ORCID Profile
0000-0003-4500-7364
Current Organisation
Deakin University
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Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 23-10-2019
DOI: 10.1186/S12889-019-7717-X
Abstract: Emerging evidence shows sedentary behaviour may be associated with mental health outcomes. Yet, the strength of the evidence linking sedentary behaviour and stress is still unclear. This study aimed to synthesise evidence regarding associations between time spent in sedentary behaviour and stress in adults. A systematic search was conducted (January 1990 – September 2019). Following PRISMA guidelines, an evaluation of methodological quality, and best-evidence synthesis of associations between time in sedentary behaviour (including sitting time, TV viewing, computer use) and stress were presented. Twenty-six studies reporting on data from n = 72,795 people (age 18-98y, 62.7% women) were included. Across the studies ( n = 2 strong-, n = 10 moderate- and n = 14 weak-quality), there was insufficient evidence that overall time spent in sedentary behaviour and sitting time were associated with stress, particularly when using self-report measures of sedentary behaviour or stress. There was strong evidence of no association between TV viewing, or computer use and stress. Amongst studies using objective measures of sedentary behaviour and/or stress there was also strong evidence of no association. Although previous research suggested sedentary behaviour may be linked to mental health outcomes such as depression and anxiety, the evidence for an association between various types of sedentary behaviour and stress is limited in quality, and associations are either inconsistent or null. High-quality longitudinal/interventional research is required to confirm findings and determine the direction of associations between different contexts (i.e. purpose) and domains (i.e. leisure, occupational, transport) of sedentary behaviour and stress.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 05-11-2012
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-03-2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.APPET.2014.03.023
Abstract: Adequate vegetable and fruit consumption is necessary for preventing nutrition-related diseases. Socio-economically disadvantaged adolescents tend to consume relatively few vegetables and fruits. However, despite nutritional challenges associated with socio-economic disadvantage, a minority of adolescents manage to eat vegetables and fruit in quantities that are more in line with dietary recommendations. This investigation aimed to identify predictors of more frequent intakes of fruits and vegetables among adolescents over a 2-year follow-up period. Data were drawn from 521 socio-economically disadvantaged (maternal education ≤Year 10 of secondary school) Australian adolescents aged 12-15 years. Participants were recruited from 37 secondary schools and were asked to complete online surveys in 2004/2005 (baseline) and 2006/2007 (follow-up). Surveys comprised a 38-item FFQ and questions based on Social Ecological models examining intrapersonal, social and environmental influences on diet. At baseline and follow-up, respectively, 29% and 24% of adolescents frequently consumed vegetables (≥2 times/day) 33% and 36% frequently consumed fruit (≥1 time/day). In multivariable logistic regressions, baseline consumption strongly predicted consumption at follow-up. Frequently being served vegetables at dinner predicted frequent vegetable consumption. Female sex, rarely purchasing food or drink from school vending machines, and usually being expected to eat all foods served predicted frequent fruit consumption. Findings suggest nutrition promotion initiatives aimed at improving eating behaviours among this at-risk population and should focus on younger adolescents, particularly boys improving adolescent eating behaviours at school and encouraging families to increase home availability of healthy foods and to implement meal time rules.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-06-2011
Abstract: Despite increased risk for unhealthy diets, some socioeconomically disadvantaged adolescents manage to consume a healthy diet, thereby showing 'dietary resilience'. This investigation aimed to describe the vegetable and fruit intakes of socioeconomically disadvantaged adolescents, and explore the intrapersonal, social and environmental factors associated with more favourable dietary intakes among socioeconomically disadvantaged adolescents. The present investigation draws on data from 1014 socioeconomically disadvantaged adolescents (55% girls), a sub-s le of 3264 adolescents aged 12-15 years recruited from 37 secondary schools in Victoria, Australia. The adolescents completed an online survey in 2004-2005 comprising an FFQ and questions pertaining to intrapersonal, social and environmental factors informed by the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). Frequent vegetable and fruit intake was defined as 2 times per day and 1 time per day, respectively. Approximately one-third of socioeconomically disadvantaged adolescents frequently consumed vegetables and fruit (boys, 29% and 27% respectively girls, 29% and 36% respectively). Greater perceived importance of health, and frequently being served vegetables with dinner, were associated with frequent intakes. Friends' support for healthy eating was associated with boys' frequent vegetable intake. Less stringent adherence to family meal-time rules was associated with frequent intakes however, the opposite was observed when girls were expected to eat all foods served. Nutrition promotion messages targeting socioeconomically disadvantaged adolescents could focus on fostering appreciation for health and providing families with strategies to increase meal-time vegetable availability. Friends could be encouraged to support healthy eating among boys. Family meal-time rules warrant further investigation.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-04-2017
