Motivation For Physical Activity Research Articles

Combining anchoring with financial incentives to increase physical activity: a randomized controlled trial among college students.

The purpose of this study was to: (1) compare the relative efficacy of different combinations of three behavioral intervention strategies (i.e., personalized reminders, financial incentives, and anchoring) for establishing physical activity habits using an mHealth app and (2) to examine the effects of these different combined interventions on intrinsic motivation for physical activity and daily walking habit strength. A four-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted in a sample of college students (N = 161) who had a self-reported personal wellness goal of increasing their physical activity. Receiving cue-contingent financial incentives (i.e., incentives conditional on performing physical activity within ± one hour of a prespecified physical activity cue) combined with anchoring resulted in the highest daily step counts and greatest odds of temporally consistent walking during both the four-week intervention and the full eight-week study period. Cue-contingent financial incentives were also more successful at increasing physical activity and maintaining these effects post-intervention than traditional non-cue-contingent incentives. There were no differences in intrinsic motivation or habit strength between study groups at any time point. Financial incentives, particularly cue-contingent incentives, can be effectively used to support the anchoring intervention strategy for establishing physical activity habits. Moreover, mHealth apps are a feasible method for delivering the combined intervention technique of financial incentives with anchoring.

Motivational drivers and Sense of Belonging: unpacking the persistence in Chinese Martial Arts practice among international practitioners

BackgroundChinese Martial Arts (CMAs) have garnered a global following, with their rich historical and cultural heritage transcending geographical and cultural differences, sparking profound interest among an international community. As an increasing number of non-Chinese individuals persist in practicing CMAs, investigating the motivations behind their continued participation has emerged as a compelling question. This study aims to delve deeper into the factors driving international practitioners to sustain their practice of CMAs, thereby broadening our understanding of the global resonance of CMAs.MethodsEmploying Self-Determination Theory, 226 international CMAs practitioners completed the Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale, Perceived Belonging Scale, and Persistence in Practicing CMAs Scale. SPSS 20.0 was utilized for conducting descriptive statistics, common method bias tests, and correlation analyses. Structural equation modeling was performed using AMOS 26.0.ResultsMotivation for Practicing CMAs, comprised of enjoyment, mastery, physical condition, psychological condition, and appearance, has a positive impact on Persistence in Practicing CMAs (β = 0.297, p < 0.01). Sense of Belonging also positively affects Persistence in Practicing CMAs (β = 0.268, p < 0.01). The aforementioned variables account for 22.1% of the variance in Persistence in Practicing CMAs. Furthermore, Affiliation, Competition/Ego, and Others’ Expectations were found to have no significant correlation with Persistence in Practicing CMAs.ConclusionThe formation of persistence in the practice of CMAs among international practitioners is propelled by their ongoing desire for skill mastery, enjoyment, enhanced physical and mental health, body shape improvement, and a Sense of Belonging. The study reveals that a stronger motivation and Sense of Belonging significantly enhance their commitment to CMAs. Recommendations include that international instructors should center their teaching strategies around the practitioners, helping them to find joy in their practice, achieve skill mastery, and foster the development of physical, mental, and aesthetic qualities, alongside virtues and etiquette. Additionally, building a supportive CMAs community and cultivating a sense of ritual are essential. Such strategies are intended to reinforce practitioners’ self-affirmation and group identity, thus boosting their Sense of Belonging and encouraging their continued engagement in CMAs.

Abstract PO4-11-09: Feasibility of physical activity behaviour change for women living with metastatic breast cancer, a randomised controlled trial

