Master of Landscape Architecture / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / Anne E. Beamish / Landscape architects have an opportunity to design outdoor environments that promote exploration and physical activity for elementary school students in an effort to combat childhood obesity and nature deficit disorder, while reinforcing the importance of reading. By layering themes from classic children’s literature into the landscape surrounding the Andover Public Library, a landscape was designed where children can explore physically and intellectually while being active in the outdoor environment. Research has identified the importance and benefits of outdoor exploration, activity and reading for elementary school students. Interviewing teachers and librarians about classic children’s literature and how they commonly use it helped inform my research efforts in choosing timeless and well-known pieces of children’s literature. Completing a site inventory and analysis of Andover Central Park, which surrounds the Andover Public Library, informed my site design process. The intent of my site design is to explore ways of incorporating children’s literature into a play landscape that provides opportunity for exploration and physical activity in nature.

The purpose of this research was to explore the influence of physical activity on depressive symptomatology and adolescent alcohol use during an underexplored transition from middle school to high school. The study initiative is supported by the fact that research has shown a unique and simultaneous decrease in physical activity (CDC, 2010), increase in depressive symptomatology (SAMHSA, 2010) and increase in alcohol use (USDHHS, 2011) during middle adolescence. A risk and resilience framework was used in efforts to conceptualize how these variables may be inter-related. Data from waves I and II of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health, Bearman et al., 1997; Udry, 1997) was used (N = 2,054; aged 13-15 years). The sample was ethnically and racially diverse (58.2% White, 24% African American, 11.7% Hispanic, and 6.1% other). Structural equation models were developed to test the potential influence physical activity has on adolescent alcohol use (e.g., frequency of alcohol use and binge alcohol use) and whether any of the relationship was mediated by depressive symptomatology or varied as a function of gender. Results demonstrated that there was a significant influence of structured physical activity (e.g., sports) on adolescent alcohol use. However, contrary to the proposed hypothesis, engaging in structured physical activity appeared to contribute to greater binge drinking among adolescents. Instead of demonstrating a protective feature, the findings suggest that engaging in structured physical activity places adolescents at risk for binge drinking. Furthermore, no significant relationships, positive or negative, were found for the influence of physical activity (structured and unstructured) on frequency of alcohol use. The findings regarding mediation revealed binge drinking as a mediator between physical activity (structured) and depressive symptomatology. These findings provide support for research, practice, and policy initiatives focused on developing a more comprehensive understanding of alcohol use drinking behaviors, physical activity involvement, and depressive symptomatology among adolescents, which this study demonstrates are all associated with one another. Results represent an initial step toward evaluating these relationships at a much younger age.

In Canada, out of the total Aboriginal populations, the older Aboriginal adult populations continue to increase and suffer disproportionately poor health compared to non-Aboriginal seniors. Despite these facts, there is a dearth of research concerning Aboriginal older adults, especially regarding their engagement with physical activity. My thesis is written in the publishable paper format and is comprised of two papers. Using a scoping study methodology in paper one, I demonstrate that intersecting factors such as colonialism, social inequities, and physical activity practices that are rooted in Western ideals and do not address Indigenous older adults’ needs, all contribute to Indigenous older adults’ lack of participation in physical activity. Using a case study approach in paper two, I demonstrate how Elders In Motion, a program offered by the Northwest Territories Recreation and Parks Association (NWTRPA), shows a shift in physical activity programs becoming more respectful of older Aboriginal adults’ cultures and communities; however, while the staff at the NWTRPA has made a strong effort to adapt a southern-based program for northern communities in the NWT, there are several program features that reaffirm colonial practices and support Westernized ideas of physical activity. Taken together, the papers in this thesis make apparent that physical activity programs and research concerning physical activity for older Aboriginal adults continue to be embedded in colonial practices. As a result, there is a demonstrated need for program development and research in this area to work towards reducing health disparities and challenging colonial practices.

Although there is consistent evidence of an inverse association between physical activity and colorectal cancer (CRC), it is unclear whether physical activity has to be lifelong in order to protect against CRC, or whether there are critical time periods in which physical activity is most protective. This thesis investigated the association between recreational physical activities in specific age periods and across the lifetime and CRC risk in data from a population-based case control study (n=1395) in Newfoundland and Labrador. There were no significant associations between recreational physical activity at any age period or across the lifetime. Lack of association with activity in early adulthood is consistent with other studies in which this has been investigated. Lack of association in later life and across the lifetime may in part be explained by low levels of recreational physical activity, with only 30% of participants meeting World Cancer Research Fund cancer prevention recommendations.

