Scientific Programme

Chair

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ECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH11

Speaker A

Tomomi Goto

Manchester Metropolitan University , Faculty of health and education

Japan

"Supporting Sports and Exercise Participation among Japanese Young Caregivers: Development and Application of Scales Measuring Exercise Promotion and Interference "

Young caregivers (YCs), including children and adolescents who assume adult-level caregiving responsibilities, often have limited access to academic, leisure, and physical activity opportunities that are essential for their physical and mental well-being. Although YCs are gaining attention in Japan, research and policy responses remain limited owing to the nature of the Japanese family system. This study aimed to explore strategies to promote physical activity among YCs. The participants were 238 high school and university students aged 15–24 years (64 men, 168 women, and six others or non-respondents; M = 19.45 years, SD = 2.76) who had experience as YCs in their households. The online survey consisted of five sections: demographics, exercise participation and family support, physical activity indicators, preliminary facilitators, and barrier scales. Scales for sports-related facilitators and barriers were developed, and data were analyzed using correlation analysis, cluster analysis, one-way ANOVA with post hoc tests, and multiple regression analysis. Scales with six factors and 29 items each for facilitators and barriers were developed, and their construct validity was confirmed using confirmatory factor analysis. Correlation analysis revealed that physical activity levels were positively associated with social recognition and competency improvement and negatively associated with exercise reluctance and time constraints. Cluster analysis identified three groups: only the high interference factor group showed significantly higher physical activity levels, whereas no difference was found between the high facilitation and low activation factor groups. Multiple regression analysis showed that social recognition and exercise satisfaction positively influenced physical activity levels, whereas time constraints and exercise reluctance had negative effects. This study developed two reliable and valid scales for YCs’ physical activity: facilitation and barrier scales. These findings indicate that reducing barriers, particularly time constraints, should take priority over simply facilitating physical activity among the YCs. Therefore, this study proposes the need to (1) assess the actual time burden experienced by YCs, (2) develop support system that reduces caregiving responsibilities at home, and (3) provide opportunities for YCs to engage in physical activities. These findings underscore the importance of developing institutional frameworks, enhancing supportive services, and designing targeted intervention programs to enhance YCs’ well-being through physical activity.

Read CV Tomomi Goto

ECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH11

Speaker B

Jennifer Masset

School of Health Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland, Research and innovation

Switzerland

"Physical activity and mental well-being in health-profession students: evidence to promote an active lifestyle in the future healthcare workforce"

Background: Health profession university students experience high academic and psychosocial demands during a critical life period for establishing long-term health behaviours1. Physical activity (PA) is associated with improved mental health2, but the interplay between PA, sedentary behaviour (SB), fatigue and stress on mental well-being and perceived overall health remains insufficiently explored in this population. Future healthcare professionals represent a strategic target for health promotion, as their own lifestyle behaviours influence both their professional resilience and their proficiency as health ambassadors. Methods: This cross-sectional study examined associations between PA, SB and fatigue with mental well-being and perceived overall health, as well as the moderating role of stress, among undergraduate health students in a Swiss University of Applied Sciences. Students completed an online survey including the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form; the 4-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ; to measure mental well-being, further subdivided in depression and anxiety symptoms); the 4-item Perceived Stress Scale; the Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire (further subdivided into physical and mental fatigue) and a single-item measure of perceived overall health (1-10 scale). Spearman correlations, linear regressions (controlling for BMI and gender), and moderation analyses were conducted. Results: A total of 299 students across five health professions were included (75% female, median BMI: 23.0 kg/m2). Higher moderate-to-vigorous PA was associated with lower anxiety symptoms and overall PHQ score (ρ=-0.23, p<0.001 for both), and better perceived overall health (ρ=0.28, p<0.001). SB was associated with increased perceived fatigue (total fatigue ρ=0.19, p=0.003, physical fatigue ρ=0.17, p=0.008). Stress emerged as the strongest predictor of PHQ score (B=0.64, p<0.001) and perceived overall health (B=-0.19, p<0.001), but it did not moderate the relationship between these outcomes and PA nor SB. No significant interaction between PA and SB was observed for either mental well-being or perceived overall health. Conclusion: Among health professions students, higher PA was associated with better mental well-being and perceived overall health, independent of stress or SB. While SB was unrelated to mental well-being in this study, it was associated with greater fatigue. Promoting PA and limiting SB should be key elements of university health-promotion strategies to enhance well-being and resilience in future healthcare professionals. 1. Gordon-Larsen P, Nelson MC, Popkin BM. Longitudinal physical activity and sedentary behavior trends: adolescence to adulthood. American journal of preventive medicine. 2004;27(4):277-283. 2. Singh B, Olds T, Curtis R, et al. Effectiveness of physical activity interventions for improving depression, anxiety and distress: an overview of systematic reviews. Br J Sports Med. Sep 2023;57(18):1203-1209.

Read CV Jennifer Masset

ECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH11

Speaker C

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TBA

"TBA"

TBA

Read CV TBA

ECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH11