Results From Finland's 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth.

2016

Background:Finland’s 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth gathers and translates research results and assesses the status and promotion of physical activity (PA) among Finnish children and youth less than 18 years of age. This article summarizes the results and provides grades for 9 indicators.Methods:The working group evaluated the evidence and assigned grades of A (highest, 81% to 100%), B, C, D, or F (lowest, 0% to 20%) for 9 PA indicators using the Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card development process.Results:The grades varied in Finland as follows: 1) Overall PA/fulfillment of recommendations = D, 2) Organized Sport Participation = C, 3) Active Play = C, 4)…

Organized Sport Participation and Physical Activity Levels among Adolescents with Functional Limitations

2017

Sufficient and regular physical activity is considered a protective factor, reducing the onset of secondary disability conditions in adolescents with chronic diseases and functional limitations. The aim of this study was to explore whether participation in organized sport may be associated to higher levels of physical activity in adolescents with functional limitations, based on a national representative sample. Data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study collected in Finland from two data collection rounds (2002 and 2010) were conducted and pooled from adolescents aged between 13 and 15 years old with functional limitations (n = 1041). Differences in self-reported p…

Coaches’ Health Promotion Activity and Substance Use in Youth Sports

2017

There is an increasing amount of evidence suggesting youth sports clubs are an important setting for health promotion. Adolescents in sport club settings can benefit from exposures of positive and negative consequences to health. To better understand the sport club context and coaches’ health promotion activity in substance use prevention, this study compares sport club members with non-members aged between 14–16 years old on their experience and use of alcohol, smoking and snuff and coaches’ health promotion activity on substances. Methods: Adolescents (n = 671) from sports clubs and from matched schools (n = 1442) were recruited in this study. Multiple binary logistic regressions were per…

Health Promotion Interventions in Sports Clubs: Can We Talk About a Setting-Based Approach? A Systematic Mapping Review

2019

Many researchers and authorities have recognized the important role that sports clubs can play in public health. In spite of attempts to create a theoretical framework in the early 2000s, a thorough understanding of sports clubs as a setting for health promotion (HP) is lacking. Despite calls for more effective, sustainable, and theoretically grounded interventions, previous literature reviews have identified no controlled studies assessing HP interventions in sports clubs. This systematic mapping review details how the settings-based approach is applied through HP interventions in sports clubs and highlights facilitators and barriers for sports clubs to become health-promoting settings. In…

Predicting Adolescents’ Physical Activity Intentions : Testing an Integrated Social Cognition Model

2023

Abstract Background Few adolescents meet guideline levels of physical activity associated with good health, highlighting the need for intervention. Interventions promoting adolescents’ physical activity should be guided by research applying behavioral theory to identify potentially modifiable correlates and associated processes. We applied an integrated social cognition model to identify theory-based constructs and processes that relate to physical activity intentions in a secondary analysis of two samples of Finnish adolescents using a correlational design. Method Participants in the first sample (n = 455) completed self-report measures of social cognition constructs from theory of planned…

Test-retest reliability of survey items on ownership and use of physical activity trackers

2019

Background: Researchers are interested in using digital tools, such as physical activity trackers (PAT), to promote and measure physical activity. PAT is a fast-growing research area that measures movement therefore, reliable questions on the ownership and use of PATs among adolescent populations need to be developed. Objective: The aim of this study was to conduct an intra-rater test-retest reliability study on PAT survey items used for surveillance purposes among young adolescents in ownership and use of smartphone applications (apps) and heart rate monitors (HRM). Methods: Young adolescents (N = 755; 11-, 13-, and 15-year-olds) in the Olomouc region of the Czech Republic were recruited t…

Health promotion profile of youth sports clubs in Finland: club officials' and coaches' perceptions.

2009

SUMMARY The purpose of this article is to examine the current health promotion orientation of youth sports clubs in Finland in view of the standards created previously for the health promoting sports club (HPSC). Ninety-seven youth sports clubs participated, and 273 sports club officials and 240 coaches answered the questionnaires. To describe clubs health promotion orientations, an HPSC index was created. The HPSC index was formulated on sub-indices by factor analysis. The sub-indices were: policy, ideology, practice and environment indexes. The results indicate that youth sports clubs are fairly health promoting in general. On average, the clubs fulfilled 12 standards for HPSC out of 22. …

Factors associated with body size perception among adolescent goal-oriented sports participants and non-participants : a cross-sectional Finnish study

2022

Abstract Background Regardless of competitive athletes’ body image pressures, only few studies have focused on adolescent sport participants’ body image and the findings are inconclusive. Furthermore, the role of competitive goals in sports on adolescents’ body size perception has not been studied. We examined the factors associated with adolescents’ competitive goals in sports and body size perception, and the associations between adolescents’ competitive goals in sports and body size perception. Methods The cross-sectional study consisted of 475 goal-oriented sports club participants and 936 reference youths (aged 14–16 years). The study questionnaire included multiple choice items on hea…

Associations Between Physical Activity and Perceived School Performance of Young Adolescents in Health Behavior in School-Aged Children Countries

2020

Background: Regular physical activity and doing well in school are important for growing adolescents. In this study, the associations between physical activity and perceived school performance (PSP) are examined together. Methods: Young adolescents from 42 countries (n = 193,949) in Europe and Canada were examined for associations between self-reported moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and PSP. Multinominal analyses were conducted with 0 to 2 days of MVPA and below average PSP as reference categories. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were reported for pooled data and individual countries after controlling for family affluence scale. Results: Girls had better PSP…

20 years of health promotion research in the Nordic countries : Health, wellbeing and physical activity

2018

Piecing the puzzle together: case studies of international research in health-promoting sports clubs.

