Age Differences in Motivational Orientation Toward Physical Activity: An Application of Social—Cognitive Theory

Influencing Factors of Women's Sports Participation Based on Self-Determination Theory: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction

The lack of physical exercise is a global health concern, particularly affecting women. However, there is limited research on factors influencing women's sports participation. Recent studies on increasing women's physical activity levels differ in methodologies and conclusions. Motivation, as the cornerstone of most human behaviors, has important effects on female motor participation. Self-Determination Theory (SDT) is an important method to study human behavioral motivation and supported by empirical evidence. In the field of women's sports, the SDT is also widely used. This review explores the impact of SDT-related factors on women's sports participation, considering age variations. It aims to guide future empirical research and promote PA across demographics.

Methods

This review, by searching the existing empirical literature in Web of Science, Google Scholar, Elsevier ScienceDirect, CNKI, obtained 32 independent studies, conducted a meta-analysis after coding them, considering 11 influencing factors from the integration of SDT and Basic Psychological Needs Theory.

Results/Conclusion

The study found a significant positive correlation between autonomous motivation and women's sports participation, with identified regulation having the strongest influence. Controlled motivation showed no significant impact on women's exercise, while amotivation had an inhibitory effect. Enhancing women's perception of autonomy, competence, and relatedness significantly promotes sports participation. Age differences were observed in the relationship between autonomous motivation, basic psychological needs, and sports participation, with the strongest effects on women aged 25-40, while the impact was relatively weaker in older women. The correlation between basic psychological needs and female sports participation also has a significant age difference. Thus, different measures should be taken to improve exercise participation in women of different age groups.

The association between the child's age and mothers' physical activity: results from the population-based German National Cohort study

BACKGROUND

Since physical activity is an important determinant of physical and mental health, lower levels of physical activity among mothers reported in previous research are concerning. The aim of this study was to examine whether physical activity levels differ among mothers depending on the age of the youngest child.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data from the German National Cohort study, comprising 3959 mothers aged 22-72 years with offspring aged 0-54 years (grouped into 0-5, 6-11, 12-17, 18-29 and > 30 years) was used. The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) was used to assess physical activity among mothers in leisure time, transport and (occupational and non-occupational) work settings, quantified as MET-minutes per week. Means (with 95% confidence interval) of mothers' weekly MET-minutes were visualized in graphs, stratified by mothers' and the youngest child's age. Linear regression analyses assessed the association between the child's age and self-reported time and intensity of mothers' physical activity within each activity domain and for the total physical activity.

RESULTS

Adjusted results suggested that the MET-minutes in work settings were lower among mothers with younger children. This association was clearest in mothers whose youngest child was under 12 years old, among whom lower self-reported physical activity at work compared to mothers with children at age 30 and older was found. No association was observed between the age of the youngest child and mothers' MET-minutes in leisure nor in transport settings. The self-reported physical activity of mothers whose youngest child was in the same child age group was found to be lower with increased maternal age. As expected, the work related activity dominated the self-reported physical activity.

CONCLUSIONS

The results show differences in mothers' self-reported physical activity by the age of the youngest child. The strongest difference was related to physical activity in work settings, indicating the need for supportive actions.

Optimizing the physical activity intervention for older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a factorial randomized trial

Background

Physical activity (PA) intervention is one of the most effective interventions to promote cognitive function of older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, the level of PA remains low. Based on the two core interventions (X-CircuiT and health education), this study aimed to examine the effect of three implementation strategies (viz., role modeling, goal-setting, and reminding) on the PA level among older adults with MCI using the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST).

Methods

Participants were randomized into one of eight conditions in a factorial design involving three factors with two levels: (i) role modeling (on vs. off); (ii) goal-setting (on vs. off); and (iii) reminding (on vs. off). The primary outcome was PA level at 12 weeks. The secondary outcomes were cognitive function, self-efficacy, and cost-effectiveness at 12 weeks. The intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis was performed as the main analysis and the per-protocol (PP) analysis as the sensitivity analysis.

