Search Results (139)

Compositional Data Analysis (CoDA) is a powerful statistical approach for analyzing 24 h time-use data, effectively addressing the interdependence of sleep, sedentary behavior, and physical activity. Unlike traditional methods that struggle with perfect multicollinearity, CoDA handles time use as proportions of a whole, providing biologically meaningful insights into how daily activity patterns relate to health. Applications in epidemiology have linked variations in time allocation between behaviors to key health outcomes, including adiposity, cardiometabolic health, cognitive function, fitness, quality of life, glycomics, clinical psychometrics, and mental well-being. Research consistently shows that reallocating time from sedentary behavior to sleep or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) improves health outcomes. Importantly, CoDA reveals that optimal activity patterns vary across populations, supporting the need for personalized, context-specific recommendations rather than one-size-fits-all guidelines. By overcoming challenges in implementation and interpretation, CoDA has the potential to transform healthcare analytics and deepen our understanding of lifestyle behaviors’ impact on health. Full article

Objectives: This study empirically examined the effects of a digital game-based physical activity program (AI-FIT) on elementary school children’s health-related physical fitness while exploring the role of educational technology (EdTech) as a practical solution to post-pandemic physical inactivity. Methods: This study was conducted over a 12-week period, from September to December 2024, with 40 students (grades 4 to 6) from an elementary school located in a mid-sized city in South Korea. The participants had a mean age of 10.8 years (SD = 0.69). The experimental group (n = 20) participated in the AI-FIT program, while the control group (n = 20) received regular physical education classes. To ensure baseline equivalence between the groups, propensity score matching was employed. Health-related physical fitness was assessed through pre- and post-tests, including flexibility, muscular endurance, cardiorespiratory endurance, explosive power, and Physical Activity Promotion System (PAPS) grade. Analyses were conducted using both dependent (paired) and independent t-tests, along with effect size calculations (Cohen’s d), to examine within-group and between-group differences. In addition, gender-based subgroup analyses were performed to examine potential differences in responsiveness to the intervention. Intervention: Results indicated that the AI-FIT program had a large effect on flexibility (d = 0.90) and muscular endurance (d = 0.80) and a moderate-to-large effect on PAPS grade (d = 0.69). In contrast, no statistically significant improvements were observed in cardiorespiratory endurance or explosive power. Conclusions: These findings suggest that a digital program integrating AI-based personalized exercise prescriptions and gamification elements can effectively enhance the health-related fitness of elementary students. Moreover, this study supports the educational efficacy of EdTech-based interventions in physical education settings. Full article

Objectives: The present study seeks to analyze the relationships between the intensity of physical activity, mental hyperactivity and sleep quality. A comparative, descriptive and exploratory study was carried out. Methods: A sample of 1907 university students belonging to the degree of Physiotherapy and Physical Activity and Sport Sciences was used. The International Physical Activity and Mental Hyperactivity Questionnaires were used. The scale used was the Pittsburgh sleep quality index. The proposed model analyzes the relationships of physical activity with mental hyperactivity and various sleep-related factors. Results: The following fit indices were evaluated: Chi-Square = 80.242; Degrees of Freedom = 3; Incremental Fit Index = 0.951, Comparative Fit Index = 0.977; Normed Fit Index = 0.946; Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.071. The values obtained show the good fit of the theoretical model. Statistically significant differences are observed (p < 0.05) in the causal relationship of mental hyperactivity with the personal assessment of sleep as a function of the intensity of physical activity. A greater effect of light (β = 0.671) compared to moderate- (β = 0.428) or vigorous-intensity (β = 0.343) physical activity in personal sleep assessment is evident. Statistically significant differences were also observed in the causal relationship of mental hyperactivity with the time to fall asleep (p < 0.05). Light physical activity (β = 0.479) has a greater causal relationship with time to fall asleep than moderate- (β = 0.302) or vigorous-intensity (β = 0.413) physical activity. Conclusions: Based on the results obtained, it is concluded that the intensity with which physical activity is performed has a modulating effect on sleep quality and mental hyperactivity. Full article

