Can Physical Activities Suppress Negative Impact of Stress on the Mental Health of Adolescents?

Early adolescence is a crucial developmental phase marked by significant physical,cognitive,and socioemotional changes.While stress is widely recognized as a notable risk factor during this period,not all individuals experiencing stress concurrently manifest compromised mental health.The association between stress and mental health outcomes is influenced by individual differences in characteristics and coping strategies.This study’s purpose was to assess the negative impact of stress on mental health,specifically focusing on symptoms of anxiety,depression,and psychological distress.Additionally,the research investigates whether different levels of physical activity can suppress the negative effects of stress.A total of 212 upper elementary school students(52.8%girls and 47.2%boys)from rural and urban areas voluntarily participated in the research.Participants online self-assessed on several measures:The Young Person’s CORE,Children’s Anxiety Scale,Children’s Depression Inventory,School Stress Intensity Scale for Students,and Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children.The results revealed a significant increase in adolescents experiencing impaired mental health.More than two-thirds(67.5%)of students self-assessed significant symptoms of depression,additionally,57.5%of them had significant symptoms of psychological distress,and 27.8%had significant symptoms of anxiety.Stress demonstrated a significant direct negative effect,leading to increased symptoms of anxiety(t=5.35,p=0.00)and psychological distress(t=4.29,p=0.00);however,there was no significant influence on depression(t=1.33,p=0.18)).Regarding regular physical activity,a significant moderating effect was identified,effectively suppressing the negative impact of stress on anxiety(F=3.88(2,206);p=0.02).In contrast,no significant moderation effect of physical activity was found for symptoms of depression(F=1.45(2,206);p=0.24)and psychological distress(F=1.14(2,206);p=0.32),highlighting a complex and intricate association between physical activity and various mental health outcomes.In conclusion,the practical implications of this study emphasize the importance of creating environments that reduce stressors for adolescents and promote regular physical activity as a means of fostering positive mental health outcomes.

Unlocking the power of physical activity in easing psychological distress

The severity of the current global mental health situation and the importance of maintaining psychological well-being call for more powerful,convenient,and efficient solutions for addressing psychological issues and relieving mental stress.Physical activity not only effectively improves physical fitness and reduces negative emotions such as anxiety and depression but also increases the improvement of psychological health and sense of well-being.At the same time,physical activity interventions for mental health have unique advantages,including reducing the side effects of psychological interventions and increasing necessity,convenience,and cost-effectiveness,as well as flexible adaptability across multiple methods,groups,and age ranges,providing stronger support for relieving psychological stress and addressing psychological issues.Although physical activity is an important intervention measure in relieving psychological stress,its value and role in mental health care seem to have not yet received sufficient attention,and its potential remains to be further revealed.Given the significant advantages and effectiveness of physical activity in mental health intervention practices,it is necessary to stimulate its potential in relieving psychological stress through various means in future studies to better safeguard the public’s physical and mental health.Developing guidelines for physical activity for improved mental health,enhancing organic integration with other intervention measures,and providing necessary respect,encouragement,and support are important directions to consider.

Tendency to Avoid Physical Activity and Sport:Associations with Weight Stigma,and Psychological Distress in a Two-Wave Longitudinal Study

Background:Physical inactivity is a major public health problem worldwide that results in physical and mental health problems.One major issue for physical inactivity is weight stigma(WS),especially perceived WS,which could lead to a tendency to avoid physical activity(PA).To better understand the association between perceived WS and PA,knowledge of the likely mediators in this association such as weight bias internalization(WBI)and psychological distress were investigated in the present study.Methods:Using a two-wave longitudinal study and convenient sampling,388 Taiwan residents participants(55%females;mean age=29.7 years[SD±6.3])completed two surveys six months apart.Body mass index(BMI),Perceived Weight Stigma Scale(PWSS),Weight Bias Internalization Scale(WBIS),Depression,Anxiety,Stress Scale(DASS-21),and Tendency to Avoid Physical Activity and Sport Scale(TAPAS)were assessed.Results:A mediation model controlling for age,gender,and BMI with 5000 bootstrapping resamples was performed.Perceived WS exerted significant direct effects on WBI(β=0.25;p<0.001),psychological distress(β=0.15;p=0.003),and tendency to avoid PA(β=0.10;p=0.027);WBI exerted a significant direct effect on tendency to avoid PA(β=0.47;p<0.001).Standardized indirect effects of WBI and psychological distress on the association between perceived WS and tendency to avoid PA were 0.12 and 0.01,respectively.Conclusion:Given the direct association of perceived WS on the tendency to avoid PA and the mediating role of WBI in this association,interventions addressing perceived WS and WBI may contribute to promoting PA.Therefore,health interventionists(both when planning and executing PA programs)need to consider weight stigmawhen encouraging physical activity.

“Active Feedback” Fitbit-Based Physical Activity and Sleep Hygiene Intervention for Memory Assessment Service (MAS) Patients with Cognitive Deficits: Feasibility, Acceptability, Sleep Quality, Stress, and Wellbeing Outcomes

Research Background: Compared to the general population, people experiencing age-related cognitive decline are more likely to have low levels of physical activity and sleep problems. Sufficient physical activity and quality sleep are protective factors against cognitive decline and poor health and can improve coping with stressors. The “Active Feedback” intervention comprises a wearable activity and sleep tracker (Fitbit), access to Fitbit software healthy lifestyle software apps;one session with Memory Assessment Service (MAS) staff providing physical activity and sleep hygiene advice and two further engagement, discussion, and feedback sessions. Purpose/Aim: This study investigates the acceptability and feasibility of Active Feedback and the effect on stress, mental wellbeing, and sleep quality, and the links between these factors. Methods: An open-label patient cohort design with no control group was used. Pre-intervention, 4-week and 8-week intervention assessments were performed using participant self-report measures: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS), and Sleep Conditioning Index (SCI). Twenty-five participants completed an eight-week three-session intervention (18 males and 7 females), with the age range of 66 - 84 years old, and average age of 73.8 years (SD = 5.09). Fifteen participants had a diagnosis of MCI, ten participants did not. Results: There were non-significant improvements in SCI scores from 21.0 (SD = 8.84) to 21.6 (SD = 6.20) at 8 weeks, PSS scores from 17.5 (SD = 5.89) to 17.0 (SD = 6.20) at 8 weeks, and WEMWBS scores from 46.9 (SD = 9.23) to 48.8 (SD = 9.69) at 8 weeks. There were negative correlations between WEMWBS and PSS. Conclusion: Active Feedback intervention was found to be feasible and acceptable. Active Feedback could be enhanced to include motivational interviewing and goal setting.

Determination of the critical rainfall of runoff-initiated debris flows by the perspective of physical mechanics and Shields stress

The critical rainfall of runoff-initiated debris flows is utmost importance for local early hazard forecasting.This paper presents research on the critical rainfall of runoff-initiated debris flows through comparisons between slope gradients and three key factors,including topographic contributing area,dimensionless discharge,and Shields stress.The rainfall amount was estimated by utilizing in-situ rainfall records and a slope-dependent Shields stress model was created.The created model can predict critical Shields stress more accurately than the other two models.Furthermore,a new dimensionless discharge equation was proposed based on the corresponding discharge-gradient datasets.The new equation,along with factors such as contributing area above bed failure sites,channel width,and mean diameter of debris flow deposits,predicts a smaller rainfall amount than the in-situ measured records.Although the slope-dependent Shields stress model performs well and the estimated rainfall amount is lower than the in-situ records,the sediment initiation in the experiments falls within sheet flow regime due to a large Shields stress.Therefore,further sediment initiation experiments at a steeper slope range are expected in the future to ensure that the sediment transport belongs to mass failure regime characterized by a low level of Shields stress.Finally,a more accurate hazard forecast on the runoff-initiated debris flow holds promise when the corresponding critical slope-dependent dimensionless discharge of no motion,fluvial sediment transport,mass flow regime,and sheet flow regime are considered.

The Effects of Accumulated Short Bouts of Mobile-Based Physical Activity Programs on Depression,Perceived Stress,and Negative Affectivity among College Students in South Korea:Quasi-Experimental Study

