UNIversity students' LIFEstyle behaviours and Mental health cohort (UNILIFE-M): study protocol of a multicentre, prospective cohort study Felipe B Schuch, Aline Waclawoscky, Debora Tornquist, Adewale L Oyeyemi, Kabir P Sadarangani, et al. BMJ Open, 2026 Introduction Students enrolling in higher education often adopt lifestyles linked to worse mental health, potentially contributing to the peak age onset of mental health problems in early adulthood. However, extensive research is limited by focusing on single lifestyle behaviours, including single time points, within limited cultural contexts, and focusing on a limited set of mental health symptoms. Methods and analysis The UNIversity students’ LIFEstyle behaviours and Mental health cohort (UNILIFE-M) is a prospective worldwide cohort study aiming to investigate the associations between students’ lifestyle behaviours and mental health symptoms during their college years. The UNILIFE-M will gather self-reported data through an online survey on mental health symptoms (ie, depression, anxiety, mania, sleep problems, substance abuse, inattention/hyperactivity and obsessive/compulsive thoughts/behaviours) and lifestyle behaviours (ie, diet, physical activity, substance use, stress management, social support, restorative sleep, environment and sedentary behaviour) over 3.5 years. Participants of 69 universities from 28 countries (300 per site) will be assessed at university admission in the 2023 and/or the 2024 academic year and followed up for 1, 2 and 3.5 years. Ethics and dissemination The study was first approved at a national level in Brazil (CAE:63025822.8.1001.5346). Study sites outside Brazil obtained additional ethics approval from their institutions using the main approval. Results from the UNILIFE-M cohort will be disseminated through scientific publications, presentations at scientific meetings, press releases, the general media and social media.
Validation of the Arabic version of the reduced Horne-Östberg morningness-eveningness questionnaire (rMEQ) Roni Chaaya, Rebecca Cattan, Christele Lahoud, Debora Tornquist, Felipe Barreto Schuch, et al. Chronobiology International, 2025 Individual differences in sleep-wake cycles give rise to "morningness-eveningness." The assessment of morningness-eveningness is essential for understanding these preferences, and the Reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ) has been developed for this purpose. The purpose of this study was to examine the Arabic rMEQ's psychometric properties in terms of validity, reliability and measurement invariance across sex groups. A population-based sample of 330 Arabic-speaking participants from Lebanon, comprising 67.3% females with a mean age of 21.75 ± 2.43 years (range: 18-33), were recruited for this study. The participants were asked to fill out an online questionnaire consisting of the Arabic versions of the rMEQ, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Lebanese Anxiety Scale (LAS). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) indicated a modest fit for the one-factor model of the rMEQ. Internal reliability was good, with ω = .75 and α = .70. Additionally, cross-sex invariance analysis showed support for configural, metric, and scalar invariance, with no significant differences in rMEQ scores between males and females. Concurrent validity revealed significant moderate correlations between higher rMEQ scores and lower depression, better sleep quality, and lower anxiety. The Arabic version of the rMEQ demonstrated adequate psychometric properties in a Lebanese adult population. The CFA results support a one-factor model of the Arabic rMEQ, similarly as in the case of other language versions. Overall, the Arabic rMEQ appears to be a valid and reliable tool for evaluating morningness-eveningness in Arabic-speaking adults, with potential applications in cross-cultural chronotype studies.
