This systematic review examined the effects of home/family and community-based interventions on physical activity (PA) and developmental outcomes in early childhood. A search strategy was employed using four electronic databases (Academic Search Complete, CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE, and SPORTDiscus). Interventions investigating weight status (i.e., BMI), physical activity, sedentary behavior, and/or motor proficiency that took place in home, family, or community settings were assessed. Studies were eligible if they were peer-reviewed, available in English, published between 2011 and 2021, and if samples consisted of healthy young children (2–5 years old). There were 24 studies retained (8351 participants) spanning from the United States (n = 12), Australia (n = 3), Canada (n = 2), Switzerland (n = 2), Finland (n = 2), Netherlands (n = 1), and other Eastern European countries (n = 2). There were 19 studies that incorporated home/family-based approaches and 14 studies that incorporated community-based approaches. Studies ranged in intervention duration from 6 weeks to 24 months. It suggests that improving PA participation in young children was especially challenging to solicit improvement (only 25% of all studies found significant improvement in PA after intervention). Distributing educational material to parents/families, consistent, direct contact with parents, and encouraging community engagement were identified as effective strategies to promote physical activity, healthy weight status, and motor skills in young children.

Depression has become the most prevalent mental health problem in developing countries, and especially among adolescents. Lubans and his colleagues proposed a psychosocial mechanism to understand the trajectory of mental health (i.e., depression). Thus, this study aimed (1) to examine the relations between different doses of physical activity (PA), light PA (LPA), moderate PA (MPA), and vigorous PA (VPA), academic self-efficacy, and depression among adolescents, and (2) to investigate the direct and indirect relations of various doses of PA to depression through academic self-efficacy among middle school adolescents. Participants were 428 (235 boys, Mean _age = 13.7) adolescents recruited from two middle schools in China. They completed previously validated questionnaires to measure different intensity levels of PA (LPA, MPA, and VPA), academic self-efficacy, and depression. There were significant associations of academic self-efficacy with three different doses of PA (p < 0.01). Both LPA and MPA were negatively associated with depression but not VPA. Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed a well-fit model suggesting the psychosocial pathway from different doses of PA to depression through academic self-efficacy. Findings of this study indicated that academic self-efficacy regulates adolescents’ depression. Tailoring different intensities of PA benefits adolescents’ academic self-efficacy by framing the positive and supportive environment in schools, which can potentially reduce the prevalence of depression during adolescence.

Actual motor competence (MC), perceived motor competence (PMC), and health-related fitness (HRF) exhibit a dynamic and reciprocal relationship in child populations, but little is known about the nature of these relationships in young adulthood. The purpose of the study was to assess these relationships in a sample of college-aged males. A total of 55 participants enrolled in an undergraduate Kinesiology course completed the study. Perceived motor competence (PMC) was assessed with the Physical Self-Perception Profile questionnaire; MC was assessed using maximum throw and kick speed and maximum jump distance; HRF was assessed with a two-minute push-up test, two-minute sit-up test, and the Multistage 20-m Shuttle Run Test. Pearson’s bivariate correlations were calculated to assess relationships among PMC total score, MC scores, and HRF scores. Two separate indices were calculated to create composite total MC and total HRF scores used for subsequent analyses. Significant correlations were found between PMC total score, MC index, and HRF index. Multiple linear regressions were used for analyzing predictive measures for HRF and PMC scores. From the two regression models, significance varied among total MC scores, PMC scores, and HRF individual measures. These findings may suggest that relationships among MC, HRF, and PMC strengthen over developmental time in young adult males.

Engaging in health-risk behaviors (HRBs) may be correlated with depressive symptoms among college students, but these relationships require more research. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of physical activity levels (i.e., light [LPA] and moderate–vigorous [MVPA]) and HRBs (i.e., sedentary behavior [screen-based and non-screen-based behavior] and cigarette and e-cigarette tobacco use) with depressive symptoms in a sample of college students. Physical activity levels and HRBs were assessed through validated questionnaires. In total, 366 students participated (M_age = 22.59 ± 3.54; 60.1% female; 52.9% normal weight). E-cigarette use in males (β = 0.23, p < 0.05) and screen-based sedentary behavior in females (β = 0.14, p < 0.05) showed significant predictive utility toward depressive symptoms. In the overweight/obese group, screen-based sedentary behaviors (β = 0.19, p < 0.05) and e-cigarette use (β = 0.23, p < 0.01) showed significant predictive utility toward depressive symptoms. Females reported higher levels of depressive symptoms (M_female = 18.23 vs. M_male = 14.81; η² = 0.03) and less MVPA (M_male = 52.83 vs. M_female = 41.09; η² = 0.06) than males. Enhancing mental health by improving physical activity and eliminating HRBs should be tailored toward at-risk demographics.

“The whole day movement matters to health.” has become an important topic while the associations between executive function and different movement behaviors (i.e., physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB) and sleep) are traditionally examined in isolation. This study aimed to examine the combined associations of movement behaviors (i.e., moderate-to-vigorous PA [MVPA], light PA, screen-based SB, non-screen-based SB, and sleep) with executive function (i.e., working memory, inhibition, and overall executive function) among college students. A total of 366 college students (60.1% female; mean age = 22.59 ± 3.54) were recruited. Validated questionnaires were used to assess light PA, MVPA, screen-based and non-screen-based SB, sleep, and executive function. All the movement behaviors including screen-based SB (β = 0.13), sleep (β = −0.12), and MVPA (β = −0.16) were significant predictors on working memory (R² = 0.09). Only BMI (β = 0.14) was found to be a significant contributor to inhibition (R² = 0.05). The overweight/obese group had significantly higher scores (meaning lower functioning) in inhibition compared to peers with healthy weights (d = 0.24). These findings suggest healthy movement behaviors (i.e., engage in MVPA, reduce screen-based SB, sufficient sleep) and weight management are beneficial for executive function during young adulthood.

Background/Objectives: This study examined the efficacy of a physical activity (PA) intervention augmented by a non-immersive Virtual Reality (VR) gaming system (i.e., Virtual Reality-infused Movement and Activity Program; V-MAP) on physical activity (i.e., sedentary behavior, moderate-to-vigorous PA [MVPA], vigorous PA [VPA]) and cognitive skills (i.e., response error, movement latency and reaction time) in Head Start preschoolers. Methods: Using a repeated-measure with 1-month follow-up design, a sample of 13 Head Start preschoolers (Mage = 67.08 ± 4.32 months; 36.2% boys) engaged in a 6-week V-MAP intervention (30-min session; 8 sessions) that focused on non-immersive VR based movement integration. The Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) was used to measure cognition; school-based PA and sedentary behavior were assessed by ActiGraph accelerometer. Pedometers were used to monitor real time engagement and implementation over eight intervention sessions. Results: On average, children obtained 1105 steps during the 30-min intervention (36.85 steps/min). There was a significant increase in VPA after the V-MAP intervention, whereas no significant changes in MVPA or sedentary behavior were observed (ps > 0.05). Although we did not observe significant improvement in studied cognitive function variables (ps > 0.05) after the V-MAP intervention, some delayed effects were observed in the follow-up test (Cohen’s d ranges from −0.41 to −0.73). Conclusions: This efficacy trial provides preliminary support that implementing V-MAP in recess may help Head Start preschoolers achieve or accumulate the recommended daily 60-min MVPA guideline during preschool years. The findings also provide insights that VR-based PA for as little as 30 min per day may benefit cognitive capability.