This research examined the role of motivational cognitions and belief systems in the process of exercise adoption and maintenance. Deci and Ryan (1985,1990) outline a continuum of behavioural regulation that ranges from non-self-determined regulation (external regulation) to completely self-determined regulation (intrinsic regulation). Prochaska and DiClemente (1984) describe five stages of behaviour change that range from no thoughts of changing (precontemplation) to maintenance of change (maintenance). They also outline ten strategies and techniques for encouraging and maintaining change which are known as the processes of change. Kelly (1955, 1963) presents a personal construct theory which maintains that each of us has theories or constructs about people and events which guide beliefs and behaviour. Research, which integrated these concepts, was conducted in three phases. A Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire was developed in the first phase of research. Results from the second phase of research revealed that regulation of exercise behaviour was more self-determined in the later than in the earlier stages of change. This highlights the importance of motivational considerations in understanding the change process. Only five of the ten processes of change made a meaningful contribution to differentiation among the stagesi n femalesw hile only three of the processesm ade a meaningfulc ontribution to differentiation among the stages in males. These processes showed moderate to strong correlations with those forms of behavioural regulation that are at least somewhat selfdetermined. In addition, those successfully changing their stage of exercise behaviour over a three month period increased their use of the counter-conditioning process. However, confirmatory factor analysis of the Processes of Change for Exercise Questionnaire brought into question the factorial validity of the measure. The final phase of research examined personal construction of exercise as a function of stage of changea nd self determination for exercise. Those in the maintenance stage of change had strong opinions about and strong preferences for certain modes of exercise, while references to being too serious about exercise were strongest in the preparation and precontemplation stages. The preparation stage was marked by desire for more motivation and push to take more exercise. As self-determination decreased references to lack of time for exercise and a desire to have more motivation or put in more effort increased. This research suggests that conflict between desired self (more active and healthy) and actual self (not the fit and active type) may be greatest in the preparation and action stages of change where the act of exercising is still low in self-determination and not yet reconciled with one's sense of self.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to: (a) determine if listening to music can reduce the potential aversiveness of an acute session of sprint interval training (SIT) by improving affect, motivation and enjoyment, and examine the effects of music on performance; and (b) evaluate participants’ attitudes and intentions towards SIT and determine if they would change after experiencing SIT. Twenty moderately active adults (22±4y), unfamiliar with interval exercise, completed an acute session of SIT under two different conditions: music and no music. The exercise consisted of four, 30-second Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) bouts on a cycle ergometer, separated by 4 minutes of rest. Power output, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), affect, motivation, and enjoyment of the exercise were measured. Attitudes and intentions towards SIT were evaluated at baseline and follow-up. Mixed-effects models were used to evaluate changes in the dependent measures over time and between the two conditions. Paired sample t-tests were conducted to compare differences between attitudes and intentions from baseline to follow-up. Peak and mean power over the course of the exercise session were higher in the music than no music condition (coefficients=49.72 [SE=13.55], 23.65 [SE=11.30], ps<0.05). A significant time X condition effect emerged for peak power (coefficients=-12.31 [SE=4.95], p<0.05). There were no between-condition differences for RPE, affect or motivation. Perceived enjoyment increased over time, and was consistently higher in the music condition (coefficient=7.00 [SE=3.05], p<0.05). Finally, attitudes and intentions towards SIT were positive at baseline and did not change upon study completion. Overall, the results suggest music enhanced in-task performance and enjoyment of an acute bout of SIT. Listening to music during intense interval exercise may be an effective strategy to facilitate participation in, and adherence to, this form of training. Furthermore, experiencing an intense SIT protocol does not alter pre-existing positive attitudes and intentions towards SIT. / Thesis / Master of Science in Kinesiology