2015

This paper seeks to review the current international health-promoting sports club (HPSC) research, drawing together findings based on case studies from various countries to illustrate the status of HPSCs. In addition, future challenges for HPSC research and implementation are considered. The review includes six case studies from five countries. In summary, there are two major research themes in this area, namely ‘research into HPSC activity’ and ‘research into HPSC networks’. The first theme investigates the extent to which sports clubs and/or national sports organisations invest in health promotion (HP) – both in policy and practice. The latter theme is driven by an intention to widen the…

Health Promotion in Sport Coaching: Coaches and Young Male Athletes’ Evaluations on the Health Promotion Activity of Coaches

2015

Sport coaches have paradoxical attitudes towards addressing health promotion as a part of their coaching practice: health is recognized as an important factor, but not greatly invested in. Overall, the extent to which youth sport coaches take health promotion into account has been unclear. Therefore, it is the intention of this study to clarify this situation. The results show that coaches evaluate their own activity on health promotion as being relatively active, whereas young male athletes' evaluations reveal a wide gap in how they perceived the coaches' activity. Young male athletes perceived their coaches as being substantially more passive in comparison to coaches' self-evaluations. T…

Physical Activity Trends of Finnish Adolescents With Long-Term Illnesses or Disabilities From 2002–2014

2016

Background:Adolescents’ physical activity level is a major source of concern. For adolescents with long-term illnesses or disabilities (LTID), being physically active can prevent secondary conditions. This is one of the first studies reporting trends in physical activity of adolescents with LTID in relation to gender, age, and sports club membership.Methods:Data were collected from the Health Behavior in School-aged Children study in Finland during 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014. In 13- and 15-year-olds (N = 2206), 17.1% reported having LTID. Daily physical activity recall was the dependent variable. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted eparately for sports club members (n = 936) a…

Training Volume and Intensity of Physical Activity among Young Athletes: The Health Promoting Sports Club (HPSC) Study

2019

Both training volume and overall physical activity (PA) play a role in young athletes’ sports performance and athletic development. The purpose of this study was to describe the training volume and PA of young athletes in endurance, aesthetics, ball games, and power sports. Questionnaire data (n = 671) were obtained from 15-year-old Finnish athletes on sports participation, along with accelerometer data (n = 350) assessing the amount and intensity of their PA. The athletes’ mean weekly training volume was 11 h 41 min. Objectively assessed PA amounted to 4 h 31 min daily, out of which 1 h 31 min was at a level of moderate-to-vigorous intensity (MVPA). Among 24% of the athletes, the weekly tr…

Educational and family-related determinants of organized sports participation patterns from adolescence to emerging adulthood : A four-year follow-up…

2022

This study aimed to identify organized sports participation patterns and their prevalence from adolescence to emerging adulthood, and the educational and family-related determinants of the patterns. Adolescents in the Finnish Health Promoting Sports Club (FHPSC) study answered a health behaviour questionnaire and reported on sports club participation at ages 15 and 19 (N = 609). In emerging adulthood, dropouts (total 41.05%; females 43.72%; males 36.56%), maintainers (30.87; 26.44; 38.33), nonparticipants (27.59; 29.32; 24.67), and joiners (0.49; 0.52; 0.44) (p =.024) were identified. A mixed multinomial logistic regression analysis showed, that male gender, as compared to female gender, in…

Measurement of Physical Fitness and 24/7 Physical Activity, Standing, Sedentary Behavior, and Time in Bed in Working-Age Finns : Study Protocol for F…

2022

Background: Population studies gathering measured data on fitness and physical behavior, covering physical activity, standing, sedentary behavior, and time in bed, are scarce. This article describes the protocol of the FINFIT 2021 study that measures fitness and physical behavior in a population-based sample of adults and analyzes their associations and dose–response relationships with several health indicators. Methods: The study comprises a stratified random sample of 20–69-year-old men and women (n = 16,500) from seven city-centered regions in Finland. Physical behavior is measured 24/7 by tri-axial accelerometry and analyzed with validated MAD-APE algorithms. Health and fitness examinat…

Health benefits of different sport disciplines for adults: systematic review of observational and intervention studies with meta-analysis

2015

The aim was to assess the quality and strength of evidence for the health benefits of specific sport disciplines. Electronic search yielded 2194 records and the selection resulted in 69 eligible studies (47 cross-sectional, 9 cohort, 13 intervention studies). 105 comparisons between participation and non-participation groups in 26 different sport disciplines were reported. Moderately strong evidence showed that both running and football improve aerobic fitness and cardiovascular function at rest, and football reduces adiposity. Conditional evidence showed that running benefits metabolic fitness, adiposity and postural balance, and football improves metabolic fitness, muscular performance, p…

The desired learning outcomes of school-based nutrition/physical activity health education

2016

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to utilise the collective opinion of a group of Finnish experts to identify the most important learning outcomes of secondary-level school-based health education, in the specific domains of physical activity and nutrition. Design/methodology/approach – The study uses a Delphi survey technique to collect the opinions of a group (panel) of Finnish experts. A list of learning outcomes was compiled via an extensive literature review of documents from all levels of health education (physical activity and nutrition) policy development and implementation. A general inductive analysis method was conducted, resulting in education themes which were then compile…

Leisure‐time physical activity and participation in organized sports: Changes from 1985 to 2014 in Finland and Norway

2019

Participation in organized sports is a popular and important part of the lives of children and adolescents and is associated with improved psychological and social health, as well as an increased likelihood of meeting physical activity (PA) recommendations. Changes in modern society, including increased car ownership and use of technology and electronic media, have led to an additional focus on the importance of health‐enhancing PA among children and adolescents. The aim of this article was to study the secular changes in self‐reports of participation in organized sports clubs and leisure‐time vigorous physical activity (LVPA), and whether the relationship between participation in organized…

Young People in the Social World of Physical Activities : Meanings and Barriers

2022

Physical inactivity has become one of the leading risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and death worldwide. From the future perspective it is alarming that in the group of young people few meet the recommendations. In this respect, physical activity promotion in general and physical education have challenges and new approaches are needed. In this study, the theoretical framework is based on the physical activity relationship (PAR) approach and the barriers were grouped according to the ecological model. The aim of the study was firstly to present both the meanings and barriers of physical activity in a comprehensive Finnish population of 11–15 year old (n = 2728) and secondly t…

The health promoting sports club in Finland--a challenge for the settings-based approach.

2006

SUMMARY The purpose of this article is, first, to compile a frame of reference for the health promoting sports club and, second, to develop standards for the concept. This concept is based on the settings-based health promotion approach. Sports clubs are a new setting for health promotion, which until now has been little examined from a settings point of view. Nevertheless, this concept has much potential. For example, sports clubs attract a large number of children and adolescents and their educational nature can be considered to be informal. The present standards were developed using the Delphi method. The researcher, in cooperation with a panel of experts (experts in health promotion, n …

Health literacy and participation in sports club activities among adolescents

2017

Aims: The aim of this research was to compare the levels of perceived health literacy among adolescents who do or do not participate in sports club activities. Organized sport club activities reach a high proportion of adolescents, and have the potential to contribute to the development of their health literacy. Methods: The cross-sectional data on health literacy among school children in Finland (aged 13 and 15, n=3852) were measured, as a part of the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) study, using the Health Literacy for School-aged Children (HLSAC) instrument. Sports club participation and its association with health literacy were examined in relation to age, gender, family…

Test-retest reliability of adolescents' self-reported physical activity item in two consecutive surveys.

