Journal of prevention (2022)最新文献

Peer bullying in youth sports presents significant challenges to athletes' psychological well-being and overall performance. Addressing this issue requires a systematic understanding of how coaches implement strategies to prevent bullying and create a positive team culture. This study employs Q methodology, integrating both qualitative and quantitative analyses to explore coaches' perspectives on bullying prevention. Data were collected from 30 coaches working with athletes aged 6-14 using snowball sampling. Principal component analysis and Z-score calculations were applied to identify key viewpoints, while qualitative interviews provided additional depth to the findings. The analysis revealed five key themes in bullying prevention strategies: education and awareness, disciplinary measures, team cohesion, leadership development, and active monitoring with positive reinforcement. Coaches emphasize training programs to instill respect, sportsmanship, and sensitivity, while implementing behavioral boundaries to reinforce team norms. Parental involvement and fostering positive peer relationships contribute to team cohesion, whereas empowering athletes as leaders strengthens accountability. Finally, rewarding constructive behavior through active monitoring helps mitigate bullying incidents. This study provides valuable insights into how coaches address peer bullying in youth sports. By identifying and categorizing diverse intervention strategies, it contributes to broader discussions on athlete protection and well-being. Future research should evaluate the long-term effectiveness of these approaches across various age groups, genders, and sports disciplines to establish comprehensive anti-bullying frameworks.

Physical activity and social support are recognized as contributing to preventing depression. Community-based group exercises are activities that combines both functions. Fewer studies have examined the association between community-based group exercises and the depression severity of middle-aged and older adults. In this study, we were trying to estimate such correlation and explore the potential mechanisms. Data from the China Longitudinal Study of Health and Retirement was analyzed (N = 17,481). Participation in community-based group exercises and depression severity were self-reported by the surveyed middle-aged and older adults. The ordered probit model was used to analyze the association between participation in community-based group exercises and depression severity. Compared with middle-aged and older adults who did not participate in community-based group exercises, those who engaged in such activities exhibited improved depression severity in the current year (coefficient = 0.229, p < 0.01) and two years later (coefficient = 0.199, p < 0.01). The relationship was more pronounced among women. Improved physical fitness and more frequent visits to neighbors and relatives for social support are potential mechanisms. In addition to medical interventions, social support and physical fitness are effective strategies for depression prevention. Policymakers could enhance the mental health of middle-aged and older adults, particularly among women, by encouraging participation in community-based group exercises. This is particularly important in rapidly ageing societies.

This article reports on the effectiveness of the drug use prevention program Mantente REAL (MREAL) with elementary school students in Uruguay. MREAL is the Spanish language version of Original Program, an internationally validated program recognized as an efficacious universal intervention for youth drug use prevention. In partnership with selected elementary schools, a binational team of investigators implemented and evaluated a linguistically and culturally adapted version of MREAL in Montevideo, Uruguay. The sample included 223 sixth-grade students from six public schools located in low-income neighborhoods. The students' regular classroom teachers implemented the intervention after receiving a two-day training. Schools were randomly assigned into experimental and control conditions and all consented students, regardless of condition, completed a pre- and post-test survey. Compared to control school students, those receiving MREAL reported significant desired effects for cigarette use, marijuana/hard drug use, drug use personal norms, and drug offers from peers. Findings indicated that MREAL is a promising program for preventing drug use in Uruguay elementary schools with similar socioeconomic characteristics. The article concludes with a set of policy, practice and future research implications and recommendations for the further advancement of evidence-based universal prevention in Uruguay.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the motivational climate and older adults' basic psychological needs (BPNs), subjective wellbeing, and exercise commitment in group fitness classes. Members of fitness centers offering older adult programming (N = 284) completed a survey about their group fitness experiences. A caring, task-involving climate was positively (and an ego-involving climate negatively) associated with BPNs, wellbeing, and commitment. Wellbeing and commitment were positively correlated, and both were predicted by BPNs. The structural equation model indicated that BPNs mediated the relationship between a caring, task-involving climate and wellbeing/commitment. The motivational climate may improve older adults' exercise experiences as exercise leaders who foster a caring, task-involving climate have opportunity to enhance wellbeing and commitment, promoting healthy aging. These results align with the idea that physical activity supports overall wellbeing in later years. Fitness programs tailored to the unique needs of older adults can support resilient, health-focused communities, ensuring opportunities for physical activity across generations.