The present study was conducted to determine the effect of a possible selves intervention on self-regulatory efficacy and exercise behaviour. Participants were 19 men and 61 women (Mage= 21.43, SD = 3.28) who reported exercising less than 3 times per week. Participants were randomly assigned to a control condition, a hoped-for possible selves intervention condition, or a feared possible selves intervention condition. Participants in the hoped-for and feared possible selves conditions completed an activity where they imagined themselves in the future as either healthy, regular exercisers or unhealthy, inactive individuals, respectively. Participants in the control group completed a quiz about physical activity. Measures of self-regulatory efficacy (scheduling, planning, goal-setting, and barrier self-efficacy) were taken immediately before and after exposure to the intervention. Participants who received a possible selves intervention reported greater exercise behaviour 4 weeks post-intervention than participants in the control group (p = .05). Furthermore, planning self-efficacy was found to partially mediate the effect of the possible selves intervention on exercise behaviour. These findings suggest that possible selves may play a role in increasing exercise behaviour among inactive individuals. Future research is warranted to examine the role of possible selves interventions in increasing exercise behaviour and to determine which other variables may mediate this intervention-exercise behaviour relationship. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

First established in the 1990's, the personal training industry in New Zealand has experienced unprecedented growth. Over 80% of New Zealand health clubs market the services of Personal Trainers and there are now over 1500 registered Personal Trainers working in a range of settings. Their primary professional role is one whereby they promote and support individuals to attain desired 'results' in relation to their physical fitness and particularly, to adopt a more physically active lifestyle. But despite the growth of this industry, little is known about how Personal Trainers actually go about supporting the clients who purchase their service to find a way into, as well as stay committed to a physically activity lifestyle. To date there has been no research in New Zealand exploring how Personal Trainers operate as agents of behaviour change. Furthermore, there appears only anecdotal evidence about how the intervention strategies used by Personal Trainers reflect those recommended in the 'behaviour-change' literature. This thesis focused on the daily, working experiences of ten Personal Trainers. Inspired by the interpretive paradigm, in-depth interviews were conducted and analysis of the data, guided by the tenets of grounded theory, allowed the story about the way each participant went about her/his work to emerge. The study highlights a variety of issues that these Trainers recognise as significantly influencing their ability to succeed in an increasingly competitive and demanding business. Specific reference was also given to the behavioural intervention strategies that each participant believed were the most beneficial in nurturing client lifestyle behaviour-change. The study outcomes reveal that although the Trainers worked independently of each other there was considerable commonality in the approaches they had developed. All agreed on the importance of presenting themselves as confident, competent professionals who modelled healthy life-styles to their clients. Some of the strategies they used were similar in some regards to those described in the intervention literature, but others were not. A salient point made by all was that, despite some of their practices lying outside the professional boundaries defined by their professional registration organisation, the provision of services to clients often went beyond the 'physical'. Nutritional counselling especially had become an integral part of the service they provided for clients and was, in fact, an area which clients 'expected' them to be experts in. Each acknowledged the challenge of devising strategies to keep their clients committed, motivated and returning to them. The study highlighted two distinct phases of intervention as the Trainers used different motivational approaches to firstly, initiate change and then maintain their client's progress. As the clients began to see results all of the trainers agreed that their relationship with their long-term clients became more collegial. As time progressed, and in order to facilitate and foster client belief in the inherent value of physical activity 'for life', the Trainers became their client's Life Coach. The Personal Trainers in this study described a multitude of roles that each believed they needed to fulfil in order that they achieved on-going success as a Trainer. This emphasises the need for a more expansive education programme for Personal Trainers. Programmes which move beyond a traditional fitness discourse and better reflect the complexities of what it truly means to be a one-on-one 'Trainer'.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Exercise and physical activity have many benefits for adults with cystic fibrosis (CF), including the potential to aid mucus clearance, improve lung function, exercise capacity and quality of life. Despite the recommendations from consensus documents for CF adults to engage in regular physical activity, exercise participation amongst this population is often very low. No in-depth study has been undertaken to explore the determinants of exercise participation for this group and no studies have examined the benefits of habitual physical activity on the health status and quality of life of CF adults. As well, the current methods to quantify physical activity are problematic. The series of studies, involving CF adults, in this thesis was therefore undertaken in order to examine the physiological rationale