Physical Activity and Motor Skill Development During Early Childhood: Investigating the Role of Parent Support.

PURPOSE: This study examined the relationship between parent physical activity (PA) support and children's motor skill development and PA during early childhood and explored the potential moderating effect of child PA and motor skills on these relationships. METHODS: Participants (N = 589, 250 girls, meanage = 4.93 [0.59] y) were part of a larger, longitudinal cohort study. Motor skills were assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition. Moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) was measured using ActiGraph accelerometers. Five items were used to measure parent support frequency (1 = none, 3 = 3-4 times, 5 = daily). Moderation analyses were conducted to examine the moderating effect of MVPA and motor skills on the relationship between parent support and motor skills and MVPA, respectively. RESULTS: Parent support was significantly related to motor skills (B = 14.45, P = .007), and child MVPA significantly moderated this relationship (B = -0.17, P = .021). The relationship between parent support and child MVPA did not reach significance (B = 2.89, P = .051); however, motor skills had a significant moderating effect (B = -0.08, P = .022). CONCLUSIONS: These novel findings suggest parent PA support is related to child motor skills and PA during early childhood, but this relationship is context dependent. Child-level characteristics should be considered in future parent PA support research.

The Sport Experience Measure for Children and Youth (SEM:CY): A Rasch Validation Study.

This study employed Rasch analyses to validate a novel measure of sport experience: the Sport Experience Measure: Children and Youth (SEM:CY). Analyses were applied to self-reported data of n = 503 young people (age 9-18 years, M = 12.91, 50% female) in Canada who were engaging in sport during the previous 12 months. The revised measure, consisting of 24 items on a 3-point response scale, demonstrated good fit statistics (e.g., item fit residual: M = -0.50, SD = 0.94 and person fit residual: M = -0.62, SD = 2.33), an ability to reliably discriminate between levels of sport experience, and an absence of differential item functioning for various groups (males and females, older and younger individuals, solo and team sports, and those playing at various competitive levels, including recreation). The SEM:CY is a succinct tool that can serve as a valuable means to gauge the quality of an individual's sport experience, which can facilitate positive youth development and sustain participation across the life span.

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.

Independent and Joint Associations of Physical Activity and Sleep on Mental Health Among a Global Sample of 200,743 Adults.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has demonstrated that both sleep and physical activity (PA) are independently associated with various indicators of mental health among adults. However, their joint contribution to mental health has received limited attention. The present study used cross-sectional data from the Mental Health Million Project to examine the independent and joint effects of sleep and PA on mental health among a global sample of adults, and whether these effects differ among individuals receiving mental health treatment. METHOD: The sample included 200,743 participants (33.1% young adults, 45.6% middle-aged adults, 21.3% older adults; 57.6% females, 0.9% other) from 213 countries, territories, and archipelagos worldwide that completed a comprehensive 47-item assessment of mental health including both problems (i.e., ill-being) and assets (i.e., well-being): the Mental Health Quotient. Participants also reported their weekly frequency of PA and adequate sleep, and mental health treatment status. A series of generalized linear mixed models were computed. RESULTS: Independent dose-response associations were observed, whereby greater amounts of PA and adequate sleep were each associated with better mental health. In addition, a synergistic interaction was observed in which the positive correlation of PA with mental health was strengthened with greater frequency of adequate sleep. These benefits were less pronounced among adults receiving mental health treatment. CONCLUSION: While findings suggest sleep can help to offset the negative influence of a physically inactive lifestyle (and vice versa), our results point to a "more is better" approach for both behaviors when it comes to promoting mental health.

Understanding Newcomer Challenges and Opportunities to Accessing Nature and Greenspace in Riverdale, Hamilton, Ontario: A Neighborhood-Centered Photovoice Study.

BACKGROUND: Access to and engagement with greenspace is related to improved health benefits. We sought to collaborate with community members as partners in research and co-creators in knowledge to better understand which components within a newcomer-dense community help or hinder individual and community efforts to access greenspace and nature-based activities. METHODS: We used photovoice methodology to engage with local residents in focus groups, photowalks, and photo-elicitation interviews. Themes were developed using direct content analysis. RESULTS: A total of 39 participants (ages 11-70 years; median years in Canada of 3.25 years) were engaged in this program of research. From the analysis, we developed four themes: (a) peace and beauty; (b) memories of home; (c) safety and cleanliness; and (d) welcoming strengthened and new opportunities. Participants associated nature with peace, citing it as "under-rated" but "vital" to the neighborhood. Via photographs and stories, participants also shared a multitude of safety concerns that prevent their access to green/outdoor spaces for healthy active living programs or activities (e.g., woodchip-covered playgrounds, ample amounts of garbage littering the park and school grounds, lack of timely ice removal on sidewalks, limited safe biking paths, and unsafe motor vehicle practices at the crosswalks surrounding local parks). CONCLUSION: To translate the key ideas and themes into an informed discussion with policy and decision-makers, we held an in-person exhibition and guided tour where community members, the lead photovoice researcher, and SCORE! principal investigator shared information about each theme in the form of a pseudo-narrative peppered with prepared discussion questions.

Cumulative Prenatal Risk Factors and Developmental Coordination Disorder in Young Children.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effect of cumulative prenatal risk factors (RFs) on the presence of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) in young children. METHODS: Participants (N = 589, 338 boys, Mage = 4.5 ± 0.5 years) were from a larger cohort study, the Coordination and Activity Tracking in Children (CATCH). Motor coordination was assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children- 2nd Edition. Children were classified as at risk for DCD (DCDr) based on European Academy of Childhood Disability guidelines. RFs were obtained through a parent-completed survey. A multiple logistic regression was conducted to examine the effect of the RFs on DCD. RESULTS: Results showed that the odds of a child having DCDr are significantly higher with a greater total number of prenatal RFs, after adjustment for mother's age at child's birth, child's sex, child's age, marital status and total annual household income (OR = 1.48, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These findings warrant further investigation into the cumulative impact of multiple prenatal RFs and whether specific combinations of RFs might be more strongly linked to DCD than others. These results provide additional insight into possible causes and prevention of DCD.

Reliability of field- and laboratory-based assessments of health-related fitness in preschool-aged children.

OBJECTIVES: Reliable measurements of health-related fitness-cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular endurance, muscular strength, body composition, and flexibility-are imperative for understanding and tracking health-related fitness from the preschool age. This study aimed to examine the test-retest reliability of field-based (i.e., sit and reach [standard and back-saver], standing long jump, grip strength); and laboratory-based (i.e., Bruce Protocol Treadmill Test, Wingate Anaerobic Test) assessments of health-related fitness in preschool aged children (4-5 years). METHODS: Forty-two typically developing children participated in both assessment time points separated by 2-3 weeks. All fitness assessments were administered individually and repeated in the same order by the same assessor. Heteroscedasticity was examined for each parameter. Intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated to assess test-retest reliability. RESULTS: All parameters were homoscedastic. Test-retest reliability for the field-based tests and Bruce Protocol Treadmill Test parameters were moderate to good. Test-retest reliability for the Wingate Test parameters were good to excellent for maximum pedal rate, peak power, and peak power/kg; mean power and fatigue measured at 10 and 30 s demonstrated moderate to excellent test-retest reliability. CONCLUSION: The standard sit and reach, grip strength, and short-term muscle power from the Wingate test are reliable assessments of health-related fitness in preschool-aged children.

The golden ratio in baseball: the influence of historical eras on winning percentages in major league baseball.

