Prevalence and behavioural risk factors of light or moderate and heavy cigarette smoking in 32 countries

The aim of this study was to predict the prevalence of light or moderate and heavy smoking from lifestyle behavioural risk factors among South African adults compared to others from 31 countries around the world. Secondary data from 53 391 adults who completed the International Social Survey Program (ISSP), 2011–2013, Health and Health Care Module were accessed for this study (South Africans, N = 3 004). Findings from multinomial logistic regression with adjustment for personal factors (e.g. physical and psychological well-being variables) were used to explain a significant proportion of both light or moderate smoking and heavy smoking among South African adults as well as adults from the other countries. Specifically, lifestyle factors of being underweight and overweight or obese were negatively associated with light or moderate smoking, but body mass index (BMI) weight status was not associated with heavy smoking. Smoking interventions should target modifiable lifestyle factors to prevent risk for light or moderate smoking and heavy smoking.     

马斯洛人本主义心理学与中国道家思想

中国道家思想的中心价值是“自然”,“无为”是其这一价值追求的方法论的必然选择。马斯洛人本心理学在价值取向和方法运用上都与中国道家思想有一定的相通之处,该文对两者间的关联试作了列举分析,并考察了这两者的相关研究对于未来的意义。     

Change it Up: Inactivity and Repetitive Activity Reduce Creative Thinking

Across three experiments, we show that a change in the levels of physical activity increases creative thinking, whereas inactivity or repetitive activity lowers it. Participants walking forward were more creative the first few minutes of initiating physical activity than those sitting, or those merely watching changing scenery, and these effects dissipated when they continued the forward movement over time (within 8 minutes). Furthermore, merely anticipating a change in physical activity, for example, when participants were aware a task is coming to its conclusion, also increased creative thinking. We hypothesize that a change in physical activity cues the need to navigate new situations, and thus, can increase mental flexibility and creative thinking to deal with new circumstances. But once people habituate to their physical state, either of being at rest or being in motion, their level of creative thinking also returns to baseline levels. We confirm that mood, feelings of achievement, and energy are not responsible for the observed effects.     

Unpacking the debate: A qualitative investigation of first-time experiences with interval exercise

ObjectiveThere has been compelling debate about whether interval exercise should be promoted in public health strategies as a means of eliciting the health and fitness adaptations associated with physical activity behavior, particularly among individuals who are inactive. Despite a rapidly growing body of quantitative research, there is a notable absence of qualitative research on the topic. This study used a series of interviews conducted over time to develop a richer understanding of inactive adults’ experiences and perceptions of moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and sprint interval training (SIT) over time and factors that may influence their participation in these types of exercise.MethodsThirty inactive young adults (18 women, 12 men) completed three lab-based trials of cycling exercise in a random order on separate days: MICT, HIIT, and SIT, and subsequently logged their free-living exercise over four weeks. Interviews were conducted at five timepoints and subjected to a reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsThree overarching themes were constructed: (1) interval exercise sounds appealing, but is it for me? (2) exercise trade-offs – the value of interval vs. traditional exercise, and (3) real-world exercise adaptations to make it on your own.ConclusionsThe findings emphasize that people respond differently to different forms of exercise and the factors that influence participation in interval or continuous exercise are far more complex than can be captured by quantitative methodologies alone. Results suggest there is indeed a place for interval exercise in exercise plans and programs for the general population and interval exercise can be used concurrently with continuous exercise.