An apparently healthy college football player died from an apparent cardiac arrythmia following a workout. An autopsy revealed that he had undiagnosed mitral valve prolapse syndrome. (CJ)

Examined the impact of geriatric day care and homemaker services on patient outcomes. It was found that there were significant differences in physical functioning and activity level for the day care samples and in physical functioning and contentment level for the homemaker study sample. (Author)

Irritability and activity, components of temperament, were rated for 114 fullterm and 163 preterm infants during five-second application of a cold disc on the thigh and five seconds following. For fullterm infants and preterm females, irritability increased and activity decreased across five trials. Females were more irritable during stimulation,…

Assessed the relationship between young children's movement skills and their physical activity in early adolescence. Balance, agility, eye-hand coordination, and skinfold thickness were measured in young Mexican and Anglo American. Habitual physical activity was assessed when they were 12 years old. Ethnic differences in movement skills were not…

Assessed the reliability and criterion validity of the Physical Activity Monitor, a telephone-interview adaptation of the Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire (MLTPAQ), for assessing trends in the Canadian population. Interviews with Canadian adults and comparisons of the Monitor against the Campbell's Survey of Well-Being…

A total of 32 3-month-old infants were carried by their mothers in a soft infant carrier designed to place the infants facing either inward or outward. A within-subject comparison found that when infants were carried facing in, they spent significantly more time sleeping, while infants carried facing out were more active. (MDM)

In one experiment, sucrose arrested crying and reduced heart rate and gross activity in 2-week-olds but was ineffective in calming 4-week-olds unless accompanied by eye contact. In a second experiment, for 4-week-olds who received sucrose without eye contact or water with eye contact, the reduction in crying was modest and not sustained.…

This study investigated physical activity patterns of seven adolescents with mental retardation over a seven-day period. It found 6 to 14 bouts of moderate physical activity per day lasting from 2 to 4 minutes. Intrinsic motivation was high and lack of motivation scores were low in this sample. Results identified two main explanatory factors of…

Study assessed the influence of group membership on the use of multiple substances among adolescents. Organized group activity included clubs and organizations, as well as athletic participation. Multiple substance included current use of any combination of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. Group participation had a buffering effect on multiple…

Among 36 newborns, Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ) activity level, responsivity, and irritability exhibited stability from 2 weeks to 2 months and from 2 months to 12 months. Irritability was stable from 2 weeks to 12 months. IBQ ratings generally increased by year's end. (RH)

Data from a study involving 369 children (K-3) suggests that the activity patterns during recess and physical education classes are similar. Children do not voluntarily engage in sufficient aerobic activity during recess, nor do physical education programs provide sufficient appropriate activities to adequately promote fitness. (IAH)

Investigated intrinsic and extrinsic new job characteristics for 516 involuntarily dismissed white-collar workers. Results suggest employment counselors can ease transition into satisfying new jobs by helping clients deal with negative emotional trauma of job loss, encouraging active coping strategies, fostering realistic job expectations, and…

The activity level of 60 pairs of infant twins was measured for 2 days. Differences in activity level for monozygotic and dizygotic twins, as indicated by motion recorders and parent ratings, showed evidence of genetic influences. (BC)

Examined life philosophy among 189 participants at seniors' games. Findings suggest that sport and physical recreation may be important coping strategy for some older adults who find life meaning and sense of achievement in challenging themselves physically. Beyond general optimism in life orientation, uncertainties about future left many with…

Introduces a collection of papers on adherence to exercise programs and physical activity from the 2000 American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education conference, which included research on middle school boys and girls, college men and women, and men and women in the later years, as well as on the more traditional subject of middle aged…