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1. Mixed methods assessment of personal heat exposure, sleep, physical activity, and heat adaptation strategies among urban residents in the Boston area, MA

   https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14692-7  

   Milando, Chad W.; Black-Ingersoll, Flannery; Heidari, Leila; López-Hernández, Ibrahim; de Lange, Julie; Negassa, Abgel; McIntyre, Alina M.; Martinez, M. Pilar; Bongiovanni, Roseann; Levy, Jonathan I.; et al (December 2022, BMC Public Health)

   Abstract The growing frequency, intensity, and duration of extreme heat events necessitates interventions to reduce heat exposures. Local opportunities for heat adaptation may be optimally identified through collection of both quantitative exposure metrics and qualitative data on perceptions of heat. In this study, we used mixed methods to characterize heat exposure among urban residents in the area of Boston, Massachusetts, US, in summer 2020. Repeated interviews ofN = 24 study participants ascertained heat vulnerability and adaptation strategies. Participants also used low-cost sensors to collect temperature, location, sleep, and physical activity data. We saw significant differences across temperature metrics: median personal temperature exposures were 3.9 °C higher than median ambient weather station temperatures. Existing air conditioning (AC) units did not adequately control indoor temperatures to desired thermostat levels: even with AC use, indoor maximum temperatures increased by 0.24 °C per °C of maximum outdoor temperature. Sleep duration was not associated with indoor or outdoor temperature. On warmer days, we observed a range of changes in time-at-home, expected given our small study size. Interview results further indicated opportunities for heat adaptation interventions including AC upgrades, hydration education campaigns, and amelioration of energy costs during high heat periods. Our mixed methods design informs heat adaptation interventions tailored to the challenges faced by residents in the study area. The strength of our community-academic partnership was a large part of the success of the mixed methods approach. 

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2. Seasons, weather, and device-measured movement behaviors: a scoping review from 2006 to 2020

   https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-021-01091-1  

   Turrisi, Taylor B.; Bittel, Kelsey M.; West, Ashley B.; Hojjatinia, Sarah; Hojjatinia, Sahar; Mama, Scherezade K.; Lagoa, Constantino M.; Conroy, David E. (December 2021, International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity)

   null (Ed.)

   Abstract Background This scoping review summarized research on (a) seasonal differences in physical activity and sedentary behavior, and (b) specific weather indices associated with those behaviors. Methods PubMed, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus were searched to identify relevant studies. After identifying and screening 1459 articles, data were extracted from 110 articles with 118,189 participants from 30 countries (almost exclusively high-income countries) on five continents. Results Both physical activity volume and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were greater in summer than winter. Sedentary behavior was greater in winter than either spring or summer, and insufficient evidence existed to draw conclusions about seasonal differences in light physical activity. Physical activity volume and MVPA duration were positively associated with both the photoperiod and temperature, and negatively associated with precipitation. Sedentary behavior was negatively associated with photoperiod and positively associated with precipitation. Insufficient evidence existed to draw conclusions about light physical activity and specific weather indices. Many weather indices have been neglected in this literature (e.g., air quality, barometric pressure, cloud coverage, humidity, snow, visibility, windchill). Conclusions The natural environment can influence health by facilitating or inhibiting physical activity. Behavioral interventions should be sensitive to potential weather impacts. Extreme weather conditions brought about by climate change may compromise health-enhancing physical activity in the short term and, over longer periods of time, stimulate human migration in search of more suitable environmental niches. 

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3. Within-Person Temporal Associations Among Self-Reported Physical Activity, Sleep, and Well-Being in College Students

   https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000001159  

   McGowan, Amanda L.; Boyd, Zachary M.; Kang, Yoona; Bennett, Logan; Mucha, Peter J.; Ochsner, Kevin N.; Bassett, Dani S.; Falk, Emily B.; Lydon-Staley, David M. (January 2023, Psychosomatic Medicine)