Introduction: The golden section or golden ratio (61.8% or 0.618) is a mathematical phenomenon that appears in art, literature, music and nature with such ubiquity that it is thought to be a fundamental principle of aesthetic organisation. The golden ratio also manifests in sport, particularly as the proportion of wins to losses required to win a Major League Baseball championship. This study extends early work on the golden ratio in baseball by incorporating more than three decades of additional data. Methods: This study involved a historically contextualized examination of how winning percentages have changed across the seven historical eras of modern baseball, including analyses of the relative contribution of offensive and defensive statistics to championship winning teams. Data was extracted from Baseball Reference and included statistics for 398 championship winning teams from both the American and National Leagues between 1901 and 2019. Pearson correlation coefficients were computed for winning percentage with indicators of offensive and defensive performance during each era. Main and interaction effects of Era and League on winning percentage were examined using factorial ANOVA, with follow-up analyses examining whether the golden ratio was included in each factor's 95% confidence interval. Results: Our findings suggest that winning percentages for championship teams were closest to the golden ratio during eras where the relative contribution of offense and defense was most closely balanced: the Integration Era (1942-1960) and the Expansion Era (1961-1976). Discussion: Previous scholarship theorizes that the golden ratio represents an aesthetic ideal or a Gestalt archetype. If this aesthetic theory is applied to sporting competition, these results suggest that baseball may be most aesthetically appealing to fans when offense and defense is balanced in such a way as to ensure that championship teams win 61.8% of their games.

Strengthening Community Roots: Anchoring Newcomers in Wellness and Sustainability (SCORE!): A protocol for the co-design and evaluation of a healthy active living program among a newcomer community in Canada.

BACKGROUND: The burden of childhood obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors affecting newcomer Canadians living in lower socioeconomic circumstances is a concerning public health issue. This paper describes Strengthening Community Roots: Anchoring Newcomers in Wellness and Sustainability (SCORE!), an academic-community research partnership to co-design interventions that nurture and optimize healthy activity living (HAL) among a community of children and families new to Canada in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. METHODS/DESIGN: Our overarching program is informed by a socio-ecological model, and will co-create HAL interventions for children and families new to Canada rooted in outdoor, nature-based physical activity. We will proceed in three phases: Phase 1) synthesis of existing evidence regarding nature based HAL interventions among children and families; Phase 2) program development through four data collection activities including: i) community engagement activities to build trustful relationships and understand barriers and facilitators, including establishing a community advisory and action board, qualitative studies including a photovoice study, and co-design workshops to develop programs; ii) characterizing the demographics of the community through a household survey; iii) characterizing the built environment and HAL programs/services available in the community by developing an accessible real-time systems map; and iv) reviewing municipal policies relevant to HAL and sustainability; leading to Phase 3) implementation and evaluation of the feasibility of co-designed HAL programs. CONCLUSION: The etiology of childhood obesity and related chronic diseases is complex and multifactorial, as are intervention strategies. The SCORE! program of research brings together partners including community members, service providers, academic researchers, and organizational leaders to build a multi-component intervention that promotes the health and wellness of newcomer children and families.

Motivational interviewing to promote healthy behaviors for obesity prevention in young adults (MOTIVATE): a pilot randomized controlled trial protocol.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a chronic disease and is an established risk factor for other chronic diseases and mortality. Young adulthood is a period when people may be highly amenable to healthy behavior change, develop lifelong healthy behaviors, and when primary prevention of obesity may be feasible. Interventions in early adulthood have the potential for primary or primordial prevention (i.e., preventing risk factors before disease onset). The primary objective of this study is to determine the feasibility of a 6-month behavioral and educational intervention to promote healthy behaviors for obesity prevention among young adults. METHODS: This is the study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial. Young adults (age 18-29) attending McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada, will be recruited and randomized to either the intervention or control. The intervention will include individual motivational interviewing sessions (online or in-person) with a trained interviewer plus educational materials (based on Canada's food guide and physical activity recommendations). The control group will receive educational materials only. The primary feasibility outcomes that will be evaluated as part of this pilot study include enrollment, retention (≥ 80%), data completion (≥ 80% of weights measured, and surveys completed), and participant satisfaction. Secondary clinical outcomes will include body mass index (BMI) change from baseline to 6 months, physical activity, nutrition risk, health-related quality of life mental health, and economic outcomes. Outcomes will be measured remotely using activity trackers, and online questionnaires at baseline and every 2 months. Risk stratification will be applied at baseline to identify participants at high risk of obesity (e.g., due to family or personal history). Exit questionnaires will collect data on how participants felt about the study and cost analysis will be conducted. DISCUSSION: Our pilot randomized controlled trial will evaluate the feasibility of an obesity prevention intervention in early adulthood and will inform future larger studies for obesity prevention. The results of this study have the potential to directly contribute to the primary prevention of several types of cancer by testing an intervention that could be scalable to public health, post-secondary education, or primary care settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05264740 . Registered on March 3, 2022.