2019

Background National monitoring of school-aged physical activity (PA) behaviours is necessary to inform policy makers. The Finnish School-aged Physical Activity (FSPA – LIITU in Finnish) is a physical activity monitoring study, collecting data from young adolescents aged 11 to 15 years through a nationally representative sample. This study included a single self-reported item question on moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) from the preceding seven days. The question is used widely in the WHO Collaborative Cross-National Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study as a measure of meeting international PA recommendations. This study evaluated the test-retest relia…

Finnish late adolescents’ physical activity during COVID-19 spring 2020 lockdown

2021

Background Physical activity (PA) is recognised as one of the leading and effective strategies to prevent non-communicable diseases that boosts the immune system to fight against diseases. Closures of schools, sport clubs and facilities because of COVID-19 reduced the opportunities to participate in PA. We aimed to examine physical activity levels of late adolescents, the contexts to be physical active and its changes during the spring 2020 lockdown. Methods A national representative sample of late adolescents in general upper secondary school (n = 2408, females = 64%, mean age = 17.2y, SD = 0.63) completed self-report online surveys on PA behaviours between March and June 2020. Multinomina…

Physical Activity, Screen Time and Sleep among Youth Participating and Non-Participating in Organized Sports : The Finnish Health Promoting Sports Cl…

2016

Objectives: The aim of this Health Promoting Sport Club (HPSC) study was to compare physical activity (PA), sleep time and screen time (ST) between sports club participants (n = 1200) and non-participants (n = 913). Design: A cross-sectional survey design was employed to assess PA, sleep and ST of adolescents. Methods: Information on these was collected from 14 to 16 year old adolescents (1200 sport club participants and 913 non-participants) through a standardized questionnaire. Results: Boys were more physically active than girls and met the PA guidelines more often than girls (p < 0.001). The proportion of youth reaching the PA guidelines was significantly higher among youth participants…

Mismatch, Empowerment, Fatigue or Balance? Four scenarios of physical activity up to 2030 in Finland

2022

Sedentary lifestyles and the lack of physical activity (PA) are a major concern among all age groups, and current generations tend to be less fit than the previous ones in the Western World. At the same time, there is an urgent need to cut transport-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Major gains can be foreseen if current car-centred lifestyles and sedentary behaviour are addressed from an integrated perspective. In this study, we explore future scenarios in the intersections of PA and active lifestyles as well as related environmental and health benefits in Finland. We used a disaggregative Delphi approach to examine the topic. Although frequently used in health-related research, Delp…

Results from Finland’s 2014 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth

2014

The Finnish 2014 Report Card on Physical Activity (PA) for Children and Youth is the first assessment of Finland’s efforts in promoting and facilitating PA opportunities for children and youth using the Active Healthy Kids Canada grading system. The Report Card relies primarily on research findings from 6 Research Institutes, coordinated by the University of Jyväskylä. The Research Work Group convened to evaluate the aggregated evidence and assign grades for each of the 9 PA indicators, following the Canadian Report Card protocol. Grades from A (highest) to F (lowest) varied in Finland as follows: 1) Overall physical activity—fulfillment of recommendations (D), 2) Organized sport participat…

Population physical activity legacy from major sports events: The contribution of behavior change science

2022

Do adolescents with long-term illnesses and disabilities have increased risks of sports related injuries?

2017

peer-reviewed Background: The aim of this study is to examine the rates of sports related injuries in adolescents based on the severity of their long-term illnesses or disabilities (LTID). Few injury prevention strategies in sports and health promotion have explored disaggregation by disability. Methods: Data obtained from the 2014 Finnish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey (n = 3716, mean age = 14.8, SD = 1.03) were grouped into adolescents with and without LTID. A further indicator or severity was determined when adolescents reported their LTID affected their participation (affected LTID). Odds ratio (95% CI) were used to determine the associations between sports related inju…

Daily physical activity in Finnish adolescents with long term illnesses or disabilities: psychosocial associations with participation in sports club

2016

&#x0D; Background:&#x0D; Physical activity (PA) in adolescence with long term illnesses or disabilities (LTID) is a public health concern. One way of increasing PA is through participation in sports clubs. Since sports clubs are organised and regular, there are expected to be differences in motivation for physical activity between adolescents that are members and non-members. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of psychosocial factors on sports club membership and daily PA.&#x0D; Methods:&#x0D; Finnish adolescents with self-reported LTID (n=1006) took part in the WHO collaborative Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in 2002 and 2010. Daily self-reported moder…

Does sports club participation contribute to physical activity among children and adolescents? : A comparison across six European countries

2018

Aims: Insufficient physical activity (PA) is one of the largest public health challenges of our time and requires a multisectoral public-health response. PA recommendations state that all children and adolescents should accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) daily and carry out vigorous PA (VPA) three times weekly. While participation in sports club activities is known to enhance the probability of reaching the recommended overall PA level, less is known about the contribution of sports club participation to VPA and few cross-national comparisons have been carried out. The purpose of this paper is to study whether participation in sports club activities is associat…

Health promotion activities of sports clubs and coaches, and health and health behaviours in youth participating in sports clubs: the Health Promotin…

2015

Introduction: Sports clubs form a potential setting for health promotion, but the research is limited. The aim of the Health Promoting Sports Club (HPSC) study was to elucidate the current health promotion activities of youth sports clubs and coaches, and to investigate the health behaviours and health status of youth participating in sports clubs compared to non-participants. Methods and analysis: The study design employs cross-sectional multilevel and multimethod research with aspirations to a prospective cohort study in the next phase. The setting-based variables at sports clubs and coaching levels, and health behaviour variables at the individual level, are investigated using surveys; a…

Unravelling the rationalities of childhood cycling promotion

2022

Decrease of children’s independent mobility (CIM) has worried academics, policymakers, educators and other professionals for decades. Research and policy often emphasise that promoting children’s physically active and independent transport modes as cycling is important to achieve better public health, solve environmental challenges and increase related economic benefits. Yet, cycling promotion is not a neutral process and all promotion efforts are derived from latent notions of ‘cyclists’ and ‘cycling’. This paper discusses different rationalities of childhood cycling promotion and the representations of ‘children’ as independent ‘cyclists’ they entail. We argue that in order to efficiently…

