Validity of Skinfold Equations, Against Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry, in Predicting Body Composition in Adolescent Pentathletes.

PURPOSE: Body composition of adolescent athletes is often evaluated scientifically and in sports by using reference equations developed from nonathlete adolescent populations. The aim of this study was to analyze the validity of predictive equations based on skinfold measurements, as compared with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), to estimate body fat in adolescent modern pentathlon athletes. METHODS: 51 athletes, 27 male (mean age = 15.1 years; standard deviation, SD = 1.5 years) and 24 female (mean age = 14.2 years; SD = 2.5 years), were assessed using DXA, anthropometric parameters, sports practice anamnesis, and pubertal stages. Agreement between methods was tested with boxplots of mean comparisons using Student's t test (p < .05), and Bland-Altman plots. RESULTS: The body density equations of Durnin & Rahaman (1967) and Durnin & Womersley (1974) showed better agreement with DXA than the other predictive equations, for both females (difference between means=-2.03; 2SD = 8.44) and males (difference between means = 0.98; 2SD = 7.30). There were no mean differences between these equations and the reference method (DXA; p > .05), but they did display high variability (2SD). CONCLUSION: The high variability among results indicated imprecision. Predictive skinfold equations developed for nonathlete adolescents do not offer good validity for modern adolescent pentathlon athletes, and should be avoided.

Changes in physical activity and screen time related to psychological well-being in early adolescence: findings from longitudinal study ELANA.

BACKGROUND: Psychological well-being influences health behaviours differently in adolescent boys and girls. We evaluated the role of psychological well-being in early adolescence in the onset and persistence of insufficient physical activity and exceeding recommended screen time, depending on gender. METHODS: This work derives from a cohort study called Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Nutritional Assessment conducted among elementary school students from two public and four private schools in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 2010-2013. We analysed data from 2010 and 2012 from 526 adolescents. Physical activity was evaluated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Those who performed less than 60 min per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were classified as insufficiently active. Screen time was evaluated based on daily time spent in front of television, video games, and computers. Those who had 4 h or more screen time per day were classified as exceeding the recommended time. Psychological well-being was assessed using the psychological domain of the KIDSCREEN 27 questionnaire. Linear regression was used to estimate coefficient (ß) and r (2) values for continuous variables. Relative risks (RR) and confidence intervals (95 % CI) for onset and persistence of insufficient activity and exceeding recommended screen time were estimated with Poisson regression models. RESULTS: Among girls, linear regression analyses showed a significant inverse association between psychological well-being and screen minutes per day at T2 (r (2) = 0.049/ß = -3.81 (95 % CI -7.0, -0.9)), as well as an association between poor psychological well-being and onset of exceeding recommended screen time in categorical analyses (RR crude: 1.3; CI 95 % 1.1, 1.7; RR adjusted: 1.3; CI 95 % 1.0, 1.6). For boys, an association was found between psychological well-being and onset of insufficient activity 2 years later (RR crude: 1.3; CI 95 % 1.2, 1.4; RR adjusted: 1.2; CI 95 % 1.1, 1.4). CONCLUSION: Adolescence is crucial for the development of unhealthy behaviours related to psychological well-being status in the context of a middle-income country. Gender differences are important because poor psychological well-being seems to affect sedentary behaviour in girls more than in boys, and predicts insufficient activity among boys.

