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Psychometric evaluation of the exercise-related cognitive errors questionnaire among Chinese emerging adults
No full textBackground: Cognitive errors involve negatively biased or distorted thinking patterns that can hinder effective decision-making. When such a phenomenon occurs in the exercise domain, this is referred to as exercise-related cognitive error. Such exercise-related cognitive errors are typically assessed via a questionnaire, but a validated instrument for the application in Chinese-speaking populations is lacking. Thus, this study aims to validate the Chinese version of the Exercise-related Cognitive Errors Questionnaire (E-CEQ-C) among Chinese emerging adults, a self-report measure to evaluate cognitive errors of context-relevant information related to exercise.
Methods: Following a forward-backward translation of the E-CEQ (N = 24 items), the E-CEQ-C and the Chinese version of the Cognitive Distortions Questionnaire (CD-Quest-C) for gathering evidence of criterion-related validity were administered among a sample of Chinese emerging adults (N = 376, 29.0% male) through an online survey. After a two-week interval, 105 out of 376 participants attended a re-test of the E-CEQ-C. Item analysis, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and concurrent validity were analyzed.
Results: The findings from the CFA support the 24-item informed six-factor structure among Chinese emerging adults (χ2 = 699.038, RMSEA = 0.073, CFI = 0.919, TLI = 0.904, and SRMR = 0.055). Cronbach’s α of the six dimensions of the E-CEQ-C were all above 0.7. The test–retest reliability coefficients of each subscale and total scale were acceptable, ranging from 0.60 to 0.81. In accordance with the literature, we also observed positive associations between the six dimensions of E-CEQ-C and the constructs of the CD-Quest-C, which provided concurrent validity evidence for the E-CEQ-C.
Conclusion: This study showed that E-CEQ-C is a psychometrically sound measure to assess exercise-related cognitive errors in Chinese-speaking populations
Associations of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior with Internalizing Problems among Youth with Chronic Pain
No full textBackground: Taking actions to maintain a healthy lifestyle, including regular engagement in physical
activity (PA) and reducing sedentary behavior (SB), may protect against the development of internalizing problems
among healthy youth. However, it remains unclear whether such associations exist among youth with chronic pain
who often report symptoms of depression and anxiety. To this end, we aimed to investigate the associations between
independent and combined PA and/or SB patterns with indicators of internalizing problems in this vulnerable
population. Methods: Data used in this cross-sectional study were retrieved from the U.S. National Survey of Children’s
Health for the years 2021–2022. Specifically, caregiver proxy reports on sociodemgraphic factors and lifestyle behaviors
of 4735 U.S. children and adolescents (referring to youth) aged 6–17 years were collected. We examined independent
and combined patterns of PA and SB as exposures, with internalizing problems serving as outcomes of interest. Logistic
regressions were used to examine the independent and combined associations of PA and/or SB patterns with anxiety
and depression symptoms among youth with chronic pain while adjusting for covariates including age, sex, ethnicity,
primary caregivers’ education level, overweight status, and household federal poverty level. Results: Overall, our results
indicated that PA was negatively associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms. Specifically, youth with chronic pain
who engaged in at least 60–minute PA for 1–3 days, 4–6 days, or every day reported significantly lower likelihood of
experiencing symptoms of anxiety (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.60–0.84; OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.36–0.53; OR = 0.50, 95% CI:
0.40–0.63, respectively; all p-value < 0.001) and depression (OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.53–0.75; OR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.31–0.47;
OR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.36–0.59, respectively; all p-value < 0.001) symptoms compared to those with 0 days. Conversely,
SB (operationalized via the proxy screen time) was positively associated with anxiety and depression symptoms. Youth
with chronic pain who reported 4 or more hours of daily screen time had significantly higher odds of experiencing
symptoms of anxiety (OR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.52–3.09, p < 0.001) and depression (OR = 2.30, 95% CI: 1.48–3.59, p < 0.001).