Towards the development of a quality youth sport experience measure: Understanding participant and stakeholder perspectives.

Quality sport experiences may be a key underlying mechanism through which continued sport participation may facilitate positive youth development. However, what constitutes a quality sport experience for youth is poorly understood due to a lack of comprehensiveness among existing measures. This study aimed to identify the salient factors that constitute quality sport experience for youth by capturing athletes and stakeholder perspectives with a broader goal of developing a more robust quality sport experiences measure. A total of 53 youth athletes and stakeholders (i.e., parents, coaches, and sport administrators) completed semi-structured interviews or focus groups about what they felt were important aspects of a quality sport experience for youth. Inductive content analysis of the data identified four themes representing important indicators for a quality sport experience for youth: fun and enjoyment, opportunity for sport skill development and progress, social support and sense of belonging, and open and effective communication. These higher order themes were found among each of the groups that have important interpersonal relationships with athletes, as well as among athletes themselves. Each of these themes were also related to one another. Collectively, findings outline a framework to understand what constitutes a quality sport experience for youth. The Quality Sport Experience Framework for Youth will help in the development of a quantitative tool to assess this construct and enable researchers to examine how these experiences contribute to continued engagement in sport and positive developmental outcomes among youth sport participants.

Exploring Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity in Adults with ADHD: A Qualitative Investigation.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by executive dysfunction. Physical activity (PA) may improve executive dysfunction; however, specific barriers and facilitators to PA participation for adults with ADHD have not been formally documented, which was the aim of the present study. Thirty adults with ADHD completed virtual semi-structured interviews, which were analyzed thematically and guided by the Theoretical Domains Framework. Expressions of both barriers and facilitators to PA were identified. Themes such as executive dysfunction (described as forgetfulness, difficulty with sustained focus, and time management), poor self-esteem, and lack of motivation were seen as barriers to PA. Key facilitators were tied to the benefits of being physically active including improvements in executive functioning, mood, and mental health during and after activity, as well as the enjoyment of being active with others. To better support adults with ADHD in initiating physical activity, it is crucial to develop unique resources that are tailored to their specific needs. These resources should be designed to minimize barriers and maximize facilitators, while also supporting the awareness and acceptance of neurodiverse experiences.

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.

Development and evaluation of the IPLAY program: A protocol for a mixed-methods feasibility study targeting newcomer youth.

BACKGROUND: Physical Literacy (PL) is a synthesis construct that ties together movement competencies with affective, motivational, and knowledge-based elements. It is considered foundational to the development of physical activity-related outcomes. Many diverse organizations and programs have embraced the concept and are implementing programs targeting each of those core elements. However, research has lagged behind its interest and adoption. Among the more prominent gaps is the design and evaluation of programs that aim to increase PL within special populations such as new immigrants or refugee youth. METHODS: The Immigrant-focused Physical Literacy for Youth (IPLAY) program is a co-developed evidence-informed 8-week PL program designed for new immigrant and refugee youths who have recently settled in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. This study aims to use a convergent parallel mixed-methods approach to collect, analyse, and interpret quantitative and qualitative data in the evaluation and iteration of the IPLAY program. DISCUSSION: PL programs can be used as a tool to build confidence and physical competencies among newcomer youth. Furthermore, academic-community collaborations in the design and delivery of PL programs can help improve the access and interest for PL programs among newcomer youth. These partnerships are critical and timely considering the recent and upcoming waves of immigration to "arrival cities" across Canada.