Association between leisure-time physical activity and musculoskeletal pain before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in working adults.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic had major impacts on the physical lives of individuals, especially on home office workers. In this way, the practice of physical activity has been identified as an ally in the reduction and prevention of musculoskeletal pain. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between leisure-time physical activity and musculoskeletal pain in adult workers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 374 workers of both sexes (age = 46.5±10.5 years). Leisure-time physical activity, number of pain sites, and musculoskeletal pain status were investigated using a questionnaire designed for the study. Statistical analysis was performed using Multinomial Logistic Regression. The significance level adopted was 5%. RESULTS: A significant association was found between physical activity status and the number of pain sites (p = 0.002). In addition, an inverse association was found between physical activity before and during the quarantine and the number of pain sites (two pain sites - OR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.2-0.7; three or more pain sites - OR = 0.24; 95% CI = 0.1-0.5). Physical activity interruption during quarantine increased pain perception by 2.86 times (OR = 2.86; 95% CI = 1.0-7.5). CONCLUSIONS: The findings showed that physical activity before and during the pandemic was a protective factor for body pain during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Association between occupational stress, social support at work, and physical activity in outsourced workers.

Introduction: Psychosocial factors at work can affect individuals' physical and mental health. In this sense, evidence shows that physical activity and social support at work promote benefits to workers' health, especially regarding stress reduction. Objectives: To evaluate the association between occupational stress, social support at work, and weekly frequency of physical activity among outsourced workers. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with a convenience sample comprising 182 outsourced workers of both sexes and different positions, aged between 21 and 72 years (39 ± 11.4); the participants answered the Demand-Control-Support Questionnaire for assessing occupational stress and social support at work and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form for assessing the frequency of physical activity. The association between constructs was investigated through a Poisson regression. The significance level was set to 5%. Results: A significant inverse association (p < 0.05) was found between passive work and frequency of physical activity (walking) among women (relative risk 0.70; 95% confidence interval 0.5-0.9), whereas for men, this association was found with the frequency of vigorous-intensity physical activity (relative risk 0.70; 95% confidence interval 0.4-0.9). However, a significant inverse association (p < 0.05) between social support and physical activity was found only among women (relative risk 0.66; 95% confidence interval 0.4-0.9) and for moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity (relative risk 0.65; 95% confidence interval 0.4-0.9). Conclusions: Occupational stress and social support at work are associated with weekly frequency of physical activity. Nevertheless, disparities can be seen between men and women and depending on the intensity of physical activity.

Introdução: Fatores psicossociais do trabalho podem afetar a saúde física e mental dos indivíduos. Neste sentido, evidências mostram que a atividade física e o apoio social no trabalho promovem benefícios à saúde de trabalhadores, sobretudo na redução do estresse. Objetivos: Avaliar a associação entre estresse ocupacional, apoio social no trabalho e frequência semanal de atividade física em trabalhadores terceirizados. Métodos: Estudo transversal com amostra de conveniência de 182 trabalhadores terceirizados de ambos os sexos e de diferentes cargos, com idade entre 21 e 72 anos (39±11,4), os quais responderam ao questionário Demand Control-Support Questionnaire, para avaliar o estresse ocupacional e o apoio social no trabalho, e ao Questionário Internacional de Atividade Física curto, para avaliar a frequência da atividade física. A associação entre os constructos foi investigada através da regressão de Poisson. O nível de significância adotado foi de 5%. Resultados: Uma associação inversa significativa (p < 0,05) foi encontrada entre trabalho passivo e frequência de atividade física de caminhada para mulheres (risco relativo de 0,70; intervalo de confiança de 95% de 0,5-0,9), enquanto, para homens, foi encontrada com frequência de atividade física vigorosa (risco relativo de 0,70; intervalo de confiança de 95% de 0,4-0,9). Todavia, uma associação inversa significativa (p < 0,05) entre apoio social e atividade física foi encontrada apenas em mulheres (risco relativo de 0,66; intervalo de confiança de 95% de 0,4-0,9) e para intensidade moderada e vigorosa (risco relativo de 0,65; intervalo de confiança de 95% de 0,4-0,9). Conclusões: Estresse ocupacional e apoio social no trabalho estão associados à frequência semanal de atividade física. No entanto, disparidades podem ser observadas entre homens e mulheres e intensidade de atividade física.

Association between social support and frequency of physical activity in adult workers.