DOI: 10.1111/OBR.12533
Abstract: Physical inactivity and overweight and obesity are more prevalent among rural than urban populations. This study aimed to review published evidence of the effectiveness of interventions to increase physical activity (PA) and/or decrease sedentary behaviour (SB) among rural adults and to identify factors associated with effectiveness. Seven electronic databases were searched for controlled trials of a PA or SB intervention. Meta-analysis was conducted using random effects models and meta-regression. Thirteen studies were included in the qualitative synthesis (n = 4,848 participants) and 12 in the meta-analysis (n = 4,820). All studies were interventions to increase PA. Overall, there was no effect on PA (standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.11 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.04, 0.25) or SB (SMD 0.07 95% CI -0.33, 0.20). In PA subgroup analyses, studies employing objective outcome measures demonstrated effects in favour of the intervention (SMD 0.65, 95% CI 0.30, 1.00), while those using self-reported measures did not (SMD 0.00 95% CI -0.11, 0.10). This review highlights significant gaps in our understanding of how best to promote PA and reduce SB among rural adults. Future studies should use objective measures of PA as study outcomes. The absence of interventions to decrease SB is of concern, with immediate action required to address this large knowledge gap.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 19-05-2015
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-10-2020
DOI: 10.1002/HPJA.298
Abstract: Enhancing food skills and nutrition knowledge may help promote healthy eating among people who are food insecure. FoodMate For evaluation purposes, SecondBite Major qualitative themes included program enjoyment perceived positive long-term program impact on participants' eating and related attitudes and skills barriers to cooking suggested program modifications and impact on others. In descriptive quantitative analyses, participants' diet confidence to cook using basic ingredients, follow simple recipes and try new foods cooking and food-related skills social engagement and life satisfaction all improved between T1 and T3. Overall, FoodMate
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 23-02-2015
DOI: 10.1017/S1368980015000324
Abstract: Sufficient dairy food consumption during adolescence is necessary for preventing disease. While socio-economically disadvantaged adolescents tend to consume few dairy foods, some eat quantities more in line with dietary recommendations despite socio-economic challenges. Socio-economic variations in factors supportive of adolescents’ frequent dairy consumption remain unexplored. The present study aimed to identify cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between intrapersonal, social and environmental factors and adolescents’ frequent dairy consumption at baseline and two years later across socio-economic strata, and to examine whether socio-economic position moderated observed effects. Online surveys completed at baseline (2004–2005) and follow-up (2006–2007) included a thirty-eight-item FFQ and questions based on social ecological models examining intrapersonal, social and environmental dietary influences. Thirty-seven secondary schools in Victoria, Australia. Australian adolescents ( n 1201) aged 12–15 years, drawn from a sub-s le of 3264 adolescents (response rate=33 %). While frequent breakfast consumption was cross-sectionally associated with frequent dairy consumption among all adolescents, additional associated factors differed by socio-economic position. Baseline dairy consumption longitudinally predicted consumption at follow-up. No further factors predicted frequent consumption among disadvantaged adolescents, while four additional factors were predictive among advantaged adolescents. Socio-economic position moderated two predictors infrequently eating dinner alone and never purchasing from school vending machines predicted frequent consumption among advantaged adolescents. Nutrition promotion initiatives aimed at improving adolescents’ dairy consumption should employ multifactorial approaches informed by social ecological models and address socio-economic differences in influences on eating behaviours e.g. selected intrapersonal factors among all adolescents and social factors (e.g. mealtime rules) among advantaged adolescents.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 17-10-2022
DOI: 10.3390/NU14204340
Abstract: Dietary guidelines should be underpinned by high-quality evidence. Quality assessment methods that reflect traditional evidence hierarchies prioritise evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs). The Hierarchies of Evidence Applied to Lifestyle Medicine (HEALM) approach is an alternative quality assessment method for research questions that for practical and/or ethical reasons, cannot be answered using RCTs. The aim of this study was to investigate how the HEALM approach could be used to assess the strength of evidence on associations between dietary patterns and all-cause mortality (a research question that is difficult to answer using RCTs). Two data sources were used: an existing systematic review of dietary patterns and all-cause mortality that synthesised evidence from observational studies and an overview of reviews that was conducted to summarise relevant evidence from mechanistic and intervention studies. A set of four criteria were developed and used in the application of HEALM. Using different datasets in combination, the strength of evidence was rated as ‘Grade B: moderate/suggestive’ or ‘Grade C: insufficient/inconclusive’. HEALM is a novel approach for integrating and assessing the strength of evidence from mechanistic, intervention, and observational studies. Further research is needed to address the practical challenges that were identified in the application of HEALM.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 11-10-2021
DOI: 10.3390/SU132011207
Abstract: Balancing the adoption of environmentally sustainable food systems in Australian healthcare and aged care settings whilst meeting nutritional requirements has never been more critical. This scoping review aimed to identify: the major authoritative reports/guidelines related to healthy and environmentally sustainable food procurement and foodservice in aged care and healthcare services released by international and Australian governments/organizations and the scope of healthy and environmentally sustainable food procurement and foodservice research and training initiatives in aged care and healthcare services implemented in Australia over the past decade. A systematic search yielded n = 17 authoritative reports/guidelines and n = 20 publications describing Australian research and training initiatives. Implementation of healthy and sustainable food procurement and foodservices were limited by staff knowledge and self-efficacy, and unsupportive management. Further intervention and monitoring of healthy and sustainable food procurement and foodservice practices is needed. Whilst professionals working in and managing these services require upskilling to apply evidence-based approaches, no system-wide training programs are currently available. There is an urgent need to resolve the existing gap between recommendations to adopt environmentally sustainable practices and staff training across these sectors.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2021
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 14-11-2018
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2016
Abstract: Behavioral interventions show potential for promoting increased fruit and vegetable consumption in the general population. However, little is known about their effectiveness or cost-effectiveness among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, who are less likely to consume adequate fruit and vegetables. This study investigated the effects and costs of a behavior change intervention for increasing fruit and vegetable purchasing and consumption among socioeconomically disadvantaged women. ShopSmart 4 Health was a randomized controlled trial involving a 3-mo retrospective baseline data collection phase [time (T) 0], a 6-mo intervention (T1-T2), and a 6-mo no-intervention follow-up (T3). Socioeconomically disadvantaged women who were primary household shoppers in Melbourne, Australia, were randomly assigned to either a behavior change intervention arm (n = 124) or a control arm (n = 124). Supermarket transaction (sales) data and surveys measured the main outcomes: fruit and vegetable purchases and self-reported fruit and vegetable consumption. An analysis of supermarket transaction data showed no significant intervention effects on vegetable or fruit purchasing at T2 or T3. Participants in the behavior change intervention arm reported consumption of significantly more vegetables during the intervention (T2) than did controls, with smaller intervention effects sustained at 6 mo postintervention (T3). Relative to controls, vegetable consumption increased by ∼0.5 serving · participant(-1) · d(-1) from baseline to T2 and remained 0.28 servings/d higher than baseline at T3 among those who received the intervention. There was no intervention effect on reported fruit consumption. The behavior change intervention cost A$3.10 (in Australian dollars) · increased serving of vegetables(-1) · d(-1)CONCLUSIONS: This behavioral intervention increased vegetable consumption among socioeconomically disadvantaged women. However, the lack of observed effects on fruit consumption and on both fruit and vegetable purchasing at intervention stores suggests that further investigation of effective nutrition promotion approaches for this key target group is required. The ShopSmart 4 Health trial was registered at www.isrctn.com as ISRCTN48771770.
No related grants have been discovered for Lena Stephens.