Associations of Early Childhood Correlates With Device-Measured Physical Activity in the First Years of Life: Findings From the 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Study Debora Tornquist, Luciana Tornquist, Inácio Crochemore-Silva, Grégore Iven Mielke, Ulf Ekelund, et al. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 2025 Background: The study aimed to examine the associations between breastfeeding, home environmental and childcare characteristics, and maternal and child behaviors and physical activity (PA) in the first years of life in the 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort. Methods: PA was measured with wrist accelerometers at 1 (n = 2974), 2 (n = 2645), and 4 years (n = 2955), and PA trajectories were estimated using group-based trajectory modeling (n = 1798). Results: At the age of 1 year, partially breastfed children had higher levels of PA, whereas children with excessive screen time had lower PA. At 2 years, children whose mothers went for leisure walks had higher levels of PA, and children who attended childcare had lower levels of PA. At 4 years, higher PA was associated with breastfeeding for >6 months, maternal leisure-time PA, and having ≥2 siblings, whereas attendance at public childcare was associated with lower PA. Attendance at childcare in at least one follow-up and public childcare reduced the probability of the child presenting a trajectory of high PA in the early years. Children of mothers who performed some leisure-time PA and other leisure-time PA (except walking) in more than 1 follow-up were more likely to present a high PA trajectory. Conclusions: Breastfeeding, childcare, number of siblings, maternal PA, and screen time were shown to be correlates of PA levels in early childhood.
Associations between sleep disturbances and physical activity with depressive symptoms, and their association to self-harm thoughts among Brazilian university students: A cross … MJ Guimarães Camargo, LF Francisca Felício, FB Schuch, D Tornquist, ... Deakin University , 2026 2026
Associations Between Sleep Disturbances and Physical Activity with Depressive Symptoms, and Their Association to Self-Harm Thoughts Among Brazilian University Students: A Cross … MJG Camargo, LFF Felício, FB Schuch, D Tornquist, AC Deslandes, ... Mental Health and Physical Activity, 100750 , 2026 2026
UNIversity students’ LIFEstyle behaviours and Mental health cohort (UNILIFE-M): study protocol of a multicentre, prospective cohort study FB Schuch, A Waclawoscky, D Tornquist, AL Oyeyemi, KP Sadarangani, ... BMJ open 16 (1), e085006 , 2026 2026 Citations: 2
Let’s Talk aBOT Scam Online Survey Completions in Health Behavior Research: Tutorial With Case Studies, Practical Guidance, and a Checklist for Researchers L Arundell, J Salmon, A Walsh, K Dullaghan, H Cheng, T Baker, ... JMIR Public Health and Surveillance 11 (1), e76622 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Postural control in individuals with mental disorders: A systematic review and META-analysis CE Rossato, AJ Waclawovsky, GDS De Souza, D Tornquist, CB Mota, ... Clinical Biomechanics, 106741 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Social determinants of depression and anxiety symptoms in undergraduate university students in Australia; Findings from The UNIversity student’s LIFEstyle and Mental Health … A Knapp, T Burrows, S Gomersall, F Schuch, M Teychenne, SJ Torres, ... Mental Health & Prevention, 200471 , 2025 2025
Longitudinal association of leisure-time physical activity with health-related physical fitness and motor performance in schoolchildren L Tornquist, AP Sehn, D Tornquist, KMK Mansour, JF de Castro Silveira, ... Sport Sciences for Health 21 (4), 2845-2853 , 2025 2025
Physical Fitness Trends Of Schoolchildren In A Municipality From Southern Brazil Between 2004 And 2017 CP Reuter, L Tornquist, AP Sehn, NQ Félix, KMK Mansour, D Tornquist, ... Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 57 (10 S), 156-156 , 2025 2025
