Susana Veloso

Psychosocial Factors of Different Health Behaviour Patterns in Adolescents: Association with Overweight and Weight Control Behaviours

Physical activity, nutrition, and sedentary behaviour combine to influence the risk of overweight among adolescents. This paper aims to identify psychosocial factors of different health behaviour patterns in adolescents and its association with overweight and weight control behaviours. The 3069 adolescents of both genders (average of 14.8 years old) from the 2010 Portuguese survey of Health Behaviour School-Aged Children (HBSC) answered the 2010 HBSC self-reported questionnaire. It used the cluster k-means (nonhierarchy method), qui-square, one-way ANOVA, and logistic regression. Three clusters with different behavioural patterns (physical activity, sedentary, and eating) composed the results obtained. The sedentary group (34%) had lower self-regulation, body satisfaction, health and wellness, family and classmates relationships, communication with the father than the other two groups. The active gamers (25%) had a smaller BMI but used more unhealthy weight control strategies than the other two groups. The healthy group (41%) was more motivated and more satisfied with school but was not different than the active gamers in most psychosocial variables. Differences were found between clusters for weight control behaviours and psychosocial variables. Different strategies for different patterns were necessary in order to promote obesity prevention and, simultaneously, target healthy lifestyle and wellbeing in adolescents.

Exercício Físico Outdoor, Bem-Estar e Conectividade com a Natureza

Positive outcomes from contact with nature on well-being have been presented by restorative environments research. Additionally, studies in the area of exercise recognize the physical and psychological benefits, and more recently, those related to outdoor practice, particularly in natural environments. Present study combines these two research areas, analysing the relationship between outdoor physical exercise and well-being, verifying the role of connectedness to nature in this respect. Participants are 282 practitioners of outdoor and indoor physical exercise who, answering a questionnaire, self-reported their exercise level, exercise subjective experience, affect and connectedness to nature. Differences between the two types of indoor and outdoor physical activity are reported, highlighting the benefits of outdoor exercise practicing. Participants who combine outdoor with indoor physical activity report more positive emotions and well-being associated with exercise, and their connectedness to nature is a significant predictor of well-being. Finally, we discuss implications for promotion of healthy lifestyles.

Green Exercise, Health and Well-Being

Green exercise – physical activity or exercise while directly exposed to nature – positively affects psychological and physical well-being and health. Green exercise includes diverse activities (e.g. walking, running, cycling, swimming). It may be performed alone or in a group, with the aim of enhancing well-being, or combined with other aims such as leisure, social contact, health promotion or environmental education. Because of its role in health promotion, the level of activity of green exercise, as well as its psychological and physical outcomes, can be used as an indicator of quality of life.