ECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH27
INTRODUCTION: Dance involves perceptual and motor aspects, requires the memorization of motor sequences, and has an artistic component combined with music, which underlines its socio-cultural dimension. The combination of motor skills, physicality, relationality, artistic and expressive ability makes dance a tool that can give its own particular contribution within the broad scope of motor activities. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the interplay between passion, self-confidence, emotional arousal control, worry, concentration disruption, and functional psychobiosocial experiences among amateur female dancers. METHODS: A convenience sample of 160 Italian women, aged 16 to 36 years (M = 20.63, SD = 4.93), practicing dance at a nonprofessional level, was recruited from main dance schools in central and south Italy. The recreational dancers had between 1 and 22 years of dance experience (M = 7.52, SD = 3.44) and practiced dance 3 to 5 times a week. Assessment was conducted in small groups before practice sessions. The Passion Scale [1,2] was used to assess two dimensions: Harmonious passion (6 items,) and Obsessive passion (6 items). Performance-related feelings were assessed using the subscales of the emotion higher-order factor of the IPPS-48 [3], which consists of 24 items covering 4 factors: Self-confidence, Emotional arousal control, Worry, and Concentration disruption subscales. The Psychobiosocial Experience Semantic Differential scale in sport [4] was administered to assess psychobiosocial experiences. This instrument is composed of 30 bipolar items representing 10 modalities with 3 items. Statistical analysis was performed using hierarchical regression with a step-wise method. In the first step, Self-confidence and Emotional arousal control were entered, followed by Harmonious Passion and Obsessive Passion in the second step. RESULTS: Participants reported higher mean scores for Harmonious passion (M = 4.08, SD = .49) than Obsessive passion (M = 3.01, SD = .87; p < .001), indicating a predominance of harmonious passion. In the first step of the regression model, Self-confidence and Emotional arousal control together accounted for 28.2% of the variance in psychobiosocial experiences, with Self-confidence being the primary predictor in this step (β = .51, p < .001) explaining 26.0% of the variance. After entering Harmonious passion in the second step (β = .17, p < .032), the overall model explained 30.3% of the variance. CONCLUSION: In summary, preliminary study findings suggest that, for female recreational dancers, self-confidence and harmonious passion for dance are important contributors to positive psychobiosocial experiences. This could imply that dance, when engaged in with a healthy mindset and accompanied by feelings of competence, can be a valuable physical activity for promoting overall well-being. REFERENCES: 1. Marsh et al., 2013; 2. Vallerand et al., 2003; 3. Robazza et al., 2009; 4. Robazza et al., 2021
Read CV Sofia MariniECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH27
Introduction: Physical activity (PA) positively impacts childrens psychological health, especially in reducing depression, anxiety and improving well-being. According to the World Health Organization and United Nations Childrens Fund report, around one in seven children and adolescents are affected by mental health issues. Previous studies suggested that childrens PA might enhance psychosocial functioning and guard against internalizing (e.g., depression and anxiety) and externalizing (e.g., aggression and impulse control) symptoms. Given the current situation of young childrens physical inactivity, increased sedentary time, and accelerating mental health problems, active physical activity promotion at a young age is crucial to prevent deteriorating effects on the psychological development of young children. This study qualitatively explores the feasibility and potential effects of a one school year preschool-based PA intervention on increasing awareness of PA and improving childrens psychological health from childrens and parents perspectives. Methods: Fifty children were randomly selected from each of the intervention and control groups of the KID-FIT study, which investigated the efficacy of a preschool-based PA intervention on improving physical fitness and health in preschoolers. One hundred children and their parents were interviewed in semi-structured interviews at the end of a preschool year to understand childrens psychological changes over the period. The recorded audio content was transcribed verbatim and analyzed by thematic content analysis using Thematicoder software. Results: The preliminary analysis included 34 children (INT: 17, CON: 17). Interview results highlighted the increased awareness of the importance of PA, and parents from the intervention group expressed that their children were more willing to try different kinds of sports. Among the children in the intervention group, the childrens emotions were more stable after doing different types of sports and being more willing to share their feelings with parents was shown to have more positive effects than the control group. Discussion: The findings revealed the importance of promoting PA in children and facilitating positive experiences that contribute to their enjoyment of various sports and psychological development. Parents in the intervention group reported that their children showed an increased willingness to try different sports, influencing their attitudes towards PA and encouraging them to explore new activities they may enjoy. Furthermore, these children were more willing to share their feelings with their parents, emphasizing the potential emotional and communication benefits of regular physical activity and the positive effects of parental involvement in promoting childrens mental health. These findings provide valuable insights for developing effective interventions to promote childrens physical and psychological health.
Read CV Shine Hui LINECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH27
Introduction: Adolescence is a critical period for the onset of mental disorders that adversely affect well-being and academic and social functioning (Polanczyk et al., 2015). Emerging evidence indicates that modifiable lifestyle factors—particularly physical activity—can improve mental health (Kandola et al., 2019). Mobile health (mHealth) interventions offer a scalable approach to promote physical activity and optimize sedentary behaviour, sleep, and nutrition. This review focuses on the effectiveness of mHealth interventions for adolescents (11–21 years) with emotional, behavioural, and eating disorders, with special emphasis on physical activity components. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO ID: CRD42024591285). A comprehensive search of eight databases was performed to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to October 2024. Eligible studies involved adolescents with clinically relevant mental health disorders and assessed interventions targeting lifestyle behaviours, including physical activity. Data extraction was completed independently by reviewers, and risk of bias was evaluated using the ROB2 tool. Results: Nine RCTs with a total of 3,219 participants met the inclusion criteria. Physical activity was incorporated in 55% of the interventions. For emotional disorders, mHealth interventions that combined mindfulness, cognitive-behavioural therapy, and physical activity significantly reduced depressive symptoms (pooled effect size = –0.35, 95% CI: –0.50 to –0.20) and anxiety symptoms (–0.22, 95% CI: –0.37 to –0.07). In interventions targeting behavioural disorders, those integrating physical activity with cognitive tasks yielded a moderate reduction in symptoms (pooled effect size = –0.40, 95% CI: –0.62 to –0.18). In contrast, interventions for eating disorders produced mixed outcomes, indicating a need for more adaptive designs. Discussion: The findings suggest that mHealth interventions, particularly those incorporating physical activity, hold promise in reducing mental health symptoms among adolescents. The benefits observed in reducing depression, anxiety, and behavioural problems support the integration of exercise components into digital interventions. Future research should refine these approaches, assess long-term sustainability, and explore integrated, multi-component strategies that complement traditional care to enhance mental health outcomes in this vulnerable population. References: Kandola, A. et al. (2019). Physical activity and depression: Towards understanding the antidepressant mechanisms of physical activity. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 107, 525–539; Polanczyk, G. et al. (2015). Annual research review: A meta‐analysis of the worldwide prevalence of mental disorders in children and adolescents. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 56(3), 345–365.
Read CV Hannes BaumannECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH27