Participation In Leisure-time Physical Activity Research Articles

Elementary School Students’ Self-Determination in Physical Education and Attitudes Toward Physical Activity

Motivations for and positive attitudes toward physical activity (PA) developed during childhood are likely to be carried over to adulthood. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between three psychological needs satisfaction, motivational regulations in physical education (PE), and attitudes toward participation in leisure-time PA among upper elementary school students. One thousand and seventy-three students in grades 3-5 anonymously and voluntarily completed three measures, including Psychological Needs Satisfaction, Motivational Regulations, and Attitudes, which were modified from previous works and judged by a panel of experts to ensure the wording of each item was understandable for upper elementary school students. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, composite reliability coefficient, and multilevel confirmatory factor analysis methods. The results indicated that the composite reliability coefficients of the measures were above .60, ranging from .62 to .79. The results of structural equation model indicated that satisfactions of autonomy, competence, and relatedness were significantly instrumental to the enhancement of autonomous motivation in PE settings and attitudes toward PA participation. Elementary school students’ having fun, obtaining benefits, and being with friends were all major motivational factors contributing to positive attitudes toward PA outside of school.

Deaf-blindness: Voices of mothers concerning leisure-time physical activity and coping with disability

Background: Deaf-blindness (DB) is a distinct disability because of combined impairments of hearing and visual functions, causes severe difficulties in the psychosocial area, communication, social interaction, and interaction with the environment. Leisure-time physical activities (LTPA) properly planned and executed can be beneficial in providing support and facilitating coping as strategy for managing stress in families of children with disabilities. Appropriate LTPA also influence the quality of the lives of people with DB. Our study was also based on coping theory. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the beliefs of mothers with regard to leisure-time physical activity of families of children with deaf-blindness, the benefits that activities can bring to families of children with DB, needs and the barriers to participation. Methods: Participants of this study were five mothers of children with DB, who were interviewed using the phenomenological tradition of qualitative inquiry. Results: Findings show six emergent themes in relation to perceived needs of children with DB: structure of life; coactive engagement; happiness and well-being; doing normal things; appropriate support and services; and appropriate communication. Conclusion: The results of the present study indicated that there are various support systems, which could facilitate participation in LTPA: (a) special schools and respite care centers; (b) special programs such as family camps or programs where children can learn basic skills needed for participation in physical activities (e.g., swimming or biking); (c) adapted equipment which can allow participation; (d) parental support groups where parents can share common experiences or religious support groups, which might be able to accept a family with a child with DB as equal member of their community; and finally (e) assistance, which could have a formal form of professionals or paraprofessionals working with persons with DB. The absence of these support systems creates barriers to participation in LTPA due to the children's lack of skills, limited accessibility and non-existence of specialized year round programs.

Urban greenness and physical activity in a national survey of Canadians

Recent research suggests that urban greenness has important beneficial effects on health. While some epidemiological studies have investigated associations between measures of greenness and participation in physical activities, the findings have been inconsistent and several have relied on self-reported rather than objectively determined measures of greenness. Further, there have been few national studies. Our aim was to characterize associations between residential measures of greenness and physical activity within a nationally representative sample of Canadians. Moreover, we sought to determine to what extent these associations were modified by age, sex and income. Our analyses are based on data collected from participants of the 2001 Canadian Community Health Survey. Analyses were restricted to 69,910 individuals who were: 20 years of age and older, lived in urban areas, and for whom a residential measure of greenness could be assigned. The Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), which is an objectively defined measure of greenness based on satellite imaging, was assigned to the residential addresses of the participants. Our NDVI values were based on 30m and 500m buffers from the centroid of the provided postal codes. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals to describe associations between greenness and several measures of physical activity. The ORs were adjusted for age, sex, smoking status, marital status, and income. We found that participants who resided in the highest quartile of greenness, based on a 500m buffer, were more likely to participate in leisure-time physical activity (adjusted OR=1.34, 95% CI=1.25–1.44) when compared to those in the lowest quartile. Positive associations were observed between greenness and physical activity in all income groupings. A key finding was the observation of a stronger association between greenness and measures of physical activity among younger adults, especially women. Our findings have important public health implications as they suggest that access to urban green environments contributes to increased participation in leisure-time physical activity which has demonstrable health benefits.

Using gender-based analyses to understand physical inactivity among women in Yellowstone County, Montana

Physical inactivity contributes to many health problems. Gender, the socially constructed roles and activities deemed appropriate for men and women, is an important factor in women's physical inactivity. To better understand how gender influences participation in leisure-time physical activity, a gender analysis was conducted using sex-disaggregated data from a county-wide health assessment phone survey and a qualitative analysis of focus group transcripts. From this gender analysis, several gender-based constraints emerged, including women's roles as caregivers, which left little time or energy for physical activity, women's leisure time activities and hobbies, which were less active than men's hobbies, and expectations for women's appearance that made them uncomfortable sweating in front of strangers. Gender-based opportunities included women's enjoyment of activity as a social connection, less rigid gender roles for younger women, and a sense of responsibility to set a good example for their families. The gender analysis was used to gain a deeper understanding of gender-based constraints and opportunities related to physical activity. This understanding is being used in the next step of our research to develop a gender-specific intervention to promote physical activity in women that addresses the underlying causes of physical inactivity through accommodation or transformation of those gender norms.

Childhood socioeconomic position and adult leisure-time physical activity: a systematic review protocol.

BackgroundParticipation in leisure-time physical activity benefits health and is thought to be more prevalent in higher socioeconomic groups. Evidence indicates that childhood socioeconomic circumstances may have long-term influences on adult health and behaviour; however, it is unclear if this extends to an influence on adult physical activity. The aim of this review is to examine whether a lower childhood socioeconomic position is associated with lower levels of leisure-time physical activity during adulthood.Methods/designKeywords will be used to systematically search five online databases and additional studies will be located through a search of reference lists. At least two researchers working independently will screen search results assess the quality of included studies and extract all relevant data. Studies will be included if they are English language publications that test the association between at least one indicator of childhood socioeconomic position and a leisure-time physical activity outcome measured during adulthood. Any disagreements and discrepancies arising during the conduct of the study will be resolved through discussion.DiscussionThis study will address the gap in evidence by systematically reviewing the published literature to establish whether childhood socioeconomic position is related to adult participation in leisure-time physical activity. The findings may be used to inform future research and policy.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42014007063.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/2046-4053-3-141) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Relationship Between Motivation and Learning in Physical Education and After-School Physical Activity

Purpose: A primary goal of physical education is to develop physically literate individuals with the knowledge, skills, and confidence necessary for a physically active lifestyle. Guided by the expectancy-value and interest motivation theories, the purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between students' motivation and health-related fitness knowledge developed in physical education and their after-school physical activity participation. Method: Third-, 4th-, and 5th-grade students (N = 293) from 6 elementary schools in a large metropolitan school district in the United States provided data on expectancy beliefs and perceived task values, situational interest, health-related fitness knowledge, and after-school physical activity. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a simultaneous multiple regression model. Results: It was found that expectancy beliefs (β = .20, t = 2.16, p = .03) and perceived exploration demand (β = .25, t = 2.58, p = .01), a source for situational interest, were positively related to after-school physical activity. The 2 variables, however, accounted for only 11.2% of the variances for children's after-school physical activity participation. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that students' active exploration and expectancy beliefs for success in physical education have limited influence on leisure-time physical activity participation.

The motivational state and perceived benefits and barriers to physical activity participation in parents of preschool age children

Introduction Due to the decline in physical activity documented during the transition to adulthood, as well as the powerful modeling effect parents have on their young children, parents of preschool-age children are a valuable population sub-group to examine in physical activity research. Method In this investigation, 118 Canadian mothers and fathers of preschool-age children filled out three questionnaires: the Godin leisure-time physical activity participation [1] , Stage of motivational readiness to change [2] , and Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale (EBBS) [3] . Results Consistent with previous research, the trans-theoretical model of behavior change was supported. That is, respondents classified in higher stages of motivational readiness to change reported higher levels of physical activity. This finding held for both exercising alone or with their children. Similarly, participants classified into higher stages of motivational readiness to change also reported greater perceived benefits and fewer perceived barriers to physical activity participation. Contrary to previous research, gender was not found to be a significant correlate of physical activity participation in this sample. Parental time demands emerged as a novel barrier to physical activity participation in the EBBS. Mothers in lower stages of motivational readiness to change were more likely to view parenting as a barrier to physical activity participation. Active parents, in higher stages of motivational readiness to change, were less likely to view parenting related time demands as barriers to physical activity participation and were more likely to engage in physical activity with their children. Conclusion The relationships between gender, parenting related time demands, physical activity participation and stage of motivational readiness to change are complex. However, since parenting has a unique effect on families’ daily physical activity engagement, a practical conclusion of the study is that healthy living interventions targeting families with young children need to incorporate the parental expectations and needs to perceived benefits and barriers.

En

This study focuses on understanding constraints on leisure time physical activity (LTPA) on a university campus. The survey study was conducted with public university students (n=563) living in dormitories. The 38-item, 8-dimension Leisure Time Physical Activity Constraints (LTPA-C) Scale was used to investigate factors limiting LTPA. Age, gender, working status (i.e. part-time, non-working), program type (i.e. morning education, evening education), relationship status (i.e. in a relationship, not in a relationship), monthly expenses and body mass index (BMI) category (i.e. underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese) are key variables believed to affect LTPA-C. An initial confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to validate the structure of the scale, and frequency analysis, Pearson’s Correlation and t-tests were conducted to analyze the survey responses. Results showed the hierarchy of constraints for males (from high to low) to be as follows: society, income, time, facility, willpower, skill perception, family, body perception. The hierarchy was nearly identical for females, except ‘willpower’ was found to be a greater constraint than ‘facility’; moreover, the differences in the rates at which males and females perceived ‘facility’ and ‘willpower’ to be constraints were statistically significant. The study findings indicate that by taking steps to improve the infrastructure of university campus facilities and organize group activities, university management can provide motivation and social support that can help to increase university student participation in LTPA.

Integrating public health and sport management: Sport participation trends 2001–2010

In order to inform strategies to increase levels of physical activity (PA) for a healthier society, it is important to understand participation trends in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA). Little is known about the context of LTPA participation, particularly from the perspective of “sport and recreation” (S&R) categories such as organised and club-based activities. The primary aim of this study is to contribute to the sport management literature by specifically examining PA participation levels and trends in Australia over a decade, for those aged 15 years and older, through the lens of S&R. This paper also discusses the potential synergy between the public health and sport management domains with regard to LTPA/S&R. The Australian Sports Commission provided data from the Exercise, Recreation and Sport Survey (ERASS), a population survey conducted quarterly from 2001 to 2010 by computer-assisted telephone interview. Participation in LTPA was analysed by year, gender and age, in three hierarchically related categories: (1) any LTPA participation, (2) participation in an organised context, and (3) organised participation in a club. Participation rates in any LTPA increased significantly over the decade. However, this was not matched by increases in organised and/or club participation, which largely remained steady over the 10-year period. Much of the organised participation was within a club setting, and participation in this context is more likely among males than females. There is some evidence that the overall level of LTPA is increasing, which is positive for health, but there was generally no increase in club-based participation, resulting in sport contributing relatively less to overall population LTPA. However, the depth of information available from population surveys regarding club-based LTPA is insufficient to draw definitive conclusions, or make important strategic decisions about sport and health policy. There is a critical need for more comprehensive sport participation data to provide the evidence for improved programme and policy development. An avenue for this to occur may be through the integration of participation data from peak sport organisations.

Patterns of leisure-time physical activity participation in a British birth cohort at early old age.

Using data from a nationally representative British birth cohort we characterized the type and diversity of leisure-time physical activity that 2,188 participants (age 60–64 years) engaged in throughout the year by gender and obesity. Participants most commonly reported walking (71%), swimming (33%), floor exercises (24%) and cycling (15%). Sixty-two percent of participants reported ≥2 activities in the past year and 40% reported diversity on a regular basis. Regular engagement in different types of activity (cardio-respiratory, balance/flexibility and strength) was reported by 67%, 19% and 11% of participants, respectively. We found gender differences, as well as differences by obesity status, in the activities reported, the levels of activity diversity and activity type. Non-obese participants had greater activity diversity, and more often reported activities beneficial for cardio-respiratory health and balance/flexibility than obese participants. These findings may be used to inform the development of trials of physical activity interventions targeting older adults, and those older adults with high body mass index.

Get In Motion: An Evaluation of the Reach and Effectiveness of a Physical Activity Telephone Counseling Service for Canadians Living With Spinal Cord Injury

Telephone-based counseling is an efficacious intervention strategy for maintaining leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) intentions and increasing LTPA behavior among adults with spinal cord injury (SCI). However, no research has examined the real-world application of this intervention strategy within the SCI community. To assess the individual-level impact of a previously tested telephone-based counseling intervention among adults within the SCI community by using the first 2components of the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance framework. A prospective study. General community, tertiary care. Community-dwelling adults with SCI (n= 65; 57% men; mean [standard deviation], 50.4 ± 12.8 years; mean (standard deviation) years after injury, 14.5 ± 12.7 years) living in Canada who enrolled in a national telephone-based counseling service. Of the 65 clients who enrolled, 53 participated in the effectiveness evaluation component of the Get In Motion service. A 6-month, individualized telephone-counseling program with a trained exercise counselor. The program was based on a previously tested intervention that used aspects of the Health Action Process Approach model, with a particular focus on developing and strengthening clients' social cognitions for engaging in self-managed LTPA. On enrollment, all 65 clients completed demographics and staging questionnaires. The 53 clients who participated in the effectiveness evaluation also completed a validated LTPA intentions item, and the 7-day, self-report LTPA Questionnaire for People with SCI over the telephone at baseline, and 2, 4, and 6 months. In terms of the reach of Get In Motion, a total of 65 clients enrolled in the service between June 2008 and June 2011, and were representative of the larger Canadian SCI population on most measured demographic characteristics. Evaluation of the effectiveness of the service showed that, as hypothesized, intentions for engaging in LTPA remained highthroughout enrollment (P= .44), with a trend for more clients engaging in moderate-to-heavy-intensity LTPA at 6 months (52%) versus baseline (35%) (P= .09). Telephone-based counseling is a promising strategy for promoting community-based LTPA behavior among Canadian adults with SCI. Continued evaluation of all 5 Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance framework components of Get In Motion will help establish the real-world impact of this intervention strategy on community-based LTPA participation within the SCI population.

Associations between different types of physical activity and teachers' perceived mental, physical, and work-related health.

BackgroundThe teaching profession is characterized by high levels of stress and physical complaints, which might be improved through regular participation in physical activity (PA). However, the effect of PA on mental and physical health is not always consistent and depends on the type of PA performed. The aim of this study was to examine the mental, physical, and work-related health of Flemish secondary school teachers and identify the impact on those health variables by demographic and teaching-related factors and various types of PA.MethodsThis study included an online survey conducted across a representative sample of secondary school teachers (n = 1066, average age 40 years; 68 percent female). Level of PA and sitting time were estimated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and perceived mental health and physical health were estimated using the Short Form 36. Work-related factors such as job satisfaction, occupational stress, and absenteeism were also collected. T-tests, ANOVAs, and linear regression analyses were performed.ResultsFlemish secondary school teachers have poorer perceived mental and physical health than a general healthy population. This difference is particularly evident among female teachers, who reported lower perceived health, more occupational stress, and more absent days compared to their male colleagues. Higher participation in leisure-time PA was associated with a more positive perceived health. In contrast, higher levels of occupational PA and sitting time had a negative impact on perceived health. Total amount of PA, total amount of moderate-to-vigorous PA, transportation-related PA, and PA at home were not associated to teachers’ perceived health.ConclusionBecause secondary school teachers’ levels of perceived health are low, they are an important target group for interventions aiming to improve health. Only leisure-time PA was associated with more positive perceived health. This finding may indicate that teachers performing more exercise during leisure time, or in a more autonomous way, may be more resistant to physical and mental health problems. Future research should verify whether promoting leisure-time PA among teachers has the potential to improve their mental and physical health, and counteract the negative associations between teachers’ health and their occupational PA.

Older women and their participation in exercise and leisure-time physical activity: the double edged sword of work

This study explores the complex relationship between paid work and participation in exercise and leisure-time physical activity among older women. The role of other factors that enable, motivate and constrain physical activity is also investigated. National context is explored using British Household Panel Survey data. Interviews with key stakeholders and women in their fifties, sixties and seventies explore individual motivation and decision-making in depth. The research enhances understanding of the relationship between employment and participation in physical activity among older women by highlighting positive as well as negative interactions. However, the overall relationship appears to be dominated by the negative constraints on time imposed by employment. Confounding factors include level and type of activity, type of employment, age and health. Psychological, social, environmental and economic factors are also important. These findings have implications for the development of effective interventions within the context of an extending working lives policy agenda.

The mental health benefits of regular physical activity, and its role in preventing future depressive illness

There is a large body of literature which examines the mental health benefits of physical activity. In general, studies report an inverse, dose dependent relationship between leisure-time physical activity participation, and mental health outcomes. Studies also show a positive association between maximal aerobic capacity and general well-being. More recent studies have confirmed the positive effects of physical activity participation on cognition, includ - ing the treatment and prevention of dementia. The current exercise prescription suggested for the treatment of depression is similar to that recommended to the general population for the development and maintenance of cardiorespiratory fitness. There is also strong evidence from large population level studies that long term physical activity participation reduces the risk of future depressive illness. From the available evidence, it would appear that physical activity performed at a frequency, intensity, and duration which is substantially less than that required for the development and maintenance of cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness in the general population, may afford significant benefits in reducing the risk of future depressive illness. This may be particularly encouraging for people with prior depressive illness, or at high risk of future depressive illness, since this vulnerable population already faces significant barriers to physical

Construction workers working in musculoskeletal pain and engaging in leisure-time physical activity: Findings from a mixed-methods pilot study.

While exercise has been shown to be beneficial for some musculoskeletal pain conditions, construction workers who are regularly burdened with musculoskeletal pain may engage less in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) due to pain. In a small pilot study, we investigate how musculoskeletal pain may influence participation in LTPA among construction workers. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was employed using a jobsite-based survey (n = 43) among workers at two commercial construction sites and one focus group (n = 5). Over 93% of these construction workers reported engaging in LTPA and 70% reported musculoskeletal pain. Fifty-seven percent of workers who met either moderate or vigorous LTPA guidelines reported lower extremity pain (i.e., ankle, knee) compared with 21% of those who did not engage in either LTPA (P = 0.04). Focus group analyses indicate that workers felt they already get significant physical activity out of their job because they are "moving all the time and not sitting behind a desk." Workers also felt they "have no choice but to work through pain and discomfort [as the worker] needs to do anything to get the job done." Pilot study findings suggest that construction workers not only engage in either moderate or vigorous LTPA despite musculoskeletal pain but workers in pain engage in more LTPA than construction workers without pain.

The effect of physical activity on adult obesity: Evidence from the Canadian NPHS panel

Although physical activity has been considered as an important modifiable risk factor for obesity, the empirical evidence on the relationship between physical activity and obesity is mixed. Observational studies in the public health literature fail to account for time-invariant unobserved heterogeneity and dynamics of weight, leading to biased estimation of the effect of physical activity on obesity. To overcome this limitation, we propose dynamic fixed-effects models to account for unobserved heterogeneity bias and the dynamics of obesity. We use nationally representative longitudinal data on the cohort of adults aged 18–50 years in 1994/95 from Canada's National Population Health Survey and followed them over 16 years. Obesity is measured by BMI (body mass index). After controlling for a wide range of socio-economic factors, the impact of four alternative measures of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and work-related physical activity (WRPA) are analyzed. The results show that each measure of LTPA exerts a negative effect on BMI and the effects are larger for females. Our key results show that participation in LTPA exceeding 1.5kcal/kg per day (i.e., at least 30min of walking) reduces BMI by about 0.11–0.14 points in males and 0.20 points in females relative to physically inactive counterparts. Compared to those who are inactive at workplace, being able to stand or walk at work is associated with a reduction in BMI in the range of 0.16–0.19 points in males and 0.24–0.28 points in females. Lifting loads at workplace is associated with a reduction in BMI by 0.2–0.3 points in males and 0.3–0.4 points in females relative to those who are reported sedentary. Policies aimed at promotion of LTPA combined with WRPA like walking or climbing stairs daily would help reduce adult obesity risks.

Gender Differences in College Leisure Time Physical Activity: Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior and Integrated Behavioral Model

Objective: National data consistently report that males participate in leisure time physical activity (LTPA) at higher rates than females. This study expanded previous research to examine gender differences in LTPA of college students using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) by including 2 additional constructs, descriptive norm and self-efficacy, from the integrated behavioral model. Participants: Participants were college students (N = 621) from a large public university in the southeastern United States. Methods: A self-report, classroom-based assessment with validated and reliable measures of LTPA, TPB constructs, descriptive norm, self-efficacy, and demographics was conducted in fall 2009. Results: Regression analyses revealed attitude (β = .119), intention (β = .438), self-efficacy (β = .166), body mass index (BMI) (β = −.084), and sports participation (β = .081) as significantly associated with LTPA for females (R 2 = .425, p < .001), whereas intention (β = .371) was significant for males (R 2 = .202, p < .001). Conclusions: Practitioners should consider tailoring promotional materials to address these gender differences in efforts to increase LTPA participation among college students.

