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Children with chronic inflammatory disease (CID) are at an increased risk for health complications including mental health issues, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. These complications have been linked to elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and lifestyle behaviours including low physical activity, and high sedentary time. Physical activity may represent a simple and effective strategy to modulate inflammation and subsequently improve health outcomes. However, the link between cytokines and movement behaviours in children with a CID remains poorly understood. Indeed, no studies to date have examined the link between a broad complement of inflammatory markers and patterns of movement behaviours in children with a CID. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to: (1) examine movement behaviours and inflammation in children with either cystic fibrosis (CF), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and type 1 diabetes (T1DM), (2) examine movement behaviours and inflammation in children with a CID compared with healthy controls and (3) examine the association between movement behaviours and inflammation profiles in children with a CID. We hypothesized that (1) children with a CID will have comparable movement profiles and inflammation, (2) children with a CID will have lower physical activity levels and higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines relative to healthy counterparts, and (3) children with a CID who are more physically active and engage in less sedentary time will have less inflammation. Boys and girls with a CID and controls wore an ActiGraph GT3X accelerometer around the waist during waking hours for 7 days. Outcomes of interest included, sedentary time, time spent in light physical activity (LPA), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), and total PA (TPA), determined using Evenson cut-points. After one week a fasted blood sample was collected to determine serum cytokines (TNFα, IL-23, IL-1β, IL-12, IL-6, IL- 17, TGFβ, IL-10) by multiplex assays and C-reactive protein by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. A total of 132 participants (47% girls; age: 13.3±2.8 years), including JIA (N=27), IBD (N=21), CF (N=14), T1DM (N=18) and healthy controls (N=52), completed the study. Physical activity and inflammatory profiles were comparable between CF, JIA, IBD and T1DM groups. Children with a CID participated in 13.3 fewer mins/day [95% confidence interval 6.9, 101.2] (MVPA (F(1,113)=11.015, p=0.001) of MVPA relative to healthy controls and had comparable cytokine profiles. Physical activity did not predict inflammation in children with a CID. However, we know that physical activity has many beneficial cardiorespiratory and mental health effects. As such, it is still of interest to uncover any potential effects movement behaviours may have on our immune system. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / The purpose of this study was to assess how physical activity, sedentary time, and inflammation are associated. Inflammation is an important part of our immune system that protects us from infection and disease; however, when inflammation goes unchecked, it can cause serious chronic inflammatory disease. We were interested in understanding if children with a chronic inflammatory disease had different levels of physical activity and sedentary time, or different levels of inflammation than healthy children with no medical conditions. We were also interested in understanding if physical activity or sedentary time were related to levels of inflammation in children with a chronic disease. We asked boys and girls between 7 and 17 years old to visit our lab twice. Some of our participants had a medical condition, including chronic kidney disease, cystic fibrosis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, or inflammatory bowel disease and type 1 diabetes. We also invited a group of children who had no medical condition to participate. During their first visit, we measured their weight, height, pubertal status and gave them a physical activity monitor to wear for 7 days before coming back for their second visit. At their second visit we took a small blood sample that we used to measure immune proteins called cytokines, these proteins act like messengers to tell the immune system what to do. Some of them make inflammation worse, and others help to bring down levels of inflammation. We found that children who had a chronic inflammatory disease participated in less physical activity but had similar levels of sedentary time compared with healthy children. We also found that there were no differences in inflammation between children with a chronic disease and healthy children. Lastly, we found that physical activity and sedentary time were not related to inflammation levels. Although we did not find a relationship between physical activity and inflammation, we know that physical activity has many beneficial cardiorespiratory and mental health effects. As such, it is still of interest to uncover any potential effects movement behaviours may have on health outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Low rates of physical activity and high rates of cannabis use among adolescents are concerning given the health outcomes associated with these health behaviours. Although individual-level characteristics are strongly associated with physical activity and cannabis use, research also suggests that the school setting may influence these health behaviours. PURPOSE: To: 1) Determine the extent to which students’ cannabis use and physical activity vary across school and classroom settings, 2) Identify characteristics of the school setting that are associated with cannabis use and physical activity among students in grades 6-12 in Ontario. METHODS: This study used data from the School Mental Health Surveys, a cross-sectional school-based survey of 31,124 students, 3,373 teachers, and 206 principals from 248 schools across Ontario. Multilevel modelling was used to explore school and class effects while controlling for student compositional effects. RESULTS: About 5% of the variability in student physical activity and 14% of the variability in student cannabis use was attributable to between school and classroom differences. Students’ perception of school climate was positively associated with physical activity, and negatively associated with cannabis use. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the potential influence of the school and classroom environment on students’ physical activity and cannabis use. School and classroom contexts may be important environments for targeted interventions, policies and programs. / Thesis / Master of Public Health (MPH) / Despite the known benefits of physical activity and harms associated with cannabis use, physical activity rates are low while cannabis use is high among Canadian youth. Previous research has highlighted the potential for the school environment to influence students’ health behaviours. The current study examined the extent to which physical activity and cannabis use varied across school and classroom settings and identified characteristics of the school environment that were associated with these health behaviours. There was significant between school and classroom variability in levels of physical activity and cannabis use. School climate was positively associated with physical activity, and negatively associated with cannabis use. Identifying modifiable characteristics of the school environment that are associated with students’ health behaviours can inform development of interventions, policies, and programs to increase physical activity and reduce cannabis use.

Stress is one of life’s greatest health threats and increases susceptibility to mental illness. Physical activity and mindfulness are lifestyle factors that are protective against mental health concerns. Critically, those with high levels of physical activity also tend to have high levels of trait mindfulness—the tendency to be more mindful in everyday life. However, the relationship between physical activity and mindfulness, and their impact on acute stress and mental health, remains unclear. The current study aimed to explore this association between physical activity and mindfulness, and their relative impact on acute stress reactivity and mental health. Specifically, we examined whether trait mindfulness accounted for unique variance after controlling for physical activity. In a sample of young adult participants (N = 50) we first assessed their physical activity, trait mindfulness, and mental health and then exposed them to the Trier Social Stress Test, during which we recorded using heart rate, blood pressure, salivary cortisol samples, and state anxiety. Hierarchical linear regression revealed a distinct pattern, such that physical activity was more strongly associated with acute stress (heart rate and state anxiety reactivity), whereas trait mindfulness was more strongly associated with mental health even after controlling for physical activity. The results suggest that physical activity and trait mindfulness may work via synergistic mechanisms to enhance wellbeing with physical activity reducing stress reactivity and trait mindfulness improving overall mental health. / Thesis / Master of Science in Kinesiology

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