Thesis (Ph.D.)--Fairleigh Dickinson University, 2001. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 62-06, Section: B, page: 2948. Co-Chairpersons: Christopher A. Capuano; Robert E. McGrath. Available also in print.

Food is a primary reinforcer. There is strong evidence that when animals are chronically deprived of calories, the reward of a food stimulus becomes more salient. Recently leptin has been implicated in food reward. Typically the rewarding value of food is separated into the "liking" or pleasure/palatability component generated by the stimulus, and into the "wanting" or appetitive/incentive component. The goal of this current study was examine whether plasma leptin concentrations were related to food hedonics and food reinforcement in humans and to investigate the effect of food deprivation on these variables. Fourteen apparently healthy obese adults (n=9 women and 5 men; age=33.5+/-7.8) with BMI (kg/m2) between 30-45 were subjected to 8 weeks of caloric deprivation (-700kcal/day). Plasma leptin (ELISA), body weight and composition (DEXA), food reinforcement and food hedonics were measured pre- and post-intervention. Post weight loss palatability was rated significantly higher for the food reinforcers than that measured pre weight loss (p<0.01). No significant effect of the chronic food deprivation was noted for the reinforcing value of food. A significant negative correlation was observed between changes in palatability and those in body weight expressed as relative changes (r=-.62; p<0.05). No significant correlations were noted between changes in leptin and those in palatability or the reinforcing value of food. However, in a subgroup that lost the greatest percent of initial body weight (7-8%), food was more reinforcing post intervention (p<0.05). These findings demonstrate that chronic caloric deprivation can increase the subjectively rated palatability of preferred food items. The subgroup may be a caveat illustrating that a greater relative weight loss can lead to food becoming more rewarding.

This study focuses on computer workers with repetitive strain injury (RSI) that lead to chronic pain, interference with daily activities (work and leisure), getting a night's sleep, and pain-related mental health issues (e.g., anxiety and depression). People take their hands for granted, and when they suddenly lose the use of them and are unable to perform basic daily activities (bathing, dressing, feeding ourselves), may develop anxiety and depression. This research examines how physical pain caused by RSI affects computer workers as a whole, and how workers use exercise/physical activity participation and health professionals use exercise/physical activity prescription to alleviate the accompanying pain, anxiety and depression, interviews were conducted with eight RSI-injured computer workers from the public service and eight health professionals who treat this type of injury. The results show that regular exercise/physical activity is seen to be a weapon in combating pain and pain-related mental health issues in RSI-injured computer workers. An improved understanding of the benefits of exercise/physical activity for RSI-injured computer workers living with chronic pain and pain-related mental health issues will provide them with more effective coping strategies, ameliorate their emotional/psychological recovery, facilitate their active return to the workforce, and enhance their overall quality of life.

Cette étude visait à comparer l'habileté de sujets, jeunes (n = 25) et âgés (n = 35), à utiliser le toucher léger pour la stabilisation posturale. Les oscillations du centre de pression plantaire (CPP) étaient mesurées sur des plates-formes de force (AMTI) dans diverses conditions sensorielles (vision, toucher et support). L'acuité tactile sur la pulpe de l'index a aussi été estimée. Les résultats ont montré que le toucher léger contribuait significativement à atténuer les fluctuations du CPP dans les deux groupes. Les sujets âgés ont toutefois déployé des forces de contact plus élevées pour se stabiliser. La plupart des personnes âgées présentaient un déclin de l'acuité tactile. L'augmentation des forces de contact serait liée au déclin sensoriel avec le vieillissement de sorte que des forces plus élevées sont nécessaires pour détecter les oscillations corporelles à partir du toucher léger.

Communities and athletes see coaches generally as leaders, mentors, and role models in sport. Recent research in the field of coaching revealed that coaches must have the ability to encourage, challenge, and understand the athlete (Bloom, 2002b). Further research indicates that females are known to be psychologically and physically different than males (Fasting & Pfister, 2000); therefore, most females need to be coached differently than men during practice and competition. The notion of self-confidence is an essential element in Vealey's (1986) Sport Confidence Model, in which it is defined as: "the belief or degree of certainty individuals possess about their abilities to be successful in sport" (p. 222). The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand female varsity athlete's perception of how coaches influence their self-confidence. The study used twelve participants (N = 12) among Canadian Interuniversity Sport teams: basketball (3), soccer (3), hockey (2), rugby (2), and volleyball (2). Semi-structured interviews were conducted regarding athletes perception of (a) athlete's perception of self-confidence, (b) different coaching qualities that may positively or negatively influence athletes self-confidence, and (c) athletes perception of an 'ideal' coach that positively influences their self-confidence. The results displayed a combined definition of all 12 athlete's perception of self-confidence, which is "one who believes in herself, has inner strength (while not worrying about others beliefs), and stays positive throughout their sport and life." Secondly the results found four main qualities that athletes perceive essential for a coach to positively influence their self-confidence. Finally, the results revealed 12 predominant coaching characteristics that athletes perceive essential for positively influence their self-confidence. An 'ideal coach' would display these characteristics.

To examine the acute effects of exercise timing and meal glycemic index (GI) on fat oxidation and glycemic response, five apparently healthy young men participated in four randomly ordered morning trials during which measurements were made at rest, during exercise, and for two hours post-exercise. A factorial design [exercise timing (pre-prandial, post-prandial) x meal GI (low-GI, high-GI)] was used for repeated measures of energy expenditure and whole-body fat oxidation, as well as of plasma glucose and insulin levels after an overnight fast. Subjects were required to perform 400 kcal of moderate treadmill exercise either before consuming a 400 kcal low-GI (ELG) or high-GI (EHG) oatmeal breakfast, or after consuming the low-GI (LGE) or high-GI (HGE) meal. Exercising fat oxidation was significantly greater during ELG and EHG (14.7 +/- 1.4 and 14.8 +/- 3.2g, respectively) than during LGE and HGE (8.9 +/- 3.1 and 9.8 +/- 2.7g, respectively) (p < .001), as was total fat oxidation beyond rest and (ELG: 21.3 +/- 3.7g; EHG: 20.2 +/- 5.9g; LGE: 18.1 +/- 6.0g; HGE: 17.1 +/- 3.4g) (p < .05), although energy expenditure was unaffected by experimental conditions. No significant effect of meal GI on fat oxidation was observed and, unexpectedly, the glycemic response was not significantly different across experimental conditions. Total whole-body fat oxidation for the entire morning period is therefore greatest when exercise is performed in the post-absorptive state, a strategy that could help maximize acute exercise-induced fat oxidation.

Literature on physical activity determinants among middle and older aged women focuses mainly on short term participation. However, previous studies have largely overlooked the factors affecting long term participation in physical activity. Using an ecological framework and self-determination theory, this study examined physical activity behaviours related to past and current physical activity experiences in women who have maintained a physically active lifestyle for more than three years. This study also explored the role of four factors (motivation, social support, physical environment, and barriers) on the physical activity behaviours of active middle aged and older women. Nine semi-structured interviews, four with middle aged women (39 to 45 years) and five with older women (60 to 68 years) were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim and analyzed. Qualitative findings revealed that, remaining healthy, experiencing positive feelings, fun/enjoyment, socializing, internal and external influences and weight control/appearance were key motivational factors. All of the women had strong social support provided by family, friends, community program participants and physicians. The type of social support provided was encouragement, companionship and informational. In terms of their physical environments, accessibility, safety, and good walking/enjoyable scenery were important characteristics to remaining physically active. Of barriers reported, health, time and weather were most salient. The women used various coping strategies in order to overcome their physical activity barriers (e.g., wearing orthotics). These findings have important implications for researchers and practitioners involved in designing and implementing behaviour change interventions aimed at increasing physical activity for inactive middle and older aged women.

Background and aims. In the past, wobble-boards have been used to help rehabilitate patients with ankle injuries. Balance-boards have also been used to improve strength and balance in athletes. For the elderly population, wobble-boards have been shown to improve measures related to ankle proprioception but have never been used specifically to improve balance with the goal of fall prevention. The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of two types of balance-boards (wobble-board and rocker-board) to improve balance in elderly. The focus of the study is to measure any changes to functional balance, attentional demand while performing two tasks (dual task), postural sway during quiet standing and ankle joint dorsiflexion discrimination. Twenty-eight healthy elderly, 12 in the wobble-board group (age = 72.9 +/- 4.62), 11 in the rocker-board group (age = 73.5 +/- 4.08) participated in an 8-week intervention consisting of three sessions per week, 20 minutes each session. There were 5 elderly in the control group (age = 76.2 +/- 5.49). Baseline, post-training and retention measures of functional balance (CB&M), attentional demand, static balance (sway) and dorsiflexion discrimination were collected. Following the intervention, experimental groups had significantly improved their dynamic functional balance scores (p < 0.001). Attentional demand and postural sway remained unchanged in all groups (p > 0.05). The wobble-board group significantly improved ankle dorsiflexion discrimination (p < 0.001); however, the control group also improved (p < 0.05). In conclusion, balance-boards were effective for improving functional balance needed for daily activities. Lastly, more investigation is needed to assess the effect of a balance-board intervention on static balance and ankle dorsiflexion discrimination.

Multiple sclerosis is a debilitating neurological disease with few successful symptom alleviating interventions available to the MS population. Preliminary research has shown that PA may aid in alleviating both psychological and physical symptoms; thus, improving overall quality of life. Objective. (1) To determine which social cognitive determinants (i.e., barrier efficacy, task efficacy, outcome expectation, social support, modeling, mood, and environment) would predict PA. (2) To determine whether barrier efficacy, task efficacy, and outcome expectation would mediate the social support, modeling, mood, and environment/PA relationships. Study Design & Participants. 76 participants (58 female and 18 male) completed a baseline questionnaire concerning social cognitive determinants and a 1-month telephone follow-up concerning PA participation. Results. The model accounted for 41% of the variance in PA. Block 1 accounted for 23% of the variance with traffic and modeling of friends making significant contributions to PA. Block 2 of the regression accounted for an additional 18% of variance with barrier efficacy (beta= .25; p<.05) and outcome expectation (beta= .21; p<.05) being significant predictors of PA. Outcome expectations mediated the modeling-friends/PA relationship. Barrier efficacy partially mediated the traffic/PA relationship. Conclusion. PA interventions should aim at increasing barrier efficacy and outcome expectations, and also on important social cognitive variables including barrier efficacy, outcome expectations, social support-friends, modeling-friends and environment (i.e., traffic). The MS patient's PA environment should be safe (i.e., no traffic) and include access to home use PA equipment (i.e., aerobic vide/DVD).

Abstract not available.