Social Support For Exercise Research Articles

High Intensity Functional Training for People with Parkinson's & Their Care Partners: A Feasibility Study.

Various forms of exercise have proven health benefits for people with Parkinson's (pwPD) yet high intensity functional training (HIFT) has yet to be studied. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility, physical and psychosocial impacts of a HIFT program for pwPD and their care partners (CPs). A single group, pre-post design with assessments before, in the middle (13weeks), and after the 25-week intervention. Community fitness facility. Fourteen pwPD (10 at Hoehn Yahr Stage ≤2, 4 females) and 10 CPs (5 females) were included (mean age = 71.5 (6.1)). A 25-week HIFT program (≤49 exercise sessions, ≤75min long). Recruitment, retention, attendance, safety and exercise intensity (measured via session-Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE)) was assessed in addition to cardiovascular endurance, lower extremity strength, walking speed, balance, exercise self-efficacy, balance confidence, social support for exercise and health-related quality of life. Descriptive data was used to describe feasibility measures. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare pre- and post-program data. Effect size, r, was calculated. Recruitment rates were ≥40% for pwPD and CPs and retention rates were 80% for pwPD and 62.5% for CPs. Average session attendance was 71.2% with 15 adverse events reported, including 7 non-injurious falls. Median session-RPE was 5 (IQR = 1) out of 10. PwPD demonstrated significant improvements in cardiovascular endurance, self-selected and fast walking speeds, balance and social support for exercise. CPs demonstrated significant improvements in cardiovascular endurance and lower extremity strength. Exercise self-efficacy, balance confidence and health-related quality of life did not significantly change for pwPD or CPs. High intensity functional training appears feasible for pwPD and their CPs and may lead to health benefits. Healthcare providers should consider HIFT as another option to engage pwPD in community-based exercise.

Exercise social support, barriers, and instructions in venous thromboembolism survivors: a descriptive study

BackgroundDiagnosis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) can be a significant life event that leads to changes in physical activity and exercise. Currently, little is known about the psychosocial experiences of survivors including perceived sources of social support, exercise barriers, and instructions for exercise from medical providers. ObjectivesThis study aimed to explore psychosocial characteristics associated with VTE survivors’ postdiagnosis exercise. Specifically, 1) what are the main sources of social support utilized by VTE survivors for exercise, 2) what are the most significant exercise barriers (eg, physical, social, and psychological) faced by VTE survivors, and 3) what specific information relative to exercise is provided by medical professionals following diagnosis? MethodsVTE survivors (n = 472) were recruited through social media groups to participate in open-ended questions about psychosocial characteristics pertaining to postdiagnosis exercise. ResultsVTE survivors reported multiple forms of exercise social support, although almost 1 in 4 participants reported having no support for exercise. Several postdiagnosis exercise barriers were noted, and the data indicated a wide variety of information from their medical providers regarding engaging in exercise following their diagnosis, suggesting that the unique benefits and drawbacks to these instructions should be examined in more detail. ConclusionAlthough VTE survivors identified numerous categories of social support, there also exist numerous barriers, including a lack of standardized instructions for exercise. Further exploration of these characteristics is needed to better serve this population to encourage postdiagnosis exercise.

Impact of Multimedia Messaging Service Education and Exercise Social Support on Physical Activity Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: Quasi-Experimental Study.