Sport as a Vehicle for Health Promotion (and More)

2015

The aim of this chapter is to discuss the theoretical grounds and different forms of activities for sports settings to promote health and social issues. In particular, the chapter describes five models of settings-based health promotion (of increasing sophistication and effectiveness) through which these issues can be addressed in sports settings: Passive—described as the most ‘traditional’ model, in which a parcular setting is used by outside expert to “only” reach people. Active—in which there is still focus on the individual, but the significance of the setting is at least acknowledged and the immediate resources of the setting are used to promote the individual’s health. Vehicle—remains…

Low back and neck and shoulder pain in members and non-members of adolescents' sports clubs : the Finnish Health Promoting Sports Club (FHPSC) study

2016

Background The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of self-reported low back pain (LBP) and neck and shoulder pain (NSP), and the related factors in members and non-members of adolescents’ sports clubs. Methods This cross-sectional study was based on surveys of 14–16-year-olds as a part of the Finnish Health Promoting Sports Club (FHPSC) Study. The surveys on self-reported health behaviours, injuries, and musculoskeletal health were conducted among sports club members (n = 962) and non-members (n = 675). Binary logistic regression analysis was applied to study the associations between dependent variables of LBP and NSP, and the independent factors. Results The prevalen…

Prevalence of adolescent physical activity-related injuries in sports, leisure time, and school: the National Physical Activity Behaviour Study for c…

2018

Background The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of adolescent physical activity-related injuries in sports club activities, leisure time physical activity and school-based physical activity. The secondary aim was to investigate the differences in the prevalence of physical activity -related injuries between years 2014 and 2016. In addition, we set out to study the associations between age, sex and the frequency of physical activity and injury prevalence. Methods This cross-sectional study is based on the National Physical Activity Behaviour Study for Children and Adolescents (LIITU in Finnish) conducted in years 2014 and 2016. The subjects completed an online question…

Haemoglobin, iron status and lung function of adolescents participating in organised sports in the Finnish Health Promoting Sports Club Study

2020

ObjectivesTo compare laboratory test results and lung function of adolescent organised sports participants (SP) with non-participants (NP).MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, laboratory tests (haemoglobin, iron status), and flow-volume spirometry were performed on SP youths (199 boys, 203 girls) and their NP peers (62 boys, 114 girls) aged 14–17.ResultsHaemoglobin concentration &lt;120/130 g/L was found in 5.8% of SP and 5.1% NP (OR 1.20, 95% CI 0.54 to 2.68). Ferritin concentration below 15 µg/L was found in 22.7% of both SP and NP girls. Among boys ferritin &lt;30 µg/L was found in 26.5% of SP and 30.2% of NP (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.40 to 1.47). Among SP iron supplement use was reported by 3…

Coaches’ perceptions of French sports clubs: Health-promotion activities, aims and coach motivation

2014

Background: Given the benefits of participating in sport, sports clubs have been recognised as health-promoting organizations. To examine health-promotion activities in Finnish sports clubs, Kokko et al. developed a set of standards for health-promoting sports clubs (HPSC). Objective: The present study extends this line of research, by (1) measuring coaches’ perceptions of health- promotion activities in French sports clubs and comparing them to earlier Finnish results, (2) measuring coaches’ perceptions of the health-promotion aims of sports clubs and (3) examining the links between HPSC and coaches’ self-determined motivation. Methods: Coaches ( N = 125) completed a modified version of th…

Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Time in Bed Among Finnish Adults Measured 24/7 by Triaxial Accelerometry

2021

Background: Studies measuring physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior on a 24/7 basis are scarce. The present study assessed the feasibility of using an accelerometer at the hip while awake and at the wrist while sleeping to describe 24/7 patterns of physical behavior in working-aged adults by age, sex, and fitness. Methods: The study was based on the FinFit 2017 study where the physical behavior of 20- to 69-year-old Finns was assessed 24/7 by triaxial accelerometer (UKKRM42; UKK Terveyspalvelut Oy, Tampere, Finland). During waking hours, the accelerometer was kept at the right hip and, during time in bed, at the nondominant wrist. PA variables were based on 1-min exponential moving …

A review of settings-based health promotion with applications to sports clubs.

2013

Sports clubs have a long and tradit ional history in many countries, ye t they remain underdeveloped and underutilized settings for health promotion. Leisure ti me settings, in general, have been in minor role among settings-based health promotion initiatives. Curre nt health concerns in western countries, such as sedentary lifestyles and obesity, have aroused a need to expand he alth promotion to include also settings with greater potential to reach and engage children and adoles cents in more vigorous activity. To develop these alternative, most often non-institutiona l, settings to the level of the established ones, it is important to review what has been done, what ha s been accepted, a…

The associations between adolescents’ sports club participation and dietary habits

2021

For adolescent athletes, data on nutrition behaviours are limited. The present study aimed to evaluate the dietary habits of adolescent sports club participants (SPs) compared with those of non‐participants (NPs). The cross‐sectional study of 1917 adolescents aged 14–16 was based on data from the Finnish Health Promoting Sports Club (FHPSC) study. The health behaviour surveys were conducted among SPs (n=1093) and NPs (n=824). Logistic regression was used to test statistical significance of the differences in dietary habits between SPs and NPs. SPs were more likely than NPs to eat breakfast on weekends [89% vs. 79%, odds ratio (OR) 1.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07–2.01] and to report …

Sports clubs as settings for health promotion: fundamentals and an overview to research.