This study examines strategies to enhance transport inclusivity and passenger satisfaction for persons with disabilities in public bus systems in the Philippines. Drawing on data collected through an online questionnaire from 396 persons with disabilities who responded across various regions in the country, this study investigates eight key factors affecting satisfaction: vehicle design, diverse seating options, sensory considerations, assistance services, safety measures, subsidies/discounts, accessibility, and communication and information quality. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the hypothesized relationships between these variables, passenger satisfaction, and intention to reuse public transport. The SEM results revealed that accessibility (β = 0.359, p = 0.005), vehicle design (β = 0.248, p < 0.001), diverse seating options (β = 0.485, p < 0.001), safety measures (β = 0.3867, p = 0.001), and subsidies/discounts (β = 0.447, p < 0.001) significantly influenced passenger satisfaction. In turn, satisfaction had a strong positive effect on the future intention to use public transport (β = 0.760, p < 0.001). However, sensory considerations (β = 0.163, p = 0.225), assistance (β = 0.133, p = 0.519), and communication and information quality (β = 0.171, p = 0.345) were not statistically significant. The model demonstrated a good fit (chi-square/df = 4.03; SRMR = 0.078; NFI = 0.956), supporting the robustness of the proposed framework. These findings suggest that design-centered improvements and subsidies/discounts are critical to inclusive transport experiences, while overreliance on assistance may not guarantee satisfaction. This study recommends promoting autonomy through universal design, enhancing digital and physical accessibility, and increasing public awareness. These insights are intended to guide policymakers and transit authorities in creating a more inclusive, equitable, and user-driven transportation system. Full article

Background: The Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assay (Ultra) is a second-generation molecular diagnostic test for tuberculosis (TB). The “Trace Call” result was added as a semi-quantitative category for extremely low bacillary loads. The prevalence and interpretation of Trace Call results remains insufficiently elucidated in the context of community-based active case finding (ACF). Methods: We organized 56 days of mobile chest X-ray (CXR) screening events in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, between October 2020 and March 2021. Participants were screened verbally and by CXR and tested by Ultra, if eligible. Persons with a Trace Call were re-tested on Ultra per national guidelines. qXRv3 computer-aided detection software was used for post hoc quality control of CXR interpretation. We calculated descriptive statistics and fitted mixed-effect multivariate regression models to identify factors associated with Trace Call results and confirmatory diagnosis. Results: A total of 16,698 people were screened by CXR to detect 185 Ultra-positive participants, including 142 persons with a confirmed TB diagnosis. Among Ultra-positive participants, 38.4% (71/185) had Trace Call results. Of these, 85.9% (61/71) were re-tested, and 45.9% (28/61) were bacteriologically-confirmed, comprising 19.7% (28/142) of the final number of confirmed diagnoses. Having a low qXR abnormality score (<0.5) (aOR = 4.97; 95%CI: [1.88, 13.14]; p = 0.001) and a history of TB within 5 recent years (aOR = 3.53; 95%CI: [1.69, 7.35]; p = 0.001) were associated with an initial Trace Call. Conclusions: The Trace Call can improve ACF detection, particularly in earlier stages of disease with limited pulmonary deterioration. However, participants with a history of TB had higher rates of Trace Call, reinforcing the need to interpret test results in this group with caution. Full article

Objective: Working physical activity, physical fitness and energy intake were studied for their effect on all-cause mortality and age at death in residential cohorts followed-up for 61 years. Material and Methods: There were two residential cohorts of middle-aged men examined in 1960 with a total of 1712 subjects, and three indexes were measured, i.e., physical activity by a questionnaire (three classes—sedentary, moderate, vigorous: Phyac), physical fitness, estimated by combining arm circumference, heart rate, and vital capacity by Principal Component Analysis, whose score was divided into three tertile classes (low, intermediate, and high: Fitscore), and energy intake in Kcalories, estimated by dietary history divided into three tertile classes (low, intermediate, high: Calories), plus five traditional cardiovascular risk factors (age, cigarette smoking, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, and serum cholesterol). Cox models were used to predict all-cause mortality as a function of those adjusted indexes. Multiple linear regression models were used to predict age at death as a function of the same co-variates and a larger number of them. At the 61-year follow-up, 1708 men had died. Results: There were large correlations across the three indexes. Prediction of all-cause mortality showed the independent and complementary roles of the three indexes to all be statistically significant and all protective for their highest levels. However, the Fitness score outperformed the role of Phyac, while the role of Calories was unexpectedly strong. The same outcome was found when predicting age at death, even in the presence of 25 covariates representing risk factors, personal characteristics, and prevalent major diseases. Conclusions: Working physical activity, a score of physical fitness and energy intake, seems directly related to lower all-cause mortality and to higher age at death, thus suggesting a large part of independence. Full article