Background: Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an accepting and compassionate collaborative counselling style that has been linked with various desirable client outcomes. However, its association with self-compassion (SC), an important psychological resource is unknown. One context in which this relationship can be studied is in Physical Activity Counselling (PAC), which is an MI-based intervention that has been found to enhance motivation towards physical activity (PA) and PA behaviour, as well as reduce depressive symptoms. However, no hypothesized link has ever been made between MI and SC and no research has been done on the impact of MI-based PAC onto SC or has investigated SC’s relationship with PA within PAC. Purpose: Article 1: To explore the link between MI and SC. Article 2: To test this proposed association by investigating the impact of a MI-based intervention, specifically through PAC, over time on (1) self-compassion and its subcomponents, and (2) PA and its intensities. A third and fourth purpose were to (3) examine whether any improvements in SC or PA variables were continued at 1-month follow-up and lastly, (4) study the relationships between SC and PA variables over time in university students and employees receiving PAC. Methods: Article 1: This article was a commentary paper that rationalized the hypothesized link between MI and SC. Article 2: This article reports results from a study which used a repeated-measures experimental study design, whereby forty university students and employees filled out online validated self-report questionnaires assessing SC and PA before (baseline), immediately after (endpoint), and 1-month after (follow-up) receiving individualized PAC sessions. Participants reached out to PAC mostly on their own or were referred by other programs on campus. Fidelity checks showed that PAC counsellors were accepting and compassionate. Results: Article 1: A hypothesized link was made between MI and SC, such that the accepting and compassionate spirit of MI, as well as certain content-based techniques used within could help to foster a self-compassionate mindset within the receivers of MI. Article 2: Paired-samples t-tests and multivariate analysis of variance tests revealed that there were significant moderate-to-large increases in total SC, self-kindness, and total, moderate, and strenuous PA from baseline to endpoint. There was also a significant large effect for decreases in self-judgement and isolation from baseline to endpoint. All changes appeared to be continued at 1-month follow-up. Lastly, results revealed that common humanity at baseline positively influenced moderate PA at endpoint. Conclusion: This provides a strong case for the link between MI and SC and provides preliminary evidence to support the positive impact of MI, specifically through PAC, onto SC and PA variables, as well as their relationship over time. Future research is recommended in order to ascertain these findings and practitioners are encouraged to show high acceptance and compassion while assisting individuals with PA behaviour change.

Bakgrund: Stroke är en av de vanligaste orsakerna till dödsfall globalt. Man har sett att fysisk inaktivitet och stressrelaterad ohälsa var för sig är riskfaktorer för att drabbas av stroke, däremot saknas studier kring ifall där finns ett samband mellan dessa variabler.  Syfte: Undersöka sambandet mellan fysisk aktivitet under det senaste året och stressbeteende hos personer som drabbats av stroke eller TIA samt att studera om det föreligger könsskillnader vad gäller fysisk aktivitet och stress hos denna grupp.  Metod: Studien var en tvärsnittsstudie med korrelerande, komparativ och deskriptiv design. Data kommer från baslinjemätningar hos en randomiserad kontrollerad studie som inkluderade 79 personer som drabbats av stroke eller TIA. Fysisk aktivitet under det senaste året samlades in med Saltin Grimby Physical Activity Scale (SGPALS) och stressbeteende genom Hjärt-Lungfondens formulär kring stress.   Resultat: Ett lågt (r=-0.14) och icke signifikant samband (p=0.22) förelåg mellan den fysiska aktivitetsnivån och det självskattade stressbeteendet. Inga statistiskt signifikanta skillnader kunde urskiljas mellan män och kvinnor gällande fysisk aktivitet (p=0.81) respektive självskattat stressbeteende (p=0.72).  Slutsats: Det förelåg inget signifikant samband mellan fysisk aktivitet och stressbeteende hos personer som drabbats av stroke eller TIA. Nivå av fysisk aktivitet respektive stressbeteende skiljde sig inte åt mellan könen. Mer forskning inom ämnet behövs för att klargöra på vilket sätt fysioterapeuter ska kunna arbeta preventivt och identifiera personer som har en ökad risk att drabbas av stroke eller TIA. / Background: Globally stroke is one of the most common causes of death. Both physical inactivity and stress related illness are risk factors for suffering from a stroke, however there is a lack of studies regarding if there is a correlation between these variables. Aim: To examine the correlation between physical activity during the last year and stress behaviour among individuals affected by stroke or TIA and to study whether there were gender differences regarding levels of physical activity and stress within this group.  Method: The study was a cross sectional study with a correlative, comparative and descriptive design. Data collected comes from baseline measurements from a randomized controlled study that included 79 people affected by stroke or TIA. Physical activity during the last year was collected with Saltin Grimby Physical Activity Scale (SGPALS) and stress behaviour with the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation form about stress.  Results: A low (r=-0.14) and not significant correlation (p=0.22) was present between the physical activity level and the self-estimated stress behaviour. No statistically significant differences could be discerned between women and men regarding physical activity (p=0.81) and self-estimated stress behaviour (p=0.72).  Conclusion: There was no significant correlation between physical activity and stress behaviour in people affected by stroke or TIA. Level of physical activity respective stress behaviour did not differ between the sexes. More research in the subject is needed to clarify in what way physiotherapists should be able to work preventively and identify people who have an increased risk to be affected by stroke or TIA.