2014

This paper explores the efficacy and value of sports clubs as a setting for health promotion. Sports clubs for children and adolescents are the primary focus of the paper, and the aims are two-fold. Aims: Firstly, the paper aims to review the basis for and elements of the health promoting sports club (HPSC) concept. Secondly, the aim is to overview the international evolution of the HPSC concept and its usefulness in the research. The settings-based health promotion approach forms the basis for the HPSC concept and it is introduced first. Thereafter, both obligating and prospecting factors, to justify the importance for sports clubs to address health promotion, are expressed. Major prospec…

Ownership and Use of Commercial Physical Activity Trackers Among Finnish Adolescents: Cross-Sectional Study

2017

BackgroundMobile phone apps for monitoring and promoting physical activity (PA) are extremely popular among adults. Devices, such as heart rate monitors or sports watches (HRMs/SWs) that work with these apps are at sufficiently low costs to be available through the commercial markets. Studies have reported an increase in PA levels among adults with devices; however, it is unknown whether the phenomena are similar during early adolescence. At a time when adolescents start to develop their own sense of independence and build friendship, the ease of smartphone availability in developed countries needs to be investigated in important health promoting behaviors such as PA. ObjectiveThe objective…

Measuring health promotion in a sports club setting: a modified Delphi study

2019

Abstract Background The settings-based approach has become an increasing focus in health promotion since the World Health Organization’s 1986 Ottawa Charter. Schools and cities have implemented this approach, but development within sports clubs is limited. Thus, an internationally validated measurement of health promotion within this setting is lacking. Methods A modified Delphi study was completed to develop an international evaluation tool grounded in the settings-based approach. Expert panelists from academia, sports and health sectors were invited to participate in 3 online rounds. Items were generated or selected based on 3 prior Delphi-based studies and 2 nationally validated scales. …

Multi-Dimensional Interacting Constraints on Physical Activity Behaviours in the Finnish Population

2016

Finnish sports organisations, local and federal government, and healthcare organisations have widely adopted the World Health Organization and national recommendations for physical activity for different age groups. However, studies have indicated that only 46 % of 3-year-old preschool children, approximately 50 % of primary school students (7–12 years), 10–17 % of secondary school students (13–15 years) and 16 % of Finnish adults (20–54 years) attain those recommendations. In Finland there are 33,620 built sports facilities and over 9000 sport clubs, meaning there are many possibilities for physical activity, yet people are still rather inactive. In this paper we argue that availability of…

How adherence to the updated physical activity guidelines should be assessed with accelerometer?

2022

Abstract Background The aerobic part of the recently updated physical activity (PA) guidelines for adults recommends at least 150 min of moderate or at least 75 of vigorous-intensity PA or an equivalent combination of both. PA can be accumulated of any bout duration. On an absolute scale, moderate-intensity threshold is 3 metabolic equivalents (METs) and vigorous 6 METs. On a scale relative to individual’s personal capacity, moderate-intensity threshold is 40% and vigorous 60% of the oxygen uptake reserve. In this study, the adherence to the new guidelines was evaluated using both absolute and relative thresholds. Methods Totally, 1645 adults aged 20–64 years, participated in this populatio…

Promoting health in everyday settings: Opportunities and challenges

2014

Musculoskeletal examination in young athletes and non-athletes:the Finnish Health Promoting Sports Club (FHPSC) study

2018

ObjectivesTo determine the inter-rater repeatability of a musculoskeletal examination and to compare findings between adolescent athletes and non-athletes in Finland.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, a musculoskeletal examination assessing posture, mobility and movement control was carried out by a sports and exercise medicine physician on 399 athletes aged 14–17 years and 177 non-athletes. Within 2 weeks another sports and exercise medicine physician repeated the examination for 41 adolescents to test the inter-rater repeatability.ResultsIn total, 10 of the 11 tests performed had at least moderate inter-rater reliability (κ ≥0.4 or percentage agreement &gt;80%). Athletes more often tha…

Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity Levels and Patterns Vary in an Age- and Sex-Dependent Fashion among Finnish Children and Adolescents

2022

Background: The purpose of this study was to measure physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), and hour-by-hour PA patterns with an accelerometer in a population-based sample of Finnish children and adolescents. Methods: A total of 3274 participants (3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th graders) from 176 schools wore a hip-worn triaxial accelerometer for seven days during waking hours. Mean amplitude deviation of the acceleration data was used to assess PA intensity that was converted to metabolic equivalents and categorized into light, moderate, and vigorous PA. Angle for posture estimation was used to measure SB and standing. Results: The majority of participants’ PA consisted of light PA, and they …

Vanhempien ja kavereiden tuen yhteys nuoruusiän fyysiseen aktiivisuuteen

2017

Nuorten fyysiseen aktiivisuuteen vaikuttavien tekijöiden tunteminen on perusteltua paitsi nuoruusiän terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin tukemiseksi niin myös yleisemmin kansanterveydellisistä syistä. Tutkimusten mukaan sekä vanhemmat että kaverit vaikuttavat monin eri tavoin lasten ja nuorten fyysiseen aktiivisuuteen ja liikuntaan sosiaalistumiseen. Monen nuoren kohdalla liikunnan harrastaminen hiipuu murrosiässä, mutta sosiaalinen tuki näyttäisi olevan yksi fyysistä aktiivisuutta ylläpitävistä tekijöistä. Tässä tutkimuksessa selvitettiin, miten vanhempien ja kavereiden tuki ovat yhteydessä nuoren fyysiseen aktiivisuuteen viides-, seitsemäs- ja yhdeksäsluokkalaisilla (n=2764). Tutkimus perustuu kyse…

Guidelines for Youth Sports Clubs to Develop, Implement, and Assess Health Promotion Within Its Activities

2014

The settings approach to health promotion is a world-known concept concerning settings like city, hospital, school, and workplace. The concept has also been used in some regionally specific settings, such as island, prison, or university. However, there are still many, often noninstitutional, settings that have a lot of potential but have not yet been recognized. One of the newcomers is the youth sports club, which has the potential to reach a lot of children and adolescents and is effective, via its casual educational nature based on voluntary participation. According to research, health is an important aim for most youth sports clubs, but it has not been converted into practical actions.…

Menstrual dysfunction and body weight dissatisfaction among Finnish young athletes and non-athletes.

2020

To determine the prevalence of menstrual dysfunction (MD; i.e. oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea) and attitudes towards body weight among athletes and non‐athletes, we studied a cohort of athletes and non‐athletes, in adolescence (14–16 years) and subsequently in young adulthood (18–20 years). We further studied the differences between athletes reporting MD and eumenorrheic athletes at both time periods and identified physical and behavioural characteristicsthat might predict MD in young adulthood. Data were collected using questionnaires, accelerometers, and a pre‐participation screening. In adolescence, the athletes reported current primary amenorrhea more often than the non‐athletes (4.7% vs.…

Resting Electrocardiogram and Blood Pressure in Young Endurance and Nonendurance Athletes and Nonathletes.

