Background: While the physical and mental health advantages of regular physical activity are evident, 68% of adult Canadians are not meeting PA guidelines. Over the last thirty years, exercise behaviour has been mostly studied under the guise of the social cognitive framework, but emerging findings have shown identity to demonstrate predictive validity with physical activity independent of social cognitions. Exercise identity has been associated with increased frequency, duration, and intensity of exercise behaviour. Despite the bivariate correlation between identity and PA, the literature currently lacks longitudinal research to enhance the understanding of identity formation in new exercisers. Objective: The purpose of this study was to understand changes in identity among new exercisers based on the Physical Activity Self-Definition model and investigate whether exercise identity can predict exercise behaviour variations over nine weeks. Methods: Participants for this study were healthy adults (18-65) who were recruited from local gyms and recreation centres in Victoria, BC. The inclusion criteria were that participants must be new exercisers (new exercisers are those who just decided to exercise regularly or started exercising for less than 2 weeks, before baseline measurement) who were not meeting the Canadian Physical Activity guidelines upon recruitment. The study used a prospective, observational design with four measurement periods across nine weeks. Demographics were collected and exercise identity, affective attitude, commitment, capability and exercise behaviour were measured using questionnaires. The exercise Identity questionnaire was administered at 1 week, 3 weeks, 6 weeks and 9 weeks. Data analysis and longitudinal models used HLM and descriptive were generated with SPSS. Results: Affective attitude and commitment had significant correlations with identity, and identity had a significant correlation with exercise behaviour across all measurement times. Affective attitude, however, was the only significant predictor of exercise identity change over time. Capability was not associated with exercise identity. Furthermore, identity did not predict change in exercise over time. Discussion: This study provided insight into some of the factors that influence shifting exercise identity of new exercisers by testing the physical activity self-definition model (Kendzierski & Morganstein, 2009a) with longitudinal modelling. Based on the present results, it is recommended that health promoters focus on designing enjoyable programs for their novice clients, and provide a positive affective attitude toward exercising during each session. Although, exercise behaviours of the participants improved significantly during the course of this study, exercise identity was not able to predict the variation in exercise behaviour over 9 weeks. Overall, exercise identity formation can be a time-consuming process in adults, however, engaging in identity-related behaviours that are enjoyable can accelerate this process. / Graduate

Student athletes (SAs) are faced with multiple hurdles upon stepping onto campus, including balancing their lives as a student with that of being an athlete for 20 or more hours per week. SAs typically maintain weekly physical activity (PA) recommendations as a by-product of participation in one’s sport. Because most SAs have high athletic identity, which remains fairly consistent throughout their lives, many incorrectly assume this will translate into a high exercise identity and greater PA throughout their life spans. Certainly, the challenge is how to assist SAs in transitioning from athlete to exerciser. Based on findings from previous research on barriers to maintaining healthy PA levels faced by student-athletes as they transition out of sport, the purpose of this study is to examine the components of resources that can help individuals navigate this transition. Phase I of the study was quantitative in nature and examined the relationship between athletic identity and exercise identity; the relationship was not significant; however, as expected, an individual’s level of exercise identity was related to one’s levels of moderate and vigorous exercise per week. Additionally, individuals with high athletic identity were more likely to participate in vigorous PA. For the purpose of the study, Phase II involved conducted hack groups (typically labeled as focus groups) to gain a deeper understanding of how practitioners can best serve athletes as they transition out of collegiate sport. According to the participants, attention should be given to the delivery method of resources. The most frequently cited form of delivery was that of a phone app with a social network. An app allows for individuals to access an online community of former SAs to not only process their experience but develop connections with like-minded individuals in the area. These connections were highlighted as a motivator for attending exercise groups and act as a form of accountability that may be missing from one’s life after the loss of one’s coach and/or team environment. Former SAs also reported the need for an increased awareness of one’s change in identity and help reframing exercise. Moreover, strategies to build community through authentic connection and shared values, along with assistance developing new routines and habits were deemed important. PA levels or one’s overall well-being may be positively influenced by these connections, but this remains to be studied in depth. The results of the present research indicate a need for attention on activities individuals enjoy rather than exercising for the sake of exercising. Experiencing positive feelings towards PA may in turn allow for increased present-moment awareness in the activity, leading to more enjoyment and potentially increased motivation to maintain PA following the transition out of collegiate sport. / Kinesiology

Objective: Dog owners have been shown to walk more per week compared to non-dog owners; however, 60% of dog owners are still not walking their dogs at intensities sufficient to reap optimal health benefits. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a 9-week feasibility randomized controlled trial involving a program of six weekly scheduled instructor-led group dog walks supplemented with theory-based strategies to encourage increased dog walking among dog owners in Greater Victoria, BC. Methods: This study was based on the multi-process action control (M-PAC) framework and utilized an open parallel randomized controlled trial design involving experimental and waitlist-control group participants. Quantitative data was collected using pedometers and self-report measures. A program evaluation survey was administered upon the completion of the study. Primary outcomes examined the feasibility and acceptability of the program; secondary outcomes analyzed pedometry and self-report moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) data; and tertiary outcomes observed changes in participants’ perceptions of M-PAC constructs. Percentage calculations were used to obtain primary outcomes, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA; controlling for baseline) was performed to examine secondary and tertiary outcomes to explore the direction of effects and obtain a first estimate of expected effect sizes. Eligibility: Male and female adults aged 18+ living in Greater Victoria, BC, who owned at least one healthy and friendly dog aged six months and above, who were not meeting recommended guidelines of 150 minutes of MVPA per week, and who were medically cleared to participate. Results: Feasibility outcomes included 74 interested responses, 23% recruitment rate (n = 17), 94% retention rate (n = 16), and 94% adherence rate (n = 15). Program participants were overall (very) satisfied with the program – worksheets (62.5%), program instructor (100%), various program/group dog walks logistics (75% to 100%). Total weekly step counts and average daily step counts, MVPA dog walking, and MVPA with dog increased at the end of the program and at follow-up, resulting in large effect sizes when compared to the waitlist-control group. MVPA dog walking and total MVPA (with and without dog) exceeded recommended guidelines at follow-up. Positive changes across time were observed for dog responsibility and M-PAC constructs of affective judgments, opportunity, planning, identity, and habit, resulting in medium and large effect sizes when compared to the waitlist-control group. Conclusions: This six-week group dog walking program is overall feasible, acceptable, and efficacious in encouraging increased dog walking and MVPA among dog owners. Attendance at weekly scheduled instructor-led group dog walks and exposure to the M-PAC construct worksheets resulted in program participants’ adoption and maintenance of positive behavioral changes at the end of the program and at follow- up. Program participants reported enjoying the program and being (very) satisfied with it. It is recommended for future studies to refine/modify initial recruitment strategies and eligibility criteria, reimburse medical/veterinarian clearance costs to reduce cost-related barriers to participation, offer a variety of options for program delivery (e.g., different locations/schedules/seasons, online programs, multi-site study) to accommodate more participants, and apply the M-PAC framework to a larger sample. / Graduate