Aberrant responding poses a significant challenge in measurement and validity, often distorting well-established relationships between psychological and educational constructs. This study examines how aberrant response patterns influence the relationship between student–teacher relations and students’ perceptions of school safety. Using data from 6617 students from the Saudi Arabia Kingdom from the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), we employed the cusp catastrophe model to evaluate the nonlinear dynamics introduced by aberrant responses, as measured by the U3 person-fit index and the number of Guttman errors. Theoretical and empirical support for the cusp model suggests that aberrance functions as a bifurcation parameter, shifting the relationship between student–teacher relations and perceived school safety from predictable linearity to chaotic instability when exceeding a critical threshold in aberrant responding. Results indicate that both the U3 index and the number of Guttman errors significantly contribute to response distortions, confirming the cusp model’s superiority over traditional linear and logistic alternatives. These findings suggest that ignoring aberrant responding risks misinterpreting data structures, while properly accounting for it through catastrophe models provides a more nuanced understanding of nonlinear system behavior in educational assessment. The study highlights the importance of person-fit statistics in psychometric evaluations and reinforces the predictive utility of nonlinear models in handling response distortions in large-scale assessments. Full article

Background/Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the unidimensionality and internal structure of the Arabic version of the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) in patients with lower back pain (LBP) using the Rasch measurement model. Methods: Patients with LBP (N = 113) completed the Arabic ODI during their first visit to physical therapy departments. The Arabic ODI was examined by assessing its fit to the requirements of the Rasch measurement model. Chi-square statistics for item–trait interaction alongside mean item and person fit residuals were used for overall model fit assessment. Additionally, the analysis included assessments for the fit of individual items, the sequence of thresholds, local dependency, unidimensionality using the t-test method, and differential item functioning (DIF) by sex, age, chronicity, and the presence of radiating pain. Results: The overall fit of the Arabic ODI to the Rasch measurement model was supported by non-significant Chi-square statistics (χ² = 25.32, p = 0.19) and acceptable mean item and person fit residuals. All items showed acceptable fit (standardized fit residual −1.89 to 1.62) with no violation of local item independence. The t-test method supported the scale’s unidimensionality. The ODI showed good internal consistency with a person separation index of 0.85, with good overall targeting of item thresholds to the participants’ lower back function. Items 2, 7, and 10 showed disordered thresholds, and potential bias by sex was detected in item 9 (social life). Conclusions: The Arabic ODI is a unidimensional measure valid for assessing disability due to low back pain; however, indications of the inappropriate functioning of some response options along with potential bias by sex need to be revisited. Full article

Traditional methods for evaluating tennis technique, such as visual observation and video analysis, are often subjective and time consuming. On the other hand, a quick and accurate assessment can provide immediate feedback to players and contribute to technical development, particularly in less experienced athletes. This study aims to validate the use of a single inertial measurement system to assess some relevant technical parameters of amateur players. Among other things, we attempt to search for significant correlations between the flexion extension and torsion of the torso and the lateral distance of the ball from the body at the instant of impact. This research involved a group of amateur players who performed a series of standardized gestures (forehands and serves) wearing a sensorized chest strap fitted with a wireless inertial unit. The collected data were processed to extract performance metrics. The percentage coefficient of variation for repeated measurements, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and Spearman’s correlation were used to determine the system’s reliability. High reliability was found between sets of measurements in all of the investigated parameters. The statistical analysis showed moderate and strong correlations, suggesting possible applications in assessing and optimizing specific aspects of the technique, like the player’s distance to the ball in the forehand or the toss in the serve. The significant variations in technical execution among the subjects emphasized the need for tailored interventions through personalized feedback. Furthermore, the system allows for the highlighting of specific areas where intervention can be achieved in order to improve gesture execution. These results prompt us to consider this system’s effectiveness in developing an on-court mobile application. Full article

