The influence of mental toughness and self-regulation on post-season perceptions in varsity athletes.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether pre-season self-reported mental toughness and self-regulation strategies predicts post-season stress, mental health, group cohesion, and satisfaction in varsity athletes. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-seven varsity athletes from a U-Sport Canadian university. METHODS: Athletes completed pre- and post-season measures of mental toughness, emotion regulation, self-control, group cohesion, and satisfaction. Multiple mediation models were employed during analyses. RESULTS: Pre-season emotion regulation was a significant mediator for the relationships between mental toughness and post-season ratings of perceived stress, perceived mental health, and group cohesion. Self-control was not a significant mediator. CONCLUSIONS: Emotion regulation plays a significant role in an athlete's experience of perceived stress, mental health issues, and their ratings of group cohesiveness. Research on student-athlete health may benefit from examining emotion regulation training techniques.

A Scoping Study of Insomnia Symptoms in School Teachers.

OBJECTIVES: Although the demands and stress of teaching are generally recognized, little is known about the prevalence and nature of insomnia symptoms in teachers. This scoping study investigated the following questions: How prevalent are insomnia symptoms in teachers? What biopsychosocial variables are associated with insomnia symptoms in teachers? What, if any, interventions for insomnia symptoms in teachers have been studied? METHOD: We searched Medline, PsycINFO, Embase, CINAHL, Education Source, and ERIC for original peer-reviewed research on school teachers (kindergarten through high school) and insomnia symptoms (self-reported trouble falling or staying asleep). RESULTS: We identified 33 relevant articles from 15 countries. The literature was heterogeneous and generally of low quality with respect to the measurement of insomnia. Based on studies that met validity and reliability criteria, 36-61% of teachers reported insomnia symptoms. Associated factors included: being female, classroom violence, low job satisfaction, pain, depression, and rumination. One online intervention, which included stimulus control, sleep restriction, and techniques for reducing rumination, provided evidence of efficacy. CONCLUSION: Despite the importance of teachers and their work, high-quality research on insomnia in teachers is lacking. Research in this area is sorely needed. Studies should investigate insomnia symptoms over the school year, identify antecedents of insomnia, and develop interventions with the ultimate goals of understanding, preventing, and treating insomnia symptoms in teachers.

The Effectiveness of Internet-Guided Self-help Interventions to Promote Physical Activity Among Individuals With Depression: Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a prevalent and debilitating mental disorder and a leading cause of disability worldwide. Physical activity (PA) interventions have been shown to alleviate depressive symptoms. However, not all patients have access to PA programing tailored for depression. Internet-guided self-help (IGSH) interventions may be an effective option for increasing PA among people with depression who cannot or prefer not to access supervised exercise treatment. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of IGSH interventions in increasing PA and alleviating depressive symptoms in people with depression. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted for randomized controlled trials and quasiexperimental studies using 9 electronic databases. The review was registered in PROSPERO (2020 CRD42020221713). RESULTS: A total of 4 randomized controlled trials (430 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 3 were web-based and 1 was app-based. Three studies found IGSH interventions to have medium to large effects on decreasing depressive symptoms but not on increasing PA compared with waitlist or usual care. One study showed increased self-reported PA but no significant difference in depressive symptoms in the intervention group compared with the control group. Goal setting was the most common behavior change technique used in the interventions. Dropout rates within the intervention groups were relatively low (0%-19%). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested that IGSH PA interventions are feasible and have the potential to reduce depressive symptoms in people with depression. More well-designed and tailored interventions with different combinations of behavior change techniques, particularly those targeting the emotion domain, are needed to assess the overall effectiveness and feasibility of using IGSH interventions to increase PA among people with depression. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42020221713; https://tinyurl.com/ysaua5bu.

Efficacy of exercise combined with standard treatment for depression compared to standard treatment alone: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Exercise is indicated as a monotherapy for depression, as well as an augmentation strategy alongside standard treatments. However, it is not yet clear how exercise and standard treatments interact with regards to patient outcomes. The primary aim of the current systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare the antidepressant effects of exercise combined with standard treatment to standard treatment alone. METHOD: A systematic search was conducted for trials comparing the efficacy of standard treatments alone or in combination with exercise for reducing symptoms of depression. Random effects meta-analysis was used to estimate pooled standardized mean difference for standard treatment alone versus standard treatment with exercise. RESULTS: Twenty-two studies were included in the meta-analysis. There was a moderate pooled effect in favour of exercise combined with standard treatment compared to standard treatment alone (SMD = -0.62, p < 0.00001, I2 = 70%), with greatest benefits accruing for more severe patients (SMD = -0.99, p < 0.00001; I2 = 0%). Sensitivity analyses remained significant for trials with lower risk of bias (SMD = -0.41, p = 0.0009; I2 = 52%) and patients with a major depressive disorder diagnosis (SMD = -0.70, p < 0.0001; I2 = 72%). LIMITATIONS: There was considerable heterogeneity between trials. Uneven covariate distributions within subgroups limited our ability to explore the sources of heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise combined with standard treatments leads to significantly greater antidepressant effects over standard treatment alone. Patients and clinicians should consider using exercise alongside standard treatments to enhance therapeutic efficacy for depression.

Strange Days: Adult Physical Activity and Mental Health in the First Two Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: In addition to its physical health benefits, physical activity is increasingly recognized as a means to support mental health. Regular moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is associated with improved mental well-being, reduced likelihood of developing mental illness, and improved symptom management. Despite these benefits, most people fail to achieve minimum recommended levels of MVPA. Population levels of physical activity have further declined since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and implementation of public health measures (e.g., shelter-in-place protocols). The potential impact of this decline on mental heath outcomes warrants ongoing investigation. Purpose: To investigate associations between changes in MVPA and mental health (depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and life satisfaction) in adults impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Research followed a cross-sectional design. English-speaking adults were invited to complete an online questionnaire. MVPA was assessed retrospectively (before COVID-19) and currently (during COVID-19) with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Mental health was assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire, 9-Item (PHQ-9), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder, 7-Item (GAD-7), and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Regression was used to assess relationships between MVPA and mental health. ANOVA with follow-up tests examined whether participants who differed in mental health status (e.g., no symptoms vs. severe symptoms) differed in their change in MVPA. T-tests were used to examine differences in mental health symptomatology between participants who were sufficiently (i.e., achieving MVPA guidelines of ≥ 150 min/week) vs. insufficiently active. Results: Prior to COVID-19, 68.2% of participants were classified as being sufficiently active, vs. 60.6% during COVID-19. The majority of participants reported experiencing some level of depressive symptoms (62.0%) or anxiety symptoms (53.7%). After controlling for covariates, changes in MVPA accounted for significant variability in the PHQ-9 (7.7%), GAD-7 (2.5%), and SWLS (1.5 %). Participants with clinically significant mental health symptomatology reported greater declines in MVPA than those who reported no symptoms. Conversely, participants who were sufficiently active during COVID-19 reported significantly lower depression and anxiety, and higher life satisfaction. Conclusion: Participants who experienced the greatest declines in MVPA reported relatively greater psychological distress and lower life satisfaction. While preliminary, these findings suggest the importance of maintaining and promoting physical activity during a period of pandemic.

"You Can't Go to the Park, You Can't Go Here, You Can't Go There": Exploring Parental Experiences of COVID-19 and Its Impact on Their Children's Movement Behaviours.

The COVID-19 outbreak and related public health guidelines have changed the daily lives of Canadians and restricted opportunities for healthy movement behaviours for children. The purpose of this study was to explore how parents experienced the pandemic-related restrictions and how they impacted their children's movement behaviours. Methods: Twenty-nine semi-structured one-on-one interviews were conducted (June-July 2020) with parents of children (5-11 years old) in Ontario and British Columbia. Interviews lasted between 24-104 min, were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analyzed. Results: Findings emphasized various individual (e.g., motivation), interpersonal (e.g., parent work schedule), built (e.g., closure of parks) and natural environment (e.g., weather) factors related to children's movement behaviours. The findings highlighted the loss of structured activities and destinations for children's physical activity, and restricted opportunities for outdoor play exacerbated by shrinking childhood independent mobility. Conclusion: Families are adapting to many pandemic-related challenges including adhering to public health restrictions, parents juggling multiple roles, conducting work and school from home, as well as exacerbating factors like weather. It will be important to continue to encourage outdoor time, support policies and practice that facilitate independent mobility, and develop centralized resources that help families in the maintenance of healthy movement behaviours.