Results

A total of 107 participants were included and randomly assigned into three groups, each receiving different implementation strategies. The results of the multivariate regression analysis showed that the three implementation strategies, namely, reminding (B = 0.31, p < 0.01), role modeling (B = 0.21, p < 0.01), and goal-setting (B = 0.19, p < 0.01), could significantly improve PA level. Specifically, it was found that role modeling (B = 0.68, p = 0.03) could significantly improve cognitive function. There were no significant interactions among the three implementation strategies. Role modeling was the most cost-effective strategy, costing 93.41 RMB for one unit of PA.

Conclusions

Role modeling was likely to be the best implementation strategy. The value-based and cost-effective PA intervention package could include the core intervention (X-CircuiT and health education) and implementation strategy (role modeling).

Clinical Trial Registration

https://www.chictr.org.cn, The study was retrospectively registered on 30 June 2022 (ChiCTR2200061693).

Development and Validation of the Amharic Version of Self-Efficacy and Outcome Expectancy Measures on Intention to Take Preventive Actions on Noncommunicable Disease

This study is aimed at developing and accessing the validity and reliability of an Amharic version of the self-efficacy and outcome expectancy measures on noncommunicable disease prevention strategies. The intentions to take protective measures on NCDs' self-efficacy and outcome expectancy scales were created in Amharic using a sequential nine-step process that included translation and contextualization of the items, content validity, pretesting of the questions, sampling, and survey administration. Principal component analysis was conducted on 829 university students which showed a one-factor solution for self-efficacy and a three-factor solution for outcome expectancy scales using split-half measures. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the factor structure, which also demonstrated good internal consistency (.828 self-efficacy, .766 outcome expectancy). The scales had a moderate level of correlation (r = .35, p.001) between them. The study resulted in reliable and valid Amharic versions of self-efficacy (9-item) and outcome expectancy (12-item) scales.

Association between physical activity, sedentary time, and physical fitness of female college students in China

BACKGROUND

Prior research has highlighted the importance of Physical Activity (PA), Sedentary Time (ST), and Physical Fitness (PF) for health. However, there is limited research on the association between PA, ST, and PF in the context of female college students, particularly in Eastern cultures. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the association between PA, ST, and PF among Eastern female college students to inform policy and practice.

METHODS

The study was conducted from February to May 2022 at East China Normal University, Shanghai, China. A total of 512 Chinese female college students participated in this study through snowball sampling. Participants' PA and ST were investigated using the International PA Questionnaire, and PF was measured using the Chinese National Student Physical Fitness Test. Independent samples t-test and binary logistic regression were used to compare the differences in PF between Active Participants (AP) and Inactive Participants (IP), as well as between Low Sedentary Participants (LSP) and High Sedentary Participants (HSP). Multinomial logistic regression was used to compare the differences in PF between Active and Low Sedentary Participants (ALSP), Active and High Sedentary Participants (AHSP), Inactive and Low Sedentary Participants (ILSP), and Inactive and High Sedentary Participants (IHSP). Data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 28. The level of significance was set at 0.05.

RESULTS

AP showed significantly higher cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.05) and overall fitness (p < 0.01) than IP. Compared to IP, AP was less likely to be classified as unfit in terms of cardiorespiratory fitness [Odds Ratio (OR), 0.57; 95% Confidence Interval (CI), 0.38-0.85; p < 0.05]. Compared to IHSP, ALSP (OR, 0.44; 95% CI 0.25-0.76; p < 0.01) and AHSP (OR, 0.54; 95% CI 0.32-0.93; p < 0.05) were less likely to be classified as unfit in terms of cardiorespiratory fitness. Furthermore, compared to IHSP, AHSP (OR, 1.66; 95% CI 1.02-2.70; p < 0.05) and ILSP (OR, 2.09; 95% CI 1.16-3.77; p < 0.05) were more likely to be classified as unfit in terms of their flexibility.

CONCLUSION

There was a positive association between PA, cardiorespiratory fitness, and overall fitness. There was also an association between cardiorespiratory fitness, flexibility, and the combination of PA and ST. These findings suggest that both PA and ST can influence different PF items. Therefore, we recommend that public health policy and practice for college female students should consider PF items when selecting different PA and ST intervention strategies.

Development and validation of self-efficacy and intention measures for spending time in nature

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate the reliability and validity of self-efficacy and intentions measures for time spent in nature (TSN). TSN is related to improvement in psychological well-being and health, yet most American adults spend very little time in such settings. Theory-based interventions have been effective in increasing physical activity, a related behavior, and may be one mechanism to increase TSN. Self-efficacy and intentions have been shown to be strong predictors of health behaviors and are used across several theories. However, scales to measure these factors have not yet been developed and are needed to facilitate effective interventions.

METHODS

TSN self-efficacy and intentions scales were developed using a sequential nine-step procedure: identification of the domain and item generation; content validity; pre-testing of questions; sampling and survey administration; item reduction; extraction of factors; tests of dimensionality; tests of reliability; and tests of validity. The 14-member multidisciplinary, researcher and practitioner investigative team generated 50 unique items for self-efficacy and 24 unique items for intentions. After subjecting items to content validity and pre-testing, item sets were reduced to 21 assessing self-efficacy and nine assessing intentions. A nationwide sample of 2109 adult participants (49.7% female, Mean Age = 58.1; 59.8% White, 18.4% Hispanic, 13.3% Black) answered these items via an on-line survey.

RESULTS

Using split-half measures, principal components analysis indicated a one-factor solution for both scales. The factor structure was upheld in confirmatory factor analyses and had high internal consistency (α = .93 self-efficacy; .91 intentions). The scales were moderately correlated with each other (r = .56, p < .001) and were strongly related to TSN with large effect sizes (eta2 > .20).

CONCLUSIONS

The study resulted in reliable and valid self-efficacy (14 items) and intentions (8 items) scales that can be used to develop future theory-based interventions to increase TSN and thereby improve population health.

Physical Activity Level of Physically Independent Older Adults in a Densely Populated City

The aim of this study was to estimate older adults’ physical activity level in all types and categories of physical activities and calculate their total physical activity level. This cross-sectional descriptive study estimated the physical activity level of older adults on a quota sample of 500 physically independent older adults living in a densely populated city (in this case, Hong Kong). It used the Physical Activity Questionnaire (Hong Kong version) to assess participants’ physical activity level. Based on the frequency, duration, and intensity of each type of physical activity being performed by the participants, their physical activity level in terms of energy expenditure (in kilocalories per day) for all types and categories of physical activities and the total physical activity level were calculated. Independent t test or analysis of variance, whatever appropriate, was used to examine the difference in the total physical activity level between participants with different individual characteristics. Linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the contribution of individual characteristics to the total physical activity level (p < .05). Results indicated that the participants mostly engaged in leisurely sitting, watching television, listening to radio, and leisurely walking. They spent the greatest amount of energy on the category of “leisure activity” (710.77 kcal/day). Their total physical activity level was 1,727.09 kcal/day, which was much less than previously reported. Linear regression indicates that age accounted for 3.1% of the variance of the total physical activity level (p = .001) with senior older adults warranting additional support. Future research is suggested to confirm the role of specific neighborhood-level factors on the physical activity performance of older adults.

Individual and Economic Characteristics as Determinants of Brazilian Runners’ Motivation

Due to differences in runners’ profiles, which can be related to sociodemographic characteristics, motivations for running can vary. This study aimed to identify Brazilian runners’ motivations for their practice, and the factors associated among runners who point to look for performance improvement as their main motivation. The sample comprised 1097 non-professional road runners. The questionnaire “Profile characterization and associated factors for runner’s performance” was used. The results showed that the oldest athletes and those with the highest income levels presented lower likelihood of reporting performance improvement as their main motivation for taking part in running. In terms of income level, results showed that as this increased, there was a lower chance of getting involved in practice with a focus on incremental improvements in performance. Differences between sexes were also observed, with men more likely to indicate performance improvement as their motivation for running. In Brazil, most runners reported “health” as their main motivation for running. Women, older runners, and those with higher income levels were less likely to point to performance improvements as their main motivation for taking up running.

Intrinsic Rewards and Employee's Performance With the Mediating Mechanism of Employee's Motivation

The prime goal of this study is to analyze the impact of intrinsic rewards on the performance of an employee. It also focuses on the role of motivation of the employee as an intervening factor. To achieve this objective, data have been collected through the questionnaire method from small and medium enterprises of Pakistan. A total of 400 questionnaires were distributed to the target population, and 300 were received. To test the hypotheses, the confirmatory factor analysis and the structural equation modeling have been used. The main results of the study have shown a positive and significant impact of intrinsic rewards on the performance of the employee. Specifically, the study reveals that the motivation of an employee significantly mediates the association between intrinsic rewards and the performance of the employee. In the light of the findings, implications are outlined.

Adherence and characteristics of participants enrolled in a standardised programme of patient education and exercises for low back pain, GLA:D® Back - a prospective observational study

BACKGROUND

Low back pain is often long-lasting, and implementation of low-cost interventions to improve care and minimise its burden is needed. GLA:D® Back is an evidence-based programme consisting of patient education and supervised exercises for people with low back pain, which was implemented nationwide in primary care clinics in Denmark. To assess how the intervention was received and factors influencing adherence to the program, we aimed to evaluate participants' adherence to the intervention and identified characteristics related to the completion of GLA:D® Back. Specifically, we investigated: 1) level of attendance of participants enrolled in the programme, and 2) participant-related factors associated with low attendance.

METHODS

Primary care clinicians delivered GLA:D® Back, a standardised 10-week programme of 2 educational and 16 supervised exercise sessions, to patients with low back pain. Attendance was defined as low, medium or high based on self-reported number of attended sessions. Additional participant-reported data included demographic characteristics, pain, prognostic risk profiles, self-efficacy, illness-beliefs, function and clinician-reported physical performance tests. Results for high, medium, low, and unknown attendance were reported descriptively. Odds ratios for low attendance compared to medium/high attendance were calculated by including all baseline factors in a mixed-model logistic regression model.

RESULTS

Of 1730 participants, 52% had high, 23% medium, and 25% low levels of attendance. Level of attendance was not strongly associated with participants' individual factors, but in combination, prediction of low attendance was fair (AUC 0.77; 95% CI 0.74-0.79). The strongest indicator of low attendance was not completing the baseline questionnaire.

CONCLUSIONS

Most participants of a 10-week low back pain programme attended almost all session. Non-response to the baseline questionnaire was strongly associated with low attendance, whereas individual patient characteristics were weakly related to attendance. Not completing baseline questionnaires might be an early indicator of poor adherence in programs for people with persistent low back pain.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The Health Research Ethics for Southern Denmark decided there was no need for ethical approval (S-20172000-93). The Danish data collection has obtained authorisation from the Danish Data Protection Agency as part of the University of Southern Denmark's institutional authorisation (DPA no. 2015-57-0008 SDU no. 17/30591). The trial was registred at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03570463 .

Understanding of Physical Activity in Social Ecological Perspective: Application of Multilevel Model

In the social ecological model, personal characteristics are important determinants of health behaviors, however, multi-dimensional approaches that consider social and physical environments must be utilized to gain a broader picture. Accordingly, this study examines the effects of personal, social, and physical environment variables as factors affecting levels of physical activity (METs). Our findings are based on 72,916 responses from the 2015 Community Health Survey in South Korea. Individual characteristics considered included sex, education level, marital status, age, and income. The social environment variables considered were trust between neighbors and the social network with neighbors. The physical environment variables were satisfaction with living environment and satisfaction with public transportation. The analysis was conducted using a multilevel model in order to accurately consider the characteristic differences of the variables. Regarding personal characteristics, sex, education level, and age have a significant effect on physical activity. Of the social and physical environment variables, social network with neighbors and satisfaction with public transportation have a significant effect on physical activity. This study confirms that a macroscopic understanding is needed to explain individual levels of physical activity; the results of this study will be helpful for public health interventions concerning physical activity.

Age-related differences in the associations of physical environmental factors and psychosocial factors with accelerometer-assessed physical activity

The aim of the current study was to examine age-related differences in the associations of physical environmental and psychosocial factors with accelerometer-assessed MVPA across three age groups (adolescents, adults, and older adults). Therefore, data from three studies with a comparable study protocol were combined. Results showed that both physical environmental factors and psychosocial factors were most strongly associated with MVPA in older adults. Consequently, health behavior interventions for older adults should focus on physical environmental factors as well as psychosocial factors. While adolescents and adults may benefit less from such interventions.

What Encourages Physically Inactive People to Start Running? An Analysis of Motivations to Participate in Parkrun and City Trail in Poland

The aim of this study was to investigate the motivations for beginner runners to take part in Parkrun Poznań and City Trail Poznań, Poland, taking into account their socio-demographical variables. A total of 165 (age: 36.33 ± 10.38) inexperienced runners participated in the diagnostic survey and completed the MOMS (Motivations of Marathoner Scale) questionnaire. The sample consisted of 82 men (49.7%) and 83 women (50.3%). The results showed that men were more likely to start running due to competition-related motivations, while the motivations of women were more often related to affiliation, psychological coping, life meaning, and self-esteem. As age increased, the level of motivation due to personal goal achievement, competition, and recognition scales decreased. The Affiliation Scale was especially important for singles who started running, in comparison with runners who were married or in a relationship. These factors should be taken into consideration by event managers and public health specialists. Promoting safe running among people who have no experience with this sport is as important as encouraging them to run. All runners stated that they would like to run a marathon in the future. Moreover, thanks to initiatives such as City Trail and Parkrun, Polish respondents feel motivated to lead an active lifestyle, with an average score of 4.98 on a 7-point Likert scale.

Experiences of a Teacher in Relation to the Student's Feelings of Learned Helplessness

This paper is based on the concern of a novice physical education teacher to reinforce the self-esteem and motor competence sensations of students during lessons. This concern arises from the experiences gained as a student. I draw on autobiographical narratives to delve into how these experiences led me to develop a feeling of learned incompetence, a sense of failure within the educational system and, consequently, an obvious difficulty to shape my personal and professional identity. However, it is these same experiences that condition professional development and teaching practice. Thus, I attempt to break from pedagogical models and to offer a dignified and democratic education to students. I attempt to engage the reader by communicating the subjectivity of different moments in a provocative, fragmented, physical, and emotional manner. Thus, I share the concerns, reflections, and manner of working, as a teacher, in the form of autobiographical reports and class journals. The intention is to understand how this manner of working responds to the feelings of incompetence learned by school children.

Physical activity and its associated factors in females with type 2 diabetes in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Despite the benefits of physical activity (PA) for the management of type 2 diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), the topic of PA is poorly addressed in Saudi Arabia (SA), especially in females with T2DM. The present study examined PA and its associated factors in females with T2DM in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This observational cross-sectional study was performed in a random sample of 372 women with T2DM. A face-to-face interview that covered PA, health and environmental correlates of PA was performed. Discriminant analysis was used to determine which barriers had the greatest impact on PA in these women. The results showed that approximately 26.3% of the study participants met PA recommendations. Multivariate linear regression revealed lower levels of PA were associated with women who had more than three children (β = -0.17) compared to women with no children, older age (β = -0.18), women with a duration of diabetes ≥ 6 years (β = -0.16), women who were obese (β = -0.23), women with no family support (β = -0.20), no friend support (β = -0.13) and no healthcare provider support (β = -0.14). Discriminant analysis indicated that culture and tradition, lack of skills and knowledge, safety, fatigue, lack of time, weather conditions, and lack of facilities were the barriers that differentiated between the women who met and those who did not meet the PA recommendations. The present study suggests that the prevalence of PA is low and number of children, age, duration of diabetes, Obesity, family support, friend support and healthcare provider support are identified correlates of PA. These findings are valuable and should be used to design and implement future PA interventions, especially for women with T2DM. Healthcare providers may improve exercise levels and identify the specific barriers to reaching the recommended level of PA to improve health outcomes for each patient.

Measurement invariance and latent mean differences of the Chinese version physical activity self-efficacy scale across gender and education levels

BACKGROUND

Self-efficacy has been identified as an important determinant of youth's behavior change including physical activity (PA) participation. However, the dimensionality check of a PA self-efficacy scale has rarely been conducted in China. The current study aims to examine (1) the unidimensionality of a shortened Chinese version of PA self-efficacy scale (S-PASESC); (2) the measurement invariance of S-PASESC across gender and levels of education; (3) the latent factor mean difference between gender and levels of education; (4) the direct effects of self-efficacy on PA by different gender and education levels; and (5) the comparisons of the direct effects of self-efficacy on PA across gender and education levels.

METHODS

The participants were 5th through 11th grade public school students recruited from 7 cities located in different geographic regions of China. The final data include a total of 3003 participants (49.7% boys) who have completed the scales.

RESULTS

Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) test supported the unidimensionality of S-PASESC. The S-PASESC is invariant across gender and 3 levels of education at both configural, full metric, and full scalar levels. Findings from latent mean comparisons showed that boys reported higher PA self-efficacy than girls. Students' perceived PA self-efficacy tend to decrease from elementary to high school. Finally, self-efficacy positively related to PA by groups of different gender and education levels and the relationship between self-efficacy and PA is stronger among middle school boys than girls.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest S-PASESC is a valid scale for measuring Chinese students' PA self-efficacy.

Predictors of Psychological Well-being among Malaysian Graduates

Investigations in the field of psychology have traditionally paid attention to studying mental health problems and their prevention (Kaplan, Shema, & Leite, 2008; Kokko, Korkalainen, Lyyra, & Feldt, 2012). However, a lack of psychological problems is not necessarily an indicator of the psychological well-being of individuals. Therefore, this study is an attempt to investigate the extent to which the components of cognitive emotion regulation, social support, and physical activity influence the psychological well-being of graduate students in a Malaysian university (University Putra Malaysia). A total of 534 graduate students were selected from this university and the sample size was determined by proportional sampling. Data was analyzed using the Structural Equation Model. The findings of the study revealed that the psychological well-being of Malaysian graduate students was significantly influenced by planning, catastrophyzing, significant others' support, reappraisal, other-blame, self-blame, friend support, putting into perspective, acceptance, and walking. Among these, it appeared that planning was the main strategy that influenced the psychological well-being of the Malaysian graduate students in this study.

Measuring outcome expectancy value of leisure-time physical activity for African Americans

A scale was adapted from existing scales to measure the outcome expectancy value (EV) as one of contributory factors to leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and was administered to 649 African American adults. The eligible participants (N = 569) for the analysis were split into three subsamples (rate = 0.5 : 0.25 : 0.25) respectively for Exploratory Factor Analysis (N = 285) and cross-validation (N = 142 for the calibration group and N = 142 for the validation group) to evaluate the psychometric properties of the scale. Item analysis of the scale provided adequate psychometric properties. The 2-factor solution with positive and negative outcome EV subscales was supported based on the exploratory factor analysis and the multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis for both the calibration and validation samples. The results support the factorial construct validity and criterion validity of the outcome EV scale applied to assess LTPA in a sample of church-going African Americans.

Physical activity level and associated factors among civil servants in Xi'an, China

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated physical activity levels and associated factors among civil servants in Xi'an, China, to provide reference data for the implementation of health improvement strategies among civil servants.

DESIGN

A cross-section study.

METHODS

A random sample of 1000 civil servants aged 18-60 years and employed by the Xi'an civic government was assessed by using the Chinese version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Associations between physical activity and sociodemographic characteristics, family history of chronic disease, and existing disease were evaluated by the Mann-Whitney U-test, Kruskal-Wallis H-test, and binary logistic regression.

RESULTS

The response rate was 92.4%. The median physical activity score was 2227 metabolic equivalents of task (MET) minutes per week (interquartile range [IQR]: 1308-3802METmin/week). Among the 924 participants, 7.4% did not meet minimum recommendations for physical activity, 57.3% had moderate activity levels, and 35.4% had high activity levels. Participants spent most of their time on occupational activities (median: 869METmin/week, IQR: 228-1953METmin/week). Female sex (odds ratio [OR]:0.40, 95% confidence interval [CI]:0.29-0.55), age≥51 years (OR: 0.45, 95%CI: 0.27-0.75), and family history of chronic disease (OR: 0.67, 95%CI: 0.48-0.94) were associated with significantly lower odds of a high activity level.

CONCLUSIONS

Most civil servants in Xi'an, China, have moderate activity levels. Some have high activity levels, but few engage in vigorous-intensity physical activity. Interventions to encourage a high level of physical activity are needed, especially for women, older civil servants, and those with family histories of chronic disease.

Gender differences in neighborhood walking in older adults

OBJECTIVE

This study examined mobility, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, neighborhood (density, destinations, and design), and neighborhood walking in older men (n = 106, 60-99 years, M = 76.78, SD = 8.12) and women (n = 216, 60-99 years, M = 75.81, SD = 8.46).

METHOD/RESULTS

In hierarchical regression, the variables explained 32% of the variance in neighborhood walking in men (p < .001) and 27% of the variance in women (p < .01). Self-efficacy (β = .49, p < .01), density (β= .22, p < .05), and design (β= .21, p = .05) were associated with walking in men. Significant design characteristics included sidewalks (β= .25, p < .05) and crime (β= .36, p < .01). In women, self-efficacy (β= .48, p < .001) and destinations (β= .15, p < .05) were associated with walking. Walking was associated with self-efficacy for walking despite individual barriers in women (β= .38, p < .001) and neighborhood barriers in men (β= .30, p < .05).

CONCLUSION

Walking interventions targeting older women should incorporate local destinations. In older men, interventions should consider neighborhood sidewalk design and crime. Walking interventions for all older adults should include enhancement of self-efficacy, but gender differences may exist in the types of self-efficacy on which to focus.

The prevalence of physical activity and its associated factors among Malaysian adults: findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2011

OBJECTIVES

Despite the health-enhancing benefits of physical activity, a large segment of the Malaysian population does not engage in regular physical activity at the recommended level. This study aimed to determine physical activity patterns and the associated sociodemographic correlates of physical activity.

STUDY DESIGN

Data on physical activity were obtained from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2011, a nationally representative, population-based cross-sectional study. A two-stage stratified sampling method was used to select a representative sample of Malaysian adults aged 16 years and above.

METHODS

A total of 19,145 adults aged 16 years and above were recruited, and face-to-face interviews were conducted using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), short version. The correlates for physical activity were identified using multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

In this study, 64.3% (95%CI: 63.1-65.5) of Malaysian adults aged 16 and above were physically active, but overall physical activity levels decreased with advancing age. Men, rural residents, 'other' ethnic groups, and married women were more likely to demonstrate higher levels of physical activity.

CONCLUSION

Approximately 65% of Malaysian adults were physically active. However, it is recommended that health promotions for active lifestyles should be targeted to the least active segments, which constitute more than a quarter of the Malaysian population.

Exercise motives in a sample of Brazilian university students

The present study aimed to identify the exercise motives according to selected socio-demographic indicators in university students. The sample was comprised of 2,380 individuals (1,213 men and 1,167 women) aged between 18 and 35 years. The exercise motives were identified with the Portuguese-translated version of the Exercise Motivations Inventory (EMI-2). University students gave significantly greater importance to exercise for reasons identified as Disease Prevention. Factors that are less relevant in statistical language were identified in a context of motivation associated with Social Recognition and Competition. Sex, age, family economic class, experience with exercise and body weight had a significant effect on the level of importance of exercise among university students. In conclusion, the results found can contribute to the development of physical activity promotion programs and a possible reduction in the number of dropouts among university students.

Fatores motivacionais associados à prática de exercício físico em estudantes universitários

O estudo identificou fatores motivacionais associados à prática de exercício físico em estudantes universitários mediante versão traduzida e adaptada do Exercise Motivation Inventory. Metodologia: participaram do estudo 63 sujeitos (20 e 30 anos). Resultados: Os fatores motivacionais mais importantes foram Prevenção de Doenças, Prazer/Bem-Estar e Condição Física. Diferenças significativas entre os gêneros foram observadas em cinco fatores motivacionais: Afiliação (p < 0,01), Competição (p < 0,01), Controle do Peso Corporal (p < 0,04), Reabilitação da saúde (p < 0,03) e Reconhecimento Social (p < 0,05). Conclusão: importantes aspectos motivacionais devem ser considerados em intervenções direcionadas à promoção da prática de exercício físico em estudantes universitários.

Physical Activity in Middle-aged and Young-old Adults

This study tests the associations of self-efficacy, outcome expectancies, perceived barriers, self-regulatory behaviors and social support with physical activity. Data from 116 married community-dwelling middle-aged and young-old couples ( M = 58.86 years, SD = 7.16, range = 50 to 75) were collected via mail-in survey. The model indicated that self-efficacy was directly and indirectly related to physical activity through outcome expectancies, perceived barriers and self-regulatory behaviors. The results clarify the associations among the social cognitive constructs and physical activity, and suggest that interventions targeting multiple social cognitive constructs could increase the activity levels of middle-aged and young-old adults.

A Randomized Clinical Trial of Aquatic versus Land Exercise to Improve Balance, Function, and Quality of Life in Older Women with Osteoporosis

PURPOSE

Despite the decreased gravitational loading that is experienced in an aquatic environment, little research has been conducted on this exercise medium for women with osteoporosis (OP). Aquatic exercise (AE) may improve function and balance, thus ultimately decreasing fall risk and the potential for hip fractures in this high-risk population.

METHOD

A total of 68 women with OP, aged 60 years or older, were recruited into a randomized clinical trial evaluating the impact of AE, land exercise (LE), and no exercise (NE) on balance, functional mobility, and quality of life (QOL).

RESULTS

Only one balance measure (backward tandem walk) significantly improved with AE compared to LE, but this did not translate into a greater improvement in self-report function. There were no significant differences between the exercise interventions and NE, except for in ratings of global change, where participants in the AE group were three times more likely to report improvement than those in the NE group.

CONCLUSION

There were no differences in balance, function, or QOL in women with OP who followed an AE or LE programme compared to those in an NE control group. However, the significant differences in backward tandem walk between the AE and LE groups and self-reported global change between the AE and NE groups warrant further investigation. Significant improvements in balance and global change suggest that AE is a viable alternative for older women with OP who have difficulty exercising on land.

A proposal for a new screening paradigm and tool called Exercise Assessment and Screening for You (EASY)

The Exercise Assessment and Screening for You (EASY) is a tool developed to help older individuals, their health care providers, and exercise professionals identify different types of exercise and physical activity regimens that can be tailored to meet the existing health conditions, illnesses, or disabilities of older adults. The EASY tool includes 6 screening questions that were developed based on an expert roundtable and follow-up panel activities. The philosophy behind the EASY is that screening should be a dynamic process in which participants learn to appreciate the importance of engaging in regular exercise, attending to health changes, recognizing a full range of signs and symptoms that might indicate potentially harmful events, and becoming familiar with simple safety tips for initiating and progressively increasing physical activity patterns. Representing a paradigm shift from traditional screening approaches that focus on potential risks of exercising, this tool emphasizes the benefits of exercise and physical activity for all individuals.

Comparison Style, Physical Self-Perceptions, and Fitness among Older Women

This study examined the relationships between older women’s comparison styles, physical self-perceptions, and functional fitness. Participants were community-dwelling women (N= 102, age 65-99) living in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Individuals were categorized as relying primarily on social comparisons, temporal comparisons, or a combination of both styles. Also of interest was whether individuals evaluated themselves positively or negatively when making comparisons. Participants who evaluated themselves positively as compared with others were found to have higher levels of physical self-perception. Analyses revealed that women who relied primarily on temporal comparisons had higher self-perceptions of their functional ability than those who relied on a combination of comparison styles. An avoidance of both temporal and social comparisons was also related to higher levels of physical self-perception.

Planning and strategy use in health behavior change: a life span view

Exercise-related strategy use and planning were investigated in younger (18-49 years) and older individuals (50-80 years) in orthopedic rehabilitation who were supposed to adhere to a strict exercise regimen. As part of a longitudinal study, N=368 individuals completed questionnaires assessing the amount of physical activities performed pre-rehabilitation and 6 and 12 months after discharge. In addition, the extent of strategy use (selection, optimization, and compensation) and planning after discharge was assessed. Planning was subdivided into two constructs: action planning (planning when, where, and how to exercise) and coping planning (planning how to exercise in the face of barriers). Two-sample structural equation modeling was used. For both age groups, strategy use improved prediction of exercise goal attainment on top of planning, while strategy use mediated the relationship between coping planning and goal attainment. Interventions fostering strategy use as well as planning might enhance exercise adherence across age groups.