Regular physical activity(PA)is known to enhance multifaceted health benefits,including both physical and mental health.However,traditional in-person physical activity programs have drawbacks,including time constraints for busy people.Although evidence suggests positive impacts on mental health through mobile-based physical activity,effects of accumulated short bouts of physical activity using mobile devices are unexplored.Thus,this study aims to investigate these effects,focusing on depression,perceived stress,and negative affectivity among South Korean college students.Forty-six healthy college students were divided into the accumulated group(n=23,female=47.8%)and control group(n=23,female=47.6%).The accumulated group engaged in mobile-based physical activity,following guidelines to accumulate a minimum of two times per day and three times a week.Sessions were divided into short bouts,ensuing each bout lasted at least 10 min.The control group did not engage in any specific physical activity.The data analysis involved comparing the scores of the intervention and control groups using several statistical techniques,such as independent sample t-test,paired sample t-tests,and 2(time)×2(group)repeated measures analysis of variance.The demographic characteristics at the pre-test showed no statistically significant differences between the groups.The accumulated group had significant decreases in depression(t_(40)=2.59,p=0.013,Cohen’s D=0.84)and perceived stress(t_(40)=2.06,p=0.046,Cohen’s D=0.56)from the pre-to post-test.The control group exhibited no statistically significant differences in any variables.Furthermore,there were significant effects of time on depression scores(F1,36=4.77,p=0.036,η_(p)^(2)=0.12)while significant interaction effects were also observed for depression(F_(1,36)=6.59,p=0.015,η_(p)^(2)=0.16).This study offers informative insights into the potential advantages of mobile-based physical activity programs with accumulated periods for enhancing mental health,specifically in relation to depression.This study illuminates the current ongoing discussions on efficient approaches to encourage mobile-based physical activity and improve mental well-being,addressing various lifestyles and busy schedules.

Numerical Simulation of Stress Field in Physical Tempering Process of Flat Soda Lime Silica Glass

Based on the analysis of different theory for glass tempering process,the“structural theory”with stress relaxation and structural relaxation effects was selected to investigate the tempering of flat glass quantificationally.The geometrical model with small size and non-homogeneous mesh were considered to build the finite element models according to the characteristics of stress field.The tempering process of flat glass with12 mm thickness was calculated with the verified finite element model.The transient and permanent stress of the central area,edge and corner end of the flat glass are obtained and analyzed.From the calculation results of basic case,the transient tensile stress at the upper surface of the central area,the center point of edge,the edge of edge,the edge of corner were 14.30,18.94,40.76 and 34.75 MPa,respectively.The transient tensile stress at these points were dangerous to promote the glass to break during the tempering.In addition,the point at the diagonal line of symmetry plane in the thickness direction,which is 14 mm from corner,has the maximum permanent tensile stress about 70.01 MPa in the flat glass after tempering.Thus,it is indicated that the corner is the weakest region in the tempered glass.

Mediating role of physical activity in the relationship between psychological distress and intimate relationships among stroke patients

BACKGROUND Stroke patients often experience psychological distress,which can impact their intimate relationships with spouses,subsequently influencing their treatment and recovery.Physical activity is considered a key rehabilitation method for stroke patients.This paper aims to analyze whether psychological distress affects intimate relationship between spouses through physical activity.AIM To explore the mediating effect of physical activity between psychological distress and intimate relationship in stroke patients.METHODS A total of 256 stroke patients who underwent treatment at the First People’s Hospital of Shangqiu between July 2021 and July 2022 were enrolled in this study.The participants completed questionnaires,including the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale(K10),the Quality of Relationship Index(QRI),International Physical Activity Questionnaire,and a general information questionnaire.Data analysis were performed using SPSS 23.0.The Harman test was employed to detect common method deviations,and Spearman correlation was used for correlation analysis.The mediating effect was assessed using Process 3.4.1,with significance testing of the regression coefficients conducted using the bias-corrected percentile Bootstrap method(5000 iterations,95%confidence interval).Statistical significance was set at P<0.05.RESULTS The results showed that patients scored an average of 21.61±6.44 points on the K10,32.40±6.19 points on the QRI;the median physical activity level according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was 1861(566,2846)MET·min/w.The level of physical activity(the physical activity intensity of the patients reflected by the Interna-tional Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form scale)negatively correlated with psychological distress and intimacy(P<0.05),and positively correlated with each other(P<0.05),with the correlation stronger at lower physical activity levels compared to higher ones.The mediating effect of physical activity between psychological distress and intimate relationship was calculated to be 40.23%.Bootstrap analysis further validated the results.The mediating effect of psychological distress on intimate relationships through physical activity level was-0.284,with a confidence interval of-0.409 to-0.163,excluding 0,confirming a significant mediating effect of psychological distress on intimate relationships.CONCLUSION Physical activity significantly affects relationship between psychological distress and intimate relationships among stroke patients.Addressing the role of physical activity may have implications for improving patient outcomes and rehabilitation strategies.