Adherence to the 24-hour movement guidelines and its correlates among Spanish university students: UNILIFE-M study JF López-Gil, S Manzano-Carrasco, JA Montenegro-Espinosa, ... 2025
Bidirectional associations between depression and physical activity ME Guimarães, D Tornquist, FB Schuch Physical Activity, Physical Fitness and Depression, 35-46 , 2025 2025
Validation of the Arabic version of the reduced Horne-Östberg morningness-eveningness questionnaire (rMEQ) R Chaaya, R Cattan, C Lahoud, D Tornquist, F Barreto Schuch, G Merhi, ... Chronobiology international 42 (8), 1060-1071 , 2025 2025 Citations: 3
Associations between Health Behaviors Index and Mental Health in Brazilian Adolescents: Insights from the 2019 National School Health Survey RC Espírito Santo, LP Dos Santos, D Tornquist, FB Schuch, ... Behavioral Medicine, 1-13 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Associations of Early Childhood Correlates With Device-Measured Physical Activity in the First Years of Life: Findings From the 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Study D Tornquist, L Tornquist, I Crochemore-Silva, GI Mielke, U Ekelund, ... Journal of Physical Activity and Health 22 (8), 1028-1041 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
The role of physical activity in the prospective association between body mass index and depressive symptoms in mothers from the 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort L Tornquist, D Tornquist, I Crochemore-Silva, GI Mielke, MF da Silveira, ... Journal of Psychiatric Research 185, 161-168 , 2025 2025
Independent and Joint Associations of Physical Fitness and Mental Health Symptoms in University Students: A Cross-sectional Analysis MEA Guimarães, D Tornquist, EB Dos Santos, JA Teixeira, ... Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 0-0 , 2025 2025 Citations: 2
The moderating role of different lifestyle domains in the association between physical activity and depressive symptoms in Brazilian university students D Tornquist, MEA Guimaraes, EB dos Santos, JA Teixeira, J de Oliveira, ... Mental Health and Physical Activity 28, 100682 , 2025 2025 Citations: 3
Associations between physical fitness and mental health outcomes in children and adolescents from a middle-income country: A cross-sectional study J da Silva Felisberto, RH Paludo, D Tornquist, VC Bassani, LS da Silva, ... Science & Sports 40 (2), 168-175 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Erratum. Gender Gap for Accelerometry-Based Physical Activity Across Different Age Groups in 5 Brazilian Cohort Studies Journal of Physical Activity and Health Journal of Physical Activity and Health 22 (2), 283-283 , 2025 2025
Parenting Interventions for Improving Neurodevelopment L Tornquist, D Tornquist, CP Reuter, R Kelishadi Nature, Nurture, and Neurodevelopment: Comprehensive Overview, 131-137 , 2024 2024
Gender gap for Accelerometry-Based physical activity across different age groups in 5 Brazilian cohort studies LIC Ricardo, A Wendt, D Tornquist, H Gonçalves, F Wehrmeister, ... Journal of Physical Activity and Health 21 (11), 1158-1166 , 2024 2024 Citations: 7
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Association between overweight and obesity in schoolchildren with rs9939609 polymorphism (FTO) and family history for obesity CP Reuter, MS Burgos, JC Bernhard, D Tornquist, EI Klinger, TS Borges, ... Jornal de Pediatria (Versão em Português) 92 (5), 493-498 , 2016 2016 Citations: 56
Obesity parameters as predictors of early development of cardiometabolic risk factors MS Burgos, CP Reuter, LG Possuelo, ARM Valim, JDP Renner, ... Ciencia & saude coletiva 20, 2381-2388 , 2015 2015 Citations: 40
Body image is associated with leisure-time physical activity and sedentary behavior in adolescents: data from the Brazilian National School-based Health Survey (PeNSE 2015) MLB Gomes, L Tornquist, D Tornquist, EL Caputo Brazilian journal of psychiatry 43 (6), 584-589 , 2021 2021 Citations: 32
Cardiometabolic risk factors associated with active commuting to school MS Burgos, D Tornquist, L Tornquist, CP Reuter, EL Garcia, JDP Renner, ... Revista Paulista de Pediatria 37 (2), 181-187 , 2019 2019 Citations: 23
