Validity of Processes of Change in Physical Activity Among College Students in the TIGER Study

Objective  

To test the factorial validity and measurement equivalence/invariance of scales used to measure processes of change derived from the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) applied to physical activity.     

Healthy for Life: A Randomized Trial Examining Physical Activity Outcomes and Psychosocial Mediators

Background

Researchers theorize that interventions increase physical activity by influencing key theory-based mediators (e.g., behavioral processes). However, few studies have been adequately powered to examine the importance of mediators.

Purpose

This study examined both physical activity behavior and psychosocial mediators in a randomized trial specifically powered to detect mediation.

Methods

Healthy, sedentary adults (n?=?448; 70 % Caucasian, 87 % women, mean age was 43) were randomly assigned to either a 6-month print-based theory tailored physical activity intervention (n?=?224) or a 6-month health/wellness contact control arm (n?=?224).

Results

The print intervention arm exhibited greater increases in physical activity than the control arm at 6 and 12 months (p?<?.05). Additionally, behavioral processes were found to be an important mediator of physical activity behavior.

Conclusions

It is important for researchers and practitioners to focus on increasing behavioral strategies for physical activity adoption. Future studies should examine other potential mediators of physical activity.     

Using Ecological Momentary Assessment to Examine Antecedents and Correlates of Physical Activity Bouts in Adults Age 50+ Years: A Pilot Study

Background  

National recommendations supporting the promotion of multiple short (10+ minute) physical activity bouts each day to increase overall physical activity levels in middle-aged and older adults underscore the need to identify antecedents and correlates of such daily physical activity episodes.     

Life Events and Changing Physical Activity Patterns in Women at Different Life Stages

Background  

The impact of life events on physical activity (PA) is little understood.     

Psychosocial Mediators of Physical Activity and Fitness Changes in the Activity Counseling Trial

Background  

Improved understanding of the mediators of physical activity (PA) interventions could lead to improvements in theory and programs.     

On the Importance of Knowing Your Partner’s Views: Attitude Familiarity is Associated with Better Interpersonal Functioning and Lower Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Daily Life

Background  

Relationships have been linked to significant physical health outcomes. However, little is known about the more specific processes that might be responsible for such links.     

Role of physical and sedentary activities in the development of depressive symptoms in early adolescence

Objective  

To examine whether levels of physical activity or sedentary activity are risk factors for the development of depressive symptoms in early adolescence.     

Determinants of Physical Activity Among People with Spinal Cord Injury: A Test of Social Cognitive Theory

Background  

Little theory-based research has focused on understanding and increasing physical activity among people with physical disabilities. Testing a social cognitive theory-based model of determinants is important for identifying variables to target in physical activity-enhancing interventions.     

Exploring the Efficacy and Moderators of Two Computer-Tailored Physical Activity Interventions for Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background  

Important health benefits can be derived when low-cost (e.g., computer-tailored) physical activity interventions for older adults demonstrate sustained effects.     

Failure of Post-Action Stages of the Transtheoretical Model to Predict Change in Regular Physical Activity: A Multiethnic Cohort Study

Background  

Predicting variation in meeting recommended levels of physical activity is important for public health evaluation.     

Change in Goal Ratings as a Mediating Variable Between Self-efficacy and Physical Activity in Older Men

Background  

Few studies have examined the associations between exercise self-efficacy, goals, and physical activity over time.     

Mediators Affecting Girls’ Levels of Physical Activity Outside of School: Findings from the Trial of Activity in Adolescent Girls

Background  

Providing after school activities is a community level approach for reducing the decline in physical activity of girls as they reach early adolescence.     

Hop,Skip … No! Explaining Adolescent Girls’ Disinclination for Physical Activity

Purpose  

This study aimed to develop and validate the Girls’ Disinclination for Physical Activity Scale (G-DAS) and implement the scale along with an objective measure of physical activity (PA) in a longitudinal sample of adolescent girls.     

Prospective relationship between objectively measured light physical activity and depressive symptoms in later life

Background

The use of self‐report measures of physical activity is a serious methodological weakness in many studies of physical activity and depressive symptoms. It is still equivocal whether light physical activity protects older adults from depressive symptoms.

Objective

This study aimed to explore whether objectively measured light physical activity, independent of sedentary and moderate‐to‐vigorous activity, is associated with a reduced risk of subsequent depressive symptoms in older adults.

Methods

This was a 2‐year prospective cohort study. A total of 285 community‐dwelling older adults aged 65 years or older were interviewed in 2012. A second wave of assessment was carried out in 2014 involving 274 (96.1%) participants. Time spent in physical activity at different intensities was assessed using triaxial accelerometers. Depressive symptoms were measured using the 15‐item Geriatric Depression Scale. Negative binomial regression models with adjustment for baseline depressive symptoms, accelerometer wear time, socio‐demographic variables, lifestyle behaviors, and chronic disease conditions were conducted.

Results

Time spent in moderate‐to‐vigorous and light physical activities were both inversely related to depressive symptoms at follow‐up. Sedentary time was associated with an increased risk of subsequent depressive symptoms. When sedentary or moderate‐to‐vigorous activity were included in the multivariable‐adjusted regression models with light physical activity simultaneously, only light physical activity remained significant. Sensitivity analyses for assessing confounding and reverse causation provided further support for the stability of these findings.

Conclusion

Light physical activity, independent of sedentary and moderate‐to‐vigorous activity, is associated with a reduced risk of subsequent depressive symptoms in later life. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Examining the Individual and Perceived Neighborhood Associations of Leisure-Time Physical Activity in Persons with Spinal Cord Injury

Background  

Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) constructs have been shown to be useful for explaining leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). However, other factors not captured by the TPB may also be important predictors of LTPA for this population.     