Prediabetes, a condition in which glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes, affects approximately 37% of adults in the United States and is a major public health concern. Extensive research has evaluated the association between physical activity (PA) and type 2 diabetes; however, few studies have examined the association between PA and prediabetes. Therefore, we evaluated the association between PA (including leisure time, occupational and total) and prediabetes status among adults, stratified by gender, using multinomial logistic regression models fit to serial cross-sectional 2007-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. After adjusting for age, race, body mass index, smoking status, family history of hypertension and education, results suggest that the association between leisure time [moderate PA: 0.98 (95% CI: 0.80–1.21); tertile 3: 1.05 (95% CI: 0.75–1.49)] and total PA [tertile 1: 1.15, (95% CI: 0.96–1.38); tertile 2: 1.00, (95% CI: 0.79–1.27); tertile 3: 0.96, (0.77–1.20)] and undiagnosed prediabetes and was not statistically significant among women. However, compared to women who engaged in no occupational PA, engaging in the highest tertile was statistically significantly associated with lower odds of undiagnosed prediabetes [tertile 3: 0.75, (95% CI: 0.58–0.97)]. Compared to men who engaged in no leisure time PA, men engaging in the highest tertile of leisure time PA had a statistically significant lower odds of undiagnosed prediabetes [Tertile 3: 0.79, ( 0.65–0.98)]. Compared to men who did not engage in any PA, men engaging in any PA did not have a statistically significant decrease in odds of undiagnosed prediabetes [tertile 1: 0.90, (0.71–1.16); Tertile 2: 0.93, (0.74–1.18); Tertile 3: 0.99, (0.80–1.21)]. Overall, our results show that for both men and women, there was a general lack of association between leisure-time, occupational, and total physical activity and prediabetes status in adjusted analyses.

Introduction: The cognitive benefits of physical activity and sport on executive function are of interest to researchers, especially considering the subsequent interventions that could be implemented. However, researchers frequently use different approaches to conceptualize and measure executive function, often using only a few computerized tasks. My Master’s thesis, therefore, aims to investigate the associations between executive function and physical activity and sport through two different studies to obtain a robust evaluation of executive function: 1) A quantitative study examining physical activity, sport and concussion history in university students and their effect on executive function, and 2) A qualitative study exploring the executive functions engaged during a game from elite university athletes’ experiences. Methods: Quantitative Study. Canadian university students (n=247) completed an online study with nine computerized executive function tasks and a behavioural self-report of executive function, as well as questions assessing weekly physical activity, athletic status, and concussion history. Structural equation modelling and linear regression were conducted to predict executive function based on age, sex, physical activity, athletic status and concussion history. Qualitative study. Canadian university athletes (n=19) participated in semi-structured interviews via Zoom to determine the executive functions engaged during a game. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the interview transcripts. Results: Quantitative Study. The three-factor model of executive function had an overall good fit: χ2 = 66.38, df = 51, p = 0.07, CFI = 0.95, TLI = 0.93, RMSEA = 0.04 [90% CI: 0.00–0.06], SRMR = 0.05. No direct relationship was found between the factors and age, physical activity, concussion history, or athletic status. Sex was significantly related to inhibition, b = 0.52, p = 0.02, such that males had greater inhibition. Physical activity (b = 0.09, p < .01), concussion history (b = 3.29, p < .05) and athletic status (b = -4.01, p < .05) were found to be significant predictors in the regression predicting self-reported executive functioning. Qualitative study. Three themes were generated: 1) Engaging in pre-play or pre-game planning, organization and decision making, 2) Engaging in mid-play problem solving and purposive action and 3) Engaging in post-play or post-game information processing, emotional control and effective performance. Conclusions: The quantitative study found that physical activity, athletic status and concussion history were predictive of subjective but not objective executive function. The qualitative study determined that athletes engage many executive functions that are dependent on the timing of both the play and the game (pre-, mid- or post-). Real-life behavioural manifestations of executive functioning are more challenging to assess and measure but may be better predicted by and relate to life factors such as physical activity and sport participation. The results of my thesis provide support for future research to utilize and develop more unique and ecologically valid methods of measuring EF in the field of physical activity and sport. / Graduate