Social support is one of the interpersonal stimuli that define an individual's predisposition to engage in health-promoting behaviors and is considered a facilitator in improving health habits. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) can benefit from educating supportive families and friends on self-care management including exercise behavior. Multimedia messaging service (MMS) could also be an effective method for delivering targeted educational interventions that focus on physical activity (PA). This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of MMS educational interventions and perceived social support for exercise on level of PA of patients with T2DM. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was conducted to recruit 98 patients with T2DM. The intervention group received MMS education aiming to improve exercise social support and PA level for 2 months, and their counterparts in the control group received the usual routine care. We sent 2 to 3 messages daily for 2 weeks from Saturday to Thursday (12 days total). These messages were a combination of videos and texts, and the evidence-based content of these messages was reviewed and approved by the advisory committee. We randomly assigned eligible patients in a 1:1 ratio into the intervention or the control groups. Participants completed a survey in 3 periods. There were no significant differences in friends' support, family verbal, practical, or emotional support over time in the intervention group (P>.05). Yet, there was a small effect size (Cohen d) in friends' social support (0.389), family practical support (0.271), and moderate activities (0.386). A medium effect size was found in family verbal (0.463) and emotional (0.468) support. Being married increased the likelihood of friends' support by 2.3 times after intervention (P=.04), whereas rarely doing exercise decreased the likelihood of friends' support by 28% (P=.03) and family practical support by 28% (P=.01). Being female and married increased the likelihood of doing moderate activities by 1.6 times (P=.002) and 1.5 times (P=.049) in the intervention group. Being a housewife decreased the likelihood of doing moderate activities by 20% (P=.001). Finally, being a female with a higher educational level decreased the likelihood of doing hard activities by 20% (P=.04) and 15% (P=.002), respectively. A theoretically based MMS health education targeting PA levels and social support of family and friends to perform PA seems promising in promoting family and friends' social support and improving PA levels among patients with T2DM. Actively involving family and friends in educational interventions that target PA can have an impact on health-promoting behaviors in patients with diabetes.

Optimization Of Behavioral Interventions For Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: The HEALTH4CLL Study

PURPOSE: Given the benefits of exercise for cancer survivors, scalable exercise intervention strategies are needed to help survivors be more active. This study used Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) to test behavior change strategies of an evidence-based diet and exercise intervention for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), examining the effects on physical activity (PA) participation, self-efficacy and social support for exercise, and quality of life (QOL). METHODS: The HEALH4CLL study provided a Fitbit and 16 weekly educational materials about exercise, diet, and weight management. Patients with CLL were randomly assigned to 1 of 16 combinations of behavioral change strategies: email vs. telephone coaching; text message reminder vs. none; resistance plus aerobic exercise vs. aerobic exercise alone; and daily vs. weekly self-monitoring. Patients’ Godin Leisure Time Activity Questionnaire, PROMIS physical and mental health, Exercise Self-efficacy, and Sallis’ Social Support for Exercise were assessed at baseline and follow-up. Effectiveness of intervention components on PA, QOL, exercise self-efficacy, and social support for exercise from family and friends among patients with CLL were examined using paired t-tests and factorial analysis of variance. RESULTS: 31 patients were completed the intervention (mean age 63 yrs; 57% female; 89% white). We observed significant increases in PA scores (+14.5, t = 4.46, p < .001), physical health t-scores (+2.3, t = 2.45, p = .020), and family social support sum of scores (+4.1, t = 3.33, p = .002) in all patients after the intervention. According to factorial analysis, combined resistance and aerobic exercise with daily self-monitoring was effective for improvement of PA scores (+16.0, t = 2.18, p = .042) and physical health related to QOL t-scores (+4.4, t = 2.34, p = .030). Social support for exercise from friends score was affected by daily self-monitoring (+4.2, t = 2.47, p = .024) and email coaching with text reminder (+4.3, t = 2.47, p = .024). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that combination of resistance and aerobic exercise, daily self-monitoring, email coaching, and text message reminders were effective for increases in PA, physical health related QOL, and social support from friends.

The importance of physical activity participation among persons with disabilities

Participation in physical activity and sports is beneficial for psychosocial health among children and adolescents with a disability. People with disabilities are far less likely to engage in physically active lifestyles than are people without disabilities. This study was conducted to investigate the importance of physical activity participation for persons with disabilities. A total of 100 (men = 59, women = 41) persons with disabilities aged between 10 to 40 years old participated in the study. The instrument used was The Benefits of Exercise towards Persons with Disabilities and Social Support to Exercise for Persons with Disabilities developed by Rauzon designed to investigate the importance of physical activity for disabled persons. The research instrument used for this study was a questionnaire on demographics, the benefits of exercise and social support for exercise. Overall, both men and women agreed with five main statements regarding the benefits of exercise: that they can improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels, help to avoid disease, give more energy, help to relieve tension and to have a more positive outlook on life. There is no significant relationship between family support and physical activity participation. However, for social support, there is a significant relationship between friend support and physical activity participation. The most selected statements for social support for both men and women such as offer to exercise with them, complain about the time they spend for exercise, fun exercise, rewards and help to plan activities around their exercise. Physical activity participation for persons with abilities appears to have many benefits, and this knowledge should be shared not only among the disabled but also the non-disabled as it will help them to become better caregivers who will encourage and support the disabled in physical activities. For a deeper insight, further research with more variables is recommended.

Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory Factors as Predictors of Exercise Habits, Self-Efficacy, Social Support, and Affect

Objective: The study investigated contemporary reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST) personality factors as predictors of short-term changes in young adults’ exercise-related outcomes. Specifically, we explore RST factors as predictors of short-term changes in young adults’ reports of their exercise habits, exercise self-efficacy, exercise affect, and elicitation of exercise social support. Design: Participants (N=406) completed surveys related to RST including four aspects of behavioral approach system, behavioral inhibition system, and fight-flight-freeze system as well as exercise habits, self-efficacy, affect, and social support at the beginning of one semester and took the same exercise survey six-weeks later. Main Outcomes: Changes in exercise habits, exercise self-efficacy, exercise affect, and elicitation of exercise social support. Results: Path analysis results demonstrated a good model fit. The fight-flight-freeze system (β = -.12) and behavioral inhibition systems (β = -.15) predicted changes in exercise habits, but not exercise beliefs or affect. The behavioral approach system goal-drive-persistence component predicted increases in exercise self-efficacy (β = .12) while the impulsivity (β = -.15) predicted increases in eliciting exercise social support. Conclusion: While our study highlighted meaningful links between RST factors and changes in exercise outcomes, inconsistent patterns and weak magnitudes also underscore the need for future exploration. Weak reward and punishment associations with exercise may help explain the inconsistent relations with RST factors.

Socioecological Factors Associated with an Urban Exercise Prescription Program for Under-Resourced Women: A Mixed Methods Community-Engaged Research Project.

One strategy to promote physical activity (PA) is for health care providers to give exercise prescriptions (ExRx) that refer to community-based facilities. However, facilitators and barriers specific to urban programs in the US for under-resourced women are unknown. Thus the purpose of this formative research was to explore ExRx barriers and facilitators specific to US under-resourced women to inform future intervention targets and strategies. This mixed-methods community-engaged research was conducted in partnership with an urban women’s only wellness center that exchanged ExRx for free access (1–3 months). Qualitative semi-structured interviews and validated quantitative questionnaires (SF-12, International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Physical Activity Self-Efficacy, Physical Activity Stage of Change, and Barriers to Physical Activity, Social Support for Exercise, and Confusion, Hubbub, and Order Scale) were administered by phone and guided by the socio-ecological model. ExRx utilization was defined as number visits/week divided by membership duration. Means and percentages were compared between ≥1 visit/week vs. <1 visit/week with t-tests and chi-square, respectively. Women (n = 30) were 74% Black, 21–78 years of age, 50% had ≤ high school diploma, and 69% had household incomes ≤45,000/year. Women with ≥1 visit/week (n = 10; 33%) reported more education and higher daily activity, motivation, number of family CVD risk factors and family history of dyslipidemia compared with <1 visit/week. Facilitators among women with ≥1 visit/week were “readiness” and “right timing” for ExRx utilization. Barriers among women with <1 visit/week (n = 20; 67%) were “mismatched expectations” and “competing priorities”. Common themes among all women were “sense of community” and “ease of location”. ExRx utilization at an US urban wellness center may be dependent on a combination of multi-level factors including motivation, confidence, peer support, location and ease of access in under-sourced women. Additional resources may be needed to address mental and/or physical health status in additional to physical activity specific programming.

