Children with complex heart defects lead sedentary lives that limit involvement in peer activities, impact their growth and development, and jeopardize their long-term health. The goal of this research was to better understand the factors that influence daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), which is associated with physical and psychological health. The physical activity levels of 64 children (25 female, 5 to 11 years of age) with a single pumping chamber in the heart were measured by accelerometry. Fitness and gross motor skill measures and medical history information were analyzed to identify factors associated with MVPA participation. Increased activity was related to the use of antithrombotic medication, spring season of the year, better motor skill and male sex. Group and individual discussions further explored psychosocial influences on the children’s level of MVPA. The children indicated physical activity was primarily motivated by having fun and being with their friends, while other children being more skilled discouraged participation. Parents of children with complex heart defects had dramatically different perceptions. They believe their child’s activity is primarily influenced by the heart condition and report often feeling uncertain about which activities are appropriate for their child. Finally, sources of parental uncertainty were examined by comparing the physical activity advice provided by the cardiologist to parent reports of the child’s activity restrictions, a content analysis of published activity guidelines and interviews with paediatric cardiologists. Parent uncertainty about activity was supported by the lack of agreement between parent and cardiologist reports of medically necessary activity restrictions. Parent reports of vague or variable activity advice were reflected in the published literature and cardiologist perspectives on activity counselling. These results suggest enabling children with complex heart defects to achieve an active lifestyle may rest on ensuring that the child and parents have appropriate physical activity beliefs and expectations.

Syfte: Att utifrån litteratur belysa betydelsen av fysisk aktivitet för att lindra depressiva besvär hos ungdomar. Design: Studien har utförts som en litteraturöversikt. Metod: Litteratur som publicerats mellan 2001-2012 söktes fram i databaserna PsycINFO och CINAHL. Sammanlagt 14 vetenskapliga artiklar har granskats och använts i litteraturöversikten. Resultat: Fysisk aktivitet har visat sig ha en positiv effekt på depression hos ungdomar. Fysisk aktivitet visade på en dämpande effekt på depressiva symtom, och påvisade att viktiga effekter av fysisk aktivitet ger en lindring av depressiva symtom. Skillnader mellan yngre tonåringar och äldre tonåringar är att de yngre tenderar att ha högre deltagande i fysisk aktivitet gentemot de äldre, varav mängden fysisk aktivitet minskar från de tidiga tonåren till de äldre. Familjefaktorer har ett starkt samband med fysisk aktivitet. Ungdomar som har en god relation med sina föräldrar har också ett större deltagande i olika fysiska aktiviteter. Flickor löper större risk än pojkar att drabbas av depression. Förebyggande strategier avseende fysisk aktivitet kan vara framgångsrika, och det är viktigt att ha fokus på ungdomar med en historia av psykisk ohälsa och hälsoriskbeteenden för att minska risken för fortsatt utveckling av psykiska problem. Slutsats: Depression hos ungdomar skapar en sämre livskvalitet. Fysisk aktivitet är en viktig del av välmåendet och bör framhävas i relation till psykisk ohälsa hos unga. Att uppmärksamma flickors tendenser till ett sämre mående är en viktig del i omvårdnadsarbetet. Det är viktigt att som sjuksköterska ha vetskap om sambandet mellan fysisk aktivitet och depressiva symtom för att kunna arbeta preventivt och applicera kunskapen i det dagliga arbetslivet och i möten med ungdomar.

Over the past three decades, instances of childhood obesity have tripled in the United States and are recognized as a serious public concern that requires action. Environmental factors have been identified as potential influences on the physical activity behavior of children; availability of equipment is one of these factors. The overall purpose of this dissertation was to examine availability of equipment as an environmental influence on a child’s physical activity behavior. The two environments where children spend the major of time, home and school, were evaluated for equipment availability and increased physical activity. Three studies were conducted to complete this purpose. In Manuscript 1, a systematic literature review was conducted, which included electronic databases as well as reference lists and author’s works as relevant. Only studies which measured home and school environments as factors in physical activity of children ages 5-12 were included. The review was conducted to determine the theoretical framework most used. Of the thirty-one studies reviewed, 67% showed little or no theoretical framework driving the study. Theoretical framework and models based on theory is needed to advance the field and this body of literature. In Manuscript 2, a systematic literature review was conducted which included electronic databases as well as reference lists and author’s works as relevant. Only studies which measured home and school environments and highlighted the availability of equipment as a factor in physical activity of children ages 5-12 were included. Of the twenty-one studies reviewed, only 14% clearly defined “equipment” and how it was measured for the particular study. With multiple definitions and confusion when comparing studies, standardization in this area is desperately needed. Manuscript 3, analyzed data from a larger study, NIH, Student Wellness Assessment and Advocacy Project (SWAAP), conducted in Waller county Texas, 2010. The results demonstrated which pieces of equipment in the home environment were available and the percentage of use. School environments were measured for availability of equipment and facilities. A linear regression analysis determined that being of Hispanic race was significant in less physical activity in an average seven day period. Given that children spend up to 80% of their day at home or school, influences in these two environments are extremely important to the development of physical activity behaviors. Future studies involving the availability and use of equipment should clearly define the type of equipment used or observed. In cases of intervention studies type and amount need to be clearly defined as well as assessment of its effect on physical activity in children. Several studies have been conducted for the specific age group of 6-12 year olds and their physical activity and multiple factors involved availability of opportunities for physical activity. Of those factors equipment availability has been shown to influence physical activity as well as not influence these opportunities. Standardization of the term equipment and how it is measured will allow researchers to have a clearer picture of the role that equipment plays in opportunities for children to be physically active.

Children with complex heart defects lead sedentary lives that limit involvement in peer activities, impact their growth and development, and jeopardize their long-term health. The goal of this research was to better understand the factors that influence daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), which is associated with physical and psychological health. The physical activity levels of 64 children (25 female, 5 to 11 years of age) with a single pumping chamber in the heart were measured by accelerometry. Fitness and gross motor skill measures and medical history information were analyzed to identify factors associated with MVPA participation. Increased activity was related to the use of antithrombotic medication, spring season of the year, better motor skill and male sex. Group and individual discussions further explored psychosocial influences on the children’s level of MVPA. The children indicated physical activity was primarily motivated by having fun and being with their friends, while other children being more skilled discouraged participation. Parents of children with complex heart defects had dramatically different perceptions. They believe their child’s activity is primarily influenced by the heart condition and report often feeling uncertain about which activities are appropriate for their child. Finally, sources of parental uncertainty were examined by comparing the physical activity advice provided by the cardiologist to parent reports of the child’s activity restrictions, a content analysis of published activity guidelines and interviews with paediatric cardiologists. Parent uncertainty about activity was supported by the lack of agreement between parent and cardiologist reports of medically necessary activity restrictions. Parent reports of vague or variable activity advice were reflected in the published literature and cardiologist perspectives on activity counselling. These results suggest enabling children with complex heart defects to achieve an active lifestyle may rest on ensuring that the child and parents have appropriate physical activity beliefs and expectations.

Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka huruvida fysisk aktivitet kan påverka en individs frukostval. Vidare undersöktes på vilket sätt frukostvalet i så fall hade påverkats samt om denna förändring var beroende av ålder och kön. Studien var av empirisk, deskriptiv design. Semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes med totalt 98 deltagare, 50 kvinnor och 48 män (16-75 år). Enligt resultatet var den kombinerade träningsformen (konditionsträning och styrketräning) den dominerande bland båda könen. Renodlad styrketräning var vanligare bland männen då ingen av kvinnorna uppgav denna som utpräglad träningsform. Kvinnorna utövade istället konditionsträning i större utsträckning än männen. Resultatet visade även att det skilde sig ytterst lite mellan de deltagare som menade att frukostvalet hade påverkats av träning och de som inte upplevt någon förändring. Bland kvinnorna svarade ett fåtal fler att frukosten hade påverkats medan männens svar var jämnt fördelade mellan påverkad och icke påverkad. Åldersmässigt visade resultatet en tydlig skillnad där majoriteten av dem som svarat att frukostvalet förändrats, återfanns i de två yngsta åldersgrupperna, hos båda könen. I den äldsta åldersgruppen var det ingen deltagare som angav att träningen påverkat frukostvalet. Vanliga orsaker till förändring av frukostvalet visade sig vara ökad hunger, en vilja att tillföra kroppen energi för att orka prestera på träningen, att kunna få bästa möjliga resultat av träningen samt för att skapa en hälsosam livsstil. / The purpose of this study was to investigate if regular physical activity can affect a person’s nutritional habits, which in this study focused on breakfast. The study also examined in what way the breakfast habits had been changed and if the change was dependent on sex and age. The study was of empirical, descriptive design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a total of 98 participants, 50 women and 48 men (16-75 years old). According to the results, the combined fitness regime (cardio-vascular exercise and resistance training) was dominant among both sexes. Pure resistance training was more common among men while women practiced cardio-vascular exercise more frequently. Further, the result showed very little difference between the participants who said that breakfast habits had changed due to exercise and those who did not experience any change at all. A few more women answered that breakfast habits had been affected compared to the men where the answers were equally divided between being affected and not. The majority of those who reported altered breakfast habits were found in the two youngest groups, among both sexes. In the oldest group no one reported that exercise had affected their breakfast habits. Common causes for change of breakfast habits proved to be increased appetite, to provide the body with enough energy to perform, to get the best result from training and to create a healthy lifestyle.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to explore the lifelong physical activity (PA) stories of Latinas to determine motives that contribute to exercise adherence behaviors. Using an interview process, life histories were collected from six self-identified PA adherents of Hispanic descent. Three narrative analysis techniques were used to analyze the interviews and the transcript of a follow-up focus group meeting. In the first technique, the Holistic-Content perspective and Labovian transcription were used to identify major themes common in the interviews. Adherence themes that emerged were: 1) culture and family, 2) being pushed, 3) health, 4) role models, and 5) competence. A review of these themes resulted in several suggestions for teaching practitioners: 1) including enjoyment as a criteria for planning activities, 2) focusing on positive reinforcement from teachers and families, 3) providing early opportunities for success, and 4) interacting with strong female role models. A second analysis technique, Lakoff and Johnson's linguistic studies using metaphor to understand one idea in terms of another, yielded the concept of love as health. Study participants frequently used the terms love and addiction in connection with PA. Participants suggested the following as characteristics of healthy love relationships: loyalty, community, positive results, and variety. The term addiction, while not specifically a metaphor, emerged during this process as a powerful exercise adherence motivator. Euphoria and "not feeling right unless I exercise" were cited as primary reasons for adherence behavior. The third technique used was Borman's Symbolic Convergence Theory in which a rhetorical community is formed around a fantasy theme. The theme "perfect body" was identified in the stories as common to four of the participants. Via the media and pop culture, the rhetorical community communicates that a "perfect body" can be achieved with PA and diet. The oppressive gendered message here is that a woman's worth is largely determined by the look of her body, and having the perfect body is the way to success. Facilitating the shift from solely external motivators to a more balanced internal/external set of motivators and from solely negative motivators to positive reasons for exercise adherence is the recommended goal for teaching practitioners.

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to better understand the relationship between physical activity and academic achievement of girls in grades three to seven participating in a community-based physical activity program. Seventeen of eighteen possible participants were involved in this study. Findings revealed that there was no relationship found between the intensity, duration, and frequency of physical activity and English grades. There was also no relationship between the intensity, duration, and frequency of physical activity and mathematics grades. Parents were found to be the largest influence on girls’ physical activity behaviours. This study contributed to health promotion research by building upon findings from past projects that have found no significant negative relationship to exist between physical activity and academic achievement. Future research may want to focus on providing interventions at the family level to support parents’ and girls’ participation in physical activity.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was threefold: 1) to explore the physical activity (PA) levels of gynaecologic cancer survivors; 2) to explore the associations between PA and quality of life (QOL); 3) to examine the level of agreement between self-reported and objectively measured PA; and 4) to identify PA preferences. Methods: In Phase I, 900 gynaecologic cancer survivors were mailed a questionnaire measuring PA, QOL, and various PA preferences. In Phase II, 20 survivors wore an accelerometer for nine consecutive days, completed a questionnaire, and participated in a 20 minute semi-structured interview. Results: Approximately 30% of participants met the public health PA guidelines, with survivors meeting the PA guidelines reporting higher scores on physical well-being. Over 66% of participants were/may be interested in a PA program. The level of agreement between self-reported and objectively measured PA was poor. Conclusions: This research demonstrates the importance of PA for cancer survivors. / N/A

Given that childhood obesity has become a public health concern, the development and implementation of effective interventions addressing this issue are needed. Research suggests that the use of a parent-only approach is an effective way to improve the home and family environment to promote healthy weight in children. Moreover, by improving parents’ physical activity and eating behaviours children’s behaviours may also be improved. Primary care interventions have been shown to be effective for enhancing physical activity in adults, especially when using physical activity prescriptions and referrals to community programs. No studies have combined these two interventions to explore the possibility of an added-value effect relative to the promotion of a healthy family environment conducive to healthy weight in children. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a combined primary care-parent-only intervention with a primary care intervention alone for improving the home and family environment and mothers’ physical activity behaviours relevant to the promotion of healthy weight in children. Female patients (N = 35) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: Prescription Plus (PP), Prescription Only (PO) and Usual Care (UC). The PP group received a physical activity prescription plus a referral to a parent-only intervention, the PO group received just the prescription, and the UC group, regular health care. Outcome variables were physical activity, the obesogenic home environment, mother’s confidence for making obesity related changes, exercise/physical activity self-efficacy and outcome expectations, and self-regulation and perceived competence for exercise. All the measures were self-reported and were assessed before and eight weeks after the intervention. A 2 x 3 mixed analysis of variance showed no significant group differences at post-intervention. Only a significant time * intervention interaction was observed (p = .03), where the PP group achieved the largest effect (partial ŋ² = .200) in the obesogenic home environment score after receiving the intervention. These findings suggest that the combined primary care-parent-only intervention was effective for improving the home environment and provide preliminary insight into the effectiveness of such an intervention for influencing healthy weight in children. / Thesis (Master, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-23 16:58:17.208