Accuracy and repeatability of the Yale physical activity survey in assessing physical activity of older adults.

The purpose of this study was to extend the initial evaluation of the Yale Physical Activity Survey to assess physical activity in older adults. The survey yields three indicators of physical activity reflecting activities performed during a typical week of the previous month (Total Time, Total Energy Expenditure) and the past month (Total Activity Summary Index). Questionnaire validity was studied in 56 men and women, ages 56 to 86 years, by comparing the average of 3- or 7 day 24-hr. physical activity records (n=56), predicted maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) (n = 23) and the sum of three skinfold measurements. Two-week repeatability was estimated by calculating an intraclass coefficient using an analysis of variance with repeated measures. Spearman rhos were used to study questionnaire validity. Analysis showed the survey was easily administered and scored and exhibited moderate-to-good repeatability. For the first administration the Total Energy Expenditure Index was significantly associated with the physical activity diary (r = .27). On the second administration, correlations were significant for the physical activity diary with the Total Energy Expenditure Index (r = .30), the Total Activity Summary Index (r = .36), and the Total Time Index (r = .27), and for VO2 max and the Total Time Index (r = .49) and Total Activity Summary Index (r = .64). Relative to the criterion measures used in this study, some validity was evident for the second administration in this relatively active and healthy sample of older adults.     

International physical activity questionnaire: reliability and validity of the Turkish version

Physical inactivity is a global problem which is related to many chronic health disorders. Physical activity scales which allow cross-cultural comparisons have been developed. The goal was to assess the reliability and validity of a Turkish version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). 1,097 university students (721 women, 376 men; ages 18-32) volunteered. Short and long forms of the IPAQ gave good agreement and comparable 1-wk. test-retest reliabilities. Caltrac accelerometer data were compared with IPAQ scores in 80 participants with good agreement for short and long forms. Turkish versions of the IPAQ short and long forms are reliable and valid in assessment of physical activity.     

Body-esteem, body mass index, and risk for disordered eating among adolescents in synchronized swimming

The aim of this study was to examine dimensions of body-esteem, Body Mass Index, and their relations with eating disorder symptoms among 42 elite adolescent athletes engaged in competitive synchronized swimming (M = 15.4 yr., SD = 1.2) and to compare them with 40 athletes in sports with no emphasis on leanness (M = 16.5 yr., SD = .93), and 50 nonathlete college female students (M = 16.3 yr., SD = 1.1). They completed the Body-esteem Scale and the Eating Attitudes Test, and the Body Mass Index was computed. Analysis showed synchronized swimmers reported greater negative feelings about their appearance than the two other groups and low perceptions of how others evaluate their physical appearance. Participants did not differ on the EAT-26. Regression analyses showed that Body Mass Index and Body-esteem Appearance accounted for 38% of the variance in log-transformed Dieting scores of synchronized swimmers. Results are discussed in relation to the literature.     

Body image, figure rating, and body mass index of girls enrolled in health, physical education, or athletics classes

The aim was to examine associations among body-image, figure rating, and Body Mass Index of seventh grade girls who chose health, physical education, or athletics classes. Measurements were taken prior to and following the course. Class choice was significantly related to body-image satisfaction but not to figure rating or Body Mass Index. Research is needed to examine inaccurate self-perception of fatness in underweight girls, whether there is a higher risk for eating disorders for students in athletics and physical education classes, whether the curriculum is effective with students in physical education and athletics, and why girls who chose the health class began with higher body-image satisfaction than those in physical education or athletics, even though their Body Mass Index and figure-rating size did not differ.     

Relationships among self-esteem, stress, and physical activity in college students

The purpose of this study was to identify population and sex-specific relationships between perceived stress, self-esteem, and physical activity in college students. 90 students, ages 18 and older and enrolled in five sections of a health and human behavior class during the spring 2010 semester, were contacted for this study with 74 consenting to serve as study participants. Each participant completed three surveys: the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Significant correlations were observed between perceived stress and self-esteem in men, and in women. Physical activity was not significantly correlated with perceived stress or self-esteem.     

Menopausal stage and age and perceptions of body image

Abstract

The aim of This study was to investigate the association between menopausal stage and age and women's perception of their body image. Females from a community sample (n = 304. age range from 35 to 65 years) volunteered to complete a structured questionnaire which contained the Multidimensional Body Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ) and the Stunkard Body Shape Figure Scale. One hundred and twenty women were premenopausal, 76 women were perimenopausal and 108 were postmenopausal. The effects of age and menopausal stage could not be separated in ratings of appearance evaluation, fitness evaluation, current, ideal and societal ratings of the Stunkard Body Shape Figure Scale. Premenopausal women (who were likely to be younger) had more positive ratings of appearance evaluation and fitness evaluation than menopausal women (who were likely to be older). Women who were premenopausal nominated smaller figures from the Stunkard Body Shape Figure Scale for ratings of the current, ideal and societal body shape than women who were perimenopausal and postmenopausal. The implications of these findings as they relate to women as they progress through the menopausal transition and as they become older is discussed.     