In this study, the experiences of six-year-old preschool learners in a structured movement educational assessment activity are explored. This qualitative study focused on the role of structured movement educational assessment activities in preschool learners, and assessed the way in which movement as a medium in a structured movement educational assessment activity supports learners understanding of numeracy and literacy concepts. A case study design was utilised to gather information about the experiences of the preschool learners during the activities, as well as the class teacher who facilitated the sessions. Data was collected by means of semi-structured interview, non-participant observations, a research journal, observation sheets, reflection notes, document analysis (worksheets of learners) and visual data (photographs). Thematic data analysis was applied to the gathered data, and various themes and sub-themes were identified. These were confirmed by the participants before the completion of the study. The study adhered to the norms, values and principles of qualitative research, which entailed dealing professionally with aspects related to the different modalities of data. Further principles, namely that of informed consent, confidentiality, protection from harm, trustworthiness and anonymity, privacy and empowerment, caring and fairness were also adhered to (McMillan, & Schumacher, 2010). This study found that the value of structured movement educational assessment activities strongly create positive outcomes associated with preschool learners in terms of their social and cognitive development. Furthermore, when preschool learners are physically involved in movement activities, they engage in tasks of listening, seeing, and doing, and practical application of concepts of numeracy and literacy. The finding further suggests that the value of assessing the preschool learners qualitatively during practical activities seemed favourable, as underlying conceptual knowledge of numeracy and literacy difficulties, as well as poor motor skill acquisition, were identified during the structured movement activities. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Educational Psychology / MEd / Unrestricted

Background: Cancer is a troublesome disease for the individual; physically, mentally and socially. The disease and its treatment have many side effects, of which fatigue is experienced as the most trying by the patient. Cancer-related fatigue is perceived and defined as a painful, stubborn, and subjective experience of general, physical, psychological, emotional fatigue related to cancer or its treatment. Current research hows that individualized physical activity is a recommended care action in cancer-related fatigue, however, the effect of physical activity on the different dimensions of fatigue has not been established.   Aim: The purpose of this study is to identify the effect of physical activity on the different aspects of cancer-related fatigue.   Method: This study is a literature overview comprising 12 original research articles. The articles were randomized controlled trials (RCT) and quasi-experimental studies. The databases Pubmed, Cochrane, and SBU were used for the search. Included articles were reviewed for quality according to a method presented by Forsberg &amp; Wengström (2015).    Result: Eleven articles showed the effectiveness of physical activity physical fatigue. An uncertain effect was seen on general fatigue. No significant decrease in fatigue was shown between the control- and intervention group on mental and emotional fatigue.   Conclusion: It can be shown through these studies that there is evidence that physical activity has a positive effect on physical fatigue and an uncertain effect on general fatigue. Physical activity should therefore be applied as a nursing measure in the clinic more frequently. The intervention should be individualized and focused on the individual's strengths and weaknesses. However, the same positive effects on the aspects of mental and emotional fatigue are not seen. There is a need for another type of intervention to alleviate the degree of mental as well as emotional cancer related fatigue. Consequently, the need for further research on mental and emotional fatigue is great. / Bakgrund: Cancer är en mycket påfrestande sjukdom för individen; fysiskt, psykiskt och socialt. Cancersjukdomen och dess behandling har många biverkningar, av vilka fatigue upplevs som den besvärligaste av patienten. Cancerrelaterad fatigue definieras som en plågsam, envis och subjektiv upplevelse av generell, fysisk, psykisk, emotionell trötthet eller utmattning relaterad till cancer och dess behandling. Aktuell forskning visar att individualiserad fysisk aktivitet är en rekommenderad omvårdnadsåtgärd vid cancerrelaterad fatigue, däremot är effekten av fysisk aktivitet på cancerrelaterad fatigue inte fastställd. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att kartlägga vilken effekt fysisk aktivitet har på de generella, fysiska, psykiska samt emotionella aspekterna cancerrelaterad fatigue. Metod: Denna studie är en allmän litteraturöversikt innefattande 12 originalartiklar. Artiklarna var randomiserade kontrollerade studier (RCT) samt kvasiexperimentella studier. För sökning användes databaserna Pubmed, Cochrane samt SBU. Inkluderade artiklar kvalitetsgranskades enligt metod från Forsberg och Wengström (2015). Resultat: Elva artiklar visade på fysisk aktivitets effektivitet vid fysisk fatigue samt oviss effekt vid generell fatigue. Däremot sågs ingen signifikant minskning mellan kontroll-och interventionsgruppen gällande de psykiska och emotionella aspekterna av fatigue. Slutsats: Det framkom i denna studie att fysisk aktivitet har en positiv effekt på fysisk fatigue samt en oviss effekt på generell fatigue, därför bör fysisk aktivitet förskrivas som omvårdnadsåtgärd vid fysisk fatigue oftare. Interventionen bör individanpassas och fokuseras på individens styrkor och svagheter. Det visade sig även att fysisk aktivitet inte hade någon signifikant effekt på psykisk och emotionell fatigue. Därmed är behovet av vidare forskning beträffande lindrandet av psykisk och emotionell fatigue stort.