Effectiveness of Mind-Body Exercise on Burnout and Stress in Female Undergraduate Students

This study was to investigate the effects of mind-body exercise on burnout and perceived stress among female undergraduate students.A sample of 146 female undergraduate students took part in this study.They were assigned to mind-body exercise group(n=91)and control group(n=55).Mind-body exercise group received three 90-min sessions of Baduanjin exercise per week lasting for 12-weeks.There was no intervention in the control group.The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey was used to assess burnout level,and the 10-item perceived stress scale was used to assess stress level.Significant decreases in emotional exhaustion(p<0.001),cynicism(p<0.001)and perceived stress(p<0.001)were found in the mind-body exercise group compared with control group.Furthermore after 12-week mind-body exercise,emotional exhaustion,cynicism and perceived stress had greater reduction.Mind-body exercise(Baduanjin)may be considered an alternative strategy to reduce burnout and perceived stress in female undergraduate students.

The Acute Effects of Aerobic Dance Exercise with and without Face Mask Use on Attention, Perceived Exertion and Mood States

The present study aimed to determine the effect of wearing a face mask during aerobic dance exercise on cognitive function,more specifically on attention,as well as on perceived exertion and mood states.Thirteen healthy college students(9 males and 4 females:mean age=17.5 years,height=1.72 m,weight=71.00 kg)volunteered to participate in this study.They were randomized to perform aerobic dance exercise while wearing a cloth face mask or no mask or a control condition(sitting on a comfortable chair and reading information about the health benefits of aerobic dance exercise)on three separate occasions(with at least one week of interval).Rate of perceived exertion(RPE),the Brunel Mood Scale(BRUMS)and d2 Attention assessment were assessed before and immediately after each condition.The results demonstrated higher concentration performance for the aerobic dance exercise without face mask than the control condition(p=0.05).Post RPE and BRUMS fatigue subscale values were significantly higher in the aerobic dance exercise with face mask as compared to the aerobic dance exercise without face mask and control condition(all,p<0.05).BRUMS vigor subscale value significantly differed across conditions(F=113.84,p<0.001,ES=0.86)and was significantly higher in the aerobic dance exercise group without face mask as compared to the aerobic dance exercise with face mask and the control conditions(both,p<0.001).This study suggests that face mask use during aerobic dance exercise with moderate intensity did not affect attention.Practitioners,students and athletes should avoid wearing face mask while practicing physical activity or aerobic dance exercise with moderate intensity to improve its acute effect on cognitive function.

Prediction of Outcomes in Mini-Basketball Training Program for Preschool Children with Autism Using Machine Learning Models

In recent years evidence has emerged suggesting that Mini-basketball training program(MBTP)can be an effec-tive intervention method to improve social communication(SC)impairments and restricted and repetitive beha-viors(RRBs)in preschool children suffering from autism spectrum disorder(ASD).However,there is a considerable degree if interindividual variability concerning these social outcomes and thus not all preschool chil-dren with ASD profit from a MBTP intervention to the same extent.In order to make more accurate predictions which preschool children with ASD can benefit from an MBTP intervention or which preschool children with ASD need additional interventions to achieve behavioral improvements,further research is required.This study aimed to investigate which individual factors of preschool children with ASD can predict MBTP intervention out-comes concerning SC impairments and RRBs.Then,test the performance of machine learning models in predict-ing intervention outcomes based on these factors.Participants were 26 preschool children with ASD who enrolled in a quasi-experiment and received MBTP intervention.Baseline demographic variables(e.g.,age,body,mass index[BMI]),indicators of physicalfitness(e.g.,handgrip strength,balance performance),performance in execu-tive function,severity of ASD symptoms,level of SC impairments,and severity of RRBs were obtained to predict treatment outcomes after MBTP intervention.Machine learning models were established based on support vector machine algorithm were implemented.For comparison,we also employed multiple linear regression models in statistics.Ourfindings suggest that in preschool children with ASD symptomatic severity(r=0.712,p<0.001)and baseline SC impairments(r=0.713,p<0.001)are predictors for intervention outcomes of SC impair-ments.Furthermore,BMI(r=-0.430,p=0.028),symptomatic severity(r=0.656,p<0.001),baseline SC impair-ments(r=0.504,p=0.009)and baseline RRBs(r=0.647,p<0.001)can predict intervention outcomes of RRBs.Statistical models predicted 59.6%of variance in post-treatment SC impairments(MSE=0.455,RMSE=0.675,R2=0.596)and 58.9%of variance in post-treatment RRBs(MSE=0.464,RMSE=0.681,R2=0.589).Machine learning models predicted 83%of variance in post-treatment SC impairments(MSE=0.188,RMSE=0.434,R2=0.83)and 85.9%of variance in post-treatment RRBs(MSE=0.051,RMSE=0.226,R2=0.859),which were better than statistical models.Ourfindings suggest that baseline characteristics such as symptomatic severity of 144 IJMHP,2022,vol.24,no.2 ASD symptoms and SC impairments are important predictors determining MBTP intervention-induced improvements concerning SC impairments and RBBs.Furthermore,the current study revealed that machine learning models can successfully be applied to predict the MBTP intervention-related outcomes in preschool chil-dren with ASD,and performed better than statistical models.Ourfindings can help to inform which preschool children with ASD are most likely to benefit from an MBTP intervention,and they might provide a reference for the development of personalized intervention programs for preschool children with ASD.

