Karen E. Chad

Factors That Influence Physical Activity Participation Among High- and Low-SES Youth:

Researchers have rarely addressed the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and physical activity fromthe perspective of youth. To illuminate the factors that youth fromlowand high-SES areas consider important to increase physical activity participation among their peers, 160 youth (12-18 years) participated in small focus group interviews. Guiding questions centered on the general theme, “If you were the one in charge of increasing the physical activity levels of kids your age, what would you do?” Findings show that environmental factors (i.e., proximity, cost, facilities, and safety) are very important for youth living in low-SES areas to ensure participation in physical activity. Results also show that intrapersonal (i.e., perceived skill, competence, time) and social factors (i.e., friends, adult support) must be considered to help improve participation rates among both high- and low-SES youth.

Creatine supplementation combined with resistance training in older men.

PURPOSE To study the effect of creatine (Cr) supplementation combined with resistance training on muscular performance and body composition in older men. METHODS Thirty men were randomized to receive creatine supplementation (CRE, N = 16, age = 70.4 +/- 1.6 yr) or placebo (PLA, N = 14, age = 71.1 +/- 1.8 yr), using a double blind procedure. Cr supplementation consisted of 0.3-g Cr.kg(-1) body weight for the first 5 d (loading phase) and 0.07-g Cr.kg(-1) body weight thereafter. Both groups participated in resistance training (36 sessions, 3 times per week, 3 sets of 10 repetitions, 12 exercises). Muscular strength was assessed by 1-repetition maximum (1-RM) for leg press (LP), knee extension (KE), and bench press (BP). Muscular endurance was assessed by the maximum number of repetitions over 3 sets (separated by 1-min rest intervals) at an intensity corresponding to 70% baseline 1-RM for BP and 80% baseline 1-RM for the KE and LP. Average power (AP) was assessed using a Biodex isokinetic knee extension/flexion exercise (3 sets of 10 repetitions at 60 degrees.s(-1) separated by 1-min rest). Lean tissue (LTM) and fat mass were assessed using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS Compared with PLA, the CRE group had significantly greater increases in LTM (CRE, +3.3 kg; PLA, +1.3 kg), LP 1-RM (CRE, +50.1 kg; PLA +31.3 kg), KE 1-RM (CRE, +14.9 kg; PLA, +10.7 kg), LP endurance (CRE, +47 reps; PLA, +32 reps), KE endurance (CRE, +21 reps; PLA +14 reps), and AP (CRE, +26.7 W; PLA, +18 W). Changes in fat mass, fat percentage, BP 1-RM, and BP endurance were similar between groups. CONCLUSION Creatine supplementation, when combined with resistance training, increases lean tissue mass and improves leg strength, endurance, and average power in men of mean age 70 yr.

Determining the relation between quality of life, handicap, fitness, and physical activity for persons with spinal cord injury☆☆☆

OBJECTIVE Determining relationships among fitness, physical activity, subjective quality of life, and handicap in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). DESIGN Cross-sectional exploratory study. SETTING University research laboratory setting. PARTICIPANTS Twenty-eight men and 10 women (age 35.9+/-9.3 yrs) with SCI (17 quadriplegic, 21 paraplegic). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Fitness (maximal incremental exercise test on arm ergometer), physical activity (leisure time exercise questionnaire), subjective quality of life (Quality of Life Profile: Physical and Sensory Disabilities Version), and level of handicap (Craig Handicap Assessment Reporting Technique). Correlational analyses examined relationships between the measures. RESULTS Physical activity was correlated with composite handicap score in quadriplegic and paraplegic persons. Handicap domain scores for physical independence, mobility, and occupation were correlated with physical activity in quadriplegic persons. There was no relation between the subjective quality of life scores and fitness and physical activity in either group. CONCLUSIONS Physical activity may play an important role in handicap for persons with SCI, particularly persons with quadriplegic injuries. The lack of a relation between activity variables and subjective quality of life may be related to the global nature of the measure used.

Components of Quality of Life for Persons with a Quadriplegic and Paraplegic Spinal Cord Injury

This investigation determined the themes that represented quality of life for persons with a spinal cord injury. Fifteen people (6 females, 9 males; 7 persons with quadriplegia, 8 with paraplegia) participated in this study, which used naturalistic inquiry methodologies. Results showed that quality of life for this population, regardless of severity of impairment, consisted of nine themes: (a) physical function and independence, (b) accessibility, (c) emotional well-being, (d) stigma, (e) spontaneity, (f) relationships and social function, (g) occupation, (h) finances, and (i) physical well-being. The themes of life quality were similar for quadriplegics and paraplegics; however, physical function and independence and physical well-being affected the quality of life of persons with a quadriplegic injury to a greater extent. These findings may provide health professionals with information necessary to assist in the development of programs to enhance quality of life.

The relationship of social physique anxiety to risk for developing an eating disorder in young females

PURPOSE To examine the relationships of age, social physique anxiety, and body image dissatisfaction to preoccupation with body weight and shape in young females. METHODS Height, weight, and skinfold measurements were obtained from 77 nonobese females (7 to 16 years). Social physique anxiety, body image, and preoccupation with body weight and shape were assessed from the Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS), a Body Image Questionnaire (BIQ), and the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlations, Chi-square, and hierarchical and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS Social physique anxiety was moderately correlated to body image dissatisfaction and body weight and shape concerns. Young females who were more anxious about their physique preferred a smaller body shape and experienced more body weight and shape concerns than those less anxious. The SPAS was a stronger predictor for the EDI scales Body Dissatisfaction and Drive for Thinness than the BIQ or age. CONCLUSIONS Social physique anxiety related to a negative body image and risk for developing an eating disorder as assessed by Body Dissatisfaction and Drive for Thinness in young females.

Physical activity in women with arthritis: Examining perceived barriers and self‐regulatory efficacy to cope

OBJECTIVE To examine whether the theory-based social cognitions of perceived barrier frequency, barrier limitation, and self-regulatory efficacy to cope were predictors of planned physical activity among adult women with arthritis. A secondary purpose was to identify and provide a phenomenologic description of the relevant barriers and coping strategies reported by study participants. METHODS Eighty adult women (mean +/- SD age 49.09 +/- 12.89 years) with self-reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis participated in this observational study. Participants completed online survey measures of barriers to physical activity and, for each barrier, reported the frequency of occurrence and the extent of limitation. Measures of coping strategies for each barrier, efficacy to cope, and physical activity were also obtained. RESULTS A multiple hierarchical regression analysis resulted in a model that significantly predicted physical activity (F[9,70] = 6.80, P < 0.01, adjusted R(2) = 0.40). Barrier limitation (standardized beta = -0.56) and efficacy (standardized beta = 0.20) were significant independent predictors. Phenomenologic findings indicated that arthritis-specific personal barriers (e.g., pain and fatigue due to arthritis) and arthritis-specific coping strategies (e.g., activity modification) were more commonly reported than generic barriers and coping strategies. CONCLUSION Self-regulatory efficacy to cope and relevant perceived physical activity barriers, which were primarily arthritis-specific and moderately or more limiting to planned physical activity, were important social cognitive predictors of physical activity, a key nonpharmacologic arthritis treatment, among women with arthritis. Future research direction should examine potential moderators of the relationship between these predictors and physical activity, such as pain acceptance.

Using a Naturalistic Ecological Approach to Examine the Factors Influencing Youth Physical Activity Across Grades 7 to 12

High levels of inactivity in youth have led researchers and practitioners to focus on identifying the factors that influence physical activity behaviors in young people. The present study employed a qualitative ecological framework to examine the intrapersonal, social, and environmental factors influencing youth physical activity. In grade-specific focus group settings, 160 youth in grades 7 through 12 (aged 12 to 18) were asked how they would increase the physical activity levels of youth their age. Participants identified eight factors that they felt should be addressed in programs and interventions designed to increase the physical activity behaviors of youth. These factors included the importance of fun, having the time to be physically active, the benefits of activity, being active with friends, the role of adults, and the importance of being able to access facilities in their neighborhood.

Youth and Adolescent Physical Activity Lapsers: Examining Self-efficacy as a Mediator of the Relationship between Family Social Influence and Physical Activity

The present study examined whether self-efficacy mediates the relationship between family social influence and physical activity among youth who have experienced a recent lapse in their physical activity participation. Using a prospective, longitudinal design, participants completed measures of social influence, self-regulatory efficacy and physical activity. Only those participants whose physical activity declined were retained for further analysis. Self-regulatory efficacy partially mediated the relationship between family social influence and physical activity, with self-efficacy mediating 36 percent of the total effect. The results provide support for self-regulatory efficacy as a mediator and provide preliminary insight into the potential mechanisms for preventing lapses in activity from developing into prolonged periods of inactivity within this population.

ParticipACTION: Awareness of the participACTION campaign among Canadian adults - Examining the knowledge gap hypothesis and a hierarchy-of-effects model

BackgroundParticipACTION was a pervasive communication campaign that promoted physical activity in the Canadian population for three decades. According to McGuires hierarchy-of-effects model (HOEM), this campaign should influence physical activity through intermediate mediators such as beliefs and intention. Also, when such media campaigns occur, knowledge gaps often develop within the population about the messages being conveyed. The purposes of this study were to (a) determine the current awareness of ParticipACTION campaigns among Canadians; (b) confirm if awareness of the ParticipACTION initiative varied as a function of levels of education and household income; and, (c) to examine whether awareness of ParticipACTION was associated with physical activity related beliefs, intentions, and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) as suggested by the HOEM. Specifically, we tested a model including awareness of ParticipACTION (unprompted, prompted), outcome expectations, self-efficacy, intention, and physical activity status.MethodsA population-based survey was conducted on 4,650 Canadians over a period of 6 months from August, 2007 to February, 2008 (response rate = 49%). The survey consisted of a set of additional questions on the 2007 Physical Activity Monitor (PAM). Our module on the PAM included questions related to awareness and knowledge of ParticipACTION. Weighted logistic models were constructed to test the knowledge gap hypotheses and to examine whether awareness was associated with physical activity related beliefs (i.e., outcome expectations, self-efficacy), intention, and LTPA. All analyses included those respondents who were 20 years of age and older in 2007/2008 (N = 4424).ResultsApproximately 8% of Canadians were still aware of ParticipACTION unprompted and 82% were aware when prompted. Both education and income were significant correlates of awareness among Canadians. The odds of people being aware of ParticipACTION were greater if they were more educated and reported higher income. Awareness of ParticipACTION was also associated with outcome expectations, self-efficacy, intention, and LTPA status.ConclusionAwareness of ParticipACTION is associated with LTPA. Knowledge gaps in awareness are associated with level of education and household income. Thus, future promotion campaigns should include specific strategies to target different segments of the population, especially people who are living in deprived conditions with lower levels of education.

Climatic stress in the workplace: its effect on thermoregulatory responses and muscle fatigue in female workers.

The present study was designed to determine the differences in thermoregulatory responses and the levels of muscle fatigue in the seated worker, performing a task involving a light metabolic load (typing), versus the standing worker, undertaking a task of a heavier metabolic load (lifting), in different climatic conditions (neutral and hot, humid). The results showed that environmental heat significantly influenced the cardiovascular and thermoregulatory systems in workers performing both light and heavy work tasks. In addition, environmental heat was shown to influence the magnitude of the frequency shift during the fatiguing muscle contraction in the typists rather than the lifters. These results suggest that: (1) performance of even sedentary workers performing a light manual task may be deleteriously affected by environmental heat; and (2) environmental heat may be of secondary importance to the nature of the task investigated on the level of muscle fatigue.