PONE-D-24-25870The association of mental health with physical activity and its dimensions in Chinese adults: A cross-sectional studyPLOS ONE

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Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

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https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.565291/full?fbclid=IwAR

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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5. Review Comments to the Author

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Reviewer #1: 1- The site of data collection is not clear. Did you collect the data online or from the clients to the health centers? Please explain.

2- Did you use string or cluster sampling method in choosing health centers? If yes, you should mention. If not, then please delete this sentence: Due to the use of cluster sampling and a design effect of 1.5 (109-110 lines).

3- Regarding the mental health and physical activity questionnaires, did you measure their reliability with Cronbach's alpha? (125-126 lines and 141-142 lines).

4- There was no difference between female and male in the all variables (p>0.05): You have only mentioned the study of gender differences (157-158 lines). However, in Table 1, there is no data related to each gender and the difference between them. Either add this difference to the table or remove the difference from the text altogether and enter gender as a predictor variable in the regression.

5- There is no need to mention the purpose of the research in the results section (161-164 lines).

Reviewer #2: This is an interesting topic area. However, I think there are a few issues that the authors may wish to consider.

Abstract: Modify lines 45 to 48 as follows: Notably, the number of walking days per week emerged as the most influential predictor of mental health (β= -0.392), followed by level of weekly physical activity in MET, the number of exercise training sessions per week, weekly exercise training in MET, and weekly walking in MET (β= -0.312, -0.301, -0.212, and -0.202, respectively).

Introduction: Provide more detailed reports of the prevalence of mental health problems in China. Furthermore, you have not provided any reports of physical inactivity in China.

Methods: The selection model of health centers is a cluster sampling. Please mention it in the sampling section.

Overall, how many health centers did you choose?

The method of using G power is correctly indicated.

Did you code or categorize the income level variable? Or have you used the quantitative information of this variable?

Both questionnaires measure mental health and physical activity well, so they are valid scales. However, did you calculated the reliability of the questionnaires with Cronbach's coefficient?

Please indicate which t-test you used.

Results: Please put the results or p value of t-test in table 1.

Please remove lines 161-163.

Please add Unstandardized coefficients and 95% confidence interval for B in table 2.

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Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: Yes: Hamid Amini

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The association of mental health with physical activity and its dimensions in Chinese adults: A cross-sectional study

PONE-D-24-25870R1

Dear Dr. Li,

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

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Kind regards,

Jindong Chang, Ph.D.

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE