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The primary objective of this project was to determine if a walking program based on social cognitive theory and delivered via the Internet could improve fitness levels in women. Fifty-three women were randomized to either an Educational Only condition or a Social Cognitive theory (SCT) condition. The SCT condition emphasized personalized mastery steps and goals to increase walking pace while the Education Only condition primarily provided general physical activity and walking information. The One-Mile Walk Test (Kline et al., 1987), an objective measure of fitness, was conducted to determine if women in the SCT condition had greater improvements in their fitness levels. The psychosocial measures of knowledge, depression, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, social support, and decisional balance pros and cons were administered to determine if changes were evidenced in these psychosocial measures pre to post treatment. Results indicated that both conditions had significant improvements in their fitness levels as measured by their walk test times and estimated VO2max. The SCT condition improved their time on the walk test by 69 seconds at post-test with an increase in estimated VO2max of 2.65 ml/kg/min whereas the Education Only condition improved their time on the walk test by 37 seconds with an increase in estimated VO2max of 1.1 ml/kg/min. Both groups also evidenced change on the self-report measures of stage of change with the SCT condition advancing 1.25 stages and the Education Only condition advancing .76 stages. Total minutes walked per week in the SCT condition increased by 31 minutes to 94 minutes total per week and by 47 minutes to 82 minutes total per week in the Education Only condition. Few of the psychosocial measures evidenced change pre to post. Of note, however, was the significant decrease in self-efficacy seen in the Education Only condition. In summary, both programs were able to make improvements in participants' fitness levels and time spent walking per week. However, the SCT condition, with its guided mastery experiences, had greater fitness improvements that are likely to have a larger clinical health impact. / Ph. D.

Objective: To examine associations between neighborhood characteristics and diet and physical activity in those of differing socio-economic status. Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted among US adults living in a small Southeast community, including individuals at lower income levels. Physical activity was self-reported and objectively measured with a pedometer. Diet, self-efficacy, and perception of neighborhood friendliness were self-reported. Main outcome measures: Minutes of physical activity, self-efficacy towards physical activity, where residents exercised, and perception of neighborhood friendliness towards physical activity. Statistical Analysis Performed: Associations between where participants exercise and their minutes of daily exercise were analyzed by independent t-tests (p < 0.05). Income level and minutes of daily activity were analyzed with t-tests and later with UNIANOVA, controlling for age. Income and where participants exercise was analyzed using Chi square. Distance to the park and minutes of daily activity was analyzed with Pearson's correlation (two-sided, p < 0.05). Results: Income was not associated with daily minutes of physical activity or where a person chose to be active. Age was the biggest predictor of physical activity. Living on a street with a hill was positively correlated with self-efficacy for physical activity but negatively correlated with perception of neighborhood friendliness towards physical activity. Conclusion: Both high and low SES residents, within the same neighborhood, having access to the same recreational opportunities, did not differ in levels of physical activity. Both income groups met the current recommendations for physical activity suggesting access to parks with walking/biking trails, as well as other facilities, increases actual energy expenditure, independent of SES. Applications: Health officials and urban planners could work together in creating more recreational opportunities, especially in low SES neighborhoods, to increase national levels of physical activity. / Master of Science

The purpose of this study was to determine the construct validity of self-reported historical walking, running, and jogging (WRJ) activity. The criterion measure was concurrent performance on a maximal treadmill test. Subjects completed a medical exam and treadmill test between the years 1976 and 1985, and completed a follow-up questionnaire in 1986. Questionnaire included an item that assessed WRJ for each year from 1976 through 1985. Data analysis included Spearman correlations, partial correlations, ANOVA, and ANCOVA. Results indicated self-reported historical WRJ can be assessed with reasonable validity when compared with concurrently measured treadmill performance, and there is no decay in the accuracy of this reporting for up to ten years in the past.

Title: Habitual physical activity of Portuguese university students in the period of summer holidays Aim of the study: The aim of study is to evaluate habitual physical activity of Portuguese university students and to find out if they are meeting physical activity recommendations and could be seen as a sample of active population. Methods: Sample of the study was made of Portuguese university students, exactly students of physical education and sport sciences faculty. Sample size was 125 respondents, 81males and 44females. The sample refers to young adult age group from 18 years old, both genders. Instrument used was International physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ), long version. Data were collected electronically by Google Docs and then analyzed in Microsoft Excel 2007 and IBM SPSS Statistics 20. Results: Physical activity and sport scientist's students can be seen as a sample of active population. 122 (97.6%) respondents are meeting physical activity recommendations from which 87 (69.6%) are over-meeting these recommendations. PAL of the sample was high in 69,6%, moderate in 28% and low in 6,8% of the cases. No statistical significance was found between total physical activity score and academic year. The habitual physical activity of the sample is not influenced by their study curriculum....