Health anxiety (HA) is a growing concern among medical students due to their continuous exposure to illness-related content, academic stress, and self-monitoring tendencies. While some studies suggest an association between HA and health-related behaviors, findings remain inconclusive, especially particularly among Chinese medical students. This study aimed to examine the relationship between HA and health-related behaviors. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 2,283 Chinese medical students. Participants completed standardized self-report measures assessing demographic characteristics, HA (via the Chinese Short Health Anxiety Inventory, CSHAI), body mass index (BMI), smoking status, dietary patterns, and physical activity levels (via the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, IPAQ-SF). Group differences were examined using independent-samples t-tests and chi-square tests. Multiple linear regression was performed to identify factors associated with HA. Approximately one-third of the students reported clinically HA. Among participants, 46.3% were classified as physically inactive and 40.3% were overweight or obese. Additionally, 9.55% were current smokers, and 36.4% reported an unhealthy diet pattern. No significant differences were observed between students with and without HA in terms of BMI, smoking status, or dietary habits (p > 0.05). However, weekly physical activity level was significantly lower among students with HA compared to those without HA (p < 0.001). In regression analysis, physical activity was negatively associated with HA (p < 0.001), indicating that higher levels of physical activity were related to lower HA scores (β= - 0.343). Lower physical activity was associated with higher HA, suggesting that promoting physical activity may be a relevant in efforts to reduce HA among medical students.

Emergency situations range from everyday traffic accidents to incidents of mass gun violence and require individuals to be prepared and willing to act in times of crisis. To encourage people to help one another during such emergencies, the American College of Surgeons developed the Stop the Bleed (STB), a public health program based on the premise that bystanders who are properly trained to treat a victim's bleed injuries have greater chance of preventing hemorrhagic death rather than waiting for first responders to arrive. This study examined the uptake of STB among 117 urban university students located in the Midwestern United States who often feel the pressures of public safety as participants in surrounding city life. Guided by protection motivation theory (PMT), we explored how students' fear of potential mass casualty incidents, threat appraisals, and efficacy appraisals related to their bleed control knowledge acquisition immediately after completing STB training, as well as retention 12 weeks after the training concluded. Results indicated that participation in STB raised students' fears of mass casualty events and self-efficacy. Both factors significantly correlated with bleed control learning outcomes assessed immediately after the STB class; however, they did not predict later retention. We discuss our study's contributions to fear appeals research and PMT theory, before offering recommendations for future hemorrhage control programs, public safety, and prevention research.