Introduction: The benefits of taking up physical activity are well established and social support has been identified as one of the main determinants of this behavior. Objectives: To investigate the association between social support and weekly frequency of physical activity in adults working at a public university in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Methods: This is a cross-sectional population study with a convenience sample of 189 contract workers of both sexes, aged from 21 to 72 years (39.00 ± 11.43). The instruments employed were the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Social Support for Physical Activities Scale. Fisher's exact test was used to estimate the distribution of physical activity frequency. Poisson regression was used for association analyses. The significance level was set at 5%. Results: A significant association was detected between social support and weekly physical activity frequency (p < 0.05). Social support for physical activity of moderate or vigorous intensity was associated with both weekly frequency of walking (odds ratio [OR]: 1.32; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.11-1.58) and weekly frequency of vigorous physical activity (OR: 1.34; 95%CI: 1.08-1.67). Additionally, people who reported receiving social support for walking were more likely to have increased weekly frequency of walking (OR: 1.22; 95%CI: 1.00-1.49). Conclusions: Social support for physical activity from relatives and friends is associated with weekly physical activity frequency. Notwithstanding, this association was stronger for weekly frequency of vigorous intensity physical activity.

Introdução: Os benefícios advindos da adoção da atividade física estão bem consolidados, e o apoio social tem sido apontado como um dos principais determinantes desse comportamento. Objetivos: Investigar a associação entre apoio social e frequência semanal de atividade física em adultos trabalhadores de uma universidade pública do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Métodos: Tratou-se de um estudo transversal de base populacional, abarcando uma amostra de conveniência de 189 funcionários terceirizados de ambos os sexos, com idades entre 21 e 72 anos (39,00 ± 11,43). A versão curta do Questionário Internacional de Atividade Física e a Escala de Apoio Social para Atividades Físicas foram os instrumentos utilizados. Para estimar a distribuição da frequência em atividades físicas, foi aplicado o teste exato de Fisher. A regressão de Poisson foi utilizada para análise de associação. O nível de significância adotado foi de 5%. Resultados: Uma diferença significante foi encontrada entre apoio social e frequência semanal de atividade física (p < 0,05). O apoio social para atividade física de intensidade moderada ou vigorosa esteve associado tanto com frequência semanal de caminhada (razão de chances [OR, de odds ratio]: 1,32; intervalo de confiança de 95% [IC95%]: 1,11-1,58) quanto com frequência de atividade física vigorosa (OR: 1,34; IC95%: 1,08-1,67). Além disso, indivíduos que reportaram receber apoio social para caminhada tiveram mais chances de aumentar a frequência semanal de caminhada (OR: 1,22; IC95%: 1,00-1,49). Conclusões: O apoio social para atividade física advindo de familiares e amigos está associado à frequência semanal de atividade física. Contudo, a associação se mostrou mais evidente para frequência semanal de atividade física de intensidade vigorosa.

Psychosocial and environmental determinants of physical activity in a Brazilian public university employees - ELDAF: A prospective cohort study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Increased physical activity levels and their determinations are essential issues worldwide. The Longitudinal Study of Physical Activity Determinants (ELDAF) aims to understand the roles of psychosocial and environmental factors in workers' physical activity levels. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of non-faculty civil servants from a public university (approximately 1,200 individuals) will start in 2022 (baseline). The primary measurements will be accelerometer- and questionnaire-based physical activity, social support, social network, socioeconomic status, bereavement, job stress, body image, common mental disorders, depression, and neighborhood satisfaction. Additional measurements will include necessary sociodemographic, physical morbidity, lifestyle and anthropometric information. Participants' places of residence will be geocoded using complete addresses. All participants will furnish written, informed consent before the beginning of the study. Pilot studies were performed to identify and correct potential problems in the data collection instruments and procedures. ELDAF will be the first cohort study conducted in Latin America to investigate physical activity and its determinants.

Correction: Psychosocial and environmental determinants of physical activity in a Brazilian public university employees-ELDAF: A prospective cohort study protocol.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263385.].