Furthermore, youth with chronic pain who engaged in higher PA levels and reported lower SB levels had a lower
likelihood of experiencing symptoms of anxiety (OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.52–0.87, p = 0.003) and depression (OR = 0.49,
95% CI: 0.34–0.70, p < 0.001) symptoms compared to those with lower PA levels and higher SB levels. Conclusions:
Higher PA levels and lower SB levels were associated with a reduced likelihood of developing anxiety and depression
symptoms, which are indicative of internalizing problems, among youth with chronic pain. Future public health actions
in this vulnerable population should prioritize intervention programs that promote PA engagement to reduce SB levels
A scoping review of dietary intake among young adults in low and middle income countries
No full textPoor dietary intake during young adulthood can increase the risk of chronic diseases, which are rising concerns in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This scoping review examined dietary intake among young adults in LMICs, highlighting their energy and nutrient intakes. Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCOhost databases were searched to identify observational studies published in English from January 1, 2014 to July 31, 2024. Rayyan.ai was used to remove duplicates and facilitate the selection process, which two researchers independently carried out. Studies that reported on the energy and nutrient intake of healthy young adults aged 18 to 30 years in LMICs were included. A total of 14 studies were included (nine from upper-middle-income countries, five from lower-middle-income countries, zero from low-income countries). Most of the studies are cross-sectional studies (71.4%). The energy intake of young adults from upper-middle-income countries ranges from 1700 to 2400 kcal/day, while young adult women in lower-middle-income countries showed trends of low-energy intake and insufficient micronutrient intake. Most of the energy intake reported came from carbohydrates, followed by fat and protein. The findings highlighted a significant gap in data from low-income countries, underscoring the need for further research to inform policies and design effective interventions
Solo steps: A critical realist analysis of the risks, motivations, and psychological benefits of solo hiking in England
No full textEngland has a rich and popular hiking culture, yet the unique psychological dynamics of solo hiking remain underexplored. This study examined solo hikers' risk perceptions, motivations, and well-being through a critical realist lens. Go-along interviews with ten solo hikers across English trails were thematically analysed. Findings suggest that sociocultural factors, including early exposure and athletic identity, shaped risk perception, yet risk was also reframed as an opportunity for personal growth through repeated solo hiking exposure. Intrinsic motivations for solo hiking aligned with self-determination theory, including autonomy, competence, and relatedness, while the drive to move emerged as an additional factor in movement regulation. Psychological benefits included cognitive restoration, emotional self-regulation, and awe-induced shifts in perspective. These were heightened by an embodied multisensory immersion in nature. These findings contribute to the psychological understanding of solo hiking in England, underscoring the need for socially and culturally sensitive policies to enhance safety, accessibility, and therapeutic application. Future research should explore diverse populations and the long-term implications of solo hiking for well-being
Exploring scholarship in osteopathic education: A qualitative study of faculty perspectives at a United Kingdom institution
No full textPurpose: To explore faculty perspectives on scholarship activity within a United Kingdom (UK)
osteopathic educational institution, identifying key barriers, facilitators and opportunities for
development.
Methods: A qualitative study utilising focus group methodology was conducted with ten faculty
members from an osteopathic programme at Swansea University. Participants were purposively
sampled to ensure diverse clinical and teaching experience. The 90-minute focus group was
conducted via Microsoft Teams, recorded and transcribed. Data analysis employed reflexive thematic
analysis following Braun and Clarke's six-phase approach: familiarisation with data, generating initial
codes, constructing themes, reviewing themes, defining themes and producing the report. To
enhance methodological rigour, two researchers independently coded the initial transcripts before
resolving discrepancies through discussion. The COREQ checklist guided the reporting process.