Public employees face a growing array of professional challenges, and psychological capital (PC) has emerged as a valuable resource to address them. Workplace supervised exercise (WSE) programs can improve physical fitness and personal resources, though their adoption in organizations is limited. This study examines the impact of a long-term WSE program on the psychological capital of public administration employees. Fifty-five participants completed PC questionnaires and attended at least 40% of the sessions; 49.1% were women, and 40% were over 50 years old (age range: 24–73 years). A quasi-experimental design without a control group was used with a longitudinal design, and a nine-month WSE program (from October to June) was implemented. The data show gender-specific variations in PC patterns. Among men, incremental increases were observed over the three measurement intervals, with statistical significance achieved only in self-efficacy and hope. Among women, an upward trend was observed between October and February without statistical significance, followed by a slight decline. The results suggest that the WSE program may enhance personal resources, particularly hope and self-efficacy, highlighting the importance of tailoring WSE programs to the specific characteristics of the target group. Full article

A decrease in group travel and increase in individual and family travel has led to the diversification of travel demand needs in Japan. In Japan, railways and airlines are the main competitors of personal vehicles for mid- and long-distance travel. The use of a personal vehicle can better meet diverse travel needs by offering greater flexibility; moreover, the development of motorization and the improvement of road networks have placed vehicles in a leading position among mode choices for tourism purposes. At present, Level 3 autonomous driving on expressways has become technically feasible; hence, a mode shift from public transportation to automated vehicles is anticipated because of the reduction in driving fatigue and inherent advantage in terms of greater flexibility conferred by autonomous driving. This shift could contribute to more sustainable travel patterns by optimizing route planning and reducing congestion through more efficient vehicle operations. In this study, a survey was conducted on tourism travel to Kagoshima Prefecture. The collected data were used to construct tourist behavior models, including a mid- and long-distance mode choice model that considers driving fatigue and a tourist attraction visit duration model based on a random utility model. The validity of the model is corroborated by statistical tests showing high goodness-of-fit to the observed data. The results of this model forecast a change in the modal share after the introduction of automated vehicles, with a focus on reducing driving fatigue. These predictions can contribute to the development of future transportation policies and the promotion of tourism. Full article

Background: Metabolic age is defined as an estimation of a person’s age based on their basal metabolic rate (BMR) and other physiological health indicators. Unlike chronological age, which simply measures the number of years lived since birth, metabolic age is based on various health and fitness markers that estimate the body’s “true” biological age and can be assessed using various methodologies, including bioimpedance. The aim of this study was to evaluate how age, sex, social class, smoking habits, physical activity, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet influence metabolic age. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted on 8590 Spanish workers in the Balearic Islands. A series of sociodemographic variables and health-related habits were assessed, while metabolic age was measured using bioimpedance. A metabolic age exceeding chronological age by 12 years or more was considered high. A descriptive analysis of categorical variables was performed by calculating their frequency and distribution. By applying multivariate models, specifically multinomial logistic regression, we observe that all independent variables (sex, age, social class, physical activity, mediterranean diet, and smoking) show varying levels of association with the occurrence of high metabolic age values. Among these independent variables, those showing the highest degree of association, represented by odds ratios, are physical activity, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and social class. In all cases, the observed differences demonstrate a high level of statistical significance (p < 0.001). Results: The factors with the greatest influence were physical inactivity, with an OR of 5.07; and low adherence to the Mediterranean diet, with an OR of 2.8; followed by social class, with an OR of 2.51. Metabolic age increased with chronological age and was higher in males, with an OR of 1.38. Smoking also had a negative impact on metabolic age, with an OR of 1.19. Conclusions: Mediterranean diet is associated with a higher metabolic age. The most influential factors on metabolic age are physical activity and adherence to the Mediterranean diet, followed by the individual’s socioeconomic class. Smoking also contributes to increased metabolic age, albeit to a lesser extent. Full article