Effects of Tremella Polysaccharide on Immune Function of Physically-Stressed Mice

An immunosuppressive animal model induced by physical stress that forced mice to swim in cold water(14±1℃)and the restorative effect of Tremella polysac charide(TP)on the suppressed immune function by stress were studied in mice.It was found that the spleen plaque forming cell(PFC)response to sheep red blood cells,delayed cuta- neous hypersensitivity(DCH)induced by dinitrochlorobenzene and the lymphocyte prolifer- ation stimulated by concanavalin A(Con A)were significantly decreased in stressed mice. In addition.the maximal decrease of PFC was reached in 9-12 days after stress.A- drenolectomy could not affect the decrease of PFC in stressed mice.TP(200.400mg/kg) ig for 8-14 days significantly restored the PFC.DCH and lymphocyte proliferation to nor- mal level in stressed mice.

Characteristics of evolution of mining-induced stress field in the longwall panel:insights from physical modeling

The evolution of mining-induced stress field in longwall panel is closely related to the fracture field and the breaking characteristics of strata.Few laboratory experiments have been conducted to investigate the stress field.This study investigated its evolution by constructing a large-scale physical model according to the in situ conditions of the longwall panel.Theoretical analysis was used to reveal the mechanism of stress distribution in the overburden.The modelling results showed that:(1)The major principal stress field is arch-shaped,and the strata overlying both the solid zones and gob constitute a series of coordinated load-bearing structures.The stress increasing zone is like a macro stress arch.High stress is especially concentrated on both shoulders of the arch-shaped structure.The stress concentration of the solid zone in front of the gob is higher than the rear solid zone.(2)The characteristics of the vertical stress field in different regions are significantly different.Stress decreases in the zone above the gob and increases in solid zones on both sides of it.The mechanical analysis show that for a given stratum,the trajectories of principal stress are arch-shaped or inverselyarched,referred to as the‘‘principal stress arch’’,irrespective of its initial breaking or periodic breaking,and determines the fracture morphology.That is,the trajectories of tensile principal stress are inversely arched before the first breaking of the strata,and cause the breaking lines to resemble an inverted funnel.In case of periodic breaking,the breaking line forms an obtuse angle with the advancing direction of the panel.Good agreement was obtained between the results of physical modeling and the theoretical analysis.

Physical simulation of rock burst induced by stress waves

The behavior of stress wave propagation in rock walls and the process of rock bursts were simulated by application tests of material similar to rock. Results show that 1) the attenuation characteristics of stress waves were related to the material proper-ties, stress waves attenuate more quickly in soft material and 2) when the explosion load was applied at the top of the roadway, the number and the length of the cracks increased with a decrease in the distance between the explosive point and roof of the roadway. When the distance was 280 mm, only some chips appeared near the source, when the distance was 210 mm, some small cracks started to appear near the road-rib and when the distance was reduced to 140 mm, larger cracks appeared at the road-rib. It can be concluded that, under a given stress the number of cracks is closely related to the intensity of stress waves. The cracks in the sur-rounding rock can be reduced by controlling the intensity of the stress waves and rock bursts can be avoided to some extent by pre-venting the formation of layered crack structures. A new experimental approach has been provided for studying rock bursts by using physical simulation.

The Impacts of Physical Exercise on Stress Coping and Well-Being in University Students in the Context of Leisure

This study aims at investigating the in-depth information regarding impacts of physical exercise on psychological well-being in university students with an emphasis on coping with stress in the context of leisure. A qualitative research, based on interview to draw findings in an inductive way, was conducted. Nine university students (N = 9) in a large mid-west university took part in a face- to face, semi-structured interviews using ten open-ended questions with respect to benefits of leisure time physical exercise. The interview on the basis of phenomenological research examined what the participants experienced with leisure time physical exercise in conjunction with stress coping and mental health. Meaningful units of themes were induced with 24 initially drawn themes. These themes were reduced to 8 comprehensive constituent themes: self-efficacy, positive emotion, mind and body, health-behaviors, self-esteem, leisure, problem-focused coping, and positive expectancy. These reduced themes were finally boiled down to 6 integrated themes: positive emotion, unity of mind and body, heightened self-esteem, leisure, problem-focused coping, and self-regulation of health behavior. This research may shed a light in illuminating potential mechanism of how regular physical exercise is conducive to enhanced health behavior as well as effective stress coping in university students in the context of leisure. In particular, this research appears to be meaningful in suggesting that regular leisure-time physical exercise can lead to an effective problem-focused coping through elicitation of positive emotion.