The adaptation and feasibility of dialectical behaviour therapy for adults with intellectual developmental disabilities and transdiagnoses: A pilot community-based randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Preliminary evidence suggests dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) may be beneficial for persons with intellectual disabilities. This pilot randomized controlled trial aimed to determine the feasibility of adapted DBT for adults with intellectual disabilities and co-morbid psychiatric disorders in the community. METHODS: An adapted DBT programme (aDBT-ID) was delivered to adults with mild-to-moderate intellectual disability (n = 20) and their caregivers (n = 20). A single-blind, mixed-methods design was employed with treatment (n = 10) and control (n = 10). In addition to feasibility, pre-post-measures of emotional regulation, anger and mental health were taken from clients and caregivers. RESULTS: Results suggest it was feasible and beneficial to deliver adapted DBT in the community. Qualitative findings found both participants and caregivers were satisfied with the treatment delivery. No differences between conditions were found. CONCLUSION: This pilot study highlights the feasibility of adapted DBT for individuals with intellectual disabilities and the practicalities of delivering community-based inclusive research.

Knowledge translation of the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Adults aged 18-64 years and Adults aged 65 years or older: a collaborative movement guideline knowledge translation process.

Establishing a step-by-step process that provides practitioners with a blueprint for translating movement guidelines into action stands to optimize the investment in guideline development, improve guideline promotion and uptake, and ultimately enhance population health. The purpose of this paper is to describe how the Knowledge-to-Action framework and integrated knowledge translation were operationalized to systematically inform our knowledge translation (KT) efforts for the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Adults aged 18-64 years and Adults aged 65 years or older. In October 2018, the need for a KT Process, operating in tandem with the Guideline Development Process, led to the establishment of a KT team with a specific structure and terms of reference. The KT team collaboratively agreed on decision-making principles prior to selecting target audiences to focus their efforts. We undertook formative research to assess the local context and determinants of guideline dissemination and implementation efforts among target audiences. Plans for the subsequent steps and research are outlined. We highlight recommendations and lessons learned for applying the process in other settings. Novelty We outline a collaborative and systematic process and research program for the knowledge translation of movement guidelines. This paper provides an innovative and replicable blueprint to optimize future movement guideline knowledge translation efforts.

Attempting to be active: Self-efficacy and barrier limitation differentiate activity levels of working mothers.

Working mothers are less physically active than working women without children and mothers who do not work. The purpose of this study was to examine concurrent self-regulatory efficacy and barriers to physical activity in a sample of working mothers. Women completed a mixed-methods survey which included measures of physical activity, concurrent self-regulatory efficacy, and barriers. Sufficiently active women experienced significantly greater concurrent self-regulatory efficacy and significantly less barrier limitation and frequency. No significant group differences were found for age, domestic duties performed, and children's extracurricular activities. Thematic analysis of barriers revealed six themes of common and unique factors, including limited time and family activities.

Physical Activity in the Transition to University: The Role of Past Behavior and Concurrent Self-regulatory Efficacy.

OBJECTIVE: Two studies were conducted to examine the relationship between past physical activity, concurrent self-regulatory efficacy (CSRE), and current physical activity during the transition to university. PARTICIPANTS: Study 1 included 110 first-year undergraduate students recruited during October/November of 2012. Study 2 involved 86 first-year undergraduate students recruited during October/November of 2013. METHODS: Surveys were completed online, concurrently (Study 1) and prospectively (Study 2). RESULTS: CSRE was found to positively predict current physical activity participation in both studies. However, the relation of CSRE to physical activity was attenuated when past behavior was taken into account. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity is one goal that university students pursue concurrently with other goals. Not only is current planned activity related to one's past participation in physical activity, it is also related to self-regulatory beliefs about managing that activity in the new context of university life.