Bullying victimization, physical inactivity and sedentary behavior among children and adolescents: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity and sedentary behavior are related with psycho-social variables among youth, however its relationship with bullying victimization is unclear. The aim of the study was to clarify the associations between physical activity and sedentary behaviors with bullying victimization among children and adolescents. METHODS: Two independent authors searched in four databases. The studies were selected/included only if participants were children and/or adolescents and the relationship between physical activity and/or sedentary behavior with bullying victimization was reported. Random-effects meta-analyses were used. RESULTS: A total of 18 cross-sectional studies (including 386,740 children and adolescents, 51.8% females) were reviewed. Our study found that not meeting the physical activity guidelines (Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04 to 1.23) and excessive sedentary behavior (i.e., 2 h per day or more of screen time) (OR = 1.21, 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.28) were associated with 14 and 21% higher bullying victimization, respectively. Consistent associations were also found when we analyzed specific forms of bullying for sedentary behavior, including traditional and cyberbullying. CONCLUSIONS: The present study establishes the first quantitative framework for understanding the influence of physical activity and sedentary behavior on bullying victimization, and lays the groundwork for future studies and interventions aimed to its promotion. TRIAL REGISTRATION: CRD42018099388 .

Emotion Regulation Strategies in Educational, Work and Sport Contexts: An Approach in Five Countries.

One of the greatest challenges in the domain of emotional regulation is comprehending the functionality of strategies and their utilization in various social contexts. In this sense, this study analyzes differences in the use and efficacy of regulation strategies, particularly of interpersonal strategies like altruism, social support, negotiation, mediation, regulation, and rituals, in samples of workers (N = 687) and students (N = 959) from Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Spain, and Uruguay, and athletes (N =144) from Spain. Participants answered questions pertaining to measures of affect or emotional regulation (MARS and ERQ self-regulation scales and EROS heteroregulation), as well as questions of a wellbeing scale (PHI) and questions related to emotional creativity (ECI), humor styles (HSQ), and adjustment to stress. Athletes reported less emotional discharge, use of humor, and affection, and greater confrontation and use of rituals than students and workers. A congruent relationship was found between the use of functional strategies (like direct coping, distraction, reevaluation, and active physiological regulation) and adjustment to stress, well-being, and creativity. Seeking social support, negotiation, and, to an extent, altruism, confirmed their predicted adaptive character. Mediation and delegation did not confirm their predicted adaptive character. Rumination, social comparison, rituals, confrontation, and suppression were maladaptive for workers and students, but the first four strategies were functional for athletes, who display a higher self-control and a more team-oriented and competitive emotional culture. Finally, the results show that adaptive regulation strategies mediate the relationship between well-being and adjustment to stress.

Physical activity, screen time and subjective well-being among children.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to explore the differences between physical activity and/or screen time levels on cognitive (Life satisfaction LS) and affective (Positive affect, PA and Negative affect NA) components of subjective well-being (SWB) in children. METHOD: This cross-sectional study enrolled 1,540 children (1,040 boys, 8-12 years old). LS, PA, NA, physical activity and screen time were assessed with validated questionnaires. RESULTS: Children who reported 3 days per week of physical activity or less had lower LS and PA than counterparts with ≥6 days of physical activity per week (p < .05). Participants who reported 2 hours per day or less of screen time had lower NA than counterparts with 4 hours per day or more of screen time (p < .05). Also, children who meet physical activity guidelines have higher LS and PA compared to inactive peers, even with high screen time. In contrast, excessive screen time was also related with NA independent of the level of physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that physical activity is related with positive feelings and LS, but does not eliminate the effect of screen time on negative feelings among Chilean children.

INTRODUCCIÓN/OBJETIVO: Este estudio explora las diferencias entre la actividad física y/o los niveles de tiempo de pantalla en los componentes cognitivo (Satisfacción de la vida SV) y afectivo (Afecto positivo AP y Afecto negativo AN) del bienestar subjetivo en niños. MÉTODO: Se incluyó a 1.540 niños (1.040 niños, 8 a 12 años). La SV, AP, AN, actividad física y tiempo de pantalla se evaluaron con cuestionarios validados. RESULTADOS: Los niños que informaron 3 días/semana de actividad física o menos tenían menos SV y AP que sus homólogos con 6 días/semana de actividad física o más (p < 0,05). Los que informaron menos de 2 horas por día de tiempo de pantalla tuvieron menos AN que sus homólogos con más o igual a 4 horas por día de tiempo de pantalla (p < 0,05). Además, los niños que cumplen con las pautas de actividad física tienen mayor SV y AP en comparación con los inactivos, incluso con un tiempo de pantalla elevado. Por el contrario, el tiempo de pantalla excesivo también se relacionó con el AN independientemente del nivel de actividad física. CONCLUSIONES: Los hallazgos sugieren que la actividad física está relacionada con emociones positivas y SV, pero no elimina el efecto del tiempo de pantalla en las emociones negativas.

Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors and Their Association with Self-Regulation in Chilean Children.

BACKGROUND: Self-regulation comprises a series of important competencies, such as the ability to control inner states or responses toward thoughts, attention, emotions, or even performance. The relationship between self-regulation and different healthy lifestyle behaviors among children has not been examined in depth to date. The aim of this study was to explore the association between physical activity, screen time levels, and/or Mediterranean Diet adherence and self-regulation in Chilean children. METHODS: A total of 1561 children aged 8-12 years from eight public schools with low socioeconomic status were included. Physical activity, screen time, Mediterranean Diet, and self-regulation were assessed with validated questionnaires. RESULTS: Children who were classified as active or those who reported less than 2 h per day of screen time had higher self-regulation than those who were classified as inactive or counterparts with 2 h per day or more of screen time, respectively. Using joint categories, active children both with low and high screen time showed higher self-regulation compared to inactive/high screen time peers. Additionally, active groups with adherence or non-adherence to the Mediterranean Diet had higher self-regulation compared to inactive and non-adherence peers. CONCLUSION: Having a greater number of healthy habits, mainly regular physical activity, was associated with higher self-regulation, which might be one potential strategy to promote child social-emotional development.

Lifestyle behaviors predict adolescents bullying victimization in low and middle-income countries.

BACKGROUND: In this study we aimed to provide a global perspective of the association between different lifestyle behaviors and bullying in school adolescents and to ascertain whether or not the Human Development Index moderated those associations. METHODS: Data from the Global school-based Student Health Survey were analyzed in 273 121 from 82 countries. Logistic regression was applied to determine country-specific bullying victimization probability from meeting the recommended guidelines for physical activity, excessive sitting time, physical education attendance and active transport. Meta-analysis was then undertaken to ascertain pooled global effect estimates of the relationship between these behaviors and bullying victimization. Linear regression was used to study the relationship between odds of bullying from meeting the lifestyle guidelines and the Human Development Index. RESULTS: Our estimates indicate that excessive sitting time [1.38 (1.34,1.41)], attendance to physical education [0.87 (0.85,0.89)], and active transport [0.94 (0.91,0.97)] but not overall physical activity [1.01 (0.99,1.04)] were associated with bullying in the study sample. LIMITATIONS: The present study is limited by its cross-sectional nature. Also, only two countries were surveyed from the European region CONCLUSIONS: Active commuting and attendance to physical education play a protective role for bullying, while physical activity does not.

Association between bullying victimization and physical fitness among children and adolescents.

The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between being bullied and the physical fitness components, and to determine whether a healthy physical fitness level is related with lower victimization in children and adolescents with overweight and obesity compared to unfit overweight/obese peers. METHOD: The present cross-sectional study included a total of 7,714 youths (9-17 years), categorized as normal-weight or overweight/obese and fit or unfit according to sex-specific handgrip strength and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) cut-points. Bullying (physical, verbal, social exclusion, sexual harassment, and cyberbullying) was assessed through the Standard Health Behavior in School-aged Children survey questions. RESULTS: Boys and girls that were categorized as fit (healthy level of CRF) showed lower traditional bullying compared to unfit counterparts. Also, a healthy level of CRF could be a protective factor of traditional bullying among overweight/obese youths compared to unfit overweight/obese peers. CONCLUSIONS: CRF is related with lower risk for experiencing traditional bullying in Latino youths with and without obesity, thus emphasizing the role of fitness even among youth with excess of adiposity.

ANTECEDENTES/OBJETIVO: El objetivo del estudio fue analizar la relación entre el bullying y la condición física, y determinar si un nivel físico saludable está relacionado con menor nivel de victimización en niños y adolescentes con sobrepeso y obesidad en comparación con sus compañeros con sobrepeso u obesidad no aptos. Método:Se incluyó un total de 7.714 niños y adolescentes (9-17 años), categorizados en peso normal o sobrepeso/obeso y aptos o no aptos a través de puntos de corte específicos para la capacidad aeróbica y fuerza manual en esta población. El bullying (físico, verbal, exclusión social, acoso sexual y cyberbullying) se evaluó a través de autoinforme. Resultados:Los jóvenes categorizados como aptos (capacidad cardiorrespiratoria) padecen menos bullying en comparación con sus homólogos no aptos. Además, un nivel saludable de capacidad cardiorrespiratoria se relacionó con menor bullying tradicional entre los jóvenes con sobrepeso/obesidad en comparación con sus homólogos no aptos. Conclusiones:La capacidad cardiorrespiratoria se relaciona con un menor riesgo de sufrir acoso escolar tradicional en los jóvenes latinos con y sin obesidad, lo que enfatiza el papel del buen estado físico incluso entre los jóvenes con exceso de adiposidad.