Differences in body esteem by weight status,gender, and physical activity among young elementary school-aged children

Body satisfaction is important for the prevention of disordered eating and body image disturbances. Yet, little is known about body esteem and what influences it among younger children. The purpose of this study was to evaluate body esteem and the relationships between body esteem, weight, gender, and physical activity in elementary school children. A total of 214 third graders in a U.S. Midwestern state participated in this correlational study. The Body Mass Index-for-age, the Body Esteem Scale (BES), BE-Weight, BE-Appearance, and a Physical Activity Checklist were used to examine the relationships between the variables using bivariate correlations and analysis of variance. While children's body esteem did not differ by physical activity, important interactions were identified between weight status and gender in global body esteem and BE-Appearance. It is critical to examine attitudes about weight and appearance and the relationship between body esteem and self-esteem further among middle childhood-aged children.     

Hospitalization of Children with Cystic Fibrosis Adversely Affects Mothers’ Physical Activity,Sleep Quality,and Psychological Status

Having a child with a chronic disease can cause anxiety and depression, which may impair the sleep quality of mothers. The aim of this study was to compare physical activity level, sleep quality, anxiety and depression in mothers of hospitalized cystic fibrosis patients, cystic fibrosis outpatients and healthy controls. Twenty-three of the patients were hospitalized and 38 were outpatients and 37 age-matched healthy children served as controls. The mothers’ fatigue levels, sleep disturbances, stress levels and perceptions of their child’s disease severity were assessed with a Visual Analog Scale. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were administered to the mothers of children. Mothers of hospitalized and outpatient cystic fibrosis children had significantly higher fatigue severity, sleep disturbance, and stress level according to Visual Analog Scale than mothers of healthy controls. All of International Physical Activity Questionnaire scores were significantly lower in cystic fibrosis patients’ mothers than healthy controls’. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale depression score, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index subdomains and total scores of hospitalized patients’ mothers were higher than those of the other two groups (p?<?0.05). Chronic illness in children with cystic fibrosis may impair the physical activity level, sleep quality and psychological state of their mothers, especially during hospitalization period.     

The influence of body dissatisfaction on cardiovascular and strength-based physical activity by gender: a self-determination theory approach

Abstract

Physical activity—or lack thereof—is one behaviour that may help explain why individuals who are dissatisfied with their bodies experience poor health outcomes. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to examine the mediating role of behavioural regulations (i.e., autonomous and controlled) in the relation between body dissatisfaction and physical activity and to determine whether this mediated relationship was moderated by gender. Additionally, this relation was examined for both cardiovascular and strength-based physical activity. Design: A two-week daily-diary study was conducted. Measures: The Body Shape Satisfaction Questionnaire, the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire – 3, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire were used to test the main hypotheses. Results: For men and women, body dissatisfaction was related to less frequent cardiovascular and strength-based activity due to lower levels of intrinsic regulation. In women, the relation between body dissatisfaction and activity (cardiovascular and strength-based) was partially mediated by controlled regulations (i.e., external and introjected). That is, women who were dissatisfied exercised more because they were more likely to feel that they had to appease others or themselves. Conclusion: The present study provides direction for targeting physical activity behaviours in college students who are dissatisfied with their bodies.     

The Body Esteem Scale: a convergent and discriminant validity study

This research was intended to further establish convergent and discriminant validity for a recent Body Esteem Scale (BES) which measures different dimensions of body satisfaction in young adults. One hundred and fifty-four male and 193 female undergraduates completed the BES, the Body Consciousness Questionnaire (BCQ), the Self-Esteem Scale, and several questions pertaining to exercise, food intake, and attractiveness. Good convergent and discriminant validity was demonstrated by the Male Upper Body Strength and Physical Condition subscales and by the female Weight Concern, Physical Condition, and Sexual Attractiveness subscales.     

大学生媒体影响、体重指数和身体自尊的关系

采用问卷测量法,考察了432名大学生的媒体影响、体重指数与身体自尊的关系。结果表明:(1)媒体影响、现实体重指数、理想体重指数和身体自尊各个分量表之间存在明显的相关关系;(2)根据变量的相关关系构建的结构方程模型有着较为理想的拟合指数,表明媒体影响、体重指数对身体自尊有着直接或间接的影响作用。     

The physical self-attribute questionnaire: development and initial validation

The Physical Self-attribute Questionnaire was developed for use in conjunction with the Physical Self-perception Profile to model cognitive facets of perceived competence, certainty, importance, and discrepancy from ideal to each of the physical subdomains measured by the latter (Strength, Attractive Body, Condition, and Sport). To this end, two studies were conducted. Study 1 examined the factor structure, test-retest reliability, and validity of the questionnaire in a sample of 154 (28 men, 126 women) undergraduate health students. Reliability and validity were acceptable, and confirmatory factor analysis indicated good fit for a four-factor solution. In Study 2, the reliability, validity, and factor structure was again confirmed in a sample of 120 (83 men, 37 women) undergraduate students recruited from exercise classes. Results of these two studies suggest that the Physical Self-attribute Questionnaire is a viable tool to measure the underlying cognitive facets of subdomain-specific physical self-esteem.     

