Exercise identity and physical activity behavior during late adolescence: A four wave cross-lagged panel model.

Research has shown that physical activity behavior tends to decline across adolescence before stabilizing in adulthood. Identifying salient factors underlying these behavioral changes is therefore imperative for informing intervention development. This study explored the temporal nature of the relationship between exercise identity and physical activity behavior during the transition out of high school. An analysis of data from the Application of integrated Approaches to understanding Physical activity during the Transition to emerging adulthood (ADAPT) prospective cohort study was conducted, involving 1451 Canadian adolescents (Mage = 15.93 ± 0.53 years; 52.4% female). Participants completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form to report weekly moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and an abbreviated version of the Exercise Identity Scale yearly for four years beginning in Grade 11. A four-wave cross-lagged panel model was used to test bi-directional associations between exercise identity and physical activity behavior. Significant auto-regressive effects for exercise identity and physical activity were observed across all four time points. Significant positive cross-lagged paths were observed for exercise identity predicting future physical activity at all time points; however, none of the cross-lagged paths with physical activity predicting future exercise identity were significant. Collectively, these findings support existing theory that emphasizes the role that identity plays in physical activity behavior. Interventions seeking to attenuate the physical activity declines typically observed during the transition to emerging adulthood should therefore consider adopting behavior change techniques that target identity, as it appears to be an important psychological determinant underlying future physical activity engagement.

24-hour movement guideline adherence and mental health: A cross-sectional study of emerging adults with chronic health conditions and disabilities.

BACKGROUND: Recent work has shown that individuals with chronic health conditions and disabilities (CCD) meet the 24-h movement guidelines at lower rates than population norms; however, the evidence base remains limited across different stages of the lifespan and very few studies have examined associations with mental health outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study examined 24-h movement guideline adherence among emerging adults with CCD compared to those without and associations between guideline adherence and indicators of mental health. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from the 2020 cycle of the Canadian Campus Wellbeing Survey. A total of 17,874 emerging adults enrolled at 20 post-secondary institutions (mean age = 21.6 ± 2.94 years; 65.2% female), including 3336 who identified with a CCD, self-reported their movement behaviors (physical activity, sedentary behaviors, sleep) and completed measures of psychological distress and mental well-being. Logistic regressions models were computed to examine differences in guideline adherence. Propensity score weighted linear regression models were computed to examine associations between guideline adherence and indicators of mental health. RESULTS: Emerging adults with CCD had significantly lower odds of meeting the 24-h movement guidelines than their peers, and disparities in guideline adherence were most pronounced among those with multimorbidity, developmental, and physical disabilities. Guideline adherence was associated with significantly more favorable scores for psychological distress and mental well-being among those with and without CCD. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest emerging adults with CCD engage in less healthy movement behavior patterns than their peers, yet they appear to experience similar mental health benefits when they do meet the 24-h movement guidelines.