Katie E. Gunnell

Health-Enhancing Physical Activity: Associations with Markers of Well-Being.

BACKGROUND The association between health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) and well-being was investigated across a cross-sectional (Study 1; N=243) and a longitudinal, two-wave (Study 2; N=198) design. Study 2 further examined the role played by fulfilling basic psychological needs in terms of understanding the mechanisms via which HEPA is associated with well-being. METHODS Women enrolled in undergraduate courses were surveyed. RESULTS In general, greater HEPA was associated with greater well-being (Study 1; rs ranged from .03 to .25). Change score analyses revealed that increased HEPA positively predicted well-being (Study 2; R(2) adj=0.03 to 0.15) with psychological need fulfilment underpinning this relationship. CONCLUSIONS Collectively these findings indicate that increased engagement in health-enhancing physical activity represents one factor associated with greater well-being. Continued investigation of basic psychological need fulfilment as one mechanism underpinning the HEPA-well-being relationship appears justified.

Psychological Needs as Mediators? The Relationship between Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Well Being in People Diagnosed with Osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disease characterized by reduced bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue resulting in compromised bone strength, increased fracture risk, and reduced well being (World Health Organization, 1994). With evidence attesting to the positive effects of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) on biomedical health in people with osteoporosis (Johnell & Hertzman, 2006), there have been calls to broaden the scope of health-related variables that LTPA may influence (Li, Chen, Yang, & Tsauo, 2009). Previous studies examining the link between LTPA and well being in people with osteoporosis have been largely atheoretical (e.g., Papaioannou et al., 2003; Papaioannou et al., 2006), rendering the mechanisms via which LTPA influences well being speculative. Because literature has suggested the association between LTPA and well being may be indirect, as opposed to direct (Chodzko-Zajko et al., 2009; Motl & McAuley, 2009), greater attention to the mechanisms underpinning the LTPA-well being relationship is warranted. One theory that holds promise for explaining well being is Basic Psychological Needs Theory (BPNT; Deci & Ryan, 2002). Central to BPNT are the psychological needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness that nurture psychological growth, integrity, and well being directly (Deci & Ryan, 2002). Deci and Ryan’s contentions have been largely supported in exercise contexts, given that people who feel competent, autonomous, and related to others report greater well being and less ill-being (c.f., Wilson, Mack, Gunnell, Oster, & Gregson, 2008). While insight has been gained into the LTPA-well being relationship for individuals living with osteoporosis (Papaioannou et al., 2003; Papaioannou et al., 2006), a number of issues warrant further investigation. First, the mechanisms underpinning the LTPA-well being relationship in individuals with a chronic health condition have generally been confined to self-efficacy, social support, and fatigue (McAuley, White, Rogers, Motl, & Courneya, 2010; Motl & McAuley, 2009). Considering additional mechanisms (i.e., psychological need fulfillment) would complement and potentially extend current evidence. Second, within BPNT, Ryan and Deci (2001) differentiated hedonic well being (HWB; maximizing pleasure) from eudaimonic well being (EWB; realizing human potentials). Previous research on individuals with osteoporosis focused primarily on HWB markers (Papaioannou et al., 2003; Papaioannou et al., 2006) despite evidence of distinctions between well being in its hedonic and eudaimonic forms (McGregor & Little, 1998; Ryff et al., 2006). Moreover, EWB has a stronger pattern of association with biomarkers of health than HWB (Ryff et al., 2006). Thus, the primary aim of this investigation was to examine basic psychological needs satisfaction in explaining the LTPA-EWB relationship. Based on BPNT (Deci & Ryan, 2002), we hypothesized that perceived psychological need satisfaction would mediate the LTPA-EWB relationship. Psychological Needs as Mediators? The Relationship Between Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Well Being in People Diagnosed With Osteoporosis

Assessing Psychological Need Satisfaction in Exercise Contexts: Issues of Score Invariance, Item Modification, and Context

The researchers examined if scores from the original Psychological Need Satisfaction in Exercise Scale (Wilson, Rogers, Rodgers, & Wild, 2006) were invariant from a modified version specific to physical activity and then examined measurement invariance of scores across groups on the modified scale. Three groups were examined: (a) Students/staff from a university (N = 283), (b) a sample drawn from the general population (N = 214), and (c) individuals living with osteoporosis (N = 221). Measurement invariance was tested with four nested models using increased equality constraints per model. Results of invariance tests between two versions of the Psychological Need Satisfaction in Exercise Scale and between groups that completed the Psychological Need Satisfaction in Exercise Scale modified to physical activity supported configural and weak invariance of scores (i.e., equivalent factor structure and loadings). As such, the constructs of competence, autonomy, and relatedness were construed similarly across versions of the instrument and across two groups. Strong invariance (i.e., equivalent intercepts) was not supported, and therefore, direct score comparisons should be made with caution.

Leisure-time physical activity in Canadians living with Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis: population-based estimates.

The purpose of this study was to provide population-based estimates of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) in Canadians diagnosed with Crohn disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC). Data were derived from the Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle 3.1 (2005). Those diagnosed with CD (n = 474; 61.60% female) or UC (n = 637; 65.10% female) were compared with those not reporting CD/UC (n = 113,685; 53.60% female). The most prevalent forms of LTPA reported were walking and gardening/yard work. Individuals with CD were more likely to be classified as “inactive” (OR = 1.34; 95% CI [1.12, 1.61]) and less likely to be “active” (OR = 0.69; 95% CI [0.55, 0.87]) than those not reporting CD/UC. These trends were mirrored for those living with UC, although statistical significance was not attained. Despite claims advocating the benefits of LTPA for ameliorating complications associated with CD/UC, prevalence estimates from a population-based sample of Canadians living with CD/UC suggest that the majority do not meet current public health guidelines. Results offer benchmarks for prevalence of LTPA in those diagnosed with CD/UC. Findings suggest that many living with this condition will not benefit from the protective role of LTPA on complications associated with CD/UC.

A Review of Validity Evidence Presented in the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology (2002–2012): Misconceptions and Recommendations for Validation Research

The purpose of this investigation was to systematically review and provide a critical narrative commentary on validation investigations from studies published in the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology (JSEP) to determine how modern validity theory has been incorporated or omitted in validation studies. Out of the 405 articles published between 2002 and 2012, 50 met inclusion criteria. Coded items pertaining to validity theory were based on the Standards validation framework (American Educational Research Association [AERA], American Psychological Association [APA], National Council on Measurement in Education [NCME], Standards for educational and psychological testing. American Educational Research Association, Washington, DC, 1999). Results revealed that in general, researchers publishing validation investigations in JSEP are not basing their work on established validation frameworks, or using validity theory developed by psychometricians (e.g., 70 % of studies provided no validation citation). With respect to the types of validity evidence presented, researchers ascertained score validity from evidence based on content, internal structure, and relations to other variables. Validity evidence based on response processes (2 %) and consequences (0 %) were largely omitted from investigations. Critical analysis while coding yielded three common misconceptions about validity and validation. Recommendations to improve the state of validation work in sport and exercise psychology are forwarded.

Validity Theory and Validity Evidence for Scores Derived from the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire

The purpose of this paper was to provide a systematic review to examine how researchers who have used the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ; Mullan et al. Person Individ Differ 23:745–752, 1997) have applied validity theory to their investigations. Of the published studies (n = 138) included in the sample using the BREQ, only 29 coded studies explicitly presented evidence of score validity. Less than a quarter of the coded studies (20.69 %) cited a contemporary validity framework. Evidence of internal structure was the most common source of validity evidence presented, followed by relations to other variables (e.g., discriminant and convergent evidence) and content evidence. Validity evidence pertaining to response processes or consequences was not directly analyzed in the studies coded. Findings indicated that researchers need to incorporate modern validity theory and validation procedures into their investigations and analyses.

Women athletes’ self-compassion, self-criticism, and perceived sport performance.

Many difficult and painful sport experiences for young women athletes are at least partially due to their harsh self-criticism and negative performance evaluations. One potential resource for young women athletes to manage these experiences is self-compassion, a healthy self-attitude premised on being kind and understanding toward oneself during times of pain and failure. The purpose of this study was to explore if self-compassion was related to sport performance and if self-compassion accounts unique variance beyond self-criticism in women athletes’ perceived sport performance. Women athletes (N = 82, Mage = 18.77 years) from a variety of sports and competition levels completed measures of perceived sport performance, self-compassion, and self-criticism in sport around a scheduled competition. Self-compassion was negatively correlated with self-criticism, r = −.61, p < .001 and positively correlated with perceived sport performance, r = .29, p < .01. Further, self-criticism was not related to women athletes’ perceived sport performance. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that self-compassion contributed 5.4% unique variance beyond self-criticism in women athletes’ perceived sport performance. The results of this research suggest that extending compassion toward the self may be important for women athletes’ sport performance, whereas self-criticism does not play a role in perceived sport performance.