Social support and leisure-time physical activity: longitudinal evidence from the Brazilian Pró-Saúde cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Although social support has been observed to exert a beneficial influence on leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), multidimensional approaches examining social support and prospective evidence of its importance are scarce. The purpose of this study was to investigate how four dimensions of social support affect LTPA engagement, maintenance, type, and time spent by adults during a two-year follow-up. METHODS: This paper reports on a longitudinal study of 3,253 non-faculty public employees at a university in Rio de Janeiro (the Pró-Saúde study). LTPA was evaluated using a dichotomous question with a two-week reference period, and further questions concerning LTPA type (individual or group) and time spent on the activity. Social support was measured by the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Scale (MOS-SSS). To assess the association between social support and LTPA, two different statistical models were used: binary and multinomial logistic regression models for dichotomous and polytomous outcomes, respectively. Models were adjusted separately for those who began LTPA in the middle of the follow up (engagement group) and for those who had maintained LTPA since the beginning of the follow up (maintenance group). RESULTS: After adjusting for confounders, statistically significant associations (p < 0.05) between dimensions of social support and group LTPA were found in the engagement group. Also, the emotional/information dimension was associated with time spent on LTPA (OR = 2.01; 95% CI 1.2-3.9). In the maintenance group, material support was associated with group LTPA (OR = 1.80; 95% CI; 1.1-3.1) and the positive social interaction dimension was associated with time spent on LTPA (OR = 1.65; 95% CI; 1.1-2.7). CONCLUSIONS: All dimensions of social support influenced LTPA type or the time spent on the activity. However, our findings suggest that social support is more important in engagement than in maintenance. This finding is important, because it suggests that maintenance of LTPA must be associated with other factors beyond the individual's level of social support, such as a suitable environment and social/health policies directed towards the practice of LTPA.

Cross-cultural adaptation of body image assessment instruments for university students: a systematic review.

The theoretical-methodological process of cross-cultural adaptation of scales is fundamental for the expansion of research possibilities related to a given area and population, as instrument adequacy allows for the consistent assessment of the construct being studied. This article aims to highlight the different theoretical-methodological processes of cross-cultural adaptations of scales for assessing body image among young university students. The articles were selected in February 2020, with the following search descriptors: ("body image") and (young or "college students" or graduating or graduat *) and ("cross-cultural validation" or "cross-cultural adaptation"), in three databases-Scopus, PsycINFO, and Web of Science, without any time restrictions. Altogether, 304 studies were surveyed on the different bases mentioned above, and 14 studies published between 2010 and 2019 were evaluated. This study highlighted the methodological procedures used in the process of cross-cultural adaptation, as well as the population, the types of validity and reliability, and also the main limitations, strengths, and results reported in each study included in this review. The information presented in this review will allow new researchers to make more appropriate choices about instruments for assessing body image in young university students, in addition to presenting the methodological evolution on this theme.

Psychosocial determinants of physical activity among workers: an integrative review.

Knowledge of the psychosocial determinants of physical activity is critical to informing preventive and therapeutic interventions in the workplace. This study reviewed available evidence on psychosocial factors that have been associated with physical activity among workers. Studies were selected in December 2019 from the Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases, with no date limits, using the following search terms: "physical activity", "physical exercise", "psychosocial", "workers", and "working-age". Thirty-nine studies published between 1991 and 2019 were evaluated. The determinants of physical activity investigated among workers were smoking status, stress, psychosocial working conditions, depression, anxiety, social relationships, work ability, job satisfaction, burnout, and self-efficacy. Some consistencies and controversies were observed in the associations among these determinants and physical activity and are discussed, as are suggestions for future studies. The findings of this review may be of interest to physical activity interventions designed to reduce psychosocial risks factors in work environments.

Correction: Acute effects of single dose transcranial direct current stimulation on muscle strength: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209513.].

