Ready to be Physically Active? The Effects of a Course Preparing Low-Income Multiethnic Women to be more Physically Active

2004 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rakale Collins ◽  
Rebecca E. Lee ◽  
Cheryl L. Albright ◽  
Abby C. King

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of a preintervention physical activity preparatory course on physical activity, and social, cognitive, and transtheoretical constructs. The sample included 82 low-income, multiethnic women (75% Latina) who completed an 8-week course designed to prepare them to become more active prior to randomization into a 10-month physical activity intervention. Participants completed precourse and postcourse measures. Paired-comparison t tests showed increases in knowledge, perceived social support for exercise, minutes of walking per week, and total cognitive and behavioral processes following the preparatory course. Perceived barriers and self-efficacy for exercise did not change from precourse to postcourse. Preintervention preparatory courses may be an effective way to increase social and cognitive constructs associated with physical activity behavior, potentially yielding a greater effect from subsequent interventions.

2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (9) ◽  
pp. 1039-1048 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Wagenmakers ◽  
Martin Stevens ◽  
Wiebren Zijlstra ◽  
Monique L Jacobs ◽  
Inge van den Akker-Scheek ◽  
...  

Background and Purpose Despite recognized health benefits of physical activity, little is known about the habitual physical activity behavior of patients after total hip arthroplasty (THA). The purpose of this study was to analyze this behavior and the fulfillment of guidelines for health-enhancing physical activity of these patients compared with a normative population. Subjects and Methods The participants were 273 patients who had undergone a primary THA (minimum of 1 year postoperatively). Comparisons were made between this group and 273 age- and sex-matched individuals from a normative population. Comparisons also were made between participants with THA under 65 years of age and those 65 years of age and older and among participants with THA in different Charnley classes. Level of physical activity was assessed with the Short QUestionnaire to ASsess Health-enhancing physical activity (SQUASH). Results No significant differences in total amount of physical activity or time spent in different categories of physical activity were found between the THA group and the normative group. Participants with THA spent significantly more minutes in activities of moderate intensity compared with the normative group. Participants with THA who were under 65 years of age were significantly more active than older participants with THA. Charnley class had significant effects on time spent at work, time spent in moderate-intensity activities, and total amount of activity, with the least activity performed by participants in Charnley class C. The guidelines were met by 51.2% of the participants with THA and 48.8% of the normative population. Female participants met the guidelines less frequently than male participants in both the combined groups (odds ratio=0.50, 95% confidence interval=0.35–0.72, P<.001) and the THA group (odds ratio=0.48, 95% confidence interval=0.28–0.80, P=.001). Discussion and Conclusion The results suggest that patients after THA are at least as physically active as a normative population. Nevertheless, a large percentage of these patients do not meet the guidelines; therefore, they need to be stimulated to become more physically active.


Author(s):  
Amanda L. Rebar

Much of our sport and physical activity behavior is regulated by processes occurring outside of conscious awareness. In contrast, most sport and physical activity research focuses on processes that are easily accessible by conscious introspection. More and more, however, research is demonstrating that automatic regulation is instrumental to our understanding of how to get people to maintain a physically active lifestyle and how to get the most out of people’s sports performance potential. Automatic regulation is the influence on our thoughts and actions that result from the mental network of associations we use to make sense of the world around us. Habits are automatic associations of cues with behavioral responses. Automatic evaluations are automatic associations of cues as being good or bad. Automatic schemas are automatic associations of cues with actual or ideal self-identity. These processes have been assessed with implicit measures by making indirect inferences from self-report or response latency tasks. Emerging research demonstrates that automatic associations influence sport performance and physical activity behavior, but further work is still needed to establish which type of automatic regulation is responsible for these influences and how automatic regulation and reflective processes interact to impact movement.


2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 626-635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoojin Suh ◽  
Madeline Weikert ◽  
Deirdre Dlugonski ◽  
Brian Sandroff ◽  
Robert W. Motl

Background:Persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) are often physically inactive and sedentary. This observation has prompted the search for modifiable variables derived from established theories that act as correlates of physical activity. Such variables would presumably represent targets for interventions designed to promote change in physical activity behavior among persons with MS. The current study examined social cognitive variables as correlates of physical activity in persons with MS.Methods:Persons (N = 218) with relapsing-remitting MS completed a questionnaire battery that assessed physical activity behavior; self-efficacy for physical activity; physical, social, and self-evaluative outcome expectations for exercise, functional limitations as an impediment for physical activity, and exercise goal-setting. The battery was delivered and returned through the US postal service. Data were analyzed using covariance modeling in Mplus 3.0.Results:Self-efficacy had indirect effects on physical activity via impediments (path coefficient = .10, P < .005), self-evaluative outcome expectations (path coefficient = .07, P < .025), and goal-setting (path coefficient = .09, P < .01). The model explained 40% of variance in self-reported physical activity.Conclusions:This cross-sectional study suggests that self-efficacy is indirectly associated with physical activity by way of goals, self-evaluative outcome expectations, and impediments in persons with relapsing-remitting MS.