Assessment of physical stress during the perioperative period of endoscopic submucosal dissection

The advantage of endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)is that it is less invasive than surgery.ESD is one of the best treatments for older patients as surgery in this age group of patients is difficult.However,it is unclear how much lower the physical stress of ESD is compared with that of surgery.Thus,objective methods are required to assess physical stress in patients who have undergone ESD.The current review of ESD aimed to summarize the recent advancements in the assessment of physical stress during the perioperative period,focusing on changes in energy metabolism and serum opsonic activity(SOA).Based on metabolic changes,resting energy expenditure(REE)was measured using an indirect calorimeter.The stress factor calculated from the REE and the basal energy expenditure computed using the Harris-Benedict equation can be used to assess physical stress.SOA was assessed using the chemiluminescence method,wherein the use of chemiluminescent probes(i.e.,lucigenin and luminol)allowed quantification of reactive oxygen species generated by neutrophils.Using an auto luminescence analyzer,the results were evaluated based on the maximum light emission and area under the emission curve.These quantifiable results revealed the minimal invasiveness of ESD.

Thermoelastic stresses in SiC single crystals grown by the physical yapor transport method

A finite element-based thermoelastic anisotropic stress model for hexagonal silicon carbide polytype is developed for the calculation of thermal stresses in SiC crystals grown by the physical vapor transport method. The composite structure of the growing SiC crystal and graphite lid is considered in the model. The thermal expansion match between the crucible lid and SiC crystal is studied for the first time. The influence of thermal stress on the dislocation density and crystal quality is discussed.

Three-Dimensional Finite Element Numerical Simulation and Physical Experiment for Magnetism-Stress Detecting in Oil Casing

The casing damage has been a big problem in oilfield production. The current detection methods mostly are used after casing damage, which is not very effective. With the rapid development of China's offshore oil industry, the number of offshore oil wells is becoming larger and larger. Because the cost of offshore oil well is very high, the casing damage will cause huge economic losses. What's more, it can also bring serious pollution to marine environment. So the effective methods of detecting casing damage are required badly. The accumulation of stress is the main reason for the casing damage. Magnetic anisotropy technique based on counter magnetostriction effect can detect the stress of casing in real time and help us to find out the hidden dangers in time. It is essential for us to prevent the casing damage from occurring. However, such technique is still in the development stage. Previous studies mostly got the relationship between stress and magnetic signals by physical experiment, and the study of physical mechanism in relative magnetic permeability connecting the stress and magnetic signals is rarely reported. The present paper uses the ANSYS to do the three-dimensional finite element numerical simulation to study how the relative magnetic permeability works for the oil casing model. We find that the quantitative relationship between the stress' s variation and magnetic induction intensity's variation is: Δδ =K* ΔB, K = 8.04×109, which is proved correct by physical experiment.

Basic studies on life circumstances and stress in persons with congenital physical disabilities using always wheelchairs

Many studies about the health problems of persons with physical disabilities have been performed, however few studies have focused on the life circumstances of persons with physical disabilities. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between stress and the life circumstances of persons with congenital physical disabilities who must use wheelchairs. The participants were 70 individuals who used the services of care workers employed by welfare service business offices. Participants used wheelchairs. In addition, those participants who used a standard manual wheelchair were not able to operate it alone. Participants were required to answer a two-part questionnaire with questions about factors related to basic lifestyle and stress, and about life factors related to the stress of individuals with physical disabilities. No significant relationship between lifestyle and stress was found in either males or females. Most persons with congenital physical disabilities using wheelchairs had some kind of stress in daily life. In particular, significantly more level of stress was found in females (90%) than that in males (65%). Levels of stress according to life factor differed between males and females. The most dramatic gender difference was that the level of stress caused by the mental or mind factor in females was significantly higher than that in males (p < 0.05). Most persons who must use wheelchairs have stress resulting from daily life, and in particular, females experience more mental stress than males.