Stability and bidirectional relationship between physical activity and sedentary behaviours in Brazilian adolescents: Longitudinal findings from a school cohort study.

PURPOSE: We investigated the stability, correlations and bidirectional relationship of light physical activities (PA), moderate and vigorous PA (MVPA), television viewing (TV) and video game/computer use (VG) in Brazilian adolescents. METHODS: Adolescent Nutritional Assessment Longitudinal Study-ELANA is a middle school cohort study conducted in Rio de Janeiro-Brazil in 2010-2012. Self-reported data on PA (International Physical Activity Questionnaire- IPAQ) and screen activities were obtained from 810 adolescents (mean ages of 10.9 years old (SD 0.78) for girls; 11 years old (SD 0.85) for boys) to perform autoregressive cross-lagged structural equation models in two time points for PA and three time points for screen activities. RESULTS: There was no significant stability of light PA and MVPA for boys and girls. Moderate stability of screen activities were found for both genders, with a significant coefficient of TV for boys (T1-T2:0.29; T2-T3:0.27 p<0.001); and VG for boys (T1-T2:0.33; T2-T3:0.35 p<0.001) and girls (T1-T2: 0.26; T2-T3:0.37 p<0.01). Significant lagged effects were obtained only among girls: light PA had effect on VG (-0.10 p<0.01), as well as in the opposite direction of TV on light PA (-0.03 p<0.01) and TV on MVPA (-0.11 p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The light PA, MVPA and screen activities (among girls) did not demonstrate stability over time. A warning scenario was suggested by the stability of high amounts of screen activities among boys over time. Screen activities had bidirectional association with light PA and MVPA among girls over time.

Cross-lagged structural equation models for the relationship between health-related state and behaviours and body bullying in adolescence: findings from longitudinal study ELANA.

We investigated the stability and the directionality of being body bullied and a set of four variables- 1) Body Mass Index (BMI), 2) moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA), 3) television time (TV) and 4) video game/computer time (VG)-, termed in the present study as 'health-related state and behaviours (HRSB)'-across adolescence. The Adolescent Nutritional Assessment Longitudinal Study (ELANA) is a cohort study conducted among middle school students from two public and four private schools in Rio de Janeiro-Brazil. We analysed data from 2010 (T1) and 2012 (T2) among 810 adolescents (aged 9-15 at T1). Gender-specific structural equation models (SEM) were estimated, including autoregressive paths for the HRSB and being body bullied over time, correlations at T1 and T2, respectively, and cross-lagged effects. The results presented significant stability coefficients for almost all variables over time in both genders (except for MVPA in boys and girls and TV time among girls). There were positive correlations between BMI and being body bullied, as well as between TV and VG for boys (0.32, p<0.001 and 0.24, p<0.001, respectively) and girls (0.30, p<0.001 and 0.30, p<0.001, respectively) at T1. It remained significant at T2 (boys: 0.18, p<0.05 and 0.16, p<0.01; girls: 0.21, p<0.01 and 0.22, p<0.01, respectively). Examining the cross-lagged paths between being body bullied and HRSB, we observed that the reciprocal model provided the best fit for boys, indicating that BMI at T1 had a significant effect in being body bullied at T2 (0.12, p<0.05) and being body bullied at T1 had an effect on VG at T2 (0.14, p<0.01). Among girls the forward causation model showed the best fit, demonstrating a significant effect of being body bullied at T1 on VG at T2 (0.16, p<0.01). Apart from MVPA, both being body bullying and HRSB were largely stable across adolescence. For boys and girls alike, exposure to being body bullied seemed to increase their time spent on VG, while for boys BMI also predicted being body bullied. This study highlighted the complex interplay between being body bullied and HRSB and the importance of acknowledging gender differences in this context.