Self-compassion and resilience mediate the relationship between childhood exposure to domestic violence and posttraumatic growth/stress disorder during COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND Studies have indicated that childhood exposure to domestic violence is a common factor in posttraumatic growth(PTG)and posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD),but it is unclear whether PTG and PTSD share a common/different underlying mechanism.AIM To explore the common/different underlying mechanism of PTG and PTSD.METHODS Between February 12 and 17,2020,a nationwide cross-sectional online survey was conducted in China among 2038 university students,and a self-administered questionnaire was used for the data collection.The data included demographic characteristics,such as age,gender,and subjective social economic status,and childhood exposure to domestic violence scale that was selected from the Chinese version of revised Adverse Childhood Experiences Question,Self-compassion Scale,Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale,Posttraumatic Growth Inventory,and the Abbreviated PTSD Checklist-Civilian version.A structural equation model was used to test the hypotheses.RESULTS Exposure to domestic violence was significantly associated with PTG and PTSD via a 1-step indirect path of self-compassion(PTG:β=-0.023,95%CI:-0.44 to-0.007;PTSD:β=0.008,95%CI:0.002,0.014)and via a 2-step indirect path from self-compassion to resilience(PTG:β=-0.008,95%CI:-0.018 to-0.002;PTSD:β=0.013,95%CI:0.004-0.024).However,resilience did not mediate the relationship between exposure to domestic violence and PTG and PTSD.CONCLUSION PTG and PTSD are common results of childhood exposure to domestic violence,which may be influenced by self-compassion and resilience.

Meeting 24-h Movement Guidelines is Related to Better Academic Achievement:Findings from the YRBS 2019 Cycle

This research is designed to investigate the relationship between the 24-h movement guidelines(24-HMG)and self-reported academic achievement(AA)using nationally representative data derived from the 2019 U.S.National Youth Risk Behaviour Survey.A multiple-stage cluster sampling procedure has been adopted to ensure a representative sample(N=9127 adolescents;mean age=15.7 years old;male%=49.8%).Logistic regression has been adopted to obtain the odds ratio(OR)regarding the associations between adherence to 24-HMG and AA while controlling for ethnicity,body mass index,sex and age.The prevalence of meeting the 24-h movement guidelines in isolation and combination varied greatly(physical activity=23.3%,screen time=32.5%,sleep=22.3%,and 24-HMG=2.8%),while the percentage of highest-class AA was 42.5%.Compared with the situation when none of 24-HMG is met,the achievement of any of the combined guidelines(except for meeting the physical activity guidelines)was significantly associated with higher odds of achieving first-class AA.Meeting the sleep guideline had 1.42 times increased likelihood to achieve highest-class AA as compared with not meeting the sleep guideline.Meeting screen time guidelines and physical activity guidelines,respectively,were 1.32 and 1.13 times more likely to report first-class AA;but meeting the guidelines of physical activity was not significantly related to AA.Meeting the 24-HMG had the highest odds of achieving first-class AA(OR=2.01,95%CI:1.47-2.73).In both sexes,adolescents who met 24-HMG self-reported better AA(boys OR=2.05,95%CI:1.34-3.15;girls OR=2.26,95%CI:1.36-3.76).Significant relationships were observed in adolescents from 9-10th grade,but not higher grades.Our research findings suggest that optimal movement behaviours can be seen as an important element to better academic achievement among U.S.adolescents.Future studies can adopt our discoveries to promote adolescents’academic achievement through implementing optimal 24-h movement behaviour patterns.