scholarly journals Goal setting and achievement for walking: A series of n-of-1 digital interventions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillaume Chevance ◽  
Dario Baretta ◽  
Natalie Golaszewski ◽  
Michelle Takemoto ◽  
Sama Shrestha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Goal Setting ◽  
Goal Achievement ◽  
Additive Models ◽  
Performance Goals ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Performance Goal ◽  
Random Factor ◽  
Goal Difficulty ◽  
Physical Activity Levels

Objective: Despite evidence that goal setting is valuable for physical activity promotion, recent studies highlighted a potential over oversimplification in the application of this behavior change technique. While more difficult performance goals might trigger higher physical activity levels, higher performance goals might concurrently be more difficult to achieve, which could reduce long-term motivation. This study examined i) the association between performance goal difficulty and physical activity and ii) the association between performance goal difficulty and goal achievement. Methods: This study used data from an e-Health intervention among inactive overweight adults (n = 20). The study duration included a 2-week baseline period and an intervention phase of 80 days. During the intervention, participants received a daily step goal experimentally manipulated by taking participants’ baseline physical activity median (i.e., number of steps) multiplied by a pseudo-random factor ranging from 1 to 2.6. A continuous measure of goal achievement was inferred for each day by dividing the daily number of steps by the goal prescribed that day. Linear and generalized additive models were fit for each participant. Results: The results confirm that, for a majority of the participants involved in the study, performance goal difficulty was positively and significantly associated with physical activity (n=14), but, concurrently, negatively and significantly associated with goal achievement (n=19). These associations were mainly linear. Conclusion: At the daily level, setting a higher physical activity goal leads to engaging in higher physical activity levels, but concurrently lower goal achievement.

The Association Among Social Support, Self-Efficacy, Use of Mobile Apps, and Physical Activity: Structural Equation Models With Mediating Effects (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taotao Wang ◽  
Mengyuan Ren ◽  
Ying Shen ◽  
Xiaorou Zhu ◽  
Xing Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Support ◽  
College Students ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Support Level ◽  
Physical Activity Levels

BACKGROUND Physical inactivity is a risk factor for chronic noncommunicable diseases. Insufficient physical activity has become an important public health problem worldwide. As mobile apps have rapidly developed, physical activity apps have the potential to improve the level of physical activity among populations. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the effect of physical activity apps on levels of physical activity among college students. METHODS A Web-based questionnaire was used to survey college students in Beijing from December 27, 2017, to January 5, 2018. According to a previous survey, 43% of college students using physical activity apps and 36% of those who never used such apps achieved the physical activity recommendations. In this study, the sample size was calculated to be 500. The questionnaire consisted of 5 parts: the use of physical activity apps, sports habits, social support, self-efficacy, and social demographic information. Structural equation modeling was used to test the relationships between the use of physical activity apps, self-efficacy, social support, and level of physical activity. RESULTS Of the 1245 participants, 384 college students (30.8%) used physical activity apps (in the past month). Of these 384 students, 191 (49.7%) gained new friends via the app. College students who were using physical activity apps had a higher level of physical activity and higher scores for social support and self-efficacy (<italic>P</italic>&lt;.001) than those who did not use such apps. The use of physical activity apps significantly affected the mediating effect of physical activity level through social support (beta=.126; <italic>P</italic>&lt;.001) and self-efficacy (beta=.294; <italic>P</italic>&lt;.001). Gender played an important role in app use, self-efficacy, and physical activity in the mediation model: male users spent more time on physical activity and had higher self-efficacy scores (<italic>P</italic>&lt;.001). CONCLUSIONS This study focused on college students in Beijing and found that the use of physical activity apps is associated with higher physical activity levels among these students. This effect is mainly through the mediation effect of social support and self-efficacy, rather than the direct effect of physical activity apps. The use of physical activity apps is associated with a higher social support level and higher self-efficacy score. Furthermore, a high social support level and high self-efficacy score are associated with higher physical activity levels.

scholarly journals Physical activity levels among ovarian cancer survivors: a prospective longitudinal cohort study

2021 ◽  
pp. ijgc-2020-002107
Author(s):  
Tamara Jones ◽  
Carolina Sandler ◽  
Dimitrios Vagenas ◽  
Monika Janda ◽  
Andreas Obermair ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Stage Iv ◽  
Multiple Time ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal Study ◽  
Physical Activity Advice ◽  
Physical Activity Levels ◽  
Multiple Time Points ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal

ObjectivePhysical activity following cancer diagnosis is associated with improved outcomes, including potential survival benefits, yet physical activity levels among common cancer types tend to decrease following diagnosis and remain low. Physical activity levels following diagnosis of less common cancers, such as ovarian cancer, are less known. The objectives of this study were to describe physical activity levels and to explore characteristics associated with physical activity levels in women with ovarian cancer from pre-diagnosis to 2 years post-diagnosis.MethodsAs part of a prospective longitudinal study, physical activity levels of women with ovarian cancer were assessed at multiple time points between pre-diagnosis and 2 years post-diagnosis. Physical activity levels and change in physical activity were described using metabolic equivalent task hours and minutes per week, and categorically (sedentary, insufficiently, or sufficiently active). Generalized Estimating Equations were used to explore whether participant characteristics were related to physical activity levels.ResultsA total of 110 women with ovarian cancer with a median age of 62 years (range 33–88) at diagnosis were included. 53–57% of the women were sufficiently active post-diagnosis, although average physical activity levels for the cohort were below recommended levels throughout the 2-year follow-up period (120–142.5min/week). A decrease or no change in post-diagnosis physical activity was reported by 44–60% of women compared with pre-diagnosis physical activity levels. Women diagnosed with stage IV disease, those earning a lower income, those receiving chemotherapy, and those currently smoking or working were more likely to report lower physical activity levels and had increased odds of being insufficiently active or sedentary.ConclusionsInterventions providing patients with appropriate physical activity advice and support for behavior change could potentially improve physical activity levels and health outcomes.

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