Social Support for Exercise and Its Effect on Physical Activity Level among Female Teachers

Background: Determining the level of physical activity and factors in female teachers can be effective in planning health promotion interventions. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the level of physical activity and social factors affecting female teachers in Rafsanjan.&#x0D; Methods: in this descriptive study, the level of physical activity and the social factors were examined in 198 female high school teachers in Rafsanjan City in 2019. The International Short Form Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to determine physical activity levels. Sallis's social support questionnaire for exercise was used to determine the level of social support. Data were analyzed using SPSS 18 and chi-square and Spearman's correlation coefficient.&#x0D; Results: The level of physical activity in female teachers was lower than the recommended level so that only 34.3% had the minimum physical activity at the recommended level. In terms of intensity of physical activity, most physical activities were reported as walking. The physical activity of this group was not statistically significant based on age (p = 0.09), work experience (p = 0.70), level of education (p = 0.28), and income level (p = 0.082). Also, there was a significant correlation between all types of physical activity and social support in all aspects.&#x0D; Conclusion: Providing social support for exercise by family and friends has been identified as an effective physical activity factor. Therefore, it seems necessary to design educational programs to improve teachers' awareness and attitude, emphasizing the creation of a supportive environment by family, friends, and even related organizations.

Social Support for Exercise and Its Effect on Physical Activity Level among Female Teachers

Background: Determining the level of physical activity and factors in female teachers can be effective in planning health promotion interventions. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the level of physical activity and social factors affecting female teachers in Rafsanjan. Methods: in this descriptive study, the level of physical activity and the social factors were examined in 198 female high school teachers in Rafsanjan City in 2019. The International Short Form Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to determine physical activity levels. Sallis's social support questionnaire for exercise was used to determine the level of social support. Data were analyzed using SPSS 18 and chi-square and Spearman's correlation coefficient. Results: The level of physical activity in female teachers was lower than the recommended level so that only 34.3% had the minimum physical activity at the recommended level. In terms of intensity of physical activity, most physical activities were reported as walking. The physical activity of this group was not statistically significant based on age (p = 0.09), work experience (p = 0.70), level of education (p = 0.28), and income level (p = 0.082). Also, there was a significant correlation between all types of physical activity and social support in all aspects. Conclusion: Providing social support for exercise by family and friends has been identified as an effective physical activity factor. Therefore, it seems necessary to design educational programs to improve teachers' awareness and attitude, emphasizing the creation of a supportive environment by family, friends, and even related organizations.

Social Cognitive Correlates of Physical Activity among Chinese University Employees: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Despite the well-documented benefits of leisure time physical activity, university employees are often reported to be at high risk of physical inactivity and low fitness levels. However, few efforts have been made to identify modifiable correlates of physical activity among this population. From the perspective of Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), the current study aims to examine the relationship between physical activity and a series of demographic variables (e.g., age, gender, income, education), self-reported fitness, and social cognitive variables. Data were collected through mail-based surveys from a convenience sample consisting of 116 Chinese university employees (age = 36.59 ± 8.7 y). An array of SCT variables, namely, exercise self-efficacy (r = 0.55, p < 0.01), barrier self-efficacy (r = 0.35, p < 0.01), exercise social support (r = 0.37, p < 0.01), importance of physical self (r = 0.30, p < 0.01), outcome expectations (r = 0.24, p < 0.05), and satisfaction with health(r = 0.32, p < 0.01) were found to be positively correlated with physical activity in Chinese faculty and staff, and most of the correlations were moderate to large in magnitude. Further regression analyses indicate that exercise self-efficacy (β = 0.29, p < 0.01) and exercise social support from friends (β = 0.70, p < 0.01) emerge as significant predictors of physical activity after controlling for age, gender, occupation (faculty or staff), and self-reported fitness. It is concluded that these SCT variables are important correlates of university employees’ physical activity behavior. Future physical activity promotion interventions in this population should incorporate strategies to improve one’s confidence in maintaining regular physical activity and enhance social support from friends, which are likely to increase the effectiveness of these programs.

Evaluating psychosocial and physical activity outcomes following an intervention among Filipino Americans.

