Aspen E. Streetman¹*, Halle N. Brin¹, Emily L. Mailey¹, Katie M. Heinrich¹

¹Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
*Corresponding author; presenter

Purpose: Physical literacy (PL) describes the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge, and understanding to appreciate and assume accountability to engage in lifelong physical activity and exercise. Resistance training (RT) is a form of exercise that involves using resistance or force, typically weights, resistance bands, or body weight, to strengthen and build muscles. Powerbuilding (PB) is a hybrid form of RT that combines powerlifting and bodybuilding movements to increase strength and promote a muscular physique. While RT has been shown to improve PL, the relationship between PB and PL in women is unknown. Therefore, this study aims to understand how PL changes during and after an eight-week PB intervention.

Methods: Fourteen women, age 27.7 ± 9.6, with no RT or PB experience, participated in an eight-week PB intervention and completed a follow-up survey. The intervention met for one hour three times weekly. All intervention workouts were structured similarly, including a standardized warm-up, workout instruction, and PB-based workout. Participants partnered with each other, creating a supportive community. PL was assessed pre- and post-intervention and eight weeks after the intervention concluded (i.e., follow-up) using the PlaySelf PL self-description questionnaire. The 12-item questionnaire was scored according to standard procedures where higher scores corresponded to higher PL: very high = 900-1,200, relatively high = 600-900, relatively low = 300-600, and very low = 0-300. A repeated measures ANOVA was conducted to examine changes in PL. Partial eta-squared (η²p) was used to estimate effect sizes, interpreted as small (0.01), medium (0.06), and large (0.14).

Results: Mean scores for PL at pre- (731.7 ± 184.2), post-intervention (793.6 ± 132.8), and follow-up (803.3 ± 167.1) changed significantly [F(2, 26) = 3.91, p = 0.033]. The intervention elicited a large effect on PL (η²p = 0.23).

Conclusion: PL significantly improved among women who completed an eight-week PB intervention. Interestingly, while PL improved the most from pre- to post-intervention, it continued to improve on average, though not significantly, even after the intervention ended. These results suggest that PL can be improved through PB. Future research should promote RT and PB among women to improve PL.

Purpose: Rapid qualitative analysis has been proposed as a rigorous approach to quickly analyze and translate research findings to real world settings. This project describes the rapid deductive approach used for a study to understand farmer and food access practitioners’ perspectives regarding specialty crop production and distribution and the impact on human health and the environment in the Midwestern United States (US).

Methods: Specialty crop producers (n=11) and practitioners working in local food distribution channels such as food pantries or schools (n=15) from the Midwestern US (including the states of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin) were interviewed. Interview guides and analysis templates were developed using the RE-AIM (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, maintenance) framework. Two researchers independently coded the first two interviews. The research team reconciled and refined coding guidance and the analysis template. Thereafter, interviewers served as primary coders by taking notes in the template, and a second coder captured any missing information by listening to the interview recordings. Saturation was determined using a team-based approach to agree on the point at which no new information was generated across participants.

Results/findings: Diverse crop production largely impacted the environment in that growers adopted and implemented practices which led to increased effectiveness in improving soil health, productivity, and biodiversity. Although farmers reached customers through various distributions channels, long-term maintenance was a concern due to the need for sustainable profits and the physical labor of farming. Food access practitioners’ roles focused on improving health and reaching people experiencing food insecurity or with limited incomes. Food access programs were widely adopted and implemented to address specific issues such as increasing fruit and vegetable intakes, however, evaluation of program effectiveness varied across programs. Additionally, funding was often a barrier to program maintenance.

Conclusions: Rapid qualitative analytical methods may provide timely feedback to inform practice-based settings, next phases of a study, or time-sensitive changes in interventions. Given the urgency to address the food system impacts on the environment and human health in the US and globally, study findings can inform community efforts to support local food systems and better connect farmers and practitioners.