Abstract Background Physical activity benefits women living with metastatic breast cancer by improving outcomes such as physical function, health-related quality of life and fatigue. These findings have been reported within well-resourced trials that involve exercise equipment and supervision. Home or community-based settings, however, may be preferable and more accessible. This trial evaluated the feasibility of a remotely delivered behaviour change intervention for increasing physical activity for women living with metastatic breast cancer, and evaluated the program’s efficacy. Methods A 12-week randomised controlled trial was conducted in which 20 women living with metastatic breast cancer were recruited from a metropolitan outpatient cancer clinic. Inclusion criteria were over 18 years old, English speaking, ambulatory, and not regularly active at time of recruitment. Participants were randomised 1:1 to an intervention or attention control group. Both groups received a recommendation for 150 minutes of physical activity, a wrist-worn activity monitor, a physical activity diary, and nine phone or video call sessions (six weekly, three fortnightly). The intervention group received individualised behaviour change advice on topics such as physical activity benefits, motivation, barriers and social support; the attention control group received a recurring symptom questionnaire and no behavioural advice. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment, dropout and session adherence rates, and acceptability of methods was evaluated with an interview at trial completion. Baseline and 12-week outcomes included: i) physical activity minutes measured with a 5-day Actigraph wear, ii) 6-minute walk distance, iii) 30-second sit-to-stands, iv) questionnaires for self-reported physical activity, health-related quality of life, fatigue, behavioural factors (stage of change, self-efficacy, decisional balance, processes of change, social support), and patient-specific function. Questionnaires were measured again at 18 weeks. Results Recruitment, baseline measures and within-trial sessions are completed; 12 and 18-week measures will conclude late August. Thirty-two women were approached to enrol the target sample of 20, with exclusion reasons being disinterest (n=5), health problems (n=4), loss of contact (n=2) and already physically active (n=1). Median age was 62 years (IQR: 60-69), and median time since metastatic diagnosis was 4 years (IQR: 1-5). Twelve women had bone metastases, and ten had a musculoskeletal comorbidity. Session delivery through video or phone calls were equally preferred (n=10 each). Participants completed 84% of the sessions, with reasons for missed sessions consisting of forgetting (55%), feeling unwell (24%), IT problems (7%), holiday (7%), and work commitments (7%). Median session duration for the intervention group was 23 minutes (IQR: 20-28), and control group was 17 minutes (IQR: 14-21). The preferred type of physical activity was predominantly walking, and no adverse events were reported. Four women dropped out after loss of contact. Compared to age-matched normative values, baseline outcomes varied: actigraphy-measured physical activity was low (median: 68 minutes/day, IQR: 45-88), self-reported physical activity was high (median: 289 MET-minutes/day, IQR: 52-728), 6-minute walk distance was equal (median: 529m, IQR: 416-579), 30-second sit-to-stands were low (median: 11, IQR: 8-14), health-related quality of life was high (median: 80, IQR: 70-100), and fatigue was equal (median: 30, IQR 20-40). Conclusions Women living with metastatic breast cancer were generally receptive of the trial, and recruitment, dropout and session adherence rates were positive. The women who dropped out were more physically active, physically functional and/or rated higher on the questionnaires, indicating that the trial may be more suited to those with limited physical activity experience. Citation Format: Mark Liu, Sharon Kilbreath, Elizabeth Dylke, Jasmine Yee, Jane Beith. Feasibility of physical activity behaviour change for women living with metastatic breast cancer, a randomised controlled trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO4-11-09.

One-Year Post COVID-19 Change in Physical Fitness of Primary School Children and Its Individual-Level Predictors

Objectives. The study aimed to evaluate physical fitness and its dynamics in a year among primary school children aged 7 to 10 years old concerning the child’s individual factors (health-related: physical activity, sedentary behaviour; and psychosocial: physical activity enjoyment). Materials and methods. The study involved a sample consisting of 902 1st-3rd grade students (49% of boys and 51% of girls), who participated in physical fitness testing at baseline and follow-up in a year. Additionally, questionnaire-based data were collected from students and parents. Physical fitness was evaluated by administering eight out of nine tests from a 9-item test battery developed by Fjørtoft et al. (2011). The participants’ height and weight were measured using a mechanical stadiometer platform (Seca 274, Hamburg, Germany; TEM50.01%) and a portable electronic scale — a TANITA BC 420 SMA (Tanita Europe BV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands), respectively. Physical activity, sedentary behaviour, participation in sports, physical activity enjoyment were evaluated by children and parents at different time points. Results. The results indicated that physical fitness had improved from baseline to follow-up, with some exceptions for particular tests and genders. Vigorous physical activity at Time 1 predicted better hand muscle strength (Std β = .18) and agility (Std β = -.12) at Time 2. The findings showed that participation in sports at Time 1 was also predictive of improved agility (Std β =.15). Moderate to vigorous physical activity at Time 1 predicted enhanced speed at Time 2 (Std β = -.16). The motivation for physical activity at Time 2 was found to be related to improvements in agility (Std β = - 0.18) and speed (Std β = -0.30), while there was a decline in hand muscle strength (Std β = -0.11). Altogether, predictors were able to significantly explain 10 percent of agility and 13 percent of speed test results. Conclusions. As children grow and develop, their physical fitness levels tend to change in response to various factors including different physical activity indicators, as well as motivation for engaging in physical activity.

Development and feasibility of a mindfulness-based dance/movement therapy intervention for chronic low back pain.

Responding to the need for innovative, multi-modal, non-pharmacological strategies in chronic low back pain (cLBP) care, this article presents the development and a mixed methods feasibility trial of a manualized Mindfulness-based Dance/Movement Therapy (M-DMT) program for cLBP. The 12-week program is designed as a group therapy, integrating mindfulness principles, creative/expressive dance and movement, and psychoeducational content focused on cLBP management. This holistic program seeks to cultivate nonjudgmental awareness of pain experiences, challenge maladaptive pain-related beliefs, enhance emotional well-being, foster social support, and promote effective coping strategies for the daily challenges associated with cLBP. The 12-week M-DMT intervention was administered to individuals with non-specific cLBP (N = 18, aged 51.7 ± 13.9 years, 72% female, 55% Black and 39% White). We assessed feasibility and acceptability through monitoring enrollment and retention rates, attendance, and adverse events. Moreover, we measured the intervention's credibility/expectancy, participants' perception of changes, and overall satisfaction. Additionally, we collected qualitative data, capturing participants' perspectives on the intervention's usefulness and perceived benefits. Specific benchmarks were established to gauge the successful feasibility and acceptability of the program. The adherence rate stood at 80%, with a perfect retention rate of 100%. The study successfully met the benchmarks for treatment acceptability and satisfaction criteria, with 61% of participants reporting "feeling better" or a "great deal better" after the intervention. No adverse events were observed. Participants found the intervention enjoyable and reported that it provided effective tools for cLBP and related symptoms. Notably, participants reported a decrease in fear-avoidance behaviors, increased motivation for physical activity, and a boost in self-efficacy for pain management. These encouraging findings establish a strong basis for considering the M-DMT intervention as a promising approach for cLBP management, warranting further investigation in larger-scale studies.

Relationship between Psychosocial Factors and Physical Activity among Undergraduate Students from a South African University.

Psychosocial factors such as mental health, motivation, and social support are key determinants of behavior that play a significant role in physical activity participation. Limited studies have investigated the relationship between psychosocial factors and physical activity among university students in Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between psychosocial factors and physical activity participation among undergraduate university students at a historically disadvantaged university (HDU) in South Africa. This was a cross-sectional study that used convenience sampling (n = 534, majority female, 53.6% with a mean age of 20.69). The study was conducted through an online, self-administered, and hard-copy, valid questionnaire in September 2022. Data on sociodemographic information were collected. Psychosocial factors were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress-21 Scale for mental health, the Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale for motivation, and the Perceived Social Support Scale for social support. Physical activity (calculated as MET-min/week) was assessed using the international physical activity questionnaire in short form. Results revealed that almost a third (29%) of undergraduate students were physically inactive, 31.1% were minimally active, and 39.9% were in the health-enhancing category. Physical activity was positively related to stress (r = 0.11, p < 0.05) and anxiety (r = 0.10, p < 0.05). Motivational factors were positively related to psychological condition and others' expectations (r = 0.10, p < 0.05), and depression and others' expectations (r = 0.11, p < 0.05). Results from this study highlighted that psychosocial factors were related to physical activity participation among undergraduate university students. Psychosocial factors should be considered a coping mechanism when implementing health-promoting strategies.

A remotely-delivered pilot and feasibility program to promote physical and food literacy in adolescents with intellectual disabilities.

Youth with intellectual disabilities experience disparities in physical activity and diet quality. Physical and food literacy are hypothesised to support adoption of healthy lifestyles; however, few such interventions have been developed for this population. Participants with intellectual disabilities ages 12-16 years were recruited for a 12-week online sports skills and nutrition education intervention. Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy were assessed by attendance, satisfaction, and pre-post measures of motor skills, perceived competence and motivation for physical activity, classifying foods, making healthy choices, and food consumption. Six teens participated in the program and attended 87.5% of the sessions. Satisfaction data suggested that the program was well-received by both teens and parents. Trends toward improvements on physical activity and nutrition outcome measures were observed. Preliminary data from this pilot study suggest that physical and food literacy in youth with intellectual disabilities can be improved, which in turn may contribute to the adoption of healthy lifestyles.

Personality and motivation of physical activity in adolescent girls: effects of perceived parental support and social physical anxiety

In the present study, we investigated the relationship between personality and motivation for physical activity while introducing perceived parental support and social physical anxiety in adolescent girls (N = 318, Mage: 16.19 ± 0.51 years). The present study was a retrospective correlational study that was conducted to analyze of a path model. Dark triad traits: Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy, student’s motivation for physical activity, social physique anxiety, and participants’ perceptions of parents’ behaviors were measured. The findings indicated that psychopathy and Machiavellianism were directly and indirectly associated with motivation for physical activity, but Narcissism could only directly predict the motivation for physical activity. Also, need-thwarting (the most), need-supportive and social physical anxiety could predict motivation for physical activity. This model of the result suggests that among adolescent girls, dark triad personality could, directly and indirectly, predict motivation with need-supportive and need-thwarting and also social physical anxiety. It seems that the sense of importance and more attention to oneself in adolescent girls, which exists in the narcissistic personality, can directly lead to more motivation for physical activity. Also, the duplicitous ways of Machiavellian people in pursuing their motives were confirmed in this research.

TIDAL: exploring the potential of data physicalization-based interactive environment on runners' motivation

Representing fitness-related data physically can better help people gain awareness and reflect on their physical activity behavior. However, there has been limited research conducted on the impact of physicalizing personal data in a public context, particularly regarding its effect on motivations for physical activity. Augmenting the physical environment with interactive technology holds great promise in facilitating outdoor physical activity. To explore the design space of data physicalization-based interactive environments, we created TIDAL, a design concept that provides physical rewards in the form of tiles on the road to acknowledge runners’ goal achievements. We created a video prototype as a probe to gather insights through semi-structured interviews with six recreational runners to evaluate TIDAL. The co-constructing stories method, a participatory design technique, was employed during these interviews to facilitate qualitative evaluation. The results of our study showed that TIDAL has the potential to increase runners’ motivation. We reported the key insights derived from participants’ feedback and co-constructed stories and discussed the broader implications of our work.

Determinants of Change in Physical Activity in Children During the Transition from Elementary to High School.

Effective public health interventions targeting factors that influence physical activity are urgently needed to reduce the age-related decline in physical activity in youth. The purpose of this study was to identify associations between physical activity and a set of potential influences on physical activity in children as they transition from elementary to high school. Participants were 951 children from South Carolina school districts who completed outcome and independent variable measures on at least two time points from the 5th through 11th grades in 2010 - 2017. The primary outcome variable was physical activity, measured by accelerometry. Independent variables included a comprehensive set of variables in the child, parent/home, school, and community domains. Children, parents and school administrators, and staff completed questionnaires to assess psychosocial and home, school, and neighborhood environmental influences. Growth curve analyses identified independent variables associated with physical activity over time, either as a main effect or as an interaction with age. As main effects, self-efficacy, self-schema, sport participation, weekday outdoor hours, importance of child participating in sports and physical activity, safe to play outside, and Physical Activity Resource Assessment weighted score were positively associated with physical activity. The associations between physical activity and enjoyment motivation, appearance motivation, weekend outdoor time, and home equipment exhibited significant interactions with age. Enjoyment motivation influenced physical activity during the earlier years, whereas the remaining three variables influenced physical activity in the later years. Interventions should target multiple domains of influences that may vary by age.

Financial Incentives for Physical Activity and Sports Participation in Young People.

Physical inactivity is a global health problem. Childhood is an opportune time to establish healthy physical activity behaviors, including the participation in organized physical activity, such as sports. We hypothesize that financial incentives can improve young people's participation in physical activity and sports. The design of the incentive and the context in which it operates is crucial to its success.

Effectiveness of a community-based multicomponent lifestyle intervention (the ADA programme) to improve the quality of life of French breast cancer survivors: protocol for a pragmatic cluster randomised trial and embedded qualitative study

IntroductionBreast cancer survivors (BCSs) are often faced with multiple mental and physical sequelae and are at increased risk of emotional distress, degraded health-related quality of life (HRQoL), chronic pain and...

Fitness self-presentations on social media and the impact of social support on physical activities.

Social media serves as one of the primary outlets for self-presentation and receiving social support. Even when individuals portray themselves negatively, it might not necessarily be intended for social disapproval. Conversely, positive self-presentation doesn't always guarantee social support. This study examined the relationship between positive and negative fitness self-presentations on social media and the reception of supportive feedback. Additionally, it investigated how social support might influence individuals' self-efficacy, motivation, and participation in physical activities (PA). Participants were fitness app users recruited from a crowdsourcing internet marketplace who had shared their fitness experiences on social media. The results indicated that both types of self-presentation received social support: presenters receiving more social support showed higher self-efficacy for PA. Moreover, fitness posters with higher self-efficacy in PA showed greater motivation for PA. This research suggests that fitness self-presentation allows users to receive social support, fostering confidence and motivation for engaging in PA.

Monitoring the level of motivation of students of higher education institutions for various types of physical activity in the conditions of martial law in Ukraine

The article examines the influence of the martial law in Ukraine on the level of motivation of students of higher education institutions to engage in various types of physical activity. The authors draw attention to the peculiarities of monitoring and determining the factors affecting the change in student motivation in the conditions of a military conflict.&#x0D; Changes in motivational factors in changing socio-political conditions and finding practical approaches to maintaining the physical health of the student community during the war period are considered. The study identifies various aspects of motivation and identifies key factors that determine student activity in this context. A variety of methods, including questionnaires and factor analysis, were used to identify key trends and challenges.&#x0D; The results of the study indicate the importance of developing programs and initiatives to support the physical activity of students under martial law. The authors discuss practical perspectives and challenges in the implementation of such programs, as well as draw conclusions for supporting the health and well-being of student youth in today's conditions.&#x0D; This scientific article not only analyzes the level of students' motivation for physical activity, but also draws attention to the importance of understanding the context of martial law as a key influencing factor. The research methodology is multifaceted: from the objective evaluation of various types of physical activity to the study of psychosocial and cultural factors that shape motivation under conditions of stress.

Reflective Engagement With a Digital Physical Activity Intervention Among People Living With and Beyond Breast Cancer: Mixed Methods Study.

People living with and beyond breast cancer can face internal barriers to physical activity (eg, fatigue and pain). Digital interventions that promote psychological acceptance and motivation may help this population navigate these barriers. The degree to which individuals (1) adhere to intervention protocols and (2) reflect on and internalize intervention content may predict intervention efficacy. The objective of this study was to characterize the nature of reflective processes brought about by an 8-week acceptance- and mindfulness-based physical activity intervention for insufficiently active survivors of breast cancer (n=75). Furthermore, we explored the potential utility of a metric of reflective processes for predicting study outcomes. Of the intervention's 8 weekly modules, 7 (88%) included an item that asked participants to reflect on what they found to be most useful. Two coders conducted directed content analysis on participants' written responses. They assessed each comment's depth of reflection using an existing framework (ranging from 0 to 4, with 0=simple description and 4=fundamental change with consideration of social and ethical issues). The coders identified themes within the various levels of reflection. We fit multiple linear regression models to evaluate whether participants' (1) intervention adherence (ie, number of modules completed) and (2) the mean level of the depth of reflection predicted study outcomes. Participants were aged on average 57.2 (SD 11.2) years, mostly non-Hispanic White (58/75, 77%), and mostly overweight or obese (54/75, 72%). Of the 407 responses to the item prompting personal reflection, 70 (17.2%) were rated as reflection level 0 (ie, description), 247 (60.7%) were level 1 (ie, reflective description), 74 (18.2%) were level 2 (ie, dialogic reflection), 14 (3.4%) were level 3 (ie, transformative reflection), and 2 (0.5%) were level 4 (ie, critical reflection). Lower levels of reflection were characterized by the acquisition of knowledge or expressing intentions. Higher levels were characterized by personal insight, commentary on behavior change processes, and a change of perspective. Intervention adherence was associated with increases in self-reported weekly bouts of muscle-strengthening exercise (B=0.26, SE 0.12, 95% CI 0.02-0.50) and decreases in sleep disturbance (B=-1.04, SE 0.50, 95% CI -0.06 to -2.02). The mean level of reflection was associated with increases in psychological acceptance (B=3.42, SE 1.70, 95% CI 0.09-6.75) and motivation for physical activity (ie, integrated regulation: B=0.55, SE 0.25, 95% CI 0.06-1.04). We identified a useful method for understanding the reflective processes that can occur during digital behavior change interventions serving people living with and beyond breast cancer. Intervention adherence and the depth of reflection each predicted changes in study outcomes. Deeper reflection on intervention content was associated with beneficial changes in the determinants of sustained behavior change. More research is needed to investigate the relations among digital behavior change intervention use, psychological processes, and intervention efficacy.

The mediating effects of motivation on the relations between occupational stress and physical activity among underresourced afterschool program staff

ObjectiveGuided by Self-Determination Theory, this study aimed to examine the potential mediating effects of autonomous and controlled motivations on physical activity (PA) experiences of afterschool program (ASP) staff with occupational stress.MethodA total of 58 ASP staff provided full data. Staff occupational stress and self-determination motivations for PA were assessed. Participants’ daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was measured using accelerometer wear. A path analysis was used to address the research purpose.ResultsOccupational stress negatively and indirectly predicted daily MVPA which was mediated by controlled motivation (β = − 4.15, p <.05). Autonomous motivation directly and positively predicted daily MVPA across all types and levels of ASP staff occupational stress (β = 9.93, p =.01).ConclusionsAutonomous motivation is a powerful predictor of staff PA levels despite the degree to which they experience stress. In contrast, controlled motivations are more vulnerable to occupational stress, and can lead to lower MVPA.Trial registrationConnect Through PLAY: A Staff-based Physical Activity Intervention for Middle School Youth (Connect). https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03732144. Registered 11/06/2018. Registration number: NCT03732144.

Increasing autonomous motivation for physical activity among adolescents

AbstractPurposeAdolescents need at least 60 min of physical activity (PA) every day. Yet, the number of minutes of daily PA steadily decreases from childhood through adolescence. This occurs despite evidence that high levels of PA and limited minutes of sedentary behavior (SB) decrease the incidence of heart disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and cancer. Motivational interviewing (MI) is a behavioral counseling technique that focuses on behavior change areas, such as diet and PA. This research aimed to evaluate a brief nurse‐led virtual MI (vMI) intervention to guide youth toward increased PA compared to an attention control group.Design and MethodsParticipants completed the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ‐2) and wore an ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer on their dominant wrist for 8 days to operationalize SB and PA. Participants in the treatment group rec an individual vMI session, while attention‐control group participants received an individual education session. All participants received follow‐up calls from the researcher or assistant at Weeks 4 and 8. During the calls, those in the treatment group received follow‐up MI, while the control group asked follow‐up questions about information received during the education session. At 12 weeks, all participants repeated the BREQ‐2 survey and wore the accelerometer again for 7 days.ResultsThe total number of participants was 19. At post‐intervention, the treatment group had a significant decline in the frequency of prolonged SB &gt; 60 min (p = .001) and a nonsignificant increase in the average length of moderate‐to‐vigorous PA bouts &gt;10 min (p = .058). The treatment group had significant increases in two levels of autonomous motivation—identified (p &lt; .001) and intrinsic (p = .003). The overall autonomous motivation score for the BREQ‐2 significantly increased in the treatment group (p &lt; .001).Practice ImplicationsThe study revealed promise for vMI to positively impact PA among adolescents. However, for a novice in performing MI, a nurse‐led MI session elicited change talk in participants toward individualized changes to improve health behaviors.

"If I want to be able to keep going, I must be active." Exploring older adults' perspectives of remote physical activity supports: a mixed-methods study.