Background: Physical activity (PA) is a strong contributor to enhancing a healthy lifestyle and preventing numerous chronic diseases. As ethnic minorities engage in low levels of PA, psychosocial and activity-based interventions for sustaining PA are crucial. Methods: The 6-month intervention incorporated culturally tailored educational workshops and weekly PA classes at a community center. Educational workshops were led by six trained community health workers (CHWs). Participants (n=37) completed pre- and post-intervention questionnaires regarding PA related self-efficacy, outcome expectations, social support, enjoyment, self-regulation, goal setting, and overall PA. Results: Following the intervention, study participants exhibited increases in weekly PA levels. Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test revealed higher median scores for Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale (ESES), Identified Regulation, and Intrinsic Motivation. Positive changes were observed for Physical Outcome Expectations, Social Outcome Expectations, Self-Evaluative Outcome Expectations, Physical Activity Enjoyment, Social Support for Exercise Scale – Family, Social Support for Exercise – Friends, and Exercise Goal-Setting. Conclusion: Community-based PA interventions may provide potential benefits to Filipino Americans, an ethnic Asian minority group, in identifying exercise benefits, developing proper exercise goals, increasing motivation, promoting PA behavior, and facilitating long-term PA adherence.

Physical Activity, Outcome Expectations, and Social Support in Dyads of Frail Older Adults and Their Home Care Aides

Frail community-dwelling older adults increasingly receive home care and continue to face barriers to participating in physical activity (PA) that could help maintain their function. Home care aides (HCAs) are well-positioned to promoting PA among older home care recipients because of their established relationship and regular interpersonal exchanges; yet, the role of HCAs in promoting and supporting PA in home care settings is seldomly studied. Using the quantitative and qualitative data from a 4-month home-based gentle PA intervention delivered by HCAs to their clients in a Medicaid-funded home care setting, the current study examined whether outcome expectations for exercise (OEE) held by HCAs led to client PA outcomes (i.e. functional limitations and physical performance) through social support for exercise (SSE) provided by HCAs. Longitudinal mediation analysis of 46 HCA-client dyads showed that higher baseline OEE held by HCAs were related to greater SSE reported by clients after the intervention (p<.05; bootstrapped standard errors), controlling for client-level covariates, including baseline OEE, age, gender, comorbidity, and whether HCA was client’s family member. Unexpectedly, SSE did not have significant association with client PA outcomes nor mediated the relationship between OEE held by HCAs and client PA outcomes. Qualitative data suggested alternative factors may explain the results, such as clients’ family beliefs in the intervention and clients’ participation experiences (such as expectation fulfillment). Future research should consider older home care clients’ family contexts to enhance our understanding of HCAs’ roles in preserving the function of growing numbers of older home care recipients.

Network Support Using Social Networking Services to Increase Exercise Adherence Among Korean-Chinese Middle-Aged Migrant Women: Mixed Methods Study.

BackgroundSocial networking services (SNSs) are recognized to be a promising approach to easily deliver health interventions and to enhance social support for exercise adherence. However, the patterns and aspects of social support through SNSs have not been reported and their influence on other social-cognitive factors remains inconclusive.ObjectiveOur objective is to explore how social support delivered through SNSs impacts interactions among Korean-Chinese (KC) middle-aged women and to identify how this approach influences social-cognitive factors for exercise (eg, sense of community, self-efficacy for exercise, and social support for exercise).MethodsA mixed methods design was used. Text analysis of SNS messages and text mining using the Korean Natural Language Application (KoALA) were conducted. Social-cognitive factors (eg, sense of community, self-efficacy for exercise, and social support for exercise) were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks using a structured questionnaire. A comparison of social-cognitive factors at baseline and at 12 weeks was conducted to identify any potential significant changes, using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.ResultsA total of 259 SNS messages were collected from 24 KC women, distributed among four chat groups, who participated in a 12-week walking intervention program between August and October 2018. The individual average frequency of chatting via the SNS was 10.79 (range 0-34) and the most frequent type of social support through the SNS was network support (172/259, 66.4%). The most common words extracted from the SNS were Health, Exercise, Participation, and We. Overall, the perceived levels of sense of community (P<.001) and social support for exercise (P=.002) were significantly increased at 12 weeks compared with baseline. Group 1 (P=.03) and Group 4 (P=.03), whose members demonstrated the highest frequency of network support, experienced a significant increase only in the level of sense of community.ConclusionsBy integrating these data and conducting a mixed methods analysis, we observed that among the types of social support, network support was a key point for the promotion of social-cognitive factors in increasing exercise adherence. Therefore, network support through SNS-based interventions should be considered as a useful strategy to help vulnerable migrant populations make changes to exercise behaviors.