2020

Context Much information is available on electrocardiogram (ECG) and blood pressure (BP) changes in senior athletes. However, corresponding data on adolescent athletes are scarce. Objective To study the differences in resting ECG and BP values among adolescent endurance athletes, nonendurance athletes, and nonathletes. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting A total of 154 youth sports clubs in Finland and 100 secondary schools for comparison data. Patients or Other Participants We recruited young athletes (n = 410) aged 14 to 16 years in 10 popular sport disciplines, including winter and summer as well as team and individual sports, and categorized them as endurance or nonendurance sports. …

Measuring Health Promotion in Sports Club Settings: A Modified Delphi Study

2019

Settings-based approaches have become an increasing health promotion focus since the World Health Organization’s 1986 Ottawa Charter. While schools, cities, and prisons have implemented this approach, its development within sports environments is recent. Sports are a popular leisure-time activity, requiring validated tools to measure health promotion activity. This study’s aim was to develop a measurement tool based on international consensus that measures perceptions of health promotion within sports clubs. It is grounded in the settings-based approach and builds on theory from previous works expanding their context and knowledge. An online, three-round international Delphi study was cond…

Acute and overuse injuries among sports club members and non-members : the Finnish Health Promoting Sports Club (FHPSC) study

2018

Background Physical activity in adolescence is promoted for its multi-dimensional health benefits. However, too intensive sports participation is associated with an increased injury risk. Our aim was to compare the occurrence of acute and overuse injuries in Finnish sports club members and non-members and to report training and competing habits associated with a higher injury risk in sports club members. Methods In this cross-sectional survey targeted at 14–16-year-old adolescents, a structured questionnaire was completed by 1077 sports club members and 812 non-members. The main outcome measures were self-reported acute and overuse injuries, their location and type. Results At least one acu…

Device-based physical activity levels among Finnish adolescents with functional limitations.

2019

Abstract Background Monitoring physical activity among young adolescents with disabilities is a top academic priority. People with disabilities are a diverse group with various abilities in different human functioning. Therefore, we used a novel approach through functional limitations as a marker for disabilities and examined physical activity levels. Objective To investigate the levels and differences in light (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA) intensity physical activity between young adolescents with and without functional limitations. Methods The study included young adolescents (n = 1436) aged 11–15 years olds who attended general schools that were part of the 2016 Finnish School-ag…

Health promotion guidance activity of youth sports clubs

2011

– This paper aims to clarify the extent to which youth sports clubs guide their coaches to recognise health promotion as a part of the coaching practice. The guidance activity of clubs is seen parallel to internal organisational communication., – A survey of 93 (from 120, 78 per cent) youth sports clubs in Finland was carried out, and a total of 273 sports club officials acted as respondents. The clubs' guidance activity was examined under three domains: sports performance time, non‐performance sports club time, and health topics., – In general, youth sports clubs were passive on guiding their coaches on health promotion. Guidance activity was evident concerning actual sports performance ti…

Individual- and environmental-related correlates of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in 11-, 13-, and 15-year-old Finnish children

2020

peer-reviewed The objective of this study was to analyze the associations of various individual- and environmental- related factors with subgroups of daily, frequent, moderate and low moderate-to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among children and adolescents. Data were obtained from the Finnish School-age Physical Activity (FSPA) study 2016 from 4677 national representative 11-, 13-, and 15-year-old children and adolescents. MVPA and individual- and environmental-related factors were assessed by a questionnaire and analyzed by two-level logistic regression. Seventeen of the twenty-one variables were statistically significantly associated with MVPA. However, only three variables were stati…

Lasten ja nuorten liikunta : Suomen tilannekatsaus 2014 ja kansainvälinen vertailu

2014

HEB831749_Supplemental_Appendix_1 – Supplemental material for Health Promotion Interventions in Sports Clubs: Can We Talk About a Setting-Based Appro…

2019

Supplemental material, HEB831749_Supplemental_Appendix_1 for Health Promotion Interventions in Sports Clubs: Can We Talk About a Setting-Based Approach? A Systematic Mapping Review by Susanna Geidne, Sami Kokko, Aoife Lane, Linda Ooms, Anne Vuillemin, Jan Seghers, Pasi Koski, Michal Kudlacek, Stacey Johnson and Aurélie Van Hoye in Health Education &amp; Behavior

HEB831749_Supplemental_Appendix_2 – Supplemental material for Health Promotion Interventions in Sports Clubs: Can We Talk About a Setting-Based Appro…

2019

Supplemental material, HEB831749_Supplemental_Appendix_2 for Health Promotion Interventions in Sports Clubs: Can We Talk About a Setting-Based Approach? A Systematic Mapping Review by Susanna Geidne, Sami Kokko, Aoife Lane, Linda Ooms, Anne Vuillemin, Jan Seghers, Pasi Koski, Michal Kudlacek, Stacey Johnson and Aurélie Van Hoye in Health Education &amp; Behavior

Physical activity change and stability patterns from adolescence to early adulthood : how activity domains and sedentary behaviour are associated wit…

2022

Background Longitudinal studies demonstrate that physical activity (PA) declines on average from adolescence to early adulthood. However, some subgroups of adolescents increase activity while others decrease or maintain high or low activity. Determinants of change or maintenance of (in)activity may differ between subgroups and are valuable information for targeted health promotion. The purpose of this study was to identify PA patterns from adolescence to early adulthood, and also to explore how different activity domains and Sedentary Behaviour (SB) are associated with PA patterns. Methods The data of this observational cohort study (collected in 2013/2014 and 2017/2018) consisted of 254 Fi…

spub-ri-2018-0052-File007 – Supplemental material for Does sports club participation contribute to physical activity among children and adolescents? …

2018

Supplemental material, spub-ri-2018-0052-File007 for Does sports club participation contribute to physical activity among children and adolescents? A comparison across six European countries by Sami Kokko, Leena Martin, Susanna Geidne, Aurelie Van Hoye, Aoife Lane, Jeroen Meganck, Jeroen Scheerder, Jan Seghers, Jari Villberg, Michal Kudlacek, Petr Badura, Kaisu Mononen, Minna Blomqvist, Bart De Clercq and Pasi Koski in Scandinavian Journal of Public Health

Hiipuva liikunta nuoruusiässä : drop off -ilmiön aikatrendejä ja kansainvälistä vertailua WHO-Koululaistutkimuksen (HBSC-Study) aineistoilla 1986-2010

2013

Clusters of adolescent physical activity tracker patterns and their associations with physical activity behaviors in Finland and Ireland:cross-sectio…