Acute effects of single dose transcranial direct current stimulation on muscle strength: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Previous studies investigating the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on muscle strength showed no consensus. Therefore, the purpose of this article was to systematically review the literature on the effects of single dose tDCS to improve muscle strength. A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMeb, ISI Web of Science, SciELO, and Scopus using search terms regarding tDCS and muscle strength. Studies were included in accordance with Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes, and Setting (PICOS) including criteria. Healthy men and women, strength training practitioners or sedentary were selected. The acute effects of single dose anode stimulus of tDCS (a-tDCS) and the placebo stimulus of tDCS (sham) or no interventions were considered as an intervention and comparators, respectively. Measures related to muscle strength were analyzed. To conduct the analyses a weighted mean difference (WMD) and the standardized mean difference (SMD) were applied as appropriate. A total of 15 studies were included in this systematic review and 14 in meta-analysis. Regarding the maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MIVC), a small effect was seen between tDCS and Sham with significant difference between the conditions (SMD = 0.29; CI95% = 0.05 to 0.54; Z = 2.36; p = 0.02). The muscular endurance measured by the seconds sustaining a percentage of MIVC demonstrated a large effect between tDCS and Sham (WMD = 43.66; CI95% = 29.76 to 57.55; Z = 6.16; p < 0.001), showing an improvement in muscular endurance after exposure to tDCS. However, muscular endurance based on total work showed a trivial effect between tDCS and Sham with no significant difference (SMD = 0.22; CI95% = -0.11 to 0.54; Z = 1.32, p = 0.19). This study suggests that the use of tDCS may promote increase in maximal voluntary contraction and muscular endurance through isometric contractions.

Normalizing handgrip strength in older adults: An allometric approach.

PURPOSE: Handgrip strength is an important variable to assess as part of any health intervention among older adults. Although the use of allometric normalization is the appropriate approach for removing the body size effect in handgrip performance, the best body size variable for this normalization is still unclear. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare the use of three body size variables (body mass, fat-free mass and body height) in allometric normalization for Handgrip strength among older adults. METHODS: Data from individuals admitted to the Elderly Care Center of the Open University of the Third Age were used, the sample consisting of 263 individuals (140 women), aged between 60-87. RESULTS: The results provided allometric exponents for normalization of HGS in each body size variable (body mass: 0.31; fat-free mass: 0.11; body height: 0.46). The correlations between normalized HGS and body size variables were significant (p<0.05) when HGS were normalized by body mass or fat-free mass. On the contrary, no significant correlations were found when HGS were normalized by body height. CONCLUSIONS: Body height seems to be the best body size variable for performing allometric normalization of HGS among older adults.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the EMIC Stigma Scale for people with leprosy in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: Describe the process of cross-cultural adaptation of the "Explanatory Model Interview Catalog - Stigma Scale" for people affected by leprosy in Brazil. METHODS: After being authorized by the author of the scale to use it in the national context, we initiated the five steps process of cross-cultural adaptation: (1) translation, (2) synthesis meeting, (3) back-translation, (4) committee of experts and (5) pre-test. The internal consistency of the scale was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. RESULTS: The 15 items of the scale's original version were translated into Brazilian Portuguese. The adapted scale showed evidence of a good understanding of its content, attested both by experts and members of the target population. Its internal consistency was 0.64. CONCLUSIONS: The adapted instrument shows satisfactory internal consistency. It may be useful in future studies that intend to provide broad situational analysis that supports solid public health programs with a focus on effective stigma reduction. In a later study, the construct's validity, criterion, and reproducibility will be evaluated. OBJETIVO: Descrever o processo de adaptação transcultural da "Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue - Stigma Scale" para pessoas afetadas por hanseníase no Brasil. MÉTODOS: Após a autorização do autor da escala para seu uso no contexto nacional, deu-se início aos cinco passos do processo de adaptação transcultural: (1) tradução, (2) reunião de síntese, (3) retrotradução, (4) comitê de peritos e (5) pré-teste. A consistência interna da escala foi avaliada utilizando o coeficiente alfa de Cronbach. RESULTADOS: Os 15 itens da versão original da escala foram traduzidos para a língua portuguesa do Brasil. A escala adaptada apresentou evidência de boa compreensão de seu conteúdo, atestada tanto por peritos como por membros da população alvo. Sua consistência interna foi de 0,64. CONCLUSÕES: O instrumento adaptado apresenta consistência interna satisfatória. Pode ser útil em estudos futuros que intencionem viabilizar ampla análise situacional que sustente programas sólidos de saúde pública com enfoque na efetiva redução de estigma. Em estudo ulterior será avaliada a validade de constructo, critério e reprodutibilidade.

