Reliability and Validity of the Commitment to Physical Activity Scale for Adolescents

Current agreement between ActiGraph and CUPAR in measuring moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity for adolescents

The study aims to develop and validate the Curriculum-related Physical Activity Recall questionnaire (CUPAR) as a measure of physical activity in adolescents. 83 middle-school students (13.23 ± 0.74 yrs) completed the CUPAR and whore ActiGraph accelerometers for seven consecutive days. Correlations and Bland-Altman plots were to examine the agreement between these two measures. Significant correlations were observed between the CUPAR and ActiGraph accelerometer for 5-day MPA (r = 0.29, p < 0.01), and for both 5-day and 7-day VPA (r = 0.47 and 0.79, ps < 0.01), and MVPA (r = 0.79 and 0.42, ps < 0.01). Plots showed reasonable agreement between the CUPAR and ActiGraph estimates of VPA and MVPA. The agreement between CUPAR and ActiGraph was higher for in-school VPA (r = 0.58, p < 0.01) and MVPA (r = 0.44, p < 0.01) as compared to the out-school VPA (r = 0.22, p < 0.05) and MVPA (r = 0.26, p < 0.05). The CUPAR can reduce respondents' burden, representing a reliable and efficient measure of physical activity among adolescents, especially for PA occurred during in-school sessions and at vigorous intensity.

The Value-Added Contribution of Exercise Commitment to College Students' Exercise Behavior: Application of Extended Model of Theory of Planned Behavior

The aim of this study was to investigate the applicability of the planned behavior theory model (TPB-5) and TPB-6 model of enhanced physical exercise in college students, and to explore the role of exercise commitment in the relationship between exercise intention and behavior, so as to provide theoretical and empirical support for college students to promotion exercise. The study participants were 581 college students (male = 243, female = 338, age = 19.27 ± 0.94) are investigated with Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) Scale, Exercise Commitment Scale, and Physical Activity Rating Scale. Results showed that the explanatory power of the TPB to exercise intention and exercise behavior is 0.70 and 0.52, respectively, and exercise intention was the primary factor to predict exercise behavior of college students. The Model fit of TPB-6 model is acceptable, compared with TPB 5-factor model, the predictive power of TPB-6 (with the mediator: exercise commitment) on behavioral intention increases from 70.0 to 75.0%, and the predictive power towards behavior raises from 52.0 to 59.0%. Exercise commitment has a partial mediating effect between exercise intention and behavior, which accounts for 26.89% of the total effect, but it has no moderating effect. In conclusion, this research demonstrates the TPB-5 model has good applicability among the college students, with exercise commitment variables, exercise intention can better predict college students’ exercise behavior, which can be used as the theoretical basis for the intervention on their exercise behavior.

Adolescent Autonomous Motivation for Physical Activity: A Concept Analysis

PURPOSE

The purpose of this concept analysis is to develop a clear definition of adolescent autonomous motivation for physical activity (PA) based on all existing theoretical and operational definitions of autonomous motivation noted in the literature. For providers, understanding this is essential to elucidate why some adolescents choose to participate in a health-promoting behavior like PA. Researchers need to identify if they are evaluating autonomous motivation or a different type.

METHODS

Rodgers' Evolutionary Method of concept analysis was used. PubMed, CINAHL, ERIC, PsychInfo, and Sport Discus were searched.

RESULTS

No concept analysis of adolescent autonomous motivation for PA was found. Autonomous motivation may include intrinsic motivation and two forms of extrinsic motivation, integrated and identified behavioral regulations. Defining attributes include being: 1) dynamic and 2) on a continuum. Adolescent autonomous motivation for PA is a personal desire to attain PA because the behavior is fun and enjoyable, or it is an important part of how the adolescent self-identifies. The adolescent views the self as being healthy so maintains a healthy lifestyle; or views the self as athletic so needs to attain adequate MVPA.

CONCLUSION

Findings are that an autonomy-supportive environment and positive perceptions of PA are needed in order to have the outcome of increased PA. The information may be helpful for promoting consistency of measurement across disciplines. Future research with adolescents is warranted to examine underlying differences between males and females, by age, weight status, and developmental stage.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

An in-depth understanding is needed for providers who are interested in developing interventions to assist adolescents in regularly attaining adequate PA.

Predicting physical activity among urban adolescent girls: A test of the health promotion model

The purpose of this study was to test hypothesized relationships of the health promotion model (HPM) as a means of predicting moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among urban, adolescent girls. A secondary analysis of baseline data from a group randomized controlled trial was conducted. The study involved eight urban schools in the Midwestern United States. The sample included girls (N = 517) in the 5th-8th grades. Data were collected on age, body mass index, pubertal status, enjoyment, self-efficacy, social support, options for physical activity (PA), and commitment to PA. MVPA was measured via accelerometers worn by the girls for 7 days. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze study aims. Mean age of the sample was 11.8 years (standard deviation [SD] = 1.0). Girls attained an average of 3.0 (SD = 1.2) minutes per hour of MVPA. Self-efficacy had a positive direct (β = .337; p < .001) and total effect (β = .310; p < .001) on MVPA. Social support and options for PA were not significant predictors of commitment to PA or MVPA. Commitment to PA had a negative but nonsignificant effect (β = -.056; p = .357) on MVPA. The model predicted 10.1% of the variance in MVPA with 9.6% of the variance predicted by self-efficacy. Limitations include lack of longitudinal analysis and inability to generalize the results to other populations such as boys. PA self-efficacy continues to emerge as a significant predictor of MVPA in the HPM. Continued theory testing is needed to better understand the correlates and determinants of PA among adolescent girls before designing theory-based interventions to promote PA.

Designing and psychometric evaluation of Stretching Exercise Influencing Scale (SEIS)

OBJECTIVE

The lack of reliable and valid tools for assessing the factors that influence stretching exercises (SEs) among Iranian office employees is obvious. This study aimed to design and evaluate psychometric properties of this instrument.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study of psychometric properties.

SETTING

Data were gathered from May to September 2017.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants were 420 office employees who were working in 10 health centres affiliated to the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The instrument was designed on the basis of the constructs of the health promotion model (HPM) and extant literature. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA), Cronbach's α and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were employed to check the scale's psychometric properties.

RESULTS

In total, 420 questionnaires were completed. The mean age of the office employees was 37.1±8.03 years. Among the 86 items, 77 items had significant item-to-total correlations (p<0.05). The results showed good internal consistency and reliability for the whole questionnaire and each domain. EFA results confirmed 53.32% of the total variance of the items yielded in 11 subscales. The ICC was acceptable (0.78, 95% CI 0.70 to 0.88).

CONCLUSIONS

The Stretching Exercise Influencing Scale (SEIS) can be a reliable and valid instrument for measuring the factors that influence SEs among office employees.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

IRCT20160824295512N1.

Physical Activity Among Female Adolescents in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: A Health Promotion Model-Based Path Analysis

BACKGROUND

In Saudi Arabia, about 14.8% of female children and adolescents of less than 20 years old are obese, compared with only 9.4% of male children and adolescents. One major factor linked to the high prevalence of obesity and related chronic illnesses involves inadequate physical activity (PA). Only 25% of female adolescents in Saudi Arabia meet the recommendation calling for 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous PA per day.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this research was to examine relationships among self-reported PA and cognitive and affective variables, including perceived barriers to PA, PA self-efficacy, enjoyment of PA, social support for PA, and commitment to PA.

METHODS

Female Saudi adolescents 13-18 years of age were recruited from 10 public intermediate and high schools in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Female adolescents who met the inclusion criteria completed surveys and participated in height and weight measurements at schools. A structural equation model based on the health promotion model was estimated, with commitment to PA hypothesized to mediate relationships between health promotion model (HPM) predictors and self-reported PA.

RESULTS

A total of 405 female adolescents with a mean age of 15.4 years took part in the study, of whom 25.3% were overweight or obese. Mean PA level measured via the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents was 2.1 (SD = 0.66), which is low. Commitment to PA partially mediated the relationships of PA self-efficacy, enjoyment of PA, and social support for PA; 25.4% of the variance in PA was explained. The model did not support the indirect relationship of perceived barriers through commitment or the direct relationship between enjoyment and PA.

DISCUSSION

This study indicates that Saudi female adolescents are in need of interventions to increase their PA. The findings suggest that addressing perceived barriers to PA and targeting PA self-efficacy, enjoyment of PA, and social support for PA to enhance commitment to PA may be a fruitful approach in nursing interventions to increase PA among Saudi female adolescents.