Godin Leisure Time Questionnaire Research Articles

Physical activity, self-efficacy, and health-related quality of life in persons with multiple sclerosis: analysis of associations between individual-level changes over one year

Physical activity and self-efficacy represent behavioral and psychological factors, respectively, that are compromised in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS), but might be modifiable through intervention and result in better health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The present study adopted a panel research design and examined the associations between individual-level changes in physical activity, self-efficacy, and HRQOL over a one-year period in persons with MS. The sample consisted of 269 persons with relapsing-remitting MS who completed the Godin Leisure-Time Questionnaire (GLTEQ), Multiple Sclerosis Self-Efficacy (MSSE) Scale, and Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-29 (MSIS-29) Scale on two occasions that were separated by 1year. The data were analyzed using panel analysis in Mplus 3.0. The initial panel analysis indicated that individual-level change in physical activity was associated with individual-level change in both physical and psychological HRQOL. The subsequent panel analysis indicated that (a) individual-level change in self-efficacy for functioning with MS was associated with individual-level change in physical HRQOL, whereas individual-level change in self-efficacy for control was associated with individual-level change in psychological HRQOL; (b) individual-level change in self-efficacy for functioning with MS, but not self-efficacy for control, mediated the association between individual-level change in physical activity and physical HRQOL; and (c) individual-level change in self-efficacy for controlling MS was the strongest predictor of individual-level change in HRQOL. Physical activity and self-efficacy both might be important targets of subsequent behavioral and self-management interventions for improving the HRQOL of persons with MS, although self-efficacy is seemingly more important than physical activity.

Testing mediator variables in a resistance training intervention for obese adults with type 2 diabetes

A poor understanding of behaviour change mechanisms has hindered the development of effective physical activity interventions. The aim of this study was to identify potential mediators of change in a home-based resistance training (RT) program for obese individuals with type 2 diabetes. Obese individuals with type 2 diabetes (N = 48) were randomly allocated to either an RT intervention (n = 27) or a control group (n = 21) for the 16-week study period. The study sample included 16 men and 32 women and the mean age of participants was 54.4 (±11.7) years. Participants in the RT group received a multi-gym and dumbbells and home supervision from a certified personal trainer. RT behaviour was measured using a modified Godin Leisure Time Questionnaire. Social-cognitive constructs were measured and tested in a mediating variable framework using a product-of-coefficients test. The intervention had a significant effect on RT behaviour (p < 0.001) and muscular strength (p < 0.001). The intervention had a significant effect on RT planning strategies (p < 0.01), which mediated the effect of the intervention on RT behaviour. The home-based RT program successfully targeted participants’ RT planning strategies which contributed to their exercise adherence.

The relationship between a short measure of health status and physical activity in a workplace population

Many interventions promoting physical activity (PA) are effective in preventing disease onset, and although studies have found a positive relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQL) and PA, most of these studies have focused on older adults and those with chronic conditions. Less is known regarding the association between PA level and HRQL among healthy adults. Our objective was to analyse the relationship between PA level and HRQL among a sample of 573 employees aged 20–68 taking part in a workplace intervention to promote PA. Measures included HRQL (using a single item) and PA (i.e. Godin Leisure-Time Questionnaire). The Modified Canadian Aerobic Fitness Test (MCAFT) was also completed by 10% of the employees. MET-minute scores (assessing energy expenditure over one week) were compared across HRQL categories using ANOVA. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to further examine the relationship between HRQL and PA, controlling for potential covariates. Participants in the higher health status categories were found to report higher levels of energy expenditure (one-way ANOVA, p < 0.001). In the multiple linear regression model, each unit increase in health status level translated in a mean increase of 356 MET-minutes in energy expenditure (p < 0.001). This single-item assessment of health status explained six percent of the variance in energy expenditure. The study concludes that higher energy expenditure through PA among an adult workplace population is positively associated with increased health status, and it also suggests that a single-item HRQL measure is suitable for community- and population-based studies, reducing response burden and research costs.