Results: Five major themes emerged: existing research culture, staff development, student
development, institutional considerations and future directions. Key barriers included limited
protected time for scholarship, staffing constraints and administrative challenges. Facilitators
included enthusiasm for research engagement and potential collaborative opportunities within the
broader university. The study revealed significant challenges in balancing teaching and clinical
commitments with scholarship activities whilst highlighting opportunities for developing student
research and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Conclusions: This first exploration of scholarship within an osteopathic educational institution reveals
challenges common across healthcare education whilst highlighting profession-specific
considerations. Findings suggest the need for structured approaches including protected time
allocation, mentorship programmes and enhanced institutional support. Strategic collaboration with
other healthcare disciplines emerged as a potential solution for advancing scholarship
Developing and testing a structured visual skills screening tool for use in sports vision training: an exploratory study with field hockey participants
No full textThe field of sports vision is becoming increasingly popular with more research and a rise in practitioners aiming to improve the performance of athletes through training their visual skills. However, whilst it has been suggested that different sports have different visual requirements, there is no easy way to screen for these without having to rely on extensive testing of the visual abilities of elite athletes within the sport, which is often not a practical option. Consequently, in this paper, we designed and tested a screening questionnaire to elicit visual skills information from experts within the sport of field hockey in a quick and easily applicable manner. Descriptions of 23 visual skills were rated on a 5-point Likert scale by 481 participants to show how important they are perceived to be for field hockey players. All participants were involved in field hockey as players, coaches, or umpires. The same questionnaire was completed at a second time point by 129 of the original respondents to assess stability over time. Principal components analysis showed that the 23 visual skills loaded onto four visual skillsets. The perceived importance of these differed, with a perception that skills associated with visual interception and spatial positioning are more important than skills associated with maintaining focus on and recognising visual objects. Our findings suggest that the tool could be useful both to guide the focus of visual skills research in different sports and as a practical aid to coaches looking to systematically select the focus of visual skills training for their players
Effects of manual osteopathic interventions on psychometric and psychophysiological indicators of anxiety, depression and stress in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
No full textObjectives To evaluate whether osteopathic and related
manual interventions improve adult mental health
(depression, anxiety, stress) and psychophysiological
measures (eg, heart rate variability, skin conductance).
Design Systematic review and meta-analysis of
randomised controlled trials (RCTs).
Data sources PubMed, MEDLINE (Ovid), Scopus,
Cochrane, and AMED, searched through September 2024.
Eligibility criteria English-language RCTs with
≥30 participants investigating osteopathic or related
manual therapies (eg, myofascial release, highvelocity low-amplitude thrusts) delivered by qualified
practitioners, compared with no treatment or sham, and
reporting immediate postintervention mental health or
psychophysiological outcomes.
Data extraction and synthesis Full-text screening, riskof-bias assessment and data extraction were conducted
independently by multiple reviewers using a standardised
Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Extraction Form. Risk of bias
was assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist.
For meta-analyses, Hedges’ g (with 95% CIs) was
calculated from postintervention means and SD. Randomeffects models accounted for heterogeneity, and prediction
intervals were calculated to assess uncertainty in effect
estimates.
Results 20 RCTs were included. Osteopathic interventions
reduced depression (Hedges’ g=−0.47, 95% CI: −0.86 to
–0.09, p=0.02) and increased skin conductance (Hedges’
g=0.67, 95% CI: 0.00 to 1.34, p=0.05). Depression
improvements were greater in pain populations (Hedges’
g=−0.61, 95% CI: –1.06 to –0.17, p=0.01). However, wide
prediction intervals and moderate heterogeneity indicate
uncertainty in true effect sizes, and limited studies and
sample sizes restrict assessment of publication bias.