Assessing the stress-buffering effects of social support for exercise on physical activity, sitting time, and blood lipid profiles

Objective This study tested the hypothesized stress-buffering effects of social support on physical activity, sitting time, and blood lipid profiles. Participants 537 college students. Methods College students volunteered to self-report stress, social support for exercise, physical activity and sitting time, and provided blood samples to assess lipid profiles in this cross-sectional study. Results Lower stress was associated with higher vigorous physical activity (β = −0.1, t = −2.9, p = .004). Higher social support was associated with higher moderate (β = 0.2, t = 2.0, p = .042), vigorous (β = 0.5, t = 5.4, p < .001), and total (β = 0.1, t = 3.2, p = .001) physical activity, and lower sitting time on weekdays (β = −0.1, t = −3.3, p = .001) and weekends (β = −0.2, t = −3.6, p < .001). Social support moderated the association between stress and sitting time on weekdays. Conclusions Stress reduction and fostering social support may be important strategies for promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviors in college students. Additional strategies are needed to buffer the deleterious effects of stress.

THE CURRENT STATUS AND PREDICTORS OF EXERCISE IN KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY USING THE HEALTH ACTION PROCESS APPROACH

Objectives: Exercise is of crucial importance for kidney transplant recipients to prevent or decrease cardiovascular disease, which has been reported as the main cause of death among kidney transplant recipients. Accordingly, this research aims to investigate the exercise behavior of kidney transplant recipients, and explore the influencing factors of exercise behavior and exercise intention based on the health action process approach (HAPA) model. Methods: A prospective design was used. Participants were required to take part in two assessments. At the first assessment, participants were measured by the general information questionnaire, the motivational subscales of the HAPA (pre-actional self-efficacy, outcome expectations, risk perception, intention), exercise social support scale, the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia-13 (TSK-13)and the exercise stage scale. Three months later, participants were investigated by the volitional subscales of the HAPA(planning, coping self-efficacy, recovery self-efficacy, exercise behavior). Exercise behavior was assessed using the leisure-time subscale of the International physical activity questionnaire. SAS version 9.40 was used for the descriptive analysis. Amos 21.0 was used to explore the impact of latent variables on exercise behavior and exercise intention. Results: A total of 320 participants took part in the first assessment, and among them, only 252 participants completed the second assessment. The median exercise of the 252 kidney transplant recipients was 924.00 MET-min/week. The final model had a significant consistence with the data. The exercise behavior could be explained 19.8% of the variance. Exercise planning (coefficient of direct effect 0.395) and recovery self-efficacy (0.126) could influence exercise directly; exercise social support (0.009), positive outcome expectations (0.020), negative outcome expectations (-0.022), pre-actional self-efficacy (0.079), coping self-efficacy (0.228) could influence exercise indirectly, among which, exercise intention influence exercise via chain mediation of coping self-efficacy and exercise planning. Exercise intention could be accounted for 50.8% of the variance with pre-action self-efficacy (0.529), negative outcome expectations (-0.332), positive outcome expectations (0.297), and exercise social support (0.139), and all of them influence exercise intention directly. Conclusion: The exercise behavior among kidney transplant recipients was not quite good. Although there was a relatively large mount of exercise, most of them was walking, the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity needs to be improved. The structural model based on the HAPA was able to explain exercise and exercise intention among kidney transplant recipients. Exercise planning is the most important factor affecting exercise, followed by coping self-efficacy and recovery self-efficacy. It is suggested that the medical stuff should focus on the exercise planning and exercise self-efficacy in order to improve the kidney transplant recipients’ exercise.

Brief Report: Bariatric Surgery Patients' Communication and Engagement in Activities with Their Children.

Children witness parental weight loss from bariatric surgery; however, little is understood about parental engagement and communication with children about weight loss. The purpose of this study is to explore parental engagement in activities and communication about weight loss with children during the bariatric surgery process. Seventy-two pre- or post-surgery parents, living with a child 2-25- years- old, were surveyed using a questionnaire to assess engagement in social and physical activities and communication with children about weight loss, and the Social Support for Exercise and Eating Habits Survey. Multivariate logistic regression determined correlates of engagement and communication, with covariates: child age and perceived weight status, surgery status, and social support. Family discouragement for making eating habit change was associated with an increased odds [OR = 1.21 (CI 1.03, 1.41)] of parents endorsing their weight held them back from social activities. Parents with older children [OR = .88 (CI .78, 1.00)] and children perceived to have overweight/obesity [OR = .18 (CI .03, .96)], and who were post-surgery [OR = 4.78 (CI 1.05, 21.88)] had increased odds of discussing losing weight with their child. The results of this study suggest parents are communicating with their children about weight loss, though more often with older and overweight/obese children.

