No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Introduction Due to the significant burden associated with mental disorders that have their onset in youth, there is a critical need to improve treatments and treatment outcomes. Given the evidence for physical activity (PA) as an effective intervention for reducing depression and anxiety symptoms in young people, we examined young people's attitudes towards and acceptability of PA as part of mental health treatment, predictors of current engagement in PA and predictors of attitudes towards PA as a treatment option. Methods Participants in this cross‐sectional study were 88 young people (15–25 years) who were engaged in treatment at youth mental health services in Melbourne, Australia. Results Young people's attitudes towards PA as a treatment option were generally positive. The acceptance of PA as a treatment option was predicted by fewer perceived barriers and more benefits to exercise, higher autonomous motivation and lower amotivation; whereas, the only significant predictor of current engagement in PA was autonomous motivation. Discussion The integration of PA interventions within mental health treatment appears to be acceptable to young people; however, acceptance of PA as a treatment option is influenced by perceived barriers and benefits of PA and autonomous motivation. A focus on increasing autonomous motivation by enhancing the perceived value of PA and choosing preference‐based, enjoyable activities may assist in addressing the complex range of factors that impact the ability of these young people to become more physically active. Addressing these factors may assist with implementing PA interventions within psychological treatments for mental disorders.

No abstract

Introduction: Cycling for transport has various health benefits. However, in Australia, commuter cycling rates are low, especially among women. Despite this, little is known about the factors that may explain why women cycle for transport less than men. This study aimed to examine whether components of the neighbourhood built environment and social norms were associated with transport cycling differently in men and women. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited participants from organisations with bicycle user groups in Melbourne, Australia. An online questionnaire measured participant's (n=228) perceptions about cycling infrastructure and cycling convenience in their neighbourhood, and descriptive and injunctive norms towards cycling. Logistic regression models were run to test the main effects of gender and participant's perceptions of each of these factors on transport cycling. The moderating effect of gender was tested by adding an interaction term between gender and each of the neighbourhood built environment and social norm variables into the main effects model. Results:Results showed that women were significantly less likely to cycle for transport, while participants who reported positive perceptions of neighbourhood cycling convenience and descriptive norms were significantly more likely to cycle for transport in the previous week. Gender moderated the association between neighbourhood cycling convenience and cycling for transport whereby the association was only significantly positive in women. Conclusion:Results from this study suggest that to increase rates of transport cycling in women it may be necessary to increase the convenience of cycling in neighbourhoods for multiple purposes, such as going to the shops, running errands, or escorting children.Additionally, improving social norms towards cycling may increase rates of commuter cycling in both men and women.

The health benefits of classroom-based physical activity programs may only be sustained if programs are continually implemented over time. Despite the importance of instituting physical activity programs to ensure their continued implementation, little is known about factors associated with institutionalization of programs at a school level. The purpose of this study is to examine how school context, principal characteristics, and program attributes are associated with the institutionalization of Bluearth Foundation’s Active Schools program in Australian elementary schools. Current principals from schools who participated in the Active Schools program between 2015 and 2017 reported the level of institutionalization of the program, school context, principal characteristics, and perceived attributes of the program. Univariate associations were calculated using Pearson’s correlation coefficient, independent sample t-tests and one-way ANOVA. Linear regression using backward deletion was used to calculate significant or marginally significant (p < .1) multivariate associations. Thirty of the 211 eligible principals participated in the study. School capacity (r = .617, p < .001); perceived student behavioral (r = .577, p < .001), health (r = .499, p < .001), and enjoyment benefits (r = .529, p < .001), relative advantage (r = .417, p = .022), observability (r = .385, p = .036), and having the program delivered by a Bluearth coach at the time of the study (η 2 = .426, p < .001) all had a significant positive univariate association with institutionalization. School capacity (β = 1.802, p = .001), observability (β = 0.902, p = .061), and having the program delivered by a Bluearth coach at the time of the study (β = 2.580, p = .003) remained significant in the final multivariate model. Results suggest that schools that have someone who can provide support implementing a program are more likely to institute the program into policies and practices. It is also important that school administrators have the tools to evaluate the benefits of physical activity programs and to perceive them as being beneficial for their students. However, schools may struggle to institutionalize physical activity programs after formal program delivery has concluded.

No abstract