Expressive writing promotes self‐reported physical,social and psychological health among Chinese undergraduates

The present study examines the efficacy of expressive writing among Chinese undergraduates. The sample comprised of 74 undergraduates enrolled in a 9‐week intervention (35 in experimental class vs. 39 in control class). The writing exercises were well‐embedded in an elective course for the two classes. The 46‐item simplified Chinese Self‐Rated Health Measurement Scale, which assesses psychological, physical and social health, was adopted to measure the outcome of this study. Baseline (second week) and post‐test (ninth week) scores were obtained during the classes. After the intervention on the eighth week, the self‐reported psychological, social and physical health of the experimental class improved. Psychological health obtained the maximum degree of improvement, followed by social and physical health. Furthermore, female participants gained more psychological improvement than males. These results demonstrated that the expressive writing approach could improve the physical, social and psychological health of Chinese undergraduates, and the method can be applied in university psychological consulting settings in Mainland China.     

Effects of domain-specific exercise load on speed and accuracy of a domain-specific perceptual-cognitive task

In the context of perceptual-cognitive expertise it is important to know whether physiological loads influence perceptual-cognitive performance. This study examined whether a handball specific physical exercise load influenced participants’ speed and accuracy in a flicker task. At rest and during a specific interval exercise of 86.5–90% HR_max, 35 participants (experts: n = 8, advanced: n = 13, novices, n = 14) performed a handball specific flicker task with two types of patterns (structured and unstructured). For reaction time, results revealed moderate effect sizes for group, with experts reacting faster than advanced and advanced reacting faster than novices, and for structure, with structured videos being performed faster than unstructured ones. A significant interaction for structure × group was also found, with experts and advanced players faster for structured videos, and novices faster for unstructured videos. For accuracy, significant main effects were found for structure with structured videos solved more accurately. A significant interaction for structure × group was revealed, with experts and advanced more accurate for structured scenes and novices more accurate for unstructured scenes. A significant interaction was also found for condition × structure; at rest, unstructured and structured scenes were performed with the same accuracy while under physical exercise, structured scenes were solved more accurately. No other interactions were found. These results were somewhat surprising given previous work in this area, although the impact of a specific physical exercise on a specific perceptual-cognitive task may be different from those tested generally.     

Effect of a behavioral intervention on dimensions of self-regulation and physical activity among overweight and obese adults with type 2 diabetes: a pilot study

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the preliminary effect of a behavioral intervention on the use of self-regulation strategies and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in overweight and obese adults with type 2 diabetes. 23 individuals recruited from ResearchMatc.org and campus advertisements were randomized into an intervention (n = 12) and control (n = 11) group. The intervention group received a behavioral intervention that used goal setting, time management, and self-monitoring to target dimensions of self-regulation and MVPA. The control received information regarding their PA habits. MVPA was measured via BodyMedia Armbands at pre- and post-test. The use of self-regulatory strategies for MVPA was assessed at pretest and posttest using the Self-Regulation for Exercise Scale. Cohen’s d effect sizes were calculated to determine the practical impact of the intervention. The intervention had a large effect on all dimensions of self-regulation across time: including total self-regulation (3.15), self-monitoring (4.63), goal setting (3.17), social support (1.29), self-reward (1.98), time management (4.41), and overcoming barriers (2.25). The intervention had no impact on dimensions of MVPA across time. This pilot study demonstrated the ability of a behavioral intervention to improve the use of self-regulation strategies for MVPA in a sample of adults with type 2 diabetes. These findings can further inform the development of health promotion programs to promote self-regulation. Future research should focus on determining ability of improvements in self-regulation to stimulate behavior change.     

The role of state mindfulness during yoga in predicting self-objectification and reasons for exercise

ObjectivesObjectification theory is a useful framework for understanding how individuals internalize the sexual objectification of male and female bodies. This internalization, called self-objectification, can result in negative psychological and behavioral outcomes (e.g., body shame, disordered eating). Exercise that uses mindfulness to draw attention to the body's function and sensations rather than appearance may be one way to minimize self-objectification and improve associated outcomes. Therefore, the objective of this study was to explore how state mindfulness during exercise may associate with change in self-objectification, body image variables, and reasons for exercise.DesignThis study prospectively followed participants (N = 148, 80% female) from six yoga classes that met 2–3 times a week across an 8-week period.MethodRepeated measures MANOVAs were used to examine change over time in state mindfulness, self-objectification, physical self-concept, and reasons for exercise. Regression analysis was used to examine how state mindfulness predicted change in outcome variables.ResultsMANOVAs revealed significant decreases in self-objectification and increases in physical self-concept, health/fitness-related reasons for exercise, and state mindfulness. Further, results indicated that mindfulness during exercise was linked with decreases in self-objectification and increases in more internal reasons for exercise over time.ConclusionsState mindfulness plays a role in predicting change in self-objectification and reasons for exercise during yoga practice.     