Relationship of perceived physical self-concept and physical activity level and sex among young children

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between level of physical activity and perceived physical self-concept of young children. The sample comprised 364 children from Slovenia, aged 6.4 yr. (SD = 0.3), of which 179 were boys and 185 girls. Parents and teachers reported children's physical activity using the Harro questionnaire. We divided children into Low and High Activity groups based on their mean scores. The children completed Stein's Children's Physical Self-concept Scale, which assesses Global Physical Self-concept and the subdomains of Physical Performance, Physical Appearance, and Weight Control behavior. Two-way analysis of variance with both sex and physical activity levels, and their interaction were used to examine differences in Physical Self-concept. There were significant differences between the Low and High Activity groups on scores for global Physical Self-concept Scale, Physical Performance, and Weight Control, on which children from the High Activity group scored higher; whereas on the subscale Physical Appearance, there were no significant differences. There were no significant sex differences on the Physical Self-concept Scale. The most important conclusion of this research indicates the theoretical assumptions that Physical Activity and perceived Physical Self-concept are related. Direction of the relationship remains unclarified.     

Announcement

Stability, internal consistency, validity, and factor structure of the ColorA-Person Body Dissatisfaction Test (CAPT) were assessed. Two- and 4-week test-retest correlations for college students and alpha coefficients for students and eating-disorder patients ranged from .70 tO .89. Factor structure was unaffected by gender and clinical status. Correlations were mostly between -.40 and -.60 with Rosenberges (1965) Self-Esteem Scale and Secord and Jourard's (1953) Body Cathexis Scale (BCS). Men higher on Body Mass Index (BMI) liked upper body parts; women higher on BMI disliked lower body parts. Treatment for bulimia affected both body image tests comparably.     

Effects of a 12-month pedometer walking program on gait, body mass index, and lower extremity function in obese women

This study evaluated the effects of a self-reported pedometer-walking program on gait, lower extremity function, and Body Mass Index for 33 obese women, ages 31-65 years (M = 48.0, SD = 8.0) and whose initial average Body Mass Index was 40.30 +/- 9.60 kg/m2. During the 12-mo. intervention participants wore pedometers and reported the number of daily steps walked. Body Mass Index, three gait parameters, steps/day, and lower extremity function were taken over 3-mo. intervals. All participants increased in gait velocity, % single-leg support, and lower extremity function, and decreased in Body Mass Index over time. Those whose steps/day increased by 2000 over 6 mo. had significantly faster velocities and longer step lengths than those whose steps/day did not increase. The 1-yr. walking program stimulated changes in gait, Body Mass Index, and lower extremity function for these obese women. Ultimately, these changes may reduce the risk of falls for this group of women.     

The Color-A-Person Body Dissatisfaction Test: stability, internal consistency, validity, and factor structure

Stability, internal consistency, validity, and factor structure of the Color-A-Person Body Dissatisfaction Test (CAPT) were assessed. Two- and 4-week test-retest correlations for college students and alpha coefficients for students and eating-disorder patients ranged from .70 to .89. Factor structure was unaffected by gender and clinical status. Correlations were mostly between -.40 and -.60 with Rosenberg's (1965) Self-Esteem Scale and Secord and Jourard's (1953) Body Cathexis Scale (BCS). Men higher on Body Mass Index (BMI) liked upper body parts; women higher on BMI disliked lower body parts. Treatment for bulimia affected both body image tests comparably.     

The Body Esteem Scale: Construct Validity of the Female Subscales

The female subscales of the Body Esteem Scale (BES) have demonstrated convergent and discriminant validity in two previous studies. However, relationships between BES dimensions, weight, and other body-image measures have not been adequately examined. in this study, 200 women with a mean age of 27.6 years completed the BES, the Eating Disorder inventory, the Self-Consciousness Scale, the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale, a figure rating task, a phototechnical body-size estimation procedure, and items concerning weight satisfaction and attractiveness. BES Weight Concern was most closely related to weight variables and other body image measures whereas BES Sexual Attractiveness and Physical Condition were more strongly associated with less specific self-perceptions and attitudes. Results support the construct validity of the BES female subscales and their utility for research in populations at increased risk for body-image or eating-disorder disturbances.