Development, explanation, and presentation of the Physical Literacy Interventions Reporting Template (PLIRT).

BACKGROUND: The physical literacy (PL) concept integrates different personal (e.g., physical, cognitive, psychological/affective, social) determinants of physical activity and has received growing attention recently. Although practical efforts increasingly adopt PL as a guiding concept, latest evidence has shown that PL interventions often lack specification of important theoretical foundations and basic delivery information. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to develop an expert-based template that supports researchers and practitioners in planning and reporting PL interventions. METHODS: The development process was informed by Moher et al.'s guidance for the development of research reporting guidelines. We composed a group of ten distinguished experts on PL. In two face-to-face meetings, the group first discussed a literature-driven draft of reporting items. In the second stage, the experts anonymously voted and commented on the items in two rounds (each leading to revisions) until consensus was reached. RESULTS: The panel recommended that stakeholders of PL initiatives should tightly interlock interventional aspects with PL theory while ensuring consistency throughout all stages of intervention development. The Physical Literacy Interventions Reporting Template (PLIRT) encompasses a total of 14 items (two additional items for mixed-methods studies) in six different sections: title (one item), background and definition (three items), assessment (one item each for quantitative and qualitative studies), design and content (five items), evaluation (one item plus one item each for quantitative and qualitative studies), discussion and conclusion (two items). CONCLUSION: The PLIRT was designed to facilitate improved transparency and interpretability in reports on PL interventions. The template has the potential to close gaps between theory and practice, thereby contributing to more holistic interventions for the fields of physical education, sport, and health.

Stability of M-ABC-2-measured motor functioning in early childhood: Evidence from a large prospective cohort.

AIM: Some studies have reported that children with poor motor functioning tend to improve over time. However, much existing research does not account for regression towards the mean (RTM). Here, we examine measurement stability among 589 children aged 4-5 years. METHOD: We administered the Movement Assessment Battery for Children 2nd Edition annually to 269 children initially scoring above and 252 at or below the 16th percentile. We measured agreement between year 1 and year 2 standard scores using Pearson correlation and derived expected regression towards the mean (RTM). We then regressed follow-up on baseline scores, controlling for relative age, sex, and exact interval between assessments. Finally, we performed a small illustrative simulation. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: The mean score in the poor-coordination group rose from 5.6 (SD = 1.5) to 7.2 (SD = 2.8). Year 1 and year 2 scores were correlated at r = 0.66, corresponding to predicted RTM in the MI group of 1.56, close to the observed change of 1.57. Degree of change was not associated with time between assessments. INTERPRETATION: Observed improvements in motor functioning were consistent with measurement error. The stability of motor functioning may be greater than it appears from past research, and reported functional improvements in some studies may be illusory. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS?

Healthier movement behavior profiles are associated with higher psychological wellbeing among emerging adults attending post-secondary education.

BACKGROUND: Emerging adulthood is a stressful time fraught with new challenges while attending higher education. Identifying protective factors to help reduce the psychological burden that many will experience during this period is therefore important. This study aimed to identify whether emerging adults attending post-secondary education can be classified into distinct profiles based on their 24-h movement behaviors, evaluate correlates of profile membership, and examine relationships between profile membership and indicators of mental health. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from Cycle 1 of the Canadian Campus Wellbeing Survey. Emerging adults (N = 15,080; 67.6 % female; mean age = 20.78 ± 2.00) from 20 post-secondary institutions in Canada self-reported their movement behaviors - moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), recreational screen time (ST) and sleep - and completed measures of psychological distress and mental wellbeing. Latent profile analysis was employed. RESULTS: Five profiles were identified: low ST with very high (12.6 %), high (24.4 %) and low MVPA (51.2 %) as well as high ST with high (2.3 %) and low MVPA (9.4 %). Profiles had similar sleep patterns and were thus characterized by differences in MVPA and ST. Several socio-demographic variables were associated with profile membership. Profiles characterized by healthier combinations of MVPA, ST and sleep generally reported more favorable scores for indicators of mental health. LIMITATIONS: Cross-sectional data limits causal inference, whereas self-reports may be biased. CONCLUSIONS: Campus-based interventions should focus on getting students to engage in a healthy balance of physical activity and recreational screen use as it has the potential to reduce the mental health burden on emerging adults attending post-secondary education.