Pandemic-related public health restrictions limited older adults' physical activity programs and opportunities. Physical activity supports shifted to remote options, however, information on their adoption and effectiveness is limited. This study aims to describe the remote supports received by older adults and their perceived effectiveness. Additionally, it aims to describe facilitators and barriers to remote supports for physical activity among older adults, particularly those reliant on technology. This study used an explanatory, sequential, mixed-methods design. Community-dwelling older adults (≥ 60 years) were recruited to partake in a web-based survey and an optional semi-structured follow-up interview informed by the COM-B model. Participant characteristics, perceived effectiveness of remote supports, and the presence and severity of barriers were described. Changes in physical activity levels before and during the pandemic were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Qualitative data underwent inductive thematic analysis. Fifty seven older adults (68.3 ± 7.1 years, 43 Female) completed the survey, of which 15 participants (67.4 ± 5.8 years, 12 Female) participated in interviews. The majority were Caucasian, highly educated, and resided in Canada. Total physical activity levels showed no statistically significant change from before to during the pandemic (p = 0.74); however, at-home exercise participation and technology usage increased. Pre-recorded and real-time virtual exercise supports were perceived as most effective. Main barriers included limited contact with exercise professionals, limited access to exercise equipment or space, and decreased mental wellness. Thematic analysis identified five main themes: (i) Enabled by knowledge and resources; (ii) Diverse motivations for physical activity; (iii) Fostering participation through social connection; (iv) Supervision and safety: enabling adherence; and (v) Virtual exercise: a sustainable option with technological considerations. Virtual platforms show promise in supporting older adults' physical activity at home, especially for those with limited in-person access. Our study suggests that both real-time and pre-recorded virtual exercise supports are feasible, depending on technological capacity and support. While interactive real-time virtual programs allow interaction with professionals and peers, pre-recorded programs provide timing flexibility. Further research is needed to establish best practices for safe and effective virtual exercise programming, promoting its long-term adoption for supporting a wider range of older adults.

Feasibility of early digital health rehabilitation after cardiac surgery in the elderly: a qualitative study.

Increasing numbers of elderly patients experience prolonged decreased functional capacity and impaired quality of life after seemingly successful cardiac surgery. After discharge from hospital, these patients experience a substantial gap in care until centre-based cardiac rehabilitation commences. They may benefit from immediate coaching by means of mobile health technology to overcome psychological and physiological barriers to physical activity. The aim of this study was to explore the usability, acceptability, and relevance of a mobile health application designed to support remote exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation of elderly patients early after cardiac surgery from the perspective of patients, their relatives, and physiotherapists. We adapted a home-based mobile health application for use by elderly patients early after cardiac surgery. Semi-structured dyadic interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of patients (n = 9), their spouses (n = 5), and physiotherapists (n = 2) following two weeks of the intervention. The transcribed interviews were analysed thematically. Three themes were identified: 1) creating an individual fit by tailoring the intervention; 2) prioritizing communication and collaboration; and 3) interacting with the mobile health application. Overall, the findings indicate that the mobile health intervention has the potential to promote engagement, responsibility, and motivation among elderly patients to exercise early after surgery. However, the intervention can also be a burden on patients and their relatives when roles and responsibilities are unclear. The mobile health intervention showed potential to bridge the intervention gap after cardiac surgery, as well as in fostering engagement, responsibility, and motivation for physical activity among elderly individuals. Nevertheless, our findings emphasize the necessity of tailoring the intervention to accommodate individual vulnerabilities and capabilities. The intervention may be improved by addressing a number of organizational and communicational issues. Adaptions should be made according to the barriers and facilitators identified in this study prior to testing the effectiveness of the intervention on a larger scale. Future research should focus on the implementation of a hybrid design that supplements or complements face-to-face and centre-based cardiac rehabilitation. Danish Data Protection Agency, Central Denmark Region (1-16-02-193-22, 11 August 2022).

Physical Activities Affecting the Motivation and MentalWell-Being of Non- Athlete-Students

This study aims to determine which motivation for Physical Activity related on students’ mental well-being at Nanjing Vocational Institute of Railway Technology (NVIRT). The outcomes of this study may be used as a basis for the program that may improve the students’ mental well-being. This may also serve as basis to solve the mental health problems and challenges faced by the students at Nanjing Vocational Institute of Railway Technology (NVIRT). Research conclusion: Male non-athlete students seemed to have better assessment of their mental health than the female ones considering their well-being, participation in sports, and quality of life; Higher level of motivation to join in physical activities may result to a positive effect on mental health of non-athlete students.