Physical Activity Competence Research Articles

Physical Self Concept in Older Adults

Given the paucity of research concerning physical self concept in older adults, the purpose of this study was to explore the physical self concept in this age groups. This study might build a knowledge foundation about older adults' physical perceptions. Five elder subjects participated in semi-structured in-depth interviews. Interview transcripts, field observation notes and focus group transcripts were all integrated for reduction analysis. The grounded theory method was used to conduct the hierarchical and multi-dimensional model. The results showed that physical self in older adults can be categorized as two higher-order themes such as, physical ability and physical appearance. Physical ability comprised 5 sub-themes including muscle endurance, flexibility, health status, physical activity competence and independent living function, whereas physical appearance consisted of 3 sub-themes, including physical attractiveness, body fat and appearance. These findings demonstrate that physical self concept in older adults consisted of some themes similar to those in adults and adolescents that showing the important influence of these themes on physical self-perception. Furthermore, there was a unique theme for the elders, namely independent living function. For the future studies, it is essential to develop methodology and to conduct empirical investigations. Future research also needs to examine the relationship among physical self, physical activity, physical well-being, quality of life and subjective well-being.

‘I Feel Fat': Weight-Related Stigma, Body Esteem, and BMI as Predictors of Perceived Competence in Physical Activity

Background: Efforts toward increasing participation in physical activity to prevent and treat overweight and obesity have as yet proved unsuccessful. Among the many barriers that discourage participation are weight-related stigmas. The primary purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between consciousnesses of weight-related stigma and perceived competence in physical activity. A secondary purpose of the study was to explore the potential mediation effects of body esteem and body mass index (BMI) on the relationship. Consciousness of weight stigma, body esteem, and BMI are explored as predictors of perceived competence in physical activity. Methods: Participants included 76 adults who were enrolled in a weight management program. Data were collected using self-administered ques-tionnaires. Path modeling was used to assess the rela-tionships between stigma consciousness and perceived physical activity competence, and the potential mediation effects of BMI and body esteem. Results: Tests indicated that body esteem, but not BMI, mediated the rela-tionship of consciousness of weight-related stigma and perceived physical activity competence. Conclusions: Consciousness of weight stigma, regardless of objective weight status, may negatively affect individuals’ willing-ness to participate in physical activity. Findings such as these are important in furthering understanding the factors that affect behavior, and subsequently conducting programs to overcome perceptions of weight and physical activity to encourage participation.

Reliability of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire in Research Settings: Last 7-Day Self-Administered Long Form

The purpose of this study was to examine the test–retest reliability of the last 7-day long form International Physical Activity Questionnaire (Craig et al., 2003) and to examine the construct validity for the measure in a research setting. Participants were 151 male (n = 52) and female (n = 99) university students (M age = 24.15 years, SD = 5.01) who completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire on two separate occasions, separated by four days, and measures of physical activity motivation and competence at time one. Intraclass correlation coefficients for job-related, transportation, and household-related activities ranged from poor to acceptable (R = .42 to .73). For recreation and leisure time activity, reliabilities were fair to acceptable (R = .65 to .76). Reliability intraclass correlation coefficient values provided some support for the measure's potential usefulness in assessing job-related, walking as transportation, and moderate-intensity indoor household activities. Construct validity coefficients within and across contexts compared to physical activity motivation and competence measures were generally low (ρ = .02 to .32). Future studies should focus on improving International Physical Activity Questionnaire validity and reliability in specific contexts if its full benefits are to be realized.

Promoting Elementary Physical Education: Results of a School-Based Evaluation Study

Using a quasiexperimental design, the authors examine whether fourth- and fifth-grade students exposed to a developmental physical education (PE) curriculum, Michigan's Exemplary Physical Education Curriculum (EPEC), demonstrated stronger motor skill-specific self-efficacy and perceptions of physical activity competence, physical activity levels, motor skills, and physical fitness than did students exposed to existing PE curricula. The authors conducted a multilevel regression analysis with data from 1,464 students in the fourth and fifth grades. Data were collected using a student survey, an activity checklist, and motor and fitness assessments. Compared to students receiving standard PE, students exposed to EPEC showed significantly stronger results in motor skills but not fitness outcomes. The authors found significant positive intervention effects on indicators of motor skill self-efficacy and physical activity levels among the fourth-grade cohort. EPEC was more effective than standard PE curricula at improving motor skill performance (fourth- and fifth-grade cohorts) and at increasing self-reported motor skill-specific self-efficacy and physical activity (fourth-grade cohort).

