scholarly journals Using a Mobile Phone App to Analyze the Relationship Between Planned and Performed Physical Activity in University Students: Observational Study

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.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matt Taylor Stewart ◽  
Taylor Nezich ◽  
Joyce Lee ◽  
Rebecca Hasson ◽  
Natalie Colabianchi

BACKGROUND Mobile device technology has been forwarded as a popular method of collecting physical activity and time use data. However, few studies have examined day-level plans to be physically active and subsequent physical activity behavior, likely due to the feasibility of collecting this data. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility and acceptability of a new mobile phone application (Life in a Day App: LIAD) for collecting real-time time-use data among college-aged students and to examine whether plans to be physically active (recorded in advance on an electronic calendar for the protocol period) were associated with objectively-assessed physical activity during the study protocol (measured by accelerometry). METHODS Forty-eight participants were randomly assigned to one of three protocols defined by the number of days of data collection (1, 3, or 5 days). Participants were asked to record their planned activities for the protocol period in a Google calendar and were provided with smartphones (Samsung Galaxy S5) with the LIAD application to complete time-use entries in real time among a set of categories (e.g., exercise/sports, eating/cooking, school, personal care). Participants were instructed to wear an accelerometer (ActiGraph wGT3X+) on their non-dominant wrist during the protocol period (i.e., 24 hours a day) in order to objectively measure physical activity. From the 48 participants, there was a total of 144 days of protocol data collected. RESULTS Overall compliance with the protocol was very high with all participants utilizing the LIAD app. Out of 144 days, 122 days of protocol data were eligible for analysis. Most participants did not plan nor participate in physical activity (76 days, 61% of total days). Activity was not planned but occurred on 17 days (14%). Activity was planned but did not occur on 18 days (15%), while activity was planned and MVPA occurred on 12 days (10%). No differences were found by sex. Activities related to screen time most often replaced planned physical activity, while unplanned physical activity most often related to active transport. The most commonly reported issues were carrying two smartphones and remembering to record activities on the LIAD application in real time. CONCLUSIONS Overall, there was moderate congruence between plans to be physically active and executed physical activity. Despite a few challenges, the LIAD app is a reasonable and practical method of collecting real-time time use data and offers insight into the relationship between planned vs. executed exercise at the day-level.


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.


2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamad Al-Tannir ◽  
Samer Kobrosly ◽  
Taha Itani ◽  
Mariam El-Rajab ◽  
Sawsan Tannir

Background:This survey aims to assess the prevalence of physical activity among adult Lebanese, and to report the relationship between sociodemographic variables and physical activity behavior, highlighting the correlates discouraging people to carry out physical activity.Methods:A cross-sectional study using an anonymous self-reported questionnaire was conducted on 346 adults from four Lebanese districts. Demographic characteristics, physical activity, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and medical history were obtained.Results:Prevalence of physical activity among Lebanese adults was 55.5% (192/346). Age, BMI, marital status, medical history, occupation, educational level, and smoking were significantly associated with physical activity (P < .05). Inactive obese participants were about three times more likely to report hypertension and diabetes than inactive normal weight participants (P = .013). BMI was significantly higher among inactive participants (P = .014).Conclusion:Physical activity among Lebanese adults was comparable to other populations. Married, non–office workers, and smokers were the main correlates of physical inactivity in Lebanese adulthood.


2010 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 417-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine M. Sabiston ◽  
Jennifer Brunet ◽  
Kent C. Kowalski ◽  
Philip M. Wilson ◽  
Diane E. Mack ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study was to test a model where body-related self-conscious emotions of shame, guilt, and pride were associated with physical activity regulations and behavior. Adult women (N = 389; M age = 29.82, SD = 15.20 years) completed a questionnaire assessing body-related pride, shame, and guilt, motivational regulations, and leisure-time physical activity. The hypothesized measurement and structural models were deemed adequate, as was a revised model examining shame-free guilt and guilt-free shame. In the revised structural model, body-related pride was positively significantly related to identified and intrinsic regulations. Body-related shame-free guilt was significantly associated with external, introjected, and identified regulations. Body-related guilt-free shame was significantly positively related to external and introjected regulation, and negatively associated with intrinsic regulation. Identified and intrinsic regulations were significantly positively related to physical activity (R2 = .62). These findings highlight the importance of targeting and understanding the realm of body-related self-conscious emotions and the associated links to regulations and physical activity behavior.


Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madeline Cooke ◽  
Alison Coates ◽  
Elizabeth Buckley ◽  
Jonathan Buckley

Lutein is a carotenoid that reduces the risk of some chronic diseases, possibly by altering physical activity behavior. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of studies examining the relationship between lutein status (dietary intake/blood concentration) and physical activity. Peer-reviewed studies published in Medline, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Scopus, and Embase were included if they reported a measure of association between lutein status and physical activity. Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria. Eleven reported positive associations, three reported mixed results, and three reported no association. Two studies used objective measures of lutein status (blood concentration) and physical activity (accelerometry) and reported positive associations, with correlations of ≥0.36 and differences of ≥57% in physical activity between upper and lower tertiles. Studies using self-report measures reported weaker correlations (r = 0.06 to 0.25), but still more physical activity (18% to ≥600% higher) in those with the highest compared with the lowest lutein status. Higher lutein status may be associated with higher levels of physical activity, which may contribute to a reduced risk of chronic disease.


2020 ◽  
Vol 108 ◽  
pp. 106313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob E. Barkley ◽  
Andrew Lepp ◽  
Antonio Santo ◽  
Ellen Glickman ◽  
Bryan Dowdell

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.


2019 ◽  
Vol 126 (6) ◽  
pp. 1084-1100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saulius Sukys ◽  
Vida J. Cesnaitiene ◽  
Arunas Emeljanovas ◽  
Brigita Mieziene ◽  
Irena Valantine ◽  
...  

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between health education and motives and barriers for university students’ engagement in leisure-time physical activity (PA). The research sample included 709 students (312 females and 397 males) in different years of study, ranging in age between 18-25 years. A questionnaire survey method revealed a significant positive relationship between fitness and health motives and students’ leisure-time PA. External barriers were negative predictors of students’ leisure-time PA, while more health education-related courses per week were positively associated with students’ leisure-time PA. Finally, we found that the number of health education-related courses per week moderated the relationship between fitness and health motives and students’ leisure-time PA. These findings suggest that university students’ fitness and health motives and external barriers to be physically active outweigh other motives and barriers in determining their leisure-time PA. In addition, health education in university studies can effectively increase students’ health-related motivation for PA.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (S1) ◽  
pp. 8-8
Author(s):  
Scott Graupensperger ◽  
Michael B. Evans

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: The goal of the present study was to advance our understanding of how alcohol use may contribute to physical inactivity among university students by investigating this association at a day-to-day level. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: In total, 57 university students (Mage=20.27; 54% male) completed daily diary questionnaires using a cellphone application, which prompted them each evening to report minutes of moderate/vigorous physical activity engaged in, and number of alcoholic drinks consumed, as well as intended minutes of physical activity for the following day. Longitudinal mixed-level modeling was used to disentangle within person and between-person effects of alcohol use on physical activity behavior and intentions. Separate models were run to investigate lagged effects of previous day alcohol use. We controlled for sex and age in all models. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Results indicated that participants’ usual alcohol use (between-person) was not associated with physical activity behavior or intentions. At the within-person level, day-to-day variance in alcohol use was negatively associated with both physical activity behavior (γ=−0.34, p=0.003) and intentions to engage in physical activity the following day (γ=−0.70, p<0.001). The lagged model indicated that previous day alcohol use negatively predicted PA behavior (γ=−0.33, p=0.004). DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Previous studies have largely been constrained to cross-sectional designs, and have surmised that there exists a positive association between alcohol use and physical activity due to trait-level differences between university students. We advance this literature by using ecological momentary assessment to investigate the within-person effects of alcohol use on physical activity at a day-to-day level while controlling for between-person variance. Contrary to existing literature, we found that on days when students consumed relatively more alcohol than they typically report, they: (a) report fewer minutes of physical activity on the same day, (b) plan to engage in relatively less physical activity on the subsequent day, and (c) engage in less physical activity on the subsequent day. By advancing our understanding of how alcohol use may curtail other health behaviors such as physical activity, we inform interventions that aim to target these behaviors in conjunction, or as part of a multiple behavior change intervention.


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