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Population Perspectives on Nurturing Relational Health from Early Life: A Systematic Review Series

This paper provides the conceptual framework for a new review series that bring together the global literature on population approaches to nurturing relational health across the first three years of life. Early relational health is defined as ‘the everyday interactions that happen between children and their carers across the many settings in which they live and grow.

A guide to evaluating playground interventions

Playgrounds are essential for children's physical, mental, and social development, yet there is a lack of high-quality evaluations of playground interventions in public spaces.

Exercise enjoyment and depressive symptoms for university students in a mental health service: An intensive repeated measures study

We explored how university students’ mental and physical health changed during a 12-week on-campus exercise program. When students enjoyed exercise more than usual or more than others, they reported better mental and physical health. These findings highlight the importance of prioritising enjoyment of exercise when designing exercise programs for student wellbeing. 

Exercise as a novel treatment to improve engagement with mental health services in youth with clinical mental illness: Review and recommendations

The declining mental health of youth in late adolescence and early adulthood represents a serious public health concern, resulting in substantial symptom burden, mortality, and societal cost. Despite this, youth with clinical mental illnesses show poor engagement with mental health services. 

The impact of a dog-facilitated mobile physical activity intervention on children’s social–emotional development: a randomized controlled trial

Dog ownership has been suggested to be positively associated with children's physical, social, and emotional development. This study investigated the effect of a mobile health dog-facilitated physical activity intervention on young children's social-emotional development and attachment to the family dog.

Playful Bytes

Nurturing children's health together: A collaboration between early childhood education and care (ECEC) educators and parents on active play and eating well

Pooled Analysis of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Sleep among Children from 33 Countries

The prevalence estimates of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep (collectively known as movement behaviors) in 3- and 4-year-old children worldwide remains uncertain.

Testing campaign slogans designed to motivate older people to be more physically active

Being physically active is critical for healthy ageing, yet many older people do not meet physical activity guidelines. The aim of this study was to test the relative effectiveness of five previously identified campaign slogans designed to encourage older people to be more physically active: 'Be active 30-60 minutes a day to stay fit and well'; 'Move more, live longer'; 'Stay fit to stay functional'; 'This is your time - enjoy being strong and active'; and 'Use it or lose it'.

Dimensions of the diet-exercise relationship in later life: A qualitative study

Diet and physical activity are two lifestyle behaviours that are critical for healthy ageing. The aim of this study was to explore how older adults negotiate dietary and physical activity decisions to identify areas of intersection between these two behaviours and inform health promotion interventions targeting both diet and exercise.

The Stride program: Feasibility and pre-to-post program change of an exercise service for university students experiencing mental distress

Rates of mental illness are disproportionately high for young adult and higher education (e.g., university student) populations. As such, universities and tertiary institutions often devote significant efforts to services and programs that support and treat mental illness and/or mental distress. However, within that portfolio of treatment approaches, structured exercise has been relatively underutilised and greater research attention is needed to develop this evidence base.