2020

Background:Physical activity trackers (PATs) such as apps and wearable devices (eg, sports watches, heart rate monitors) are increasingly being used by young adolescents. Despite the potential of PATs to help monitor and improve moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) behaviors, there is a lack of research that confirms an association between PAT ownership or use and physical activity behaviors at the population level.Objective:The purpose of this study was to examine the ownership and use of PATs in youth and their associations with physical activity behaviors, including daily MVPA, sports club membership, and active travel, in 2 nationally representative samples of young adolescent …

Sports Club for Health : updated guidelines for health-enhancing sports activities in a club setting

2017

Toimintarajoitteita kokevien nuorten liikunta- ja urheiluseura-aktiivisuus sekä istumisen määrä

2018

Vammaisista henkilöistä puhutaan usein yhtenäisenä ryhmänä ikään kuin vamma olisi kaikilla samanlainen tai sen vaikutukset toimintakykyyn samankaltaiset. Vaikka erilaisten vammojen ja pitkäaikaissairauksien tiedetään rajoittavan ihmisten tekemistä eri lailla, liikunta-aktiivisuutta mittaavissa tutkimuksissa tai tilastoinneissa niitä ei ole useinkaan eroteltu. Syinä ovat voineet olla esimerkiksi pienet tutkittavien määrät tai liian yleiset mittausmenetelmät. Tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena on tarkastella vuoden 2016 ”Lasten ja nuorten liikuntakäyttäytyminen Suomessa” (LIITU) -tutkimuksen aineistossa toimintarajoitteisuutta, liikunta-aktiivisuutta, liikuntaseuraan kuulumista ja istumisen määrää…

Daily physical activity in Finnish adolescents with long-term illnesses or disabilities: psychosocial associations with participation in sports club

2016

Background: Physical activity (PA) in adolescence with long term illnesses or disabilities (LTID) is a public health concern. One way of increasing PA is through participation in sports clubs. Since sports clubs are organised and regular, there are expected to be differences in motivation for physical activity between adolescents that are members and non-members. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of psychosocial factors on sports club membership and daily PA. Methods: Finnish adolescents with self-reported LTID (n=1006) took part in the WHO collaborative Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in 2002 and 2010. Daily self-reported moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA)…

Mitattu tieto tarkentaa itsearvioitua tietoa : kolmasosa suomalaislapsista ja -nuorista liikkuu riittävästi

2016

Liikunta-aktiivisuuden drop-off -ilmiö eli liikkumisen väheneminen iän myötä on edelleen kansallinen erityispiirteemme. Samalla lapset ja nuoret käyttävät noin puolet valveillaoloajastaan istuen tai makuulla. Paikallaanolo lisääntyy selvästi iän myötä. Päivittäistä ruutuaikaa kertyy paljon. Suositellun korkeintaan kaksi tuntia ruudun ääressä vietti vain viisi prosenttia 9–15-vuotiaista. nonPeerReviewed

Health promoting sports federations : theoretical foundations and guidelines

2023

Background: Researchers and policy-makers have highlighted that the potential for organized sports to promote health has been underexploited. Sports clubs have limited capacity to promote health due to their voluntary nature and have called for support from their national sports federations. The present article provides guidelines, based on the theoretical principles of health promoting sports clubs and an analysis of practical tools and proven strategies, to support national sports federations to invest in health promotion (HP). Methods: A qualitative iterative study was undertaken, based on five 2-h meetings of a group of 15 international researchers in HP in sports clubs. Notes and minut…

Does goal orientation relate to changes in sports club participation from adolescence to early adulthood?

2022

Background Sports club participation begins to decrease in adolescence. There is a lack of knowledge, how sports club participation changes from adolescence to early adulthood in Finland, and how goal orientation influences on it. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine if goal orientation is associated to changes in sports club participation during afore mentioned critical years. Methods The study design is longitudinal. A sample of 366 (140 boys, 226 girls) adolescents were followed from age 15 (year 2014) to age 19 (year 2018). Sports club participation (yes/no) and goal orientation (no competitive goal, sports for hobby or physical development/regional, national or international …

Lasten ja nuorten liikuntakäyttäytyminen Suomessa : LIITU-tutkimuksen tuloksia 2018

2019

Additional file 1 of Factors associated with body size perception among adolescent goal-oriented sports participants and non-participants: a cross-se…

2022

Additional file 1: Supplementary Table 1. Motives to exercise by competitive goals in sports. Supplementary Table 2. Motives to exercise by body size perception.

LIITU 2020 : Liikkuminen vähenee siirryttäessä perusopetuksesta toiselle asteelle

2021

Vain joka seitsemäs lukiolainen liikkuu reippaastti päivittäin vähintään tunnin. Lukiolaisille kertyy keskimäärin 6 178 askelta päivässä. Heidän vanhemmilta ja kaverilta saamansa liikunnallinen tuki oli vähäisempää kuin nuoremmilla ikäluokilla ja vaihteli suuresti nuorten välillä. Lukiolaiset pitivät liikuntaa tärkeänä ja opiskelukykyä edistävänä oppiaineena. Oppilaitosten ja internetin jälkeen liikunta- ja urheiluharrastuksissa koettiin kolmanneksi eniten syrjintää ja kiusaamista. nonPeerReviewed

Nuorten liikuntakäyttäytyminen Suomessa : LIITU-tutkimuksen tuloksia 2020

2021

Terveyskasvatus juniorijääkiekossa : tutkimus 12-16 -vuotiaiden junioreiden valmentajien toteuttamasta terveyskasvatuksesta ja siihen liittyvistä käs…

2003

Liikkumisvajeen luontopohjaiset ratkaisut ja ongelmat

2019

[Johdanto] Suomalaiset liikkuvat terveytensä kannalta liian vähän, kun liikkumisella tarkoitetaan ihmisten fyysistä aktiivisuutta. Toisaalta suomalaiset liikkuvat liiankin paljon, kun liikkumisella tarkoitetaan moottorivoimin tapahtuvaa siirtymistä paikasta toiseen. Ongelmana on sekä moottoroitujen liikkumisvälineiden runsaasta käytöstä aiheutuva ihmisten fyysinen passiivisuus että ympäristön suuri kuormitus. Esimerkiksi henkilöautojen osuus päivittäin kuljetuista kilometreistä on 76 %, kun kävellen tai polkupyörällä matkoista taittuu noin 4 % (Liikennevirasto 2018). Tässä kirjoituksessa ymmärrämme liikkumisen ihmisten fyysiseksi aktiivisuudeksi ja tarkastelemme liikkumisvajeen luontopohjai…

Leisure-time physical activity and participation in organized sports : changes from 1985-2014 in Finland and Norway