10.2196/17581 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. e17581
Author(s):  
Matthew T Stewart ◽  
Taylor Nezich ◽  
Joyce M Lee ◽  
Rebecca E Hasson ◽  
Natalie Colabianchi

Background The relationship between intention and behavior has been well researched, but most studies fail to capture dynamic, time-varying contextual factors. Ecological momentary assessment through mobile phone technology is an innovative method for collecting data in real time, including time-use data. However, only a limited number of studies have examined day-level plans to be physically active and subsequent physical activity behavior using real-time time-use data to better understand this relationship. Objective This study aims to examine whether plans to be physically active (recorded in advance on an electronic calendar) were associated with objectively assessed physical activity (accelerometry), to identify activities that replaced planned periods of physical activity by using the mobile app Life in a Day (LIAD), and to test the feasibility and acceptability of LIAD for collecting real-time time-use data. Methods The study included 48 university students who were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 protocols, which were defined by 1, 3, or 5 days of data collection. Participants were asked to record their planned activities on a Google Calendar and were provided with mobile phones with LIAD to complete time-use entries in real time for a set of categories (eg, exercise or sports, eating or cooking, school, or personal care). Participants were instructed to wear an accelerometer on their nondominant wrist during the protocol period. A total of 144 days of protocol data were collected from the 48 participants. Results Protocol data for 123 days were eligible for analysis. A Fisher exact test showed a statistically significant association between plans and physical activity behavior (P=.02). The congruence between plans and behavior was fair (Cohen κ=0.220; 95% CI 0.028-0.411). Most participants did not plan to be active, which occurred on 75.6% (93/123) of days. Of these 93 days, no physical activity occurred on 76 (81.7%) days, whereas some physical activity occurred on 17 (18.3%) days. On the remaining 24.4% (30/123) of days, some physical activity was planned. Of these 30 days, no physical activity occurred on 18 (60%) days, whereas some physical activity occurred on 12 (40%) days. LIAD data indicated that activities related to screen time most often replaced planned physical activity, whereas unplanned physical activity was often related to active transport. Feasibility analyses indicated little difficulty in using LIAD, and there were no significant differences in feasibility by protocol length. Conclusions Consistent with previous literature, physical activity plans and physical activity behaviors were linked, but not strongly linked. LIAD offers insight into the relationship between plans and behavior, highlighting the importance of active transport for physical activity and the influence of screen-related behaviors on insufficient physical activity. LIAD is a feasible and practical method for collecting time-use data in real time.


10.2196/14788 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. e14788
Author(s):  
Jereme D Wilroy ◽  
Kathleen A Martin Ginis ◽  
James H Rimmer ◽  
Huacong Wen ◽  
Jennifer Howell ◽  
...  

Background The majority of people with spinal cord injury (SCI) in the United States are not meeting the recommended guidelines for regular physical activity. Behavior change techniques (eg, goal setting and action planning) that are framed within the principles of the social cognitive theory (self-efficacy and self-regulation) have the potential to enhance physical activity behavior. Objective The aim of the study was to develop and test the usability of an electronic learning (e-learning) program for improving social cognitive factors related to physical activity behavior among people with SCI. Methods The program was created through an iterative process of development and refinement, using a modification of a similar methodology used to develop evidence-informed guidelines in health promotion for people with disabilities (Guidelines, Recommendations, and Adaptations Including Disability; GRAIDs framework). The study included 4 phases: (1) initial product creation, (2) national survey, (3) expert review, and (4) usability testing. Usability testing included both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analyses. Results The review of the program by an expert panel (n=5) and the results from a national survey (n=142) led to several refinements. Usability testing demonstrated that the program could be completed in a timely manner (<30 min). Participants reported 5 themes: (1) the program improves social cognitions related to physical activity participation; (2) reflection of physical activity behavior; (3) positive perceptions of the quality of the program; (4) positive perceptions of the program operation and effectiveness; and (5) recommendations for improvement. Each item was incorporated into a revised program version 1.0. Conclusions This study incorporated an evidence-based framework for developing a brief 30-min e-learning program for increasing the physical activity behavior among people with SCI. The Exercise Strategies Through Optimized Relevant Interactive E-learning Storytelling (e-STORIES) program could be completed in a timely manner and was reported by participants as valuable and useful for enhancing intent-to-perform physical activity in individuals with SCI. The program has the potential to be applied in a variety of settings, but feasibility testing is required before implementing in a larger trial.


2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 428-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel J. Sanders ◽  
Judith Juvancic-Heltzel ◽  
Megan L. Williamson ◽  
James N. Roemmich ◽  
Denise M. Feda ◽  
...  

Background:Increasing autonomy by manipulating the choice of available physical activity options in a laboratory setting can increase physical activity in older children and adults. However, the effect of manipulating the number of physically active choices has yet to be examined in young children in a gymnasium environment.Methods:Twenty children (n = 10 girls, 6.1 ± 1.4 years old) individually participated in 2 [low choice (LC), high choice (HC)] free-choice activity conditions for 30 minutes in a 4360 square foot gymnasium. Children had access to 2 or 8 physical activity options in the LC and HC conditions, respectively. Physical activity behavior was measured via accelerometry.Results:Children’s 30-minute accelerometer counts increased (P < .03) from the LC (2675 ± 294 counts·min-1) to the HC (3224 ± 280 counts·min-1) condition.Conclusions:Providing greater autonomy through choice of a greater number of physically active options increased young children’s physical activity participation by 20.5%.


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