Regular moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is associated with significant physiological and psychological health benefits (Department of Health, DoH, 2004). However, many children are not undertaking recommended levels of physical activity (PA) (DoH, 2009). This research examined relationships between physiological health parameters, psychological determinants and PA levels in 10-14 year old schoolchildren (N = 249) and assessed the influence of three school-based PA interventions on these constructs in the context of the Health And Physical activity Promotion in Youth (HAPPY) study. Study 1 revealed that sedentary behaviours, moderate PA (MPA), vigorous PA (VPA) and MVPA levels were higher on weekdays than weekend days (p < .001). However, schoolchildren’s PA is often difficult to measure accurately. The self-report measure utilised in study 2 underestimated total MVPA versus accelerometry for both sexes on weekdays and girls on weekend days (p < .01). However, study 3 highlighted a lack of agreement between two RT3® triaxial accelerometer cut-offs for all activity categories. The importance of VPA for promoting health was highlighted in the updated PA guidelines (DoH, 2011). Study 4 reported that cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) was positively associated with VPA but not MPA (β = .27, p < .01) and inversely correlated with measures of body composition (% body fat; body mass index; waist circumference) (r = -.74, r = -.60, r = -.39, p < .001). Knowing the health benefits of regular MVPA and VPA, it is important to understand the determinants of PA intentions and behaviours to more effectively promote PA in less active children (studies 5 and 6). An exploratory analysis of the constructs in the Revised Theory of Planned Behaviour and the Modified Social Learning Theory for children predicted PA intentions (R2 = .38, F(5, 171) = 20.19, p < .001; R2 = .13, F(6, 147) = 3.4, p < .01, respectively) but the constructs in either model were unable to predict PA. Recognising the need to promote PA levels, study 7 investigated the effectiveness of three school-based interventions (vs. control) on outcome variables included in studies 1, and 4-6. The Health Education and Psychology Health Promotion conditions produced significant positive change scores between data collection 2 and 3 for CRF (vs. control) whereas the Youth-Led condition produced significant change scores between baseline and data collection 2 for generalised self-efficacy (vs. control). No significant change scores were reported for PA, the RTPB constructs or intentions. In conclusion, this research has emphasised the importance of employing a multidisciplinary approach to aid understanding of schoolchildren’s PA levels. Specific highlights include low weekend day PA as a possible future PA promotion target, although it is vital that accelerometry cut-points are standardised, and the relevance of VPA and body composition in predicting CRF. The psychological models identified some important determinants of PA intentions, but a prominent intention-behaviour gap and a need for more intensive interventions to promote PA levels was apparent.

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The purposes of this study were to test the effect of four-week PACE&copy / program in increasing participants&rsquo / physical activity level and stages of change and examine the relationship between physical activity level and stages of change. A controlled trial, experimental design was applied. Physical activity level and stages of change were recorded at baseline and at study conclusion. For the data collection What is Your PACE Score Questionnaire, FADA Questionnaire and Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR&ndash / Q) were used. Descriptive statistics, one way repeated measures of ANOVA and simple linear correlation were used to analyze data. Participants were 182 women Middle East Technical University personnel from different units. Study participants were randomized into intervention and control groups. 87 women received the PACE&copy / program were compared 95 women in the control group who did not receive PACE&copy / program. The intervention group received PACE&copy / program with respect to their stages and a booster phone call or e-mail two weeks later after counseling. After 4 weeks, all participants were reassessed for stages of change and physical activity level. There was a significant difference in measurement of physical activity level and stages of change between intervention and control group before and after intervention. The intervention group&rsquo / physical activity level (p &lt / .05) and stages of change (p &lt / .10) increased but the control group decreased. Besides, changes in physical activity level were moderately and positively correlated with stages of change.

A significant problem of the 21st century, across different countries, is currently insufficient physical activity and a large increase in obesity . Influence of physical impairment on the prevalence of obesity is proven. At this time the physical activity is not sufficient for biological needs of man and as a result of this is a threat to the human species. With the alarming rise of health problems, which results from improper lifestyle , against all the progress in medical science, these conditions are a reality of modern civilization. Physical activity with its health benefits is one of the key topics of health education. In this thesis, the state of physical activity among female students of The Faculty of Education, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, both day and part-time bachelor's and master's degree program is monitored by using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The theoretical part deals with concepts such as physical activity and a summary of the activities practiced out in a unit of time and definition and classification of them. Another two chapters are devoted to the health benefits of physical activity and another aspects of physical activity in relation to health. The practical part of this thesis analyzes in detail the results of the standardized questionnaire IPAQ, which monitors the activity of the individual within seven days. Female Students responded to 27 questions , which were divided into four part evaluation exercise. A separate part of the evaluation was the time spent sitting and personal anamnesis of the respondent. The evaluation was processed using simple statistical method and recorded in a bar graph.

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