for the use of exercise as an airway clearance technique, to understand the decision making process to engage in exercise, to determine if health status and quality of life were affected by exercise participation, and to establish the accuracy of a recently-developed objective measure of physical activity. The study in Chapter 2 provided some physiological rationale for choosing treadmill exercise to aid airway clearance in CF. The main findings were that a single bout of moderate intensity exercise increased the subjective ease of expectoration, most likely due to the increased ventilation with exercise, and that sputum viscoelasticity was favourably decreased immediately following treadmill exercise compared to cycle exercise and control. The studies in Chapters 3 and 4 identified the main beliefs regarding exercise for CF adults and highlighted that the main predictors of exercise intention and participation for this group were aspects of perceived and actual control to exercise, namely self-efficacy or confidence to exercise, feeling healthy, receiving encouragement to exercise, and rating exercise as a high priority treatment. Positive ratings of these aspects of control either increased exercise participation directly, indirectly by increasing intention, or strengthened the conversion of exercise intention to participation. Strategies aimed at targeting these aspects of control are therefore likely to be effective in increasing exercise participation for CF adults. The study in Chapter 5 demonstrated that CF adults, who reportedly performed at least 90 minutes of moderate to strenuous exercise per week, had significantly higher quality of life and fewer days in hospital over the following year than their peers, who exercised less. The difference in hospitalisation between the CF adults, who reportedly exercised more than 90 minutes per week and those who did not, was independent of baseline lung function, and the females who reportedly performed less than 90 minutes of exercise per week had three times as many days in hospital than their high-activity peers. The study in Chapter 6 showed that the SenseWear Pro3 Armband activity monitor provided a reasonable estimate of energy expenditure and step count. Also, its accuracy was not affected by diagnosis with CF, despite the potential for the high salt content in the sweat to interfere with the device’s physiological sensors placed on the skin. Overall, this series of studies adds to the growing evidence of the physical and psychological benefits from exercise participation for CF adults, as well as providing some empirical evidence upon which to base strategies to improve exercise participation for this group and support for an objective measure of physical activity.

The purpose of the present study was to gain knowledge and understanding on fitspiration, itsbody ideal perception and exercise behaviour in a sample of young adults who are exercisers, daily social media usersand also fitspiration followers. To that end, semi-structured interviews were carried out to gather information from eight young adult exercisers (M = 22.5, SD =3.5 years). Thematic analysis (TA; Braun &amp; Clarke, 2006) was used to analyse the data. The results were divided into three parts, 1) perception of fitspiration which has three main themes: Fitspiration as a tool that supports healthy behaviour, Untrustworthy fitspirational content, and Negative outcome on emotional well-being. 2) Fitspiration’s body ideal perception, which consists of one main theme: Unrealistic body ideals. 3) And lastly exercise behaviour in relation to viewing fitspirational content and has also one main theme: Inappropriate fitness goals. In summary, viewing fitspirational content on social media can provide young adults with information and motivation that supports healthy lifestyle behaviours like exercising. However, negative feelings appeared to arise from fitspiration viewing which may have an effect on psychological well-being. Although body ideals shown through fitspiration were perceived as unrealistic, the content seemed to adversely affect our participant’s fitness goals and determination. / Syftet med denna studien var att få kunskap och förståelse om fitspiration, uppfattning av fitspirations kroppsideal och träningsbeteende i ett urval av unga vuxnasom är motionärer, daglig användare av sociala medier och även anhängare av fitspiration. Semi-strukturerade intervjuer genomfördesför att samla information av åtta unga vuxna motionärer (M = 22,5, SD = 3,5 år). Tematisk analys (TA; Braun &amp; Clarke, 2006)användes för att analysera data-information. Resultaten delades in i tre kategorier, 1) uppfattning av fitspiration som har tre huvudteman: Fitspiration som ett fenomen som stöder hälsosamt beteende, opålitlig fitspirations källa och negativ resultat på emotionellt välbefinnande. 2) Uppfattning av fitspirations kroppsideal som består av ett huvudtema; Orealistiska kroppsideal. 3) Och slutligen träningsbeteende i samband med att titta på fitspirations innehåll, som har huvudteman; Olämpliga träningsmål. Sammanfattningsvis kan fitspirations innehåll på sociala medier ge unga vuxna information och motivation som stöder hälsosamma beteenden, som att träna. Men negativa känslor upplevdes uppstå genom att titta på fitspirations inlägg som kan ha en inverkan på psykologiskt välbefinnande. Vidare, även om fitspirations kroppsideal upplevdes som orealistiska, innehållet verkar ha en roll i deltagarnas träningsmål och determination.

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Die Neue Rückenschule ist ein standardisiertes Rückenschulkonzept der Konföderation der deutschen Rückenschulen, dessen Hauptanliegen in der Förderung der Rückengesundheit und der Verhinderung der Chronifizierung von Rückenschmerzen besteht. Die Zielsetzungen und Inhalte der Neuen Rückenschule richten sich in erster Linie nach den aktuellen Europäischen Leitlinien zur Prävention von Rückenschmerzen und den für die Prävention formulierten Kernzielen für Gesundheitssport. Diese Festlegungen basieren auf dem biopsychosozialen Modell, dem Salutogenesemodell und der Internationalen Klassifikation der Funktionsfähigkeit, Behinderung und Gesundheit (ICF). Mit ihrem multimodalen Programm zielt die Neue Rückenschule darauf ab, dass Menschen ein eigenverantwortliches, gesundheitsorientiertes und Risikofaktoren vermeidendes Handeln aufbauen, ihr individuelles Gesundheitspotential fördern und damit das eigene Wohlbefinden und ihre Lebensqualität verbessern. Das Konzept integriert sowohl bewegungsbezogene praktische als auch informations- und verhaltensbezogene theoretische Anteile. Dennoch steht bis dato eine Wirksamkeitsprüfung der Neuen Rückenschule, insbesondere zur Vermittlungsstrategie der Neuen Rückenschule aus. So liegt das Erkenntnisinteresse der vorliegenden Dissertationsschrift in der Beantwortung der Frage, inwieweit die Intervention Neue Rückenschule im präventiven Kontext günstige Effekte bezüglich der Parameter gesundheitsbezogene Lebensqualität, Rückenschmerzen, körperliche Aktivität, (rücken-)gesundheitsbezogenes Wissen, Selbstwirksamkeit und Kontrollüberzeugung hervorruft. Eine Analyse, ob der nachhaltige Mehrwert der Neuen Rückenschule darin besteht, theoretische Wissensvermittlung und praktische Übungsanteile miteinander zu vernetzen, stellt ein weiteres zentrales Ziel der Arbeit dar. So lässt der momentane Stand der Evaluation noch offen, ob nicht bereits die kognitiv-theoretischen Module die Effekte der Neuen Rückenschule zu einem sehr hohen Anteil erklären. Zur Beantwortung dieser Fragen wurde eine Längsschnittstudie mit Versuchs-Kontrollgruppen-Design durchgeführt, die eine dreimonatige Intervention mit zwei unterschiedlichen Vermittlungsstrategien vorsah. Die empirischen Analysen konzentrierten sich auf die Beschreibung von unmittelbaren Effekten der Intervention sowie Nachhaltigkeits-Effekten sechs Monate nach Interventionsende. Zusammenfassend wird ersichtlich, dass insbesondere für eine Verhaltensänderung im Sinne der Implementierung von körperlicher Aktivität und einer langfristigen Bindung an diese, spezifisches Wissen allein offenbar nicht ausreicht, sondern Handlungserfahrungen und Körperwahrnehmungen in Verbindung mit erlebter Selbstkompetenz den Erfolg einer Intervention maßgeblich bedingen.