2019

Participation in organized sports is a popular and important part of the lives of children and adolescents and is associated with improved psychological and social health, as well as an increased likelihood of meeting physical activity (PA) recommendations. Changes in modern society, including increased car ownership and use of technology and electronic media, have led to an additional focus on the importance of health‐enhancing PA among children and adolescents. The aim of this article was to study the secular changes in self‐reports of participation in organized sports clubs and leisure‐time vigorous physical activity (LVPA), and whether the relationship between participation in organized…

LIITU 2022 : korona-ajan vaikutukset näkyvät lasten ja nuorten liikkumisessa

2023

Koronapandemian aikana syntynyttä liikkumisvajetta ei ole vielä kokonaan kuitattu. Huomiota kiinnittää erityisesti tyttöjen liikkumisen nopea väheneminen ikävuosien karttuessa. nonPeerReviewed

How do sports clubs contribute to health? From theory to interventions

2022

The symposium presents last findings on health promotion interventions in sports clubs. After a short introduction about the health promoting sports clubs (HPSC), five presentations (France, Sweden, Ireland, Finland and Netherlands) will reflect upon how sports clubs can be health promoting: in theory, from youth perspectives, by increasing physical activity level as outcome or enhancing sustainability of interventions, before opening the discussion with academic experts. Presentation 1 describes an iterative international process, implicating three groups (French sport students, French and Swedish experts) to create an intervention theory, based on the HPSC model. Presentation 2 focuses on…

Aktiivinen ja hyvinvoiva korkeakoulu -kyselyn tuloksia keväältä 2022

2022

Liikkuva opiskelu -ohjelman myötä myös korkeakouluopiskelijoiden opiskelupäivän aikaiseen liikkumiseen ja paikallaanoloon on alettu kiinnittämään enemmän huomiota. Opiskelupäivien ja oppituntien aktivointi nähdään tarpeellisena, sillä vain puolet opiskelijoista liikkuu liikkumissuosituksiin nähden tarpeeksi. Myös istumista kertyy korkeakouluopiskelijoille lähes 11 tuntia päivittäin, ja iso osa tästä määrästä kertyy nimenomaan opiskelupäivän aikana. Istumisen vähentäminen ja opiskelupäivien aktivoiminen on perusteltua terveydellisistä syistä, mutta tauottamalla istumista tai aktivoimalla opetusta voidaan vaikuttaa myönteisesti myös opiskelijoiden jaksamiseen sekä opiskelukykyyn. Näihin teemo…

Health promoting sports club : youth sports clubs' health promotion profiles, guidance, and associated coaching practice, in Finland

2010

Joukkuelajeja harrastavien nuorten urheilupolut

2015

Lasten ja nuorten tavoitteellinen valmennus alkoi urheiluseuroissa 1970-luvulla (Itkonen 2003, 340). Urheiluseuratoiminnan suosio on ollut näihin päiviin asti kasvava. Suosituimpia urheilulajeja ovat joukkuepalloilulajit. (Kansallinen liikuntatutkimus 2009–2010, 16.) Urheilun ja liikunnan parissa muodostuu myös jokaiselle harrastajalle oma harrastushistoriansa, jossa on sekä yksilöllisiä että yhteisiä piirteitä. Urheileminen ja liikunnan harrastaminen muodostavatkin elämänkulkuun oman, kyseiseen elämänalueeseen rajatuvan polun. Tätä voidaan kutsua urheilupoluksi. (Aarresola 2015) Tässä artikkelissa pureudumme joukkueurheilulajeja harrastavien nuorten urheilupolkuihin. Aineistona käytämme se…

Device-based physical activity levels among Finnish adolescents with functional limitations

2019

Background Monitoring physical activity among young adolescents with disabilities is a top academic priority. People with disabilities are a diverse group with various abilities in different human functioning. Therefore, we used a novel approach through functional limitations as a marker for disabilities and examined physical activity levels. Objective To investigate the levels and differences in light (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA) intensity physical activity between young adolescents with and without functional limitations. Methods The study included young adolescents (n = 1436) aged 11–15 years olds who attended general schools that were part of the 2016 Finnish School-aged Physic…

Menestyksen Avaimet - selvitys ja arviointi : alkukartoitus syksy 2013

2014

The effectiveness of the HIPPA intervention in the sociocultural environment of ECEC physical activity

2023

Studies have shown that, on average, children’s physical activity (PA) levels in early childhood education and care (ECEC) environments are low, thus opening up the possibility of interventions. We examined the effect of the teacher-implemented one-year long ‘home-and-childcare-based intervention to promote physical activity’ (HIPPA) study on children’s PA in ECEC settings in Finland. Participating four-year-old children (N = 128) were cluster-randomised into two groups, intervention (seven childcare centres) and control (seven childcare centres), in autumn 2011. The children were observed directly during their ECEC times. Multilevel linear analysis was used to test the PA differences betwe…

Resting electrocardiogram and blood pressure in young athletes and nonathletes : A 4-year follow-up

2022

A follow-up data on electrocardiogram (ECG) and blood pressure (BP) changes in adolescent athletes are scarce. We compared ECG and BP between adolescent athletes and non-athletes in a 4-year follow-up. A total of 154 youth sports clubs (SC) in Finland and 100 secondary schools for comparison data participated in this observational follow-up study. Those who maintained or adopted SC participation are referred to as “Always athletes” (n=137), those who never participated in SC as “Never athletes” (n=108) and those who dropped out of SC during the follow-up as “Changers” (n=116). The mean age of the participants was 15.5 (0.6) years in all study groups at baseline. Resting ECG including heart …

Menestyksen Avaimet -hanke nuorten terveyden edistäjänä : loppuraportti syksy 2016

2016

LIITU 2018 -tutkimus : liikunnan merkitysten kirjo on kaventunut

2019

Hieman reilu kolmasosa suomalaislapsista ja -nuorista liikkui suosituksen mukaan – toimintarajoitteita kokevista joka neljäs. Lasten ja nuorten liikunnalle antamien merkitysten kirjo oli kaventunut ja esteet vahvistuneet, vaikka koettu pätevyys ja liikuntamotivaatio olivat korkealla. Suurin osa lapsista ja nuorista kannatti urheilun eettisten sääntöjen noudattamista. Säännöllinen liikkuminen oli myönteisesti yhteydessä koettuun terveyteen. Säännöllisesti liikkuvilla oli myös vähemmän yksinäisyyden kokemuksia. nonPeerReviewed