Persons with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM, ~ 38.1 million Americans) are at risk of poor health, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) if their disease is poorly controlled. T2DM control requires disease self-management through adequate physical activity and optimum diet. We evaluated the physical activity and diet patterns of the US T2DM population against the American Diabetes Association and clinical practice guideline norms, and their associations with health outcomes. Using a cross-sectional, observational study design, we studied the US T2DM population's physical activity and fruit/vegetable intake (independent variables), and their associations with three health outcomes, self-rated health (from the SF-36 question on experienced health status, categorized as excellent/very good/good vs. fair/poor), CVD-free status, and CKD-free status. We used pooled data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Surveys (2015, 2017 and 2019) on adults aged 30-75 years with T2DM (defined as diabetes mellitus diagnosed after age 30). Physical activity categories were inactive, insufficiently active, sufficiently active, highly active, and fruit/vegetable intake categories, ≤ 2, 3-4, and ≥ 5 daily servings. We used hierarchical logistic regression, adjusting for demographic variables (age, sex, race), and potentially confounding factors, diabetes severity (disease duration, insulin use), chronic comorbidity, overweight/obese, smoking, alcohol overuse, having a regular healthcare provider, and having health insurance. Missing data were coded as a separate category. We conducted a subgroup analysis of those with ≥ 10 years of disease duration. Among 119,298 respondents with T2DM (52.1% female, mean age 62.1 years, 94% insured), 36.9% were physically inactive and 16.2% insufficiently active, 52.6% consumed ≤ 2 daily servings of fruit/vegetables, 57% reported excellent-good health, 24.7% had CVD, and 9.7% had CKD. Physical activity showed a dose-dependent association with self-rated health (reference group, physically inactive; adjusted OR for insufficiently active 1.77 (95%CI 1.71-1.83), sufficiently active, 2.33 (2.24-2.43), highly active, 2.63 (2.54-2.72)), as did fruit/vegetable intake [reference group ≤ 2 daily servings; OR for 3-4 servings, 1.12 (1.09-1.16), and ≥ 5 servings, 1.13 (1.08-1.17)]. Physical activity was associated with being CKD-free (ORs, 1.29 (1.22-1.37), 1.50 (1.40-1.60), 1.52 (1.44-1.60, respectively), and being CVD-free (1.31 (1.25-1.37), 1.34 (1.28-1.41, and 1.37(1.31-1.42), respectively). Fruit/vegetable intake was not associated with CVD. CKD outcome was not studied due to dietary restrictions of CKD patients. Subgroup analyses (53,925 respondents) showed similar results. Over a third of the US T2DM population and the subgroup with long-term T2DM were physically inactive, a sixth were insufficiently active, and over half had negligible fruit/vegetable intake. On the positive side, even limited physica

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, prevention efforts have traditionally relied on methods not informed by scientific evidence, limiting their effectiveness. This practitioner narrative explores the implementation of the European Prevention Curriculum (EUPC) in Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of a Special Issue on EUPC implementation practice and lessons learnt, examining the first outcomes of the training on decision, opinion, and policy makers (DOPs) and its role in fostering the adoption of evidence-based prevention strategies. Since 2022, ten EUPC training courses have been conducted in nine cities, engaging 178 key stakeholders from various sectors. The training aims to enhance participants' knowledge of science-based prevention principles and equip them with tools for informed decision-making in policy development and program implementation. To assess the outcome of EUPC training, we analyzed changes in policy discussions, strategic planning, and funding allocation for prevention programs. Key indicators include the proposal for the first national Prevention Strategy and the revision of public funding criteria to prioritize evidence-based initiatives. These findings demonstrate the training's role in shaping a more structured and effective prevention landscape. By systematically strengthening the capacity of key stakeholders, EUPC training serves as a catalyst for embedding science-based prevention within national frameworks. This paper highlights its potential to drive a paradigm shift toward sustainable, evidence-informed public health policies.

The European Prevention Curriculum (EUPC) is a European initiative to promote professional and quality-assured substance use prevention. In Austria, the EUPC is trialled via a three-year pilot project to explore its appropriateness and long-term feasibility. We report on the first two years of EUPC project implementation as part of a Special Issue on EUPC implementation practice and lessons learnt. As of January 2025, four national trainers had delivered a total of four trainings (three in-person, one online), reaching over 70 professionals in Austria and six from neighbouring countries. EUPC training was offered free of charge, and a three-day format appeared to work best for the basic module. Participants recommended EUPC for continuation beyond the pilot phase, citing not only its potential to promote professionalisation, quality assurance and evidence-based work but also to facilitate exchanges of perspectives, networking and a common prevention language among different professionals. Existing prevention infrastructures were used to create a suitable system for project coordination and dissemination of EUPC. The pilot is jointly undertaken by two major stakeholders representing different contexts: the national public health institute and the national association of provincial addiction prevention units. Creating a shared vision for the project and securing necessary funding was initially challenging but was achieved through relationship-building, a shared commitment to 'quality in prevention' and a focus on the potential benefits of offering EUPC. These aspects also helped to successfully navigate the balance between a flexible approach to EUPC at the European level and the practical need for a structured approach in Austria. Our insights from a formative evaluation, routine data collection and team discussions can support further development of EUPC at the European level and in other countries.