Physical activity in treatment units for eating disorders: Clinical practice and attitudes

Physical activity (PA) in eating disorders (ED) may be harmful, but in a therapeutic setting also beneficial. The purpose of this survey was to examine these contradictory aspects of PA in ED specialist treatment settings. We examined whether 1) PA is assessed by the unit, 2) the units have guidelines for managing excessive PA, 3) the units have staff with higher education and special competence in PA and exercise science, 4) how units regard PA in ED, 5) whether regular PA is integrated in the treatment programs, and 6) how the units rate the role of PA in the treatment of ED compared with other mental disorders. Of the 49 units located in Scandinavia and the United Kingdom, 41 (84%) responded to a questionnaire. In 28 units (68%) PA was assessed regularly. Excessive PA was considered a harmful symptom in ED, and most units reported guidelines to manage excessive PA. Thirty-two units included PA in their treatment programmes. Clinicians found PA most relevant in the treatment of obesity and, except for binge eating, less for ED. PA was more commonly integrated in treatment compared to previous studies. Future research should address how to manage excessive PA, and the potential beneficial role of PA in the treatment of ED.

A Developmental Perspective on the Role of Motor Skill Competence in Physical Activity: An Emergent Relationship

Although significant attention has been paid to promoting the importance of physical activity in children, adolescents, and adults, we do not currently understand how to promote sustained physical activity levels throughout the lifespan. We contend that previous research has failed to consider the dynamic and synergistic role that motor skill competence plays in the initiation, maintenance, or decline of physical activity and how this role might change across developmental time. In this article, we present a conceptual model hypothesizing the relationships among physical activity, motor skill competence, perceived motor skill competence, health-related physical fitness, and obesity. We contend that the development of motor skill competence is a primary underlying mechanism that promotes engagement in physical activity.

Physical Activity Counseling Content and Competency: A Systematic Review

Physical activity (PA) counseling is becoming commonplace in primary care settings, although there is a high degree of variation in the quality and quantity of this intervention. The purpose of this review was to examine the theory on which the intervention is based and the level of treatment fidelity applied at all stages of the intervention. A systematic review was carried out for interventions that reported an element of PA counseling. Results were mapped according to a treatment fidelity framework of intervention design, training, delivery, receipt, and enactment. Most studies were underpinned by the transtheoretical model. Few studies described the frequency or duration of PA counseling training or competence level of the interventionist. The most common outcome measures were behavioral and physiological, with few studies including a cognitive outcome measure. Most research focuses on outcome and significance rather than intervention processes, with limited consideration of treatment fidelity. The design, training, delivery, and receipt of PA counseling should be reported more thoroughly.

Chapter 5: Influences of Perceived Motor Competence and Motives on Children’s Physical Activity

Motor Competence, Physical Fitness, and Participation in Physical Activity: Do Children Meet the Standards?

Chapter 1: Setting the Stage—Research into Physical Activity Relationships and Children’s Progress Toward Achievement of the National Standards

Motor Competence, Physical Fitness, and Participation in Physical Activity: Do Children Meet the Standards?

Chapter 3: The Relationship of Physical Fitness and Motor Competence to Physical Activity

Motor Competence, Physical Fitness, and Participation in Physical Activity: Do Children Meet the Standards?

183 Promoting actual competence, perceived competence, enjoyment of and participation in physical activity among adolescents: The Sport for Fun feasibility trial

183 Promoting actual competence, perceived competence, enjoyment of and participation in physical activity among adolescents: The Sport for Fun feasibility trial

Chapter 7: Are the National Standards Achievable?—Conclusions and Recommendations

Motor Competence, Physical Fitness, and Participation in Physical Activity: Do Children Meet the Standards?

A Preface from the Guest Editors

Motor Competence, Physical Fitness, and Participation in Physical Activity: Do Children Meet the Standards?

Chapter 6: Children’s Environmental Access in Relation to Motor Competence, Physical Activity, and Fitness

Motor Competence, Physical Fitness, and Participation in Physical Activity: Do Children Meet the Standards?

Chapter 4: A Comparison of Personal Attributes and Experiences among Physically Active and Inactive Children

Motor Competence, Physical Fitness, and Participation in Physical Activity: Do Children Meet the Standards?

A self-determination process model of physical activity adoption in the context of a randomized controlled trial

Objective: The PA Counseling (PAC) trial tested a primary care intervention using Self-Determination Theory (SDT) as the guiding framework. This paper presents specific results related to SDT constructs in a physical activity (PA) context. Specifically, whether patients who received both brief autonomy supportive PA counseling from their health-care provider and intensive (3 month) autonomy supportive counseling from a PA counselor would report greater levels of autonomy support, autonomous motivation, perceived competence and PA adoption, than patients receiving only brief counseling. In addition, we tested Williams’ SDT process model in the context of PA adoption. Method: Measures of autonomous motivation and perceived competence for PA were measured at baseline and 6 weeks. PA was assessed at baseline and 13 weeks. An autonomy support index was calculated by multiplying minutes of counseling by perceptions of autonomy support. Group differences in autonomy support, autonomous motivation, perceived competence and PA were examined. The SDT process model of PA adoption was tested via path analysis. Results: The results showed higher autonomy support and autonomous motivation at 6 weeks and higher PA levels at 13 weeks for the experimental group. The SDT process model for PA adoption showed that autonomous motivation and perceived competence at 6 weeks significantly predicted 13-week PA for the experimental group. Conclusions: This study provides a rigorous field test of SDT theory in a PA context. It demonstrates the versatility and applicability of the SDT model for health behavior change. SDT-trained PA counselors appear to provide valuable contribution to facilitating patient behavior change, by increasing patient autonomous motivation for PA.

