Wendy M. Rodgers

Catastrophizing, depression and expectancies for pain and emotional distress.

&NA; The present research addressed the relation between catastrophizing, depression and response expectancies in anticipation of an experimental pain procedure. One hundred and twenty undergraduates (48 men, 72 women) participated in exchange for course credit. Prior to immersing one arm in a container of ice water, participants were asked to complete measures of catastrophizing and depression, and to estimate the degree of pain and emotional distress they expected to experience. After a 1‐min immersion, participants rated their actual experience. Pain expectancies partially mediated the relation between catastrophizing and pain experience. Pain expectancies also mediated the relation between depression and pain experience. Catastrophizing, but not depression, was associated with a tendency to underestimate pain and emotional distress. The implications of these findings for the conceptual distinctiveness of catastrophizing and depression are discussed. Discussion also examines the potential implications of the present findings for pain management interventions.

The relationship between perceived autonomy support, exercise regulations and behavioral intentions in women

Abstract Objectives: To examine Self-Determination Theory’s (SDT; Deci, E.L., & Ryan, R.M. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior . New York, NY: Plenum Press) proposition that perceptions of autonomy support underpin different regulations that, in turn, predict behavioral intentions in the context of exercise. The specific hypothesis examined in this study was that greater perceptions of autonomy support will be positively associated with more autonomous exercise regulations, which subsequently, will predict greater intentions to continue with exercise for the next 4 months. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Methods: Females ( n =232) involved in a team-based intramural event sponsored by a large university completed a self-administered survey in small groups not exceeding 15 people. Participants ranged in age from 17 to 31 (M, 20.86 years; SD, 2.21) and reported healthy body mass index (BMI) values (M, 22.14 Kg/m 2 ; SD, 2.33 Kg/m 2 ). Results: Bivariate correlations indicated that perceived autonomy support from friends was more favorably associated with identified and intrinsic regulations, an ordered pattern of relationships was evident among exercise regulations, and autonomous (identified and intrinsic) exercise regulations were more strongly correlated with greater intentions to exercise. Multivariate analysis using structural equation modeling supported a motivational model based on tenets of SDT that accounted for a substantial portion of the variance in identified ( R 2 =0.32) and intrinsic ( R 2 =0.33) exercise regulations and behavioral intentions ( R 2 =0.49). Conclusion: The motivational model proposed by SDT provides theoretically sound insights into the reasons why people intend to continue with exercise behavior, and allows for a meaningful analysis of motivational processes operating in the exercise domain.

Relationships between Exercise Regulations and Motivational Consequences in University Students.

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine propositions stemming from Self-Determination Theory (SDT) that contend motivational consequences vary as a function of different regulations in the exercise domain. Participants (N = 276; n = 98 men; n = 178 women) completed inventories assessing exercise regulations, current exercise behavior, and behavioral intentions to continue exercising for the next 4 months and the effort and importance associated with exercise participation. Bivariate analyses indicated autonomous exercise regulations (identified and intrinsic) were the strongest correlates of each motivational consequence across both sexes, and introjected regulation was positively associated with exercise consequences in women. Simultaneous multiple regression analyses indicated that exercise regulations accounted for a sizeable portion of the variance across each motivational consequence in both sexes (R2adj values ranged from .20 to .53). Both regression and structure coefficients revealed that introjected regulation was a stronger motivational force in women than men, and identified regulation was the most important predictor of all three motivational consequences in both sexes. Collectively, these findings suggest that exercise regulations differentially predict motivational consequences across sexes, and future research using this theoretical framework for examining motivational issues pertinent to the exercise domain appears warranted.

The effect of an imagery training program on imagery ability, imagery use, and figure skating performance

Abstract The effects of an imagery training program on imagery ability, imagery use, and figure skating performance were investigated. In addition, the influence of imagery training on skating performance was compared to verbalization training. The study employed two groups of figure skaters, an imagery training group, and a verbalization training group. All skaters were assessed for movement imagery ability, their use of imagery, and their skating performance prior to and following a 16-week training period. During this training period the imagery and verbal groups received instruction and guidance in the use of their respective types of mental practice. The imagery group improved in visual movement imagery ability and showed several changes in imagery use. Specifically, they were more likely to use imagery in practice, had more structured imagery practice sessions, and could more easily visualize and feel certain aspects of their skating performance compared to the verbalization group, In terms of perfo...

Examining the Psychometric Properties of the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire

The purpose of this study was to examine select psychometric properties of the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ; Mullen, Markland, & Ingledew, 1997). To accomplish this aim, data were gathered in 2 phases to evaluate the BREQs factorial composition and structure and the relation between the BREQ, need satisfaction, exercise behavior, and relevant motivational constructs. Participants completed measures assessing psychological need satisfaction, optimism, perceived behavioral control, exercise behavior, and the BREQ. Phase 1 results supported the original 4-factor measurement model and a simplex model of structural relations between latent BREQ constructs suggested within self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985), and results supported the positive relations between more self-determined motives and greater psychological need satisfaction and frequent exercise behavior. Phase 2 results provided further construct validity evidence for the BREQ by linking subscale scores with greater perceived behavioral control in a manner consistent with theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985). Collectively, these results further support the construct validity of the BREQ and lend credence to the notion of measuring exercise motivation from a multidimensional perspective using self-determination theory as a guiding framework in the exercise domain.

Task and scheduling self-efficacy as predictors of exercise behavior

Social cognitive theory (Bandura, 1986, 1995, 1997) has figured prominently among social psychological approaches taken to the investigation of exercise behavior. The present study validated two measures of self-efficacy (scheduling and task) through confirmatory factor analytic procedures. In a separate study, the resultant factors were then used as independent variables in the prediction of exercise behavior and behavioral intention in a structural equation model. Task self-efficacy was found to be more related to behavioral intention than scheduling self-efficacy. Scheduling self-efficacy was found to be more related to behavior than task self-efficacy or behavioral intention. Results support different types and motivational functions of self-efficacy for exercise intentions and behavior.

An experimental investigation of the relation between catastrophizing and activity intolerance

&NA; The present study examined the value of a measure of catastrophizing as a predictor of activity intolerance in response to delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). A sample of 50 (17 men, 33 women) sedentary undergraduates participated in an exercise protocol designed to induce muscle soreness and were asked to return 2 days later to perform the same physical maneuvres. Participants performed five strength exercises that emphasized the eccentric component of the muscle contraction in order to induce DOMS. Dependent variables of interest were the proportion reduction in total weight lifted, and the number of repetitions. Analyses revealed that catastrophizing, assessed prior to the first exercise bout, was significantly correlated with negative mood, pain and with reduction in weight lifted. Regression analyses revealed that catastrophizing predicted reductions in weight lifted even after controlling for pain and negative mood. These findings extend previous research in demonstrating that catastrophizing is associated with objective indices of activity intolerance associated with pain. Implications of these findings for understanding pain‐related disability are addressed.

Exercise imagery: Its nature and measurement

Abstract The lack of research on imagery use by exercisers and the success of imagery use by athletes—for both motivational and cognitive functions—highlights the need to examine imagery use by exercisers. Thus, the general purpose of the present research was to (a) examine the nature of exercise imagery and (b) develop a questionnaire to assess exercise imagery. To this end three research phases were undertaken. Phase 1 examined the nature of imagery use by exercisers and Phases 2 and 3 involved the development and psychometric analysis of the Exercise Imagery Questionnaire-Aerobic Version (EIQ-AV). Results of Phase 1 revealed that 75.7% of the exercisers (N = 144) reported using exercise imagery for both motivational (e.g., goal attainment and psychological management) and cognitive (e.g., performance enhancement and learning) purposes. In Phases 2 and 3, the psychometric analysis of the EIQ-AV revealed three factors (i.e., Energy, Appearance, and Technique) with adequate internal consistency estimates....

Exploring the Influence of a Social Ecological Model on School-Based Physical Activity

Among rising rates of overweight and obesity, schools have become essential settings to promote health behaviors, such as physical activity (PA). As schools exist within a broader environment, the social ecological model (SEM) provided a framework to consider how different levels interact and influence PA. The purpose of this study was to provide insight on school-based PA promotion by investigating the integration between different levels of Emmons’s SEM within one public school board in a large Canadian city. Interviews were conducted with participants from the government (n = 4), the public school board (n = 3), principals (n = 3), and teachers (n = 4) and analyzed to explore perspectives on the various levels of the model. The results suggested that higher level policies “trickled down” into the organizational level of the SEM but there was pivotal responsibility for schools to determine how to implement PA strategies. Furthermore, schools have difficulty implementing PA because of the continued priority of academic achievement.

Is the theory of planned behavior a useful framework for understanding exercise adherence during phase II cardiac rehabilitation

PURPOSE This study evaluated the theory of planned behavior (TPB) as a framework for understanding exercise adherence during phase II cardiac rehabilitation (CR). METHODS A total of 215 patients completed a baseline questionnaire that included the TPB constructs and past exercise. Exercise adherence was measured via program attendance during phase II CR. RESULTS Hierarchic regression analyses indicated that attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control (PBC) explained 30% of the variance in exercise intention, with attitude, subjective norm, and PBC each making significant unique contributions to intention. Furthermore, exercise intention explained 12% of the variance in exercise adherence. Finally, the behavioral, normative, and control beliefs provided novel information concerning why patients in phase II CR hold certain attitudes, subjective norms, PBC, and exercise intentions. CONCLUSION Results of the present study provide evidence that the TPB is a useful framework for understanding exercise intentions and adherence during phase II CR.