Effects of stress and physical ageing on nonlinear creep behavior of poly(methyl methacrylate)

The effects of stress,ageing time and ageing temperature on creep behavior of poly(methyl methacrylate) were studied.After annealing above its glass transition temperature for a period of time to eliminate the stress and thermal history,the specimens were quenched and aged at various ageing temperatures for different ageing time,and then the short-term creep tests under different stress levels were carried out at room temperature.The creep strains were modeled by means of time-ageing time equivalence and time-stress equivalence,and the master creep curves were constructed via ageing time shift factors and stress shift factors.The results indicate that the creep rate increases with stress,while decreases with ageing time,and the ageing temperature history obviously affects the creep rate.For linear viscoelastic material,the ageing shift rate is independent on imposed stress,while for nonlinear viscoelastic material,the ageing shift rate decreases with increasing stress.The unified master creep curve up to 540 d at reference state was constructed by shifting the creep curves horizontally along the logarithmic time axis to overlap each other.It is demonstrated that the time-stress equivalence,united with the time-ageing time equivalence,provides an effective accelerated characterization technique in the laboratory to evaluate the long-term creep behavior of physical ageing polymers.

Physical Stress Echocardiography Evaluation in Athletes with Bicuspid Aortic Valves

Objective: Bicuspid Aortic Valve (BAV) is normally asymptomatic for a long time in both the general population and regularlytrained athletes. The study aimed to evaluate the role of physical stress echocardiography in early identification of any possible dissimilarities in the Left Ventricle (LV) performance and the valve functioning of asymptomatic BAV athletes as compared to the Tricuspid Aortic Valve (TAV) athletes. Design: Data were collected for BAV and TAV athletes from echocardographic examinations to evaluate any possible differences between them. Setting: Sport Medicine Center University of FlorenceItaly. Participants: 66 male BAV athletes and 45 TAV athletes Assessment of risk factors: decrease in LV performance and aortic valve dysfunction during stress test. Main outcome measures: Measure of the standard echocardiographic parameters. Comparison of LV Ejection Fraction (EF) and Aortic Peak Flow Velocity (APFV) data in the two groups at rest and after stress. Results: At rest, values were normal in both groups, although LV systolic diameters tended to be higher in BAV. After physical effort, APFV and EF showed a significant increase in both groups, and for the former the values were at the upper limits in BAV (2.55 m/s BAV 2.12 m/s TAV). Conclusions: The data confirm normal LV performance in asymptomatic BAV athletes. Considering the tendency of this group to show slight enhancement of both APFV and LV dimensions in this group periodical evaluation with physical stress echography might be proposed as a followup procedure for early detection of any additional effect of physical exercise.

Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies in Entry-Level Doctor of Physical Therapy Students Enrolled in a Hybrid-Learning Curriculum during the Pandemic

Physical therapy students can experience elevated levels of stress due to the pressure to be successful, changes in the environment, personal concerns, the lack of spare time, increased work, or financial burdens. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived stress and coping strategies of Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students enrolled in a hybrid-learning curriculum during the COVID-19 pademic. A total of 73 students enrolled in the DPT hybrid-learning curriculum responded to a survey which consisted of socio-demographics, the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the 28-item Brief COPE. A general question regarding stress relating to COVID-19 was presented as a sliding percentage. Data analysis included a Spearman correlation, a Kruskal-Wallis test, and a linear regression to evaluate coping mechanisms against PSS scores. The mean (± SD) score on the PSS was 22.65 (± 10.21) and the Brief COPE was 59.18 (± 10.61). A non-significant negative correlation was found between the PSS and Brief COPE (r = -0.024). A third of the variation in the perceived stress score could be accounted for by students utilizing coping mechanisms regardless of other factors (R2 = 0.35). No significant differences were found when comparing PSS and Brief Cope to age, hours worked per week and term. Perceived stress was higher in females compared to males, but the results were not significant. Stress related to COVID-19 mean percentage reported by DPT students was 49.03%. During a global pandemic, DPT students enrolled in a hybrid-learning curriculum reported elevated levels of stress but reported higher adaptive versus maladaptive coping strategies. It can be beneficial that universities evaluate the stress and coping methods of students to potentially avoid the negative impacts of stress.

The Relationship among Stress Response, Weight Management, and Physical Exercise in Japanese University Students

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between stress response, gender, weight management, and physical exercise among Japanese university students. The participants were 411 university students （169 males, 242 females）. All participants completed the Stress Response Scale and the European Health and Behavior Survey. T-test results showed that scores of females were consistently higher than those of males （P 〈 0.05）. In the chi-square test, the proportion of females managing their weight （75.3%） was significantly higher than that of males （42.9%）. In multiple regression analysis, the group managing their weight showed a higher stress score, and the group doing physical exercise showed a lower stress score. These results show that weight management through physical exercise reduces mental stress, making it the most beneficial method of weight management for the mental and physical wellbeing of youths.