Physical Activity, Older Immigrants and Cultural Competence

Increasingly fitness practitioners (FPs) are required to provide programs for older immigrants from diverse cultural backgrounds. Providing appropriate physical activity interventions is a complex undertaking especially if the practitioner has little knowledge of the client's cultural expectations. This article presents a framework to assist FPs in the design and delivery of culturally competent physical activity programming for older immigrants. Examples from the Muslim culture describe the four dimensions of caring, cultural sensitivity, cultural knowledge, and cultural skills. By working through each of the four dimensions, practitioners will be better equipped to identify the types of skills and behaviors required to develop culturally appropriate programs.

Psycho-social and environmental correlates of location-specific physical activity among 9- and 15- year-old Norwegian boys and girls: the European Youth Heart Study

ObjectiveLittle is known about the existence of independent location- or context specific forms of physical activity. This study sought to identify location-specific forms of physical activity in a sample of 9 and 15 years-olds Norwegian boys and girls, and examined their associations to psycho-social and environmental factors.MethodsA cross-sectional study of 9 and 15-year-olds (N = 760; 379 boys and 381 girls) was conducted in which participants responded to a computer-based questionnaire (PEACH) tapping potentially location specific forms of physical activity as well as psycho-social and environmental correlates.ResultsExploratory factor analysis indicated that the nine and fifteen year-olds self-reported their physical activity as located in three separate and specific contexts: a) school commuting, b) informal games play at school and c) organized sport, structured exercise and games play in leisure time. Dependent of location, psycho-social and environmental correlates explained between 15 and 55 percent of the variance in physical activity. The impact of peer support, enjoyment and perceived competence in physical activity generalized across the three locations. Enjoyment of physical education classes, parental support and teacher support, in contrast, confined to particular location-specific forms of physical activity. Generally, behavioural beliefs and environmental factors represented marginal correlates of all location-specific forms of activity.ConclusionYoung peoples' physical activity was identified as taking place in multiply genuine locations, and the psychosocial correlates of their physical activity seem to some extent to be location specific. Results may inform intervention efforts suggesting that targeting specific sets of psycho-social factors may prove efficient across physical activity locations, gender and age groups. Others, in contrast may prove effective in facilitating location specific physical activity, in which age may come to moderate the efficiency of intervention efforts.

Physical activity, global physical self-concept, and adolescent smoking

Previous research supports a possible protective effect for physical activity against adolescent smoking. However, it is not clear whether the effect of physical activity on smoking is direct (e.g., time spent in physical activity) or indirect through another variable. One such variable is global physical self-concept (GPSC). Briefly, GPSC is a general perception of one's physical self, including appearance and physical activity competence. This study tested a structural equation model of the relationship between physical activity and smoking, with direct effects from physical activity to smoking and an indirect effect through GPSC. Participants were 983 12th graders taking part in a study of the biobehavioral predictors of adolescent smoking adoption. Controlling for covariates of adolescent smoking (e.g., peer smoking, alcohol use) and GPSC (e.g., body mass index, perceived physical appearance), physical activity had an indirect effect on smoking through its effects on GPSC, suggesting that the potential beneficial effects of physical activity on adolescent smoking may depend, in part, on GPSC. These results suggest that an adolescent's perception of the physical self may be one important factor to consider in youth smoking interventions. Further research is necessary to evaluate the longitudinal relationship between physical activity, GPSC, and smoking.

Autonomous Motivation: Involvement in Physical Activity, and Perceived Sport Competence: Structural and Mediator Models

Students in upper secondary school (N = 231, M = 16.6 yr., SD = 1.6) were tested on involvement in physical activity, perceived sport competence, using the Perceived Competence Scale of Harter, and motivational regulation on the Self-regulation Questionnaire of Ryan and Connell. Correlations were positive among involvement in physical activity, autonomous motivation, and perceived sport competence. A hypothetical model indicated that autonomous motivation mediates the relation between perceived sport competence and involvement in physical activity. Although LISREL analysis supported this mediation, the best model fit of the data supported a structural model with involvement in physical activity (R2 = .63) to mediate between autonomous motivation and perceived competence (R2 = .47). Results are interpreted and discussed in terms of self-determination theory.