Youth overweight/obesity and its relationship with cardiovascular disease and parental risk factors M Francesquet, PT Silva, LB Schneiders, JFC Silveira, SS Soares, ... Archives of endocrinology and metabolism 63, 411-416 , 2019 2019 Citations: 23
Excess weight and high blood pressure in schoolchildren: prevalence and associated factors L Tornquist, D Tornquist, CP Reuter, LT Burgos, MS Burgos Journal of Human Growth and Development 25 (2), 216-223 , 2015 2015 Citations: 22
Cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents: the paradox between body mass index and cardiorespiratory fitness L Tornquist, D Tornquist, LB Schneiders, SIR Franke, JDP Renner, ... Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia 119, 236-243 , 2022 2022 Citations: 18
Maternal physical activity patterns in the 2015 Pelotas birth cohort: from preconception to postpartum L Tornquist, D Tornquist, GI Mielke, MF da Silveira, PC Hallal, ... Journal of Physical Activity and Health 20 (9), 868-877 , 2023 2023 Citations: 13
Refletindo sobre o processo de institucionalização do idoso RR Dutra, SC Vargas, L Tornquist, D Tornquist, VA Martins, SF Krug, ... Revista de Epidemiologia e Controle de infecção, 214-223 , 2016 2016 Citations: 13
Diferenças entre os hábitos alimentares associados ao excesso de peso de crianças e adolescentes da zona rural e urbana do município de Santa Cruz do Sul-RS HMB Nunes, TS Borges, CF Hoehr, D Tornquist, MS Burgos, AR Gaya Cinergis 15 (1) , 2014 2014 Citations: 13
Physical aptitude related to the health of initial graders: A study between groups assisted and non assisted by a Physical Education professional D Tornquist, L Tornquist, C Reuter, M Reckziegel, L Burgos, M Burgos Revista Brasileira de Atividade Física & Saúde 18 (3), 298-298 , 2013 2013 Citations: 11
Cardiorespiratory fitness, screen time and cardiometabolic risk in South Brazilian school children D Tornquist, L Tornquist, AP Sehn, LB Schneiders, JD Pollo Renner, ... Annals of human biology 49 (1), 10-17 , 2022 2022 Citations: 10
Programa de intervenção com exercícios físicos melhora indicadores de aptidão física relacionada à saúde e ao desempenho motor em escolares com sobrepeso e obesidade KC Marques, PT da Silva, D Tornquist, R Muradás, NL Schwanke, ... Cinergis 15 (3) , 2014 2014 Citations: 10
The UNIversity students’ LIFEstyle behaviors and Mental health cohort (UNILIFE-M): Study protocol of a multicenter, prospective cohort study FB Schuch, AJ Waclawovsky, D Tornquist, A Oyeyemi, KP Sadarangani, ... 2024 Citations: 9
Profiles of intuitive eating in adults: the role of self-esteem, interoceptive awareness, and motivation for healthy eating N Chammas, A Brytek-Matera, D Tornquist, F Barreto Schuch, Z Bitar, ... BMC psychiatry 24 (1), 288 , 2024 2024 Citations: 8
Gender gap for Accelerometry-Based physical activity across different age groups in 5 Brazilian cohort studies LIC Ricardo, A Wendt, D Tornquist, H Gonçalves, F Wehrmeister, ... Journal of Physical Activity and Health 21 (11), 1158-1166 , 2024 2024 Citations: 7
Glicemia e perfil lipídico: comparação entre escolares com baixo peso/normal e sobrepeso/obesidade R da Silva, AR de Moura Valim, CP Reuter, D Tornquist, L Tornquist, ... Revista Jovens Pesquisadores 4 (2) , 2014 2014 Citations: 7
Association between objectively measured physical activity of parents and children: The 2015 Pelotas birth cohort LIC Ricardo, P Hallal, MR Domingues, RS Oliveira, C Blumenberg, ... Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports 32 (8), 1287-1296 , 2022 2022 Citations: 6
Trajectories of device-measured physical activity during early childhood and its determinants: findings from the 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) birth cohort study D Tornquist, I Crochemore-Silva, L Tornquist, GI Mielke, U Ekelund, ... Journal of Physical Activity and Health 20 (9), 840-849 , 2023 2023 Citations: 5
Insatisfação corporal de escolares e sua relação com o estado nutricional real MS Burgos, L Tornquist, D Tornquist, EL Garcia, CP Reuter Psico 49 (3), 213-221 , 2018 2018 Citations: 5