring changes in children's motives and beliefs are associated with the steep decline in physical activity observed from childhood to early adolescence. Methods. Latent growth modeling was applied in longitudinal tests of social-cognitive influences, and their interactions, on physical activity in a large cohort of boys and girls evaluated annually between 5th and 7th grades. Results. Measurement equivalence of motives and beliefs was confirmed between boys and girls. After adjustment for gender and maturity differences, physical activity declined less in children who reported the least decreases in self-efficacy for overcoming barriers to activity and perceived parental support. Physical activity also declined less in students who persistently felt they had more parental and friend support for activity compared to those who reported the largest decrease in support from friends. After further adjustment for race, the decline in physical activity was less in those who had the largest decrease in perceived barriers and maintained a favorable perception of their neighborhood environment. Changes in enjoyment and social motives were unrelated to change in physical activity. Conclusion. Using an objective measure of physical activity, we confirm that naturally-occurring changes in children's beliefs about barriers to physical activity and their ability to overcome them, as well as perceptions of their neighborhood environment and social support, are concurrent with age-related declines in children's physical activity. The longitudinal findings confirm these putative social-cognitive mediators as plausible, interacting targets of interventions designed to mitigate the marked decline in physical activity that occurs during the transition between elementary and middle schools

A research agenda to examine the efficacy and relevance of the Transtheoretical Model for physical activity behavior

Regular physical activity (PA) decreases the risk of several chronic diseases including some cancers, type II diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease; however, the majority of US adults are not meeting the recommended levels to experience these benefits. To address this public health concern, the underlying mechanisms for behavior change need to be understood, translated and disseminated into appropriately tailored interventions. The Transtheoretical Model (TTM) provides a framework for both the conceptualization and measurement of behavior change, as well as facilitating promotion strategies that are individualized and easily adapted. The purpose of this manuscript is to present the constructs of the TTM as they relate to PA behavior change. We begin with a brief synopsis of recent examinations of the TTM constructs and their application. Subsequent to its introduction, we specifically present the TTM within the PA context and discuss its application and usefulness to researchers and practitioners. Criticisms of the TTM are also noted and presented as opportunities for future research to enhance the valid application of the TTM. We offer general study design recommendations to appropriately test the hypothesized relationships within the model. With further examinations using appropriate study design and statistical analyses, we believe the TTM has the potential to advance the public health impact of future PA promotion interventions

Decline in cardiorespiratory fitness and odds of incident depression

BACKGROUND: Studies of physical activity and incidence of physician-diagnosed depression have been limited to a single estimate of self-reported physical activity exposure, despite follow-up periods lasting many years. PURPOSE: To examine longitudinal change in cardiorespiratory fitness, an objective marker of habitual physical activity, and incident depression complaints made to a physician. METHODS: Cardiorespiratory fitness assessed at four clinic visits between 1971 and 2006, each separated by an average of 2–3 years, was used to objectively measure cumulative physical activity exposure in cohorts of 7936 men and 1261 women, aged 20–85 years, from the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study who did not complain of depression at their first clinic visit in 1971–2003. Data were analyzed in August 2010. RESULTS: Across subsequent visits, there were 446 incident cases in men and 153 cases in women. After adjustment for age, time between visits, BMI at each visit, and fitness at Visit 1, each 1-minute decline in treadmill endurance (i.e., a decline in cardiorespiratory fitness of approximately 1 half-MET) between ages 51 and 55 years in men and ages 53 and 56 years in women, increased the odds of incident depression complaints by approximately 2% and 9.5%, respectively. The increased odds remained significant but were attenuated to 1.3% and 5.4% after further adjustment at each visit for smoking, alcohol use, chronic medical conditions, anxiety, and sleep problems. CONCLUSIONS: Maintenance of cardiorespiratory fitness during late middle-age, when decline in fitness typically accelerates, helps protect against the onset of depression complaints made to a physician

Temporal sequencing of physical activity change constructs within the transtheoretical model

Objective: Studies support the Transtheoretical Model\u27s (TTM) ability to describe behavior change processes and guide interventions; however, the temporal sequencing of constructs is less understood. This cohort study tested five sequences to identify TTM construct changes related to physical activity. Methods: A random sample provided baseline data (n = 689; 63% female; Mage (SD) = 47(17); 37% white), with 401 participants providing 24-month data, at six-month intervals. Results: Structural equation models revealed processes to cognitions to stage (AIC = 29313.093, BIC = 29514.883, CFI = 0.999, RMSEA = 0.006, SRMR = 0.026); processes to stage to cognitions (AIC = 27788.651, BIC = 27973.268, CFI = 0.978, RMSEA = 0.024, SRMR = 0.038), self-efficacy/temptations to processes to decisional balance to stage (AIC = 13914.771, BIC = 14031.169, CFI = 0.981, RMSEA = 0.018, SRMR = 0.034), and stage to processes to cognitions (AIC = 22048.324, BIC = 22212.986, CFI = 0.976, RMSEA = 0.026, SRMR = 0.029) all fit well. However, cognitions to processes to stage did not fit the data well (AIC = 10353.555, BIC = 10444.179, CFI = 0.937, RMSEA = 0.038, SRMR = 0.035). Conclusions: Integrating results revealed a cyclical model so that intervention efforts should focus on processes to change cognitions related to barrier self-efficacy and decisional balance, which then lead to change in stage and then renew focus on the processes

Access to Environmental Resources and Physical Activity Levels of Adults in Hawaii

Purpose. Examine associations between physical activity (PA) and spatial accessibility to environmental PA resources in Hawaii. Methods. Metabolic equivalents (METs) of mild, moderate, and strenuous PA were compared for accessibility with environmental PA resources within a population-based sample of Hawaiian adults (n = 381). Multiple linear regression estimated differences in PA levels for residing further from a PA resource or residing in an area with a greater number of resources. Results. No associations were found in the total sample. Analyses within subsamples stratified by ethnicity revealed that greater spatial accessibility to a PA resource was positively associated with strenuous PA among Caucasians (P = .04) but negatively associated with moderate PA among Native Hawaiians (P = .00). Conclusion. The lack of association in the total sample may be a consequence of Hawaii’s unique environment. Results of stratified sample analyses are unique, providing groundwork for future examinations within parallel environments and among similar ethnic groups

TRACK COHORT 857 PLOS ONE short

Cases are in rows. Repeated variables in columns. Variable names in row 1 (b indicates 6th grade variable assessment; c indicates 7th grade variable assessment). Variable labels and formatting are found in README file