Television Viewing Time and Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease in Adults: The AusDiab Study

Background  

Television viewing time independent of physical activity is associated with a number of chronic diseases and related risk factors; however, its relationship with chronic kidney disease is unknown.     

Sexual dysfunction in female and male people with multiple sclerosis: disability,depression and hormonal status matter

Background and purpose

Sexual dysfunction (SD) in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) is common and an often underestimated issue in the care of pwMS. The objective of the study was to evaluate risk factors for SD in pwMS, correlate its prevalence with patient-reported measures (quality of life and physical activity) and analyse its association with hormonal status.

Methods

Sexual dysfunction was determined in 152 pwMS using the Multiple Sclerosis Intimacy and Sexuality Questionnaire 19. A logistical regression model was used to identify independent risk factors for SD.

Results

The prevalence of SD in pwMS was 47%. Independent risk factors for the development of SD were ever-smoking (odds ratio [OR] 3.4, p = 0.023), disability as measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (OR 2.0, p < 0.001), depression (OR 4.3, p = 0.047) and bladder and bowel dysfunction (OR 8.8, p < 0.001); the use of disease-modifying treatment was associated with a lower risk for SD (OR 0.32, p = 0.043). SD was associated with worse quality of life (Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale 29: physical score 6.3 vs. 40.0; psychological score 8.3 vs. 33.3; both p < 0.001) and lower physical activity (Baecke questionnaire, p < 0.001). Laboratory analysis revealed significantly higher luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels and lower 17-beta oestradiol, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, oestrone and anti-Mullerian hormone levels in female pwMS with SD. In male pwMS and SD, there was a significant decrease in inhibin B levels.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the requirement of a holistic approach to SD in MS including physical, neurourological and psychosocial factors. Active screening for SD, especially in patients with disability, depression or bladder and bowel dysfunction, is recommended.     

Maintaining Healthy Behavior: a Prospective Study of Psychological Well-Being and Physical Activity

Background

Although higher psychological well-being has been linked with a range of positive biological processes and health outcomes, the prospective association between psychological well-being and physical activity among older adults has been understudied.

Purpose

We tested whether higher baseline psychological well-being predicted higher levels of physical activity over time.

Methods

Prospective data were from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging, a nationally representative sample of English adults over the age of 50. Our sample included 9986 adults who were assessed up to six times across an average of 11 years.

Results

After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, each standard deviation increase in baseline psychological well-being was associated with higher median physical activity in linear regression models that examined physical activity across all six waves (β = 0.20; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.18–0.21) and in linear mixed effect models that examined repeated measures of physical activity over the entire follow-up period (β = 0.20; 95% CI 0.19–0.21). Further, higher baseline psychological well-being was associated with a slower rate of decline in physical activity among people who were active at baseline (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.79, 95% CI 0.76–0.82) and increasing physical activity among people who were inactive at baseline (HR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.22–1.35). Findings were maintained after adjusting for baseline health status and depression.

Conclusions

Psychological well-being was independently associated with attaining and maintaining higher physical activity levels over 11 years, suggesting that it may be a valuable target for interventions aimed at helping older adults acquire more physical activity.

     

Patterns of participation across a range of activities among Canadian children with neurodevelopmental disorders and disabilities

Aim

Children with neurodevelopmental disorders and disabilities (NDD/D) may experience barriers or restrictions to participation in activities. We examined the extent to which this is a problem for children in particular NDD/D subgroups.

Method

We analysed the 2006 Participation and Activity Limitation Survey children data set (5–14y) collected by Statistics Canada (n = 7072 and weighted n = 340 340), having identified the following NDD/D subgroups (weighted n = 77 470; 69.1% males and 30.9% females): gross or gross and fine motor (Motor⁺), communication/cognition/learning (CCL), social interaction, neurosensory (vision or vision and hearing), and psychological. We used logistic regression to assess differences in participation in supervised and unsupervised physical activities, educational activities, and social/recreational activities.

Results

Participation in some school‐based activities differed significantly among children in the NDD/D subgroups (p<0.01). Participation in supervised and unsupervised physical activity was lowest for the Motor⁺ and social interaction subgroups, and highest for the neurosensory and CCL subgroups. Participation for the psychological subgroup was mostly in the intermediate range. In contrast, participation in educational activities was lowest for the social interaction and psychological subgroups, and higher for the other groups.

Interpretation

Given the importance of participation to child health and well‐being, these differences in participation in various in‐school activities highlight an area of need regarding policies/programmes to support subgroups of children with NDD/D.     

Physical Activity and Health Outcomes Among HIV-Infected Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Longitudinal Mediational Analysis

Background

Low physical activity is associated with depression, which may, in turn, negatively impact antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among HIV-infected individuals; however, prior studies have not investigated the relationships between physical inactivity and ART non-adherence.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the association of physical inactivity, depression, ART non-adherence, and viral load in HIV-infected men who have sex with men.

Methods

The sample (N?=?860) was from a large, multicenter cohort of HIV-infected patients engaged in clinical care.

Results

Across time, depression mediated the relationship between physical inactivity and ART non-adherence (γ?=?0.075) and the relationship between physical inactivity and viral load (γ?=?0.05). ART non-adherence mediated the relationship between depression and viral load (γ?=?0.002) and the relationship between physical inactivity and viral load (γ?=?0.009).

Conclusions

Low levels of physical activity predicted increased depression and poor ART adherence over time, which subsequently predicted higher viral load.