Biomedical subjects

E Levälahti

Publications and source records attributed to E Levälahti.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Factors associated with exercise lifestyle--a study of monozygotic twins.

Regular exercise is widely advocated for a broad range of health issues. Yet, the association of familial factors (i. e. both genetic and childhood environmental factors) and specific environmental factors (not shared by family members) as well as health behavior with lifelong exercise participation is currently poorly understood. A total of 117 monozygotic male twin pairs aged 35 - 69 y (mean age 49 y), recruited from the population-based Finnish Twin Cohort, were studied. A summary outcome exercise variable was created by calculating the mean hours of exercise per week from 18 y of age to present from data provided from a structured interview. Suspected factors associated with exercise were analyzed with linear regression, while pairwise relationships were analysed using polychoric correlations and structural equation modeling. There was substantial familial aggregation in adulthood exercise, accounting for 43 % of all variation in exercise using the LISREL model. Factors associated with enhanced adherence to exercise in adulthood were participation in exercise and competitive sports in adolescence (from age 12 to 18). Education, age, number of chronic diseases, smoking, alcohol use, marital status, number of children and number of changes in residence were not associated with exercise adherence in adulthood. Our results suggest that early childhood environmental factors strongly influence exercise level throughout the lifespan. Therefore, interventions aimed at enhancing lifelong exercise participation may achieve more beneficial long-term results by targeting families and other childhood and adolescent environments.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Repeatability of lifetime exercise reporting.

The purpose of the study was to determine the reliability of lifetime exercise data obtained through a structured interview. Interviews were conducted in 1992-1993 and repeated in 1997 in 150 monozygotic male twins, aged 35-69 years, from the population-based Finnish Twin Cohort. Exercise mode, frequency, duration, intensity and period of participation were solicited for each regularly performed exercise from 12 years of age to the present. Questions related to the most common exercise mode reported in the initial interview were repeated in all subjects and the entire exercise interview was repeated in a subgroup of 38 subjects. The repeatability was highest for exercise years and mean hours/ week by mode for the most commonly performed exercise (Mean ICC=0.63-0.90), and for the sum of all lifetime exercises reported (Mean ICC = 0.69-0.73). The lowest repeatability was found for exercise intensity (Mean Kappa = 0.33-0.48). Similarly poor reliability was found for whether or not exercise was performed at a competitive level (Mean Kappa = 0.25-0.63). Overall, the structured interview of lifetime exercise was most repeatable for years of exercise and mean hours/week. Thus, these exposure variables should be considered in retrospective studies of exercise effects.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Perceived tiredness among adolescents and its association with sleep habits and use of psychoactive substances.

This study investigated the variation in perceived tiredness among 11, 13 and 15-year-old Finnish adolescents (n = 4187). Additionally interrelationships between sleep habits, use of psychoactive substances (alcohol, tobacco and coffee) and perceived tiredness among 15-year-olds were examined. This study is part of an international, WHO-coordinated survey of school children's health and lifestyle (the HBSC Study). In Finland, research data represented the whole country. The data were collected in March-May 1994. Pupils responded anonymously to a standardized questionnaire during a class period. Subjective tiredness was very common and increased with age among adolescents. Perceived tiredness on at least four school mornings a week increased from 24 to 35% among boys and from 16 to 34% among girls. Feeling tired more often than once a week increased from 20 to 37% in girls and from 24 to 50% in boys. Structural equation models showed that interrelationships between three factors--sleep habits, use of psychoactive substances and perceived tiredness--were statistically significant. For these three factors the two remaining factors explained 24% of the variance of perceived tiredness among boys and 20% among girls, and the two remaining factors explained 42% (16%) of the variation in sleep habits. For the variance of the use of psychoactive substances sleep habits and perceived tiredness explained 26% (12%). Subjective tiredness is strongly age related; this together with the use of psychoactive substances and sleep habits regulate adolescents' daily life and well-being.

Adolescent↗