Do government brochures affect physical activity cognition? A pilot study of Canada's physical activity guide to healthy active living

Health Canada has published national physical activity (PA) guidelines, which are included in their 26-page Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living (CPAG). To date, the use of CPAG as a motivational instrument for PA promotion has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to determine whether reading CPAG 1) increased motivational antecedents to engage in regular PA, and 2) increased regular PA intention and behaviour over 1 month. Participants included 130 randomly sampled Canadian adults (18 years or older) who were randomly mailed pack ages consisting of either 1) a questionnaire and a copy of CPAG, or 2) a questionnaire. Questionnaire items pertained to participants' sociodemographics, previous PA behaviours (Godin Leisure-Time Questionnaire) and PA motivation (theory of planned behaviour). Participants were then sent a follow-up questionnaire pertaining to their PA behaviours throughout the previous month. Results revealed significant interactions between the guide condition and previous activity status on instrumental behavioural beliefs about strength activities and subjective norms about endurance activities (p < 0.05), but all other factors were not significantly different. It was concluded that among previously inactive people, receiving this guide may change some informational/motivational constructs, but key motivational antecedents (affective attitude, perceived behavioural control) and outcomes (intention, behaviour) seem unaffected.

Relationship Between Regular Walking, Physical Activity, and Health-Related Quality of Life

The current physical activity (PA) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) literature warrants further investigation with general population samples. The exploratory-focused purpose of this study was to compare total PA-HRQoL and walking-HRQoL relations, include a measure of general happiness, and to evaluate potential activity-HRQoL demographic moderators. A random sample of 351 adults completed an adapted Godin Leisure Time Questionnaire, the SF-36, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Partial correlations revealed small-to-moderate associations between walking/total PA and general health, vitality, and social functioning after controlling for key demographics (P < 0.05). A dependent t-test determined walking and PA as equally related to vitality and social functioning. Multiple regression revealed annual income as a moderator of the total PA/walking-social functioning relationship [F(3,315) = 9.71 and F(3,316) = 12.03, P < 0.01, respectively]. HRQoL may be considered with walking interventions and annual income. The contribution of PA to overall happiness appears to be minor.

Integrating the Perceived Neighborhood Environment and the Theory of Planned Behavior When Predicting Walking in a Canadian Adult Sample

To integrate the characteristics of the perceived environment with the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to determine (1) whether the TPB mediates relations among environmental characteristics and walking, and (2) whether the environment moderates TPB-walking relations. Cross-sectional. South Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Random sample of 351 adults (36% response rate). Participants completed measures of the perceived neighborhood environment, the TPB, and walking behavior that was assessed using an adapted Godin leisure time questionnaire. Results using structural equation modeling indicated that the TPB mediated the environment-walking relationship. Specifically, retail land-mix use and neighborhood aesthetics were associated with walking through affective and instrumental attitudes. Results using moderated regression analyses showed that recreation land-mix use moderated the intention-behavior relationship, with those individuals who perceived closer access to recreation facilities having a larger intention-behavior relationship. A significant moderating effect for crime on the instrumental attitude-intention relationship was also identified, but the effect size was small to trivial. These results suggest that the perceived neighborhood may influence walking through attitudes and may also influence the intention-behavior gap. Prospective studies using objective walking and environment data are required to improve the veracity of the findings and to identify possible causal relationships.

Fatigue, the Un-Addressed Curse of Myeloproliferative Diseases (MPD): Results of an International Internet Based QOL Survey of 830 MPD Patients.

Background:Little objective data exists regarding the impact that myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs) (essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera (PV), and myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM)) have on quality of life.Methods:An Internet based survey of MPD patients regarding clinical course, co-morbidities (through the Charlson Co-Morbidity Index), fatigue (through two validated fatigue instruments (FACT-AN and Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI)), and exercise tolerance (Godin Leisure-Time Questionnaire).Results:Patient Demographics: A total of 830 MPD patients (median age 56; 60.8% male) from a broad geographic distribution (77% USA: 50 states, 30 countries, 5 continents) responded to the survey. Self reported diagnoses were PV (N=272; 33%), ET (N=221; 27%), or MMM (N=329; 40%) for a median of 5 years (range (0–53).Clinical History: 708 patients (87%) had undergone treatment for their MPD (drugs 84.6%, phlebotomy 49.5%, other 16%). A history of thrombotic (n=195, 24%) or hemorrhagic events (N=214; 26%) were frequently reported. Blood tests (available in 597 a median 1.65 months prior to survey) showed 37% were anemic (7% transfusion dependent). Additionally, 347 (44%) had splenomegaly, painful in 21%.Symptoms: Frequent symptoms reported included fatigue (90%), pruritus (57%), night sweats (54%), bone pain (48%), undesired weight loss (15%), and/or fevers (15%). 41% felt restricted in their activities, and 89 (11%) were medically disabled secondary directly to their MPD. 82% of patients felt their fatigue was linked to their MPD. Additionally 69% curtail social activity because of fatigue, and 41% need some degree of assistance with activities of daily living. Charlson co-morbidity index demonstrated 722 (87%) had minimal co-morbidities strengthening the association between fatigue and their MPD. The burden of fatigue decreased from MMM to PV to ET respectively (p=0.0002). Results from both fatigue assessment tools (FACT-AN and BFI) were highly correlated. Fatigue (FACT-AN fatigue subscale) strongly correlated with multiple MPD disease features including: anemia, bone pain, constitutional symptoms, pruritus, splenic pain, hemorrhagic events (all p<0.0001) and thrombosis(p=0.01). Additionally, currently smoking (as opposed to being a prior smoker) was highly associated with increased fatigue (p<0.0001). Interestingly, even in “asymptomatic” patients (those without anemia, splenomegaly, or thrombohemorrhagic complications (n=187)) 73% (n=128; 40% PV, 32% ET, 27% MMM; p=N.S.) described moderate to severe MPD associated fatigue. Reported physical activity was diminished (Godin Leisure Score) between MPD patients and published norms, with 38% describing minimal to no exercise. Overall, 86% stated fatigue was the major obstacle to exercise.Conclusions: Fatigue is an extremely common problem in patients with MPDs despite current therapies, and a minimal burden of co-morbidities in the majority of patients. Fatigue is also common in patients lacking advanced MPD disease features, or thrombohemorrhagic complications. Clearly, direct attempts to improve fatigue (through pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions) are necessary.

