scholarly journals Walking for Transportation Among Latino Adults in San Diego County: Who Meets Physical Activity Guidelines?

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 898-906 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanna M. Martinez ◽  
Elva M. Arredondo ◽  
Scott Roesch ◽  
Kevin Patrick ◽  
Guadalupe X. Ayala ◽  
...  

Background:U.S. Latinos engage in nonleisure-time walking (NLTW) more than other ethno-racial groups. Studies are needed to explore factors associated with NLTW to inform interventions for effective physical activity promotion.Purpose:To examine the social-ecological correlates of NLTW among Mexican-origin Latinos.Methods:Individual, social, and environmental level factors and PA were assessed in a telephone survey completed by 672 Mexican-origin adults randomly sampled in San Diego County. Data were collected in 2006 and analyzed in 2009.Results:Participants were mostly female (71%), with an average age of 39 years. Less than one-third met PA guidelines for NLTW (29%). Structural equation modeling showed that NLTW was positively associated with being female, but negatively associated with living in the U.S. ≥ 12 years, and being U.S.-born.Conclusions:In this sample NLTW differed by various indicators of acculturation and gender. These findings might help inform the development of interventions to promote NLTW and thus physical activity in Mexican-origin adults.

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 581-593 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Silva ◽  
Ryan Lott ◽  
K. A. S. Wickrama ◽  
Jorge Mota ◽  
Greg Welk

Background:If the Youth Physical Activity Promotion (YPAP) model adequately explains youth physical activity (PA) in 2 different cultures and with 2 different sets of instruments, it would suggest that the model has broad utility for youth activity promotion.Methods:Two samples from different countries were used: sample 1—USA, 159 students (n = 83 girls) mean age 11.52 ± 1.40 years; sample 2—Portugal, 203 students (n = 125 girls) mean age 14.99 ± 1.55 years. PA was assessed by accelerometry. The YPAP model was analyzed through structural equation modeling using AMOS (version 17.0).Results:In sample 1, social-support had a direct association on MVPA (β = .58, P < .001), enjoyment (β = .70, P < .05), and self-efficacy (β = –.66, P < .001). Enjoyment significantly predicted MVPA (β = .60, P < .001) and self-efficacy significantly predicted MVPA (β = .55, P < .001). In sample 2, social-support had a direct effect on MVPA (β = .33, P < .05), significantly predicted enjoyment (β = –.43, P < .001), and significantly predicted self-efficacy (β = .63, P < .001). Self-efficacy was a significant predictor of MVPA (β = .14, P < .001) but enjoyment was not.Conclusions:Differences were noted in the nature of the relationships and the relative importance. Self-efficacy and social support had significant effects on MVPA in both samples—despite differences in the way that they were measured and operationalized.


2015 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 474-495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Collin A. Webster ◽  
Heather Buchan ◽  
Melanie Perreault ◽  
Rob Doan ◽  
Panayiotis Doutis ◽  
...  

Despite its recommended use, physical activity promotion in the academic classroom (PAPAC) has received little attention in terms of the factors that help to facilitate it. In this study, a social learning perspective was adopted to examine the role of physical activity biographies in generalist classroom teachers’ (CTs) PAPAC. CTs (N = 213) were assessed on their satisfaction with personal K-12 physical education (PE) experiences, perceived physical activity competence, self-reported physical activity, perceived PAPAC competence, and self-reported PAPAC. Structural equation modeling supported the hypothesized relationships between variables. Specifically, PE satisfaction predicted physical activity competence, which in turn predicted physical activity. Subsequently, physical activity predicted PAPAC competence, which predicted PAPAC. The specified model explained 41% of the variance in PAPAC, with PAPAC competence being the largest contributor. This study provides useful information for designing interventions to increase PAPAC, as it stresses the need to identify strategies that improve CTs’ physical activity-related, and PAPAC-related self-perceptions.


2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1159-1165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana C. Seabra ◽  
José Maia ◽  
André F. Seabra ◽  
Greg Welk ◽  
Robert Brustad ◽  
...  

Background:The Youth Physical Activity Promotion (YPAP) model provides an integrated approach to understanding the predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors influencing physical activity (PA) behavior. The purpose of this study was to evaluate an adapted version of the YPAP model for explaining PA among Portuguese schoolchildren.Methods:A random cross-sectional sample of 683 children (8–10 years of age) attending elementary public schools in the north of Portugal completed a detailed survey assessing attraction to PA, perceived physical competence, parental influences and leisure time PA. Structural equation modeling techniques were conducted (EQS6.1).Results:Attraction to PA was directly associated with children’s PA participation (β = 0.271, P < .05). Perceived physical competence imposed an indirect effect on children’s PA through children’s attraction to PA (β = 0.253, P < .05). Parental influence had an indirect effect on children’s PA through perceived physical competence and attraction to PA (β = 0.318 and 0.662, respectively, P < .05). Perceived physical competence and parental influence were not directly associated with children’s PA (β = 0.069 and 0.180, respectively, P > .05).Conclusions:The adapted version of YPAP model was useful in explaining PA participation in elementary Portuguese schoolchildren. Intervention programs intended to enhance attraction to PA, perceived physical competence and favorable parental influence should be developed to promote children’s PA participation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dario Baretta ◽  
Fabio Sartori ◽  
Andrea Greco ◽  
Marco D’Addario ◽  
Riccardo Melen ◽  
...  