Understanding Changes in Adolescent Physical Activity Behaviors and Cognitions Prior to and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Despite accumulating evidence that has found significant negative declines in physical activity (PA) as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, little work has sought to understand how PA cognitions have changed during this period and in relation to behavior change during the pandemic. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the changes in adolescents' PA behaviors and cognitions associated with COVID-19 and prospective predictors of PA using the Multi-Process Action Control (M-PAC) framework. Adolescents were recruited from a large school board and a total of 588 participants (Mage = 15.87 ± 0.43 years, 60% female) completed data collection in both Fall 2019 and 2020-prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants completed self-reported measures of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), participation in organized activities, and variables derived from the M-PAC framework. Mixed effects models were computed to examine longitudinal changes in MVPA and cognitions as well as whether cognitions prior to COVID-19 predict MVPA during COVID-19. A generalized estimating equations model was computed to examine longitudinal changes for participation in organized activities. Findings indicated that MVPA (B = -56.41, p < 0.01) and participation in organized activities (OR = 0.33, p < 0.01) significantly decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Correspondingly, there were significant decreases in intentions (B = -0.34), identity (B = -0.19), and habit (B = -0.20), though there were increases in behavioral regulation (B = 0.18). No significant changes were found in affective attitudes, instrumental attitudes, perceived opportunity, and perceived capability. Among the baseline M-PAC cognitions, habit (B = 46.28) was the lone significant predictor of MVPA during COVID-19. Overall results suggest that adolescents' PA behaviors and cognitions were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, along with promising evidence that restrictions prompted adaptive utilization of behavioral regulation skills. Moreover, habit appears to play a salient role in predicting PA behaviors during uncertain times involving major life disruptions. These findings highlight the need to dedicate additional attention to PA promotion as COVID-19 moves toward an endemic phase, and that interventions targeting habit formation may be critical for helping adolescents better sustain healthy active lifestyles during major life changes.

Associations Between Fitness, Physical Activity, and Fatness in Preschool Children With Typical and Atypical Motor Coordination.

Purpose: Increased adiposity in children confers a higher risk of cardiovascular disease in later life, with low cardiorespiratory fitness strongly linked to poorer metabolic health. Children with motor coordination problems are likely to be less physically fit and at a higher risk of obesity. In this study, we examined the associations between aerobic and anaerobic fitness, device-measured physical activity, and body adiposity in children (aged 4-5 years) with typical and atypical motor coordination. Methods: Baseline data from the Coordination and Activity Tracking in CHildren (CATCH) cohort study were utilised. The assessments included aerobic and anaerobic fitness via time-to-exhaustion on Bruce treadmill test and normalised mean power on Wingate cycling test, respectively; light physical activity (LPA), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sedentary time via accelerometry; and body adiposity (%) via bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). The Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition (MABC-2) was used to assess motor coordination and classify children as typically developing (TD, >16th percentile) or at risk of developmental coordination disorder (DCD, ≤16th percentile). General linear regression models were fitted to examine associations. Results: The analyses included 495 participants (5.0 ± 0.6 years, 56% male, and body adiposity 22.7 ± 4.2%). Aerobic fitness (ß = -0.006, p < 0.001) and MVPA (ß = -0.018, p = 0.045) were negatively associated with body adiposity when adjusted for age, sex, and MABC-2 score. There was no relationship between sedentary time and body adiposity. There were no interactions of sex or MABC-2 score with any variable. Conclusion: Lower aerobic fitness and MVPA were associated with higher body adiposity in preschoolers, regardless of motor coordination. Interventions targetting improved aerobic fitness and MVPA are therefore warranted in both TD and atypically developing preschoolers. Whether maintaining high aerobic fitness in children with possible DCD confers protection against obesity requires longitudinal investigation.