   ABSTRACT ObjectiveA holistic understanding of the naturalistic dynamics among physical activity, sleep, emotions, and purpose in life as part of a system reflecting wellness is key to promoting well-being. The main aim of this study was to examine the day-to-day dynamics within this wellness system. MethodsUsing self-reported emotions (happiness, sadness, anger, anxiousness) and physical activity periods collected twice per day, and daily reports of sleep and purpose in life via smartphone experience sampling, more than 28 days as college students (n= 226 young adults; mean [standard deviation] = 20.2 [1.7] years) went about their daily lives, we examined day-to-day temporal and contemporaneous dynamics using multilevel vector autoregressive models that consider the network of wellness together. ResultsNetwork analyses revealed that higher physical activity on a given day predicted an increase of happiness the next day. Higher sleep quality on a given night predicted a decrease in negative emotions the next day, and higher purpose in life predicted decreased negative emotions up to 2 days later. Nodes with the highest centrality were sadness, anxiety, and happiness in the temporal network and purpose in life, anxiety, and anger in the contemporaneous network. ConclusionsAlthough the effects of sleep and physical activity on emotions and purpose in life may be shorter term, a sense of purpose in life is a critical component of wellness that can have slightly longer effects, bleeding into the next few days. High-arousal emotions and purpose in life are central to motivating people into action, which can lead to behavior change. 

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4. Exposure to Ambient Heat and Risk of Spontaneous Abortion: A Case–Crossover Study

   https://doi.org/10.1097/EDE.0000000000001774  

   Wesselink, Amelia K; Gause, Emma L; Spangler, Keith D; Hystad, Perry; Kirwa, Kipruto; Willis, Mary D; Wellenius, Gregory A; Wise, Lauren A (November 2024, Epidemiology)

   Background:Few epidemiologic studies have examined the association of ambient heat with spontaneous abortion, a common and devastating pregnancy outcome. Methods:We conducted a case–crossover study nested within Pregnancy Study Online, a preconception cohort study (2013–2022). We included all participants reporting spontaneous abortion (N = 1,524). We defined the case window as the 7 days preceding the event and used time-stratified referent selection to select control windows matched on calendar month and day of week. Within each 7-day case and control window, we measured the mean, maximum, and minimum of daily maximum outdoor air temperatures. We fit splines to examine nonlinear relationships across the entire year and conditional logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of spontaneous abortion with increases in temperature during the warm season (May–September) and decreases during the cool season (November–March). Results:We found evidence of a U-shaped association between outdoor air temperature and spontaneous abortion risk based on year-round data. When restricting to warm season events (n = 657), the OR for a 10-percentile increase in the mean of lag 0–6 daily maximum temperatures was 1.1 (95% CI: 0.96, 1.2) and, for the maximum, 1.1 (95% CI: 0.99, 1.2). The OR associated with any extreme heat days (>95th county-specific percentile) in the preceding week was 1.2 (95% CI: 0.95, 1.5). Among cool season events (n = 615), there was no appreciable association between lower temperatures and spontaneous abortion risk. Conclusion:Our study provides evidence of an association between high outdoor temperatures and the incidence of spontaneous abortion. 

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5. Active Moms: a feasibility study of a community-based and home-based physical activity intervention for low-income, ethnic-minority mothers

   https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-023-01378-z  

   Arevalo, Wendy Miranda; Caicedo, Brianna Isabel; Urizar, Guido G; Schroeder, Jan (December 2023, Pilot and Feasibility Studies)

   Abstract BackgroundDespite the health benefits of physical activity, increasing regular physical activity levels among low-income, ethnic-minority mothers has remained a significant challenge. Yet, few studies have examined the feasibility of implementing interventions to address physical activity barriers often experienced by this population. MethodsThe current mixed-methods pilot study assessed the feasibility, impact, and acceptability of a 3-month community-based (CBI) and a home-based intervention (HBI) designed to improve physical activity and fitness levels, as well as psychosocial outcomes (self-efficacy and social support), among low-income, ethnic minority mothers. Mothers were randomized to either a 3-month CBI or HBI and completed pre- and post-intervention assessments of physical activity, fitness, self-efficacy, and social support. Intervention feasibility was assessed by tracking recruitment, retention, and adverse event rates, whereas intervention acceptability was assessed through post-intervention focus groups. ResultsAlthough participant recruitment was lower than expected (30 vs. target of 52 mothers), retention and adverse event feasibility goals were met (> 60% retention rate, 0% adverse events). Mothers in both groups (CBI and HBI) showed significant improvements in their physical activity and fitness levels and short-term improvements in receiving social support for physical activity. However, only mothers in the CBI group showed improvements in their self-efficacy for physical activity. Mothers also reported both types of interventions (CBI and HBI) to be acceptable with minor modifications highlighted, including the potential for graduates of these programs to serve as group facilitators. ConclusionsOverall, the study protocol was feasible, impactful, and acceptable to low-income, ethnic minority mothers with modifications required before large-scale evaluation. (TRN: NCT05540509; 9/12/22; retrospectively registered; ClinicalTrials.org). 

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