Given the high risk of relapse during the first year of exercise involvement, it is important to determine the processes of self-motivation which enable novice exercisers to become long-term maintainers. This study was designed to extend previous Stages of Change (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1983) research by comparing the Possible Selves (Markus & Nurius, 1986) of individuals at different points within the Maintenance stage of exercise. Participants consisted of female university employees, spouses, and dependents age 35-59 years who volunteered for the study. Participants completed the Stage of Exercise Scale (SOES; Cardinal, 1995) and a self-administered form of the Possible Selves Inventory (Cross & Markus, 1991) which was adapted to address the exercise domain. Women classified by the SOES as being in the Maintenance stage of exercise V=92) were assigned to one of three groups based on the duration of their exercise maintenance (6 months-5 years, 6-10 years, and 11-20 years). The three maintenance groups were compared with regard to the number and category of open-ended and exercise-related possible selves and the self-efficacy and outcome expectancy associated with three focused selves (most important, exercise-related, and exercise-specific). The results indicated that the three maintenance groups did not differ significantly in their possible selves. These findings provide support for the current conceptualization of the Stages of Change Model (Prochaska & Di Clemente, 1983) and suggest that differences between novice and expert maintainers may be behavioral, rather than cognitive, in nature. Several implications for intervention design and suggestions for future research are discussed. / Graduation date: 1998

The purpose of this study was to determine whether women aged 65 and older are wearing sweatshirts and sweatpants for activewear, and, if so, to investigate the types of activities they are worn for, reasons for wearing, feature preferences, and fitting problems. While sweatshirts and sweatpants have been popularly worn by younger generations, there is little published research on their wear by the elderly. A convenience sample of 222 female members aged 65 and older taken from 34 Family and Community Education (FCE) extension study groups within four counties in the Willamette Valley of western Oregon was used in the research. A questionnaire-survey was administered at FCE meetings to provide quantitative and qualitative data. Eighty-three percent or 185 participants affirmatively answered to wearing either sweatshirts, sweatpants, or both garments of sweats attire. The largest percentage of respondents (43%) reported they "Usually wear sweatshirts and sometimes wear sweatpants". Activities with the highest frequency cited by respondents for wearing sweats attire included (in descending order): (a) exercise, (b) home-based indoor activities and situations, and (c) outdoor activities and situations. During the winter, 79% of the participants wore sweats attire frequently (a minimum of 2-3 times per week). Extremely important reasons cited for wearing sweats attire were "Warmth" and "Easy to care for or launder". The most highly desired features in sweats attire included: pullover sweatshirts with raglan sleeves, sweatpants with an elastic waistband and pockets, medium thick/medium weight, cotton/manufactured fiber blends, fleece interior, and muted colors that hide soil. Clothing size was more frequently related to these preferences than health status or age. Excess lengths of sleeves and pant legs, and tight, high necklines were the most frequent fitting problems cited. ANOVA and Newman-Keuls Multiple Comparison Procedure were used to analyze relationships. Poor health status and increased fitting problems showed a statistically significant relationship at p���.01. Sweats attire provoked either very positive or very negative written comments. Non-wearing participants reacted negatively to the appearance and warmth of sweats attire, whereas, wearing-participants reacted strongly to benefits of comfort and warmth. Practical for lifestyle and easy manageability when dressing and undressing were also high considerations for positive respondents. Additional uses cited by respondents for sweats attire included sleepwear. The findings imply that sweats attire is frequently worn by active, older Oregon women for casual, familiar activities, situations, and environments. Also implied is the need for manufacturers and retailers to recognize the diversity of this heterogeneous population. Stereotypical images and clothing styles can be challenged to address the elderly population's needs for clothing comfort and current style, while offering functionality with such special features as extra pockets; shorter lengths with adequate torso ease; wider, lower necklines for postural changes; light weight fabrics with warmth; and easy-care finishes. / Graduation date: 1995

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Menopause is a period of biological transition in middle-aged women, when oestrogen levels gradually drop. After menopause women no longer can give birth to children. However, menopause is more than biology; it is also an example of a bio-psycho-social process, where psychosocial and cultural involvement can influence experiences of the biological transformation. Furthermore, many myths and meanings surrounds menopause, and the purpose of this study drawing on a Foucauldian perspective, is to examine discourses in contemporary society that affect the understanding of what menopause is. The methodological approach consists of an analysis of media articles and interviews with middleaged women to explore different conceptions of menopause. The analysis of articles in two leading Swedish newspapers during a period of five years (Dagens Nyheter and Svenska Dagbladet, 2007- 2011) reveals that the media present menopause as a substantial risk factor that increases the possibilities of many diseases, irrespective of genes and lifestyle, and that menopause appears to cause reduced quality of life and degraded body. This female period of life is portrayed as “the beginning of the end”, filled with dichotomies concerning whether menopause is natural or pathological, but with an emphasis on the pathological. The newspaper articles present different strategies for women on how to deal with this transformation, such as hormone replacement therapy, fitness, and different diets that can "calm" women’s experience of menopause. Media thus present menopause as both problematic and challenging. However, interviews with six middle-aged women show that women themselves view this differently. Women define menopause as the border between being young and old, and this makes menopause in conflict with today's youth-obsessed society, where health and appearance are essential components of personal identity, particularly for women. Women talk about menopause as a confirmation of age, and also indirectly as the beginning of deteriorating health. In contrast, the majority of women experience menopause positive in terms of what they had expected. Due to the confusion surrounding menopause women call attention to the lack of information and knowledge on the subject of menopause. Information that can increase women’s knowledge, and thus give women more control over their own bodies. These different images of menopause are problematized both in terms of the gendered body, as well as in terms of knowledge and power.

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

Thesis (MAppSc) -- University of South Australia, 1997

Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2007. Graduate Programme in Kinesiology and Health Science. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 140-159). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR29582

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Nevada, Reno, 2007. / "May 2007." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-85). Library also has microfilm. Ann Arbor, Mich. : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [2008]. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm. Online version available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Michigan State University. Dept. of Kinesiology, 2006. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on June 19, 2009) Includes bibliographical references (p. 134-142). Also issued in print.