Correlates of Leisure-Time Physical Activity Participation Among Latino Children and Adolescents with Acanthosis Nigricans

Little is known about leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) correlates in high-risk youth prone to obesity, insulin resistance, and associated morbidities. This study examined LTPA correlates among Latino youth identified with acanthosis nigricans (AN), a skin condition typically caused by metabolic impairment. Data were collected on 305 AN-positive Latino youth of ages 5-15 and one of their biological parents in 2012 from Texas. Ordinal logit regression was performed to analyze the data. Five health and behavioral LTPA correlates were identified, including child time spent in TV watching or videogame playing (OR of highest quartile vs. lowest quartile = 0.45; p = 0.01), child fair/poor health (OR 0.42; p = 0.01), parent obesity (OR 0.63; p = 0.06), parent daily physical exercise for more than 30 min (OR 2.20; p < 0.01), and parent housework time (OR 0.76; p < 0.05). Parent socioeconomic status was insignificant. For at-risk Latino youth, physical activity intervention strategies should take both behavioral and health factors into account.

Participation in Regular Leisure-Time Physical Activity Among Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Not Meeting Canadian Guidelines: the Influence of Intention, Perceived Behavioral Control, and Moral Norm

Most people with type 2 diabetes do not engage in regular leisure-time physical activity. The theory of planned behavior and moral norm construct can enhance our understanding of physical activity intention and behavior among this population. This study aims to identify the determinants of both intention and behavior to participate in regular leisure-time physical activity among individuals with type 2 diabetes who not meet Canada's physical activity guidelines. By using secondary data analysis of a randomized computer-tailored print-based intervention, participants (n = 200) from the province of Quebec (Canada) completed and returned a baseline questionnaire measuring their attitude, perceived behavioral control, and moral norm. One month later, they self-reported their level of leisure-time physical activity. A hierarchical regression equation showed that attitude (beta = 0.10, P < 0.05), perceived behavioral control (beta = 0.37, P < 0.001), and moral norm (beta = 0.45, P < 0.001) were significant determinants of intention, with the final model explaining 63% of the variance. In terms of behavioral prediction, intention (beta = 0.34, P < 0.001) and perceived behavioral control (beta = 0.16, P < 0.05) added 17% to the variance, after controlling the effects of the experimental condition (R (2) = 0.04, P < 0.05) and past participation in leisure-time physical activity (R (2) = 0.22, P < 0.001). The final model explained 43% of the behavioral variance. Finally, the bootstrapping procedure indicated that the influence of moral norm on behavior was mediated by intention and perceived behavioral control. The determinants investigated offered an excellent starting point for designing appropriate counseling messages to promote leisure-time physical activity among individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Leisure-time physical activity and some psychological parameters among some executive employees in selected African countries

Participation in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) is vital to ensure adequate physical work capacity for the demands of daily living and job performance. Due to work demand, most top and middle level (executive) managerial employees become physically inactive and experience psychological and other health problems which may lead to hypokinetic diseases and even premature death. The purpose of this study was twofold: to determine leisure-time physical activity and psychological well-being of executive employees; and to determine the relationship between leisure-time physical activity and psychological well-being of executive employees in selected African countries. A cross-sectional study design was carried out on a group of 156 (mean age; 41.22±10.17 years) available executive employees from selected African countries. Participants were grouped according to ages (≤35 years; 36– 46 years and ≥ 4 5 years). Standardized questionnaires were used to collect the data. Subsequently, total scores were calculated for all variables. Out of 156 participants in the study, 42.9% occupied top level management and 57.1% middle level management positions. Age groups analysis indicated that, 31% and 68.6% in the less than 35 years age group were in the top and the middle levels management positions respectively. In the age group 36 to 46 years, 47% occupied the top level management position and 52.8% occupied the middle level management position. With regard to LTPA, top level managers (71.6%) scored low LTPA compared to the middle level managers (62.9%). In addition, both the top and middle level managers reported bad emotional (49.3%; 56.2%) and happiness indexes (41.8%; 37.1%) respectively. Though not significant, LTPA was positively associated with psychological well-being parameters amongst top level managers. The study concluded that both top and middle levels managers exhibited low LTPA, and with no participation in high physical activity among top level managers. In addition, more middle level managers reported bad emotional stage than the top level managers, while the top level managers were less happy than the middle level managers. It is recommended that urgent strategic intervention programmes for leisure-time physical activity and psychological wellness are needed to promote physical health and well-being of the executive employees.