Pilot study of social cognitive theory variables as correlates of physical activity among adolescents with pediatric multiple sclerosis

PurposeAdolescents with pediatric onset multiple sclerosis (MS) engage in low rates of physical activity. Behavioral interventions that target physical activity are most successful if grounded in theory. This study explored social cognitive theory (SCT) variables as correlates of physical activity among adolescents with pediatric onset MS. ProceduresParticipants who had a diagnosis of pediatric onset MS, were between the ages of 14 and 18 years, and were fluent and literate in English were eligible. The electronic web-delivered survey included a demographics questionnaire, the Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ), and measures of SCT variables. ResultsThe overall sample included 24 adolescents with pediatric onset MS (M:3,F:21) with a mean age of 16.1 years and disease duration of 2.6 years. The sample was predominately Caucasian (n = 14, 58%). Exercise planning (ρ=0.54), exercise outcome expectations (ρ=0.46), self-efficacy for overcoming barriers (ρ = 0.52), and exercise social support (ρ=0.58) were associated with GLTEQ scores. ConclusionsResearchers might develop behavioral interventions that target exercise outcome expectations, exercise planning, self-efficacy for overcoming barriers, and exercise social support for changing physical activity in pediatric onset MS.

Supports and Barriers to Home-Based Physical Activity During Preoperative Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Physical activity and exercise appear to benefit patients receiving preoperative treatment for cancer. Supports and barriers must be considered to increase compliance with home-based exercise prescriptions in this setting. Such influences have not been previously examined. The authors used quantitative and qualitative methods to examine potential physical activity influences among patients who were prescribed home-based aerobic and strengthening exercises concurrent with preoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiation for pancreatic cancer. Physical activity was measured using exercise logs and accelerometers. Social support for exercise and perceived neighborhood walkability were measured using validated surveys. Relationships between influences and physical activity were evaluated using linear regression analyses and qualitative interviews. Fifty patients received treatment for a mean of 16 (9) weeks prior to planned surgical resection. Social support from friends and neighborhood esthetics were positively associated with physical activity (P < .05). In interviews, patients confirmed the importance of these influences and cited encouragement from health care providers and desire to complete and recover from treatment as additional motivators. Interpersonal and environmental motivators of exercise and physical activity must be considered in the design of future home-based exercise interventions designed for patients receiving preoperative therapy for cancer.

Mental health informed physical activity for first responders and their support partner: a protocol for a stepped-wedge evaluation of an online, codesigned intervention

BackgroundFirst responders (police, fire and ambulance officers) are at a significantly increased risk of experiencing poor mental health, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. These conditions are associated with high...

Study On Social Support for Exercise And Its Impact on the Level of Physical Activity of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND:Physical activity is one of the most important self-care approaches to controlling complications of type 2 diabetes. According to Bandura’s social theory, factors such as social support are effective factors in the incidence of the behaviour.AIM:This study aims to determine the level of physical activity, social support and their determinants.METHODS:This descriptive study was performed on 250 patients with type 2 diabetes by Cluster-Random Sampling method in Rafsanjan City. Data were collected using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and Social Support Questionnaire for Sport, that their validity and reliability were confirmed. The results were analysed by t-test, ANOVA and logistic regression.RESULTS:This study showed that 46.8% of the patients were in the inactive group. Social support score for exercise was low in this group. The results indicated that social support and gender are predictors of physical activity, and with an increase in the social support score, the odds of having minimal physical activity increased 1.17 fold (OR = 1.167) and men were 4.18 times more likely to have minimal physical activity (OR = 4.183).CONCLUSION:Considering the low level of physical activity and social support in diabetic patients, and the effect of social support on the prediction of physical activity, interventions are recommended to increase social support in this group.