The practice of regular physical exercise is a protective factor against noncommunicable diseases and premature mortality. In spite of that, large part of the population does not meet physical activity guidelines and many individuals live a sedentary life. Recent technological progresses and the widespread adoption of mobile technology, such as smartphone and wearables, have opened the way to the development of digital behaviour change interventions targeting physical activity promotion. Such interventions would greatly benefit from the inclusion of computational models framed on behaviour change theories and model-based reasoning. However, research on these topics is still at its infancy. The current paper presents a smartphone application and wearable device system called Muoviti! that targets physical activity promotion among adults not meeting the recommended physical activity guidelines. Specifically, we propose a computational model of behaviour change, grounded on the social cognitive theory of self-efficacy. The purpose of the computational model is to dynamically integrate information referring to individuals’ self-efficacy beliefs and physical activity behaviour in order to define exercising goals that adapt to individuals’ changes over time. The paper presents (i) the theoretical constructs that informed the development of the computational model, (ii) an overview of Muoviti! describing the system dynamics, the graphical user interface, the adopted measures and the intervention design, and (iii) the computational model based on Dynamic Decision Network. We conclude by presenting early results from an experimental study.


2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 192-201
Author(s):  
Sarah Deans ◽  
Alison Kirk ◽  
Anthony McGarry ◽  
David Rowe

Background: Healthcare professionals play a key role in supporting physical activity participation for people with lower limb absence. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to survey healthcare professionals’ views of people with lower limb absence in the United Kingdom, explore their awareness and knowledge of physical activity recommendations and investigate their current and desirable practice towards physical activity promotion. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Potential participants were identified from open-access health-related databases, educational institution databases, and the authors’ professional networks. An online 40-item questionnaire was distributed electronically and by post. Survey items were multiple choice, Likert-type scale or open-ended questions to explore the characteristics of healthcare professionals, awareness/knowledge of physical activity guidelines, current and desired practice and views on physical activity promotion. Results: In total, 106 people responded. Physiotherapists had greater awareness/knowledge of physical activity guidelines compared to prosthetists/orthotists and other respondents. Awareness/knowledge of guidelines decreased as age, experience and time since qualification increased. The most common source of knowledge was self-directed learning. Conclusion: Continuing and improving education on the content of physical activity guidelines may be helpful for healthcare professionals in promoting physical activity to those with lower limb absence. Clinical relevance This research aims to inform prosthetic rehabilitation professionals and academics about an under-researched area within physical activity for health. This knowledge could help develop interventions with the aim of improving physical activity promotion and participation, and ultimately the health and well-being of people with limb absence.


2019 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Gelius ◽  
Sven Messing ◽  
Karim Abu-Omar

Abstract Background The field of physical activity abounds with recommendations, guidelines, action plans and other documents published by experts, organizations and institutions at the national and international level. However, working with these documents is difficult since similar names (e.g. “recommendations”) may be used to label substantially different contents, while identical topics may hide behind different monikers (e.g. “guidelines” and “strategy”). Methods We built on an existing framework conceptualizing categories of physical activity evidence and on the Doern continuum for policy instruments to develop a nine-field matrix that classifies physical activity-related publications based on their evidence type and degree of coercion. We used a selection of eleven physical activity documents to perform an exploratory test of the functions and utility of the typology. Results Placing central physical activity documents into the typology shows that recommendations, guidelines, and policies are found across the entire matrix, regardless of their denomination. It also suggests that some documents transcend boundaries between types by falling into more than one category, and that some categories may be underrepresented in current physical activity promotion. Conclusions A typology to classify physical activity guidelines, recommendations, and policies can help us acquire a better overview of the landscape of existing physical activity documents than simple distinctions based on document names. It may guide both current initiatives and future development work in the field. It could also serve as a point of departure for future research, as conducting systematic overviews of the literature based on this typology may help reveal important gaps in current physical activity promotion.


2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Silva ◽  
Ryan Lott ◽  
Jorge Mota ◽  
Greg Welk

Social support (SS) from parents and peers are key reinforcing factors in the Youth Physical Activity Promotion (YPAP) model. This study aims to identify the relative contribution of parental and peer SS on youth participation in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Participants included 203 high school students (n = 125 girls; mean age 14.99 ± 1.55 years). MVPA was assessed by accelerometry. SS influences were evaluated using a well-established scale. Structural equation modeling measured (AMOS, Version 19) the relative fit of the YPAP models using both parental and peer SS. Parental SS had significant associations with both predisposing factors, enjoyment (β = .62, p < .01), and self-efficacy (β= .32, p < .01), as well a direct effect on MVPA (β = .30, p < .01). Peer SS had direct effect on MVPA (β = .33, p < .05), also significantly influenced levels of enjoyment (β = .47, p < .01) and self-efficacy (β = .67, p < .01). In both models self-efficacy mediated the influence on MVPA. The direct effects for parents and peers were similar. This demonstrates that both parental and peer social support exert a strong influence on adolescent MVPA.


2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tailine Lisboa ◽  
Walan Robert da Silva ◽  
Diego Augusto Santos Silva ◽  
Érico Pereira Gomes Felden ◽  
Andreia Pelegrini ◽  
...  

Social support is an important predictor for the maintenance of physical activity in adolescence. Thus, the social-ecological approach values the impact of individuals or groups interaction with available resources in the social environment for adopting an active lifestyle. This study analyzes social support from family and friends for adolescents to practice physical activity. Guided by the Social-Ecological Theory, an observational cross-sectional structural equations modeling was applied to 2,710 Brazilians adolescents aged from 14 to 18 years. We identified that the greater the social support from friends (β = 0.30; RMSEA = 0.065; CFI = 0.953; TLI = 0.922; SRMR = 0.048) and family, the greater the adolescents physical activity (β = 0.27; RMSEA = 0.015; CFI = 0.997; TLI = 0.995; SRMR = 0.013). However, support from both sources indicated no adequate adjustment values in the same study model. Our findings suggest that adolescents who perceive social support from family members or friends practice more physical activity, confirming that social support is important for physical activity promotion.


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