Purpose: This study investigates the relationship between time spent in greenspaces (TSG) and mental health while exploring the mediating role of physical activity (PA) and sleep quality among college students.
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 across five universities. Data was collected through a Qualtrics survey from a random sample of undergraduates at each institution. Questions included a self-assessment of mental health status and frequency and duration of exposure to green spaces. The survey assessed sleep quality with a modified version of the Insomnia Severity Index-3 (ISI-3) and physical activity levels based on the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire. To boost response rates, participants were recruited through email invitations, with follow-up reminders sent one week and three weeks after the initial contact and a drawing for a chance at a gift card. IRB approvals were obtained from multiple institutions. Data was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with STATA v.18.
Result: The study was completed by 1864 students, with an average mental health score was 66.4 out of 90 (SD = 9.9), with 74.3% being physically active. The average sleep duration was 6.8 hours (SD = 1.4), and approximately 20% of students experienced moderate to severe difficulty falling asleep. SEM results showed the hypothesized model had a good fit with the data (RMSEA = 0.036, CFI = 0.993, TLI = 0.959, SRMR =0.014). The path test suggested that TSG was significantly associated with PA (r=0.2, p<0.001) and mental health (r=0.09, p<0.001), respectively, yet TSG wasn’t significantly related to sleep quality. The mediation results suggested that only physical activity was a mediator between TSG and mental health (p<0.001). The total indirect effect was also significant (p<0.05), indicating 21.9% of the total effect being mediated.
Conclusion: To improve mental health among college students, interventions tailored to increase their time in greenspace and physical activity are recommended. College students may have lifestyle patterns that differ from other populations. Future studies are suggested to explore additional mediators besides sleep quality in this population.

Lunchtime Fruit and Vegetable Preparation Styles in Family Child Care Homes
Caring for 2–5-year-old Children in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Zohreh Shariati, MS, (presenting author), Divya Patel, MS, Bethany D. Williams, PhD, Alicia L. Salvatore, DrPH, MPH, Chelsea L. Kracht, PhD, Susan B. Sisson, PhD, RDN, CHES (corresponding author)
Early Childhood SIG
Purpose: Young U.S. children consume excessive amounts of added sugar and sodium, in part due to low intake and variety of freshly prepared, non-processed foods. An important setting to address children’s dietary intake are Family Child Care Homes (FCCHs), the second most common childcare setting in the U.S. Many US preschoolers receive two-thirds of their dietary requirements while at FCCHs. The purpose of this study was to describe lunchtime fruit and vegetable preparation styles in urban-residing Oklahoma FCCHs.
Methods: This descriptive study examined baseline measures of a randomized control trial in Oklahoma FCCHs. Fifty-one licensed FCCH providers who participated in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (a federal food subsidy program) and served 2–5-year-olds were included. Lunch was observed on two days and recipes and meal preparation style were recorded by a research assistant. Frequencies of fruit and vegetable preparation styles (fresh, frozen, canned, and fruit juice) were calculated.
Results: Providers were 100% women, 44.2 ± 14.2 years old, and 53.1% identifying as white, 30.6% Black/African American, and 4.1% American Indian/Alaska Native. Providers spent 2.0 ± 1.0 hours/day on average preparing meals (including lunch)For lunch, vegetables were mainly served from canned (48.5%), or fresh (35.3%), and it was less common to do frozen (23.4%) or dried prepared (5.05%); and fruits were served mostly from fresh (57.5%), or canned (35.3%), less frozen (4.15%), and no dried (0.0%). Only 3.0% served fruit juice at lunch. There was no significant difference in the preparation style frequency between two observation days.
Conclusions: Approximately, half of the served vegetables were canned, whereas the majority of fruits served were fresh. Given the nutrient density in fresh vegetables and fruit and the added sugar and sodium in canned versions, opportunity exists to enhance nutrient quality and variety of produce served in FCCH. Future research should explore how to support preparation of healthier alternatives in FCCH, specifically fresh and frozen vegetables and fruit.