Cross-cultural adaptation of body image assessment instruments for university students: a systematic review

Abstract The theoretical-methodological process of cross-cultural adaptation of scales is fundamental for the expansion of research possibilities related to a given area and population, as instrument adequacy allows for the consistent assessment of the construct being studied. This article aims to highlight the different theoretical-methodological processes of cross-cultural adaptations of scales for assessing body image among young university students. The articles were selected in February 2020, with the following search descriptors: ("body image") and (young or "college students" or graduating or graduat *) and ("cross-cultural validation" or "cross-cultural adaptation"), in three databases—Scopus, PsycINFO, and Web of Science, without any time restrictions. Altogether, 304 studies were surveyed on the different bases mentioned above, and 14 studies published between 2010 and 2019 were evaluated. This study highlighted the methodological procedures used in the process of cross-cultural adaptation, as well as the population, the types of validity and reliability, and also the main limitations, strengths, and results reported in each study included in this review. The information presented in this review will allow new researchers to make more appropriate choices about instruments for assessing body image in young university students, in addition to presenting the methodological evolution on this theme.

The influence of bereavement on body mass index: results from a national Swedish survey.

BACKGROUND: Previous findings suggest that the loss of a family member is associated with health and mortality. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between bereavement experiences and BMI, and whether there are socio-demographic differences in this association. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between bereavement experiences and BMI, and whether there are socio-demographic differences in this association. METHODS: We used cross-sectional data with retrospective questions from the Swedish Level of Living Survey (LNU) of 2000, including 5,142 individuals. The bereavement experiences examined in the study include the loss of a sibling, a parent or a spouse, and time since the death of a parent. BMI (kg/m2) was calculated using self-reported measurements of weight and height. The association between bereavement and BMI was evaluated through linear regressions. RESULTS: After controlling for possible confounders, most of the models detected an association between bereavement and BMI. The fully-adjusted model showed that loss of parents was associated with a 0.45 increase in BMI (SE = 0.20). The effect also seemed to be dependent on time since the loss and social class position. CONCLUSIONS: The present study is the first to examine associations between different types of familial losses and BMI. We find an association between the death of a family member and BMI, but it appears to be related to time since the death, type of bereavement experience and social class.

Gender differences in social support and leisure-time physical activity.

OBJECTIVE: To identify gender differences in social support dimensions' effect on adults' leisure-time physical activity maintenance, type, and time. METHODS: Longitudinal study of 1,278 non-faculty public employees at a university in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Southeastern Brazil. Physical activity was evaluated using a dichotomous question with a two-week reference period, and further questions concerning leisure-time physical activity type (individual or group) and time spent on the activity. Social support was measured with the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Scale. For the analysis, logistic regression models were adjusted separately by gender. RESULTS: A multinomial logistic regression showed an association between material support and individual activities among women (OR = 2.76; 95%CI 1.2;6.5). Affective support was associated with time spent on leisure-time physical activity only among men (OR = 1.80; 95%CI 1.1;3.2). CONCLUSIONS: All dimensions of social support that were examined influenced either the type of, or the time spent on, leisure-time physical activity. In some social support dimensions, the associations detected varied by gender. Future studies should attempt to elucidate the mechanisms involved in these gender differences.