Conclusions Osteopathic and related manual
therapies may reduce depression and influence certain
psychophysiological markers, particularly in pain
populations, but uncertainty and heterogeneity limit
confidence. More rigorous, larger, and longitudinal RCTs
are needed
Impact of acute mental fatigue on cricket-related performance measures in university level indoor cricket players
No full textAcute mental fatigue affects elements of sporting performance such as technical performance or decision making in high-level athletes, however less is known about the effects in non-elite sport. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of acute mental fatigue on cricket specific performance and reaction time in university-level cricketers during the indoor competitive season. Ten male university cricket players (Age 18–23 years, height 183.3 ± 8.7 cm, body mass 88.5 ± 19.8 kg) performed baseline testing, and two experimental test conditions separated by a 48-hour washout. Mental fatigue was induced using two different tasks: a 30-min smartphone-based Stroop test (Stroop) and a 30-min smartphone-streaming based cricket video (Film). Performance outcomes were assessed through the English Cricket Board's Run2 test for sprint performance and the Batak test for reaction time. The results indicated that both the Stroop and Film conditions induced mental fatigue compared to Baseline [χ2 (2) = 19.16, p < 0.001], although the Film condition produced only a small increase in fatigue. Cricket Run2 times were negatively affected by both the Stroop and Film tasks [F(2) = 24.83, p < 0.001]. Acute mental fatigue, induced by either an app-based Stroop test or an app-based video stream, negatively affected cricket-relevant performance in university level indoor cricketers
Promoting breast cancer screening among undeserved women: An on-site dual approach involving breast health education and AI-assisted 3D mobile mammography
No full textBreast cancer is increasing globally; a major worry is the yearly continuous rise in the number of cases
and deaths especially among underserved women aged 40 years and above in low-and middle-income
countries. Statistical records on the mortality rate reveals that Melanesia and Africa rank highest, with
Nigeria recording one of the highest age-standardized mortality rates globally and highest in Africa. Lack
of early detection is a primary reason for this abysmal trend, which has been linked to several factors such
as knowledge gaps, lack of infrastructure, inadequate personnel, low socioeconomic status and resource
constricts. A close look at the pathophysiology of breast cancer clearly shows that early treatment
prevents spread to other parts of the body, which is crucial for survival. To tackle such precarious
situation in Nigeria, this educative and interesting piece, deeply rooted on up-to-date existing evidence,
proposes an onsite approach involving breast health education and AI-assisted 3D mobile mammography
that will definitely not miss out on breast cancer detection, even in its earliest stages. It is envisaged that
more public awareness on breast cancer will be created, as well as knowledge gained on risk factors and
breast self-examination following interactive teaching sessions; all interventions to follow established
Health Belief Model (HBM). A mobile van is utilized to bring mammography screening services closer
to many, utilizing Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) and Synthetic Mammography (SM) to obtain 3D
slices, thus enhancing details and reducing the number of recalls for further imaging and biopsy. A deep
learning-based Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is applied to reduce the screening time, further
improve detection rates, predict malignancy and reduce the number of requests for biopsies. Despite
the extremely promising nature of this novel approach, cost appears to be a stumbling block. There is
therefore need for increased funding from government, philanthropic donors, external bodies and NGOs,
including multidisciplinary and international collaborations on breast cancer research to strengthen networks and promote evidence-based practice
Prevalence and profile of New Zealand osteopaths treating people experiencing headaches and migranes
No full textObjectives
To describe the prevalence and profile of NZ osteopaths treating people experiencing headaches and migraines. This study is the first to describe this practice.
Background
Manual and manipulative therapy interventions are commonly sought by individuals experiencing headaches or migraines. Evidence supports the use of manual therapy as part of the management of headache and migraine disorders. Osteopaths are health professionals who provide care for individuals experiencing headaches and migraines. However, there is a lack of data concerning the profile of osteopaths treating these conditions, in addition to their diagnostic and management strategies.
Methods
The Osteopathy Research Connect-New Zealand (ORC-NZ), a practice-based research network for the New Zealand osteopathy profession, was established, and recruitment occurred between August to December 2018.
Results
Two hundred and seventy-seven respondents provided responses to the headache and migraine items on the ORC-NZ practice questionnaire. Of these respondents, 235 (84.8 %) indicated treating headaches often, and 107 (38.6 %) indicated treating migraines often. Osteopaths who reported often treating patients with migraines and headaches were more likely to report clinically supervising associates and be co-located with a general practitioner. In terms of management, they tend to use HVLA, are likely to treat TMJ in the case of migraines, and the thoracic spine for patients with headaches. Further, NZ osteopaths frequently refer patients with migraines and/or headaches to other practitioners.
Conclusions
NZ osteopaths treat patients with migraines and/or headaches and frequently refer them to other practitioners. NZ osteopaths are aware of the inter-professional approach required for this patient population