Kevin S. Spink

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.

Examining the Role of Social Support and Group Cohesion in Exercise Compliance

The present study sought to examine the role of social support and group cohesion in the compliance behavior of females required to exercise for health-related reasons. Compliance behavior was assessed as attendance and dropout behavior. Participants (N = 49) drawn from a clinical exercise group completed questionnaires to assess cohesion and social support. Discriminant function analyses were able to discriminate between high and low attenders as well as between dropouts and graduates. Participants reporting high scores on the support provision of reliable alliance and the cohesion factor of ATG-Task, along with low scores on the social support provision of guidance, were more likely to attend a higher proportion of classes. For dropouts, participants with higher scores on the support provision of reliable alliance were less likely to drop out. As a secondary objective, it was found that cohesion and social support variables both contributed to the successful prediction of attendance.

Group Cohesion Effects in Exercise Classes

Membership in cohesive groups has a powerful influence on individual behaviors such as adherence and conformity. Although the psychological andphysiological benefits of exercise have been well documented, individual adherence has proven to be problematic. Given that exercise classes are minimal groups at best, the purpose of the present study was to determine whether measures of cohesion secured during the early stages of group development could be used to predictsubsequent drop-out behavior In Study 1, participants in universityfitness classes were administered the Group Environment Questionnaire after the third week of a 13-week session. Adherence behavior, as measured by absenteeism, was monitored for 4 weeks and used to form two extreme groups-regular attenders and drop-outs. The regular attenders (n = 20) were those individuals who attended at least 66% of the monitored classes; drop-outs (n = 17) were those individuals who were absent for all classes in the monitored period. Discriminant function analysis showed that regular attenders held significantly greater perceptions of task cohesion than the drop-outs. Study 2 was a replication with exercise participants in private fitness clubs. A protocol identical to Study 1 was used to measure cohesion, operationalize adherence and analyze the data. Perceptions of cohesion again were a reliable predictor of adherence in the private club setting. However, it was measures of social cohesion that significantly discriminated between regular attenders (n = 30) and drop-outs (n = 16). The results were discussed in terms of their implications for (a) the dynamics of minimal groups, (b) the generality of the cohesion-adherence relationship in exercise groups, (c) the importance of considering the setting, and (d) health behavior change intervention programs.

The Group Size-Cohesion Relationship in Minimal Groups

Four studies were undertaken to investigate the relationship between cohesion and group size in exercise groups. Study 1 compared the perceptions of cohesiveness of members of small and large exercise classes assessed in the eighth week of group development in a 13-week session. Study 2 compared the perceptions of cohesiveness of members of small and large exercise classes assessed in the third week of group development in a 13-week session. Study 3 used a longitudinal design to assess the possible changes in perceptions of cohesiveness of members of small and large groups over time. The purpose of Study 4 was to determine how an intervention program focusing on team-building principles would influence perceptions of cohesiveness in small and large exercise classes. It was concluded that perceptions of task and social cohesion are greater in smaller groups, and that a team-building program can offset the negative impact of increased group size.

Entry into Elite Sport: A Preliminary Investigation into the Transition Experiences of Rookie Athletes

Athletes experience a number of transitions throughout their athletic career (Wylleman, Alfermann, & Lavallee, 2004). One pivotal transition that has received less attention in the literature is the transition into elite sport. The purpose of the present study was to examine the transitioning experience of young athletes entering elite sport. Using a phenomenological approach, rookie ice hockey players (N = 8, representing two different Major Junior ‘A’ teams) were asked about their experiences of entering into elite sport. Two primary themes emerged from the young athletes’ responses: on-ice issues associated with performance and off-ice issues relating to relationships and personal development. These findings offer preliminary evidence that young athletes encounter transitional challenges during the entry into elite sport. Further research is necessary to explore how the entry experience impacts young athletes’ athletic and psychosocial development and well-being.

Relation of Anxiety about Social Physique to Location of Participation in Physical Activity

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of anxiety about social physique to location of participation in physical activity. 37 nursing students completed the Social Physique Anxiety Scale and answered questions relating to the location of the physical activity in which they participated. Women were assigned to either a high- or low-anxiety group based on these scores. An examination of the reported location where participation in physical activity occurred showed that more high than low scorers reported a tendency to exercise privately than publicly; the number was higher than expected. Perhaps high scorers prefer exercise settings that provide less opportunity for their physiques to be evaluated.

Team building and cohesiveness in the sport and exercise setting: Use of indirect interventions

Abstract The general focus in this paper is on indirect team building intervention strategies to enhance cohesiveness in sport and exercise groups. Initially, the objectives for team building interventions are presented. Then, an overview of the distinction between direct and indirect intervention strategies is discussed. Following this, a conceptual model for the development of team building in sport and exercise groups is introduced. Research in which the conceptual model has been used with exercise and sport groups is then outlined. Finally, suggestions for future research and application in the area of team building in sport and exercise are advanced. Naturally there arc going to be some ups and downs, particularly if you have individuals trying to achieve at a high level. But when we stepped in between the lines, we knew what we were capable of doing. When a pressure situation presented itself, we were plugged into one another as a cohesive unit. Thats why we were able to come back so often and win ...

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.

Do individual perceptions of group cohesion reflect shared beliefs? An empirical analysis

This studys primary purpose was to examine the degree to which individual perceptions of cohesiveness reflect shared beliefs in sport teams. The secondary purposes were to examine how the type of cohesion, the task interactive nature of the group, and the absolute level of cohesion relate to the index of agreement. Teams (n = 192 containing 2,107 athletes) were tested on the Group Environment Questionnaire. Index of agreement values were greater for the group integration (GI) manifestations of cohesiveness (GI-task, rwg(j) = .721; GI-social,rwg(j) = .694) than for the individual attractions to the group (ATG) manifestations (ATG-task, rwg(j) = .621; ATG-social, rwg(j) = .563). No differences were found for interactive versus coactive/independent sport teams. A positive relationship was observed between the absolute level of cohesiveness and the index of agreement. Results were discussed in terms of their implication for the aggregation of individual perceptions of cohesion to represent the group construct.

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.