Background: The use of pre-workout supplements has surged among fitness practitioners, with various ingredients purported to enhance performance and recovery. This study aims to explore the potential link between pre-workout supplement consumption and aggression, as well as the correlation between the Big Five personality traits and aggression levels. Methods: The sample comprised 62 male fitness practitioners aged 20–55 years, divided into two groups: 32 pre-workout consumers and 30 non-consumers. Participants were assessed using the Buss and Perry Aggression Questionnaire and the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). Results: The results indicated no statistically significant differences in aggression levels between the supplement users and the control group. However, notable personality differences were observed, with pre-workout users showing lower Neuroticism and higher Agreeableness and Conscientiousness compared to non-users. Correlation analyses revealed a significant positive relationship between Neuroticism and all forms of aggression, while Agreeableness and Conscientiousness were negatively correlated with aggression. Conclusions: These findings suggest that personality traits may play a more substantial role in moderating aggression among pre-workout users than the supplements themselves. Further research is needed to clarify the potential long-term effects of pre-workout supplementation on aggression and personality dynamics. Full article

Psychological reactions to the climate change (CC) crisis, encompassing worry, distress, and impairment, are influenced by personality. Also, these psychological reactions to CC and future anxiety can impact an individual’s overall psychological distress. The role of perfectionism in psychological distress through CC reactions and future anxiety (FA) has not yet been explored. Our aim was to explore the mediator roles of CC worry, CC distress, CC impairment, and FA in the link between perfectionism and general psychological distress while controlling for the effect of gender. A path analysis was conducted on a sample of 577 adults (mean age = 32.62 ± 14.71) from the general population (64.5% women). The final model with all statistically significant path coefficients (p ≤ 0.01) presented an excellent model fit: χ²(6) = 1.56, p = 0.152; CFI = 0.995; GFI = 0.995; TLI = 0.986; RMSEA = 0.031, CI = 0.000–0.068, p = 0.764. Perfectionism was associated with general PD through several indirect pathways, including CC worry, CC distress, CC impairment, and FA, while controlling for the effect of gender. The model explained 3.89% of CC worry, 39.70% of CC distress, 20.64% of CC impairment, 23.73% of FA, and 20.20% of general PD. These findings suggest that cognitive and emotional responses to CC and future anxiety are exacerbated with higher perfectionism levels, which leads to higher overall psychological distress. These data underscore that individuals with high levels of perfectionism may require help to psychologically adapt to CC. Interventions aimed at lowering the maladaptive cognitive and emotional responses to climate threats should be implemented. Full article

Cyberspace has evolved into a hub for the dissemination of large amounts of tendentious information, posing significant challenges to the role of mainstream value information. As netizens’ are the main recipients of tendentious information, their personal cognition, attitude, and behavioral ability affect their willingness to re-disseminate information, making them an inalienable force in the promotion of information dissemination. Exploring the dissemination mechanism of tendentious information in cyberspace can help to understand the law of information dissemination and predict the trend of information diffusion, which is of great significance to maintaining information security and social stability. However, the existing research has overlooked the potential influence of the attribute characteristics of information in terms of content, and has failed to overcome the methodological constraints of traditional statistical analysis to accurately describe the variables and mechanisms influencing the dissemination of tendentious information at the cognitive level. Therefore, using structural equation modeling, we propose a research index system based on the Theory of Planned Behavior and the characteristics of tendentious information. To this end, confirmatory factor and model fitting analyses were conducted to develop a tendentious information dissemination mechanism model, which we validated through testing and comparative experiments. Path analysis revealed that Attitude Toward Dissemination, Information Dissemination Intention, and Information Dissemination Behavior are the main links in the information dissemination process. Moreover, Information Sentiment Orientation was found to strongly promote the dissemination of tendentious information, while Subject Norm of Dissemination had a minor inhibiting effect. Full article