Implicit and Explicit Meanings of Physical Activity are Associated with Participation among Midlife Women

0451 What physical activity means to individuals and how their meaning(s) relate to participation and adherence has been understudied in the literature. Moreover, the meaning of physical activity might have explicit and implicit properties, engaging both levels of information processing. PURPOSE: To determine if consciously reported physical activity goal orientations (explicit meaning) and emotional meaning of physical activity (implicit meaning) were differentially related to physical activity participation among women in midlife. METHODS: Quantitative and qualitative cross-sectional data were analyzed from 62 healthy participants in a Midwestern university hospital women's health registry (M = 45.7, SD = 6.0 yrs). Goal orientations were coded using manifest content analysis. Emotional meaning was measured using the PANAS-X. Physical activity was measured with the Godin Leisure Time Questionnaire. Social support was measured with the Social Support for Exercise Scale. ANCOVA was used to test our model. RESULTS: Goal orientations (p < .05) and positive emotional meaning of physical activity (p < .01) were both significantly associated with participation controlling for social support (NS), F(5, 57) = 5.3, p < 0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.27. Participants with body shaping/appearance goal orientations did significantly less physical activity (M = 94.9, SD = 62.5) than those having approach goal orientations (M = 143.2, SD = 79.3). In addition, emotional meaning had a larger effect size than goal orientations in this model. CONCLUSIONS: What physical activity means explicitly and implicitly to midlife women is important to understanding their regular participation – or lack thereof. These results suggest that a physical activity body shape and/or appearance goal orientation might be detrimental for midlife womens participation. Because meaning embodies affect, and an affective evaluation is a major determinant of decision-making and choice, emotions may be a core component of a midlife woman's meaning of physical activity and a central determinant for her participation. Supported by T23NIMH #19996 and The University of Michigan's Women's Health Program.

Current Activity Patterns of Women Intercollegiate Athletes of the Late 1960’s and 1970’s

The purpose of this study was to describe (1) the current physical activity (PA) levels of women who were among the earliest competitors in organized intercollegiate sports during the late 1960s and 1970s. Activity was determined using the Godin Leisure Time Questionnaire. Of the 103 subjects, 45% reported participation in strenuous activity (MET level 9), and 41% reported participation in moderate activity (MET level 5) more than 3 times per week. The majority of women often (50%) or sometimes (38%) participated in activity long enough to work up a sweat. Only 12 % reported never engaging in activity long enough to work up a sweat. Most women (66%) currently participate in physical activity to gain health or fitness or for recreation. A much smaller percentage (13%) still enjoys competition. Most women (60%) performed these activities alone while only 3% participated in group activities. Most (73%) indicated that the opportunity to participate in their college sport does not currently exist, while 27% indicated that they still participate. Reasons for not participating included no program available (27%), musculo-skeltal problems (15%), no desire (6%) and that their college sport was too vigorous (3%). The most common activities in which women currently participate are golf, running, jogging and walking and tennis. A large majority (97%) indicated previous intercollegiate participation had very positively influenced their current participation in physical activity.Unlike the majority of their peers, this population of women who competed in the early intercollegiate athletics has tended to stay active in spite of decreasing opportunities to engage in team and other physical activities after college and as they age.