Higher chronic psychological stress is associated with blunted affective responses to strenuous resistance exercise: RPE,pleasure, pain

The aim of this study was to determine whether mental stress moderates perceptions of muscular pain, exertion, pleasure and arousal during a bout of strenuous resistance exercise. Two hundred and ten undergraduate students recruited from resistance exercise classes were screened with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Fifty-seven individuals (age = 20.1 ± 1.2 y) were invited to complete the Undergraduate Stress Questionnaire (USQ), a measure of life event stress, and fitness testing. They later performed a two-phase, acute heavy-resistance exercise protocol: first phase: 10-repetition maximum (RM) leg press test; second phase: six sets at 80–100% of 10-RM. During exercise, participants responded to the Feeling Scale (pleasure), Felt Arousal Scale, Omni-RPE and the Pain Intensity Scale. Affective responses and heart rate were analyzed with a hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) growth curve analysis. USQ moderated the trajectories of affective responses and heart rate during exercise. Higher stress (USQ) levels were significantly related to lower rise in RPE (time², p = .002; time³, p < .001) and heart rate (time², p < .001; time³, p < .001). USQ had a main effect on pleasure and arousal (p values < .001), in which higher levels of stress were related to less affect. Models using the PSS scale produced similar results. PSS, but not USQ, interacted with time to predict pain (time², p = .048; time³, p = .024). Relationships held even after adjusting for covariates, such as depression. Future research should determine if differential responses to exercise by stress have implications for behavioral interventions and mental health outcomes.     

Motivational,volitional and multiple goal predictors of walking in people with type 2 diabetes

BackgroundType 2 diabetes is a major public health problem. Effective diabetes self-management involves people engaging in multiple health behaviours, including physical activity. Walking is an effective, accessible and inexpensive form of physical activity, yet many people with Type 2 diabetes do not meet recommended levels. The present study aimed to: 1) identify demographic, motivational and volitional factors predictive of walking in people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus, and 2) test whether accounting for the perceived impact of other goal pursuits (goal facilitation and goal conflict) improved the prediction of walking.MethodsA theory-based cross-sectional study using the Health Action Process Approach was conducted in adults with Type 2 diabetes across Scotland. Assuming a 50% response rate 1000 questionnaires were mailed to achieve the target sample size (N = 500). Demographic information was collected, and intentional (outcome expectations, social support, risk perceptions), motivational (intention, self-efficacy), volitional (action planning, action control) and multiple goal (goal conflict, goal facilitation) factors were assessed as predictors of physical activity in general and walking specifically.ResultsThe final sample comprised 411 respondents. The majority (60%) were non-adherent to physical activity recommendations. Of 411 respondents, 356 provided walking data. Body Mass Index and age were the only demographic and anthropometric factors predictive of walking (overall R² = 0.04). When motivational factors were added, intention and self-efficacy added to the prediction (overall R² = 0.07). When volitional factors were added, only action control was predictive of walking (overall R² = 0.08). Finally, goal facilitation explained an additional 7% variance in walking when added to the model (final overall R² = 0.15).ConclusionThere was low adherence with physical activity recommendations in general and walking in particular. When testing predictors of motivational, volitional and competing goal constructs together, action control and goal facilitation emerged as predictors of walking. Future research should consider how walking can be embedded synergistically alongside other goal pursuits and how action control may help to ensure that they are pursued.     

A dimensional and person-centered perspective on controlled reasons for non-participation in physical education

ObjectivesMost theories of motivation, including Self-Determination Theory (SDT), focus mainly on students’ reasons for participating in activities, at the expense of a focus on reasons for non-participation. In terms of underlying reasons for non-participation, SDT has focused primarily on amotivation. The present study investigated reasons for non-participation that are driven by externally or internally pressuring demands (i.e., controlled motivated non-participation), thereby relying on a dimensional and person-centered approach.Design and methodParticipants were 647 secondary school students (69% boys, Mage = 13.27 years) and their 14 PE teachers (93% men; Mage = 35.50 years). Students reported on their own motivation for participation and non-participation and outcomes (i.e., learning, feelings of resentment towards both the lesson and the teacher), and teachers rated the students’ performance. Multilevel regression modeling (i.e. dimensional approach) and cluster analysis (i.e. person-centered approach) were used.ResultsConfirmatory factor analyses indicated that controlled motivated non-participation and amotivation represent distinct reasons for non-participation that can also be discerned from controlled and autonomously motivated participation. Controlled motivated non-participation yielded unique associations with feelings of resentment towards both the lesson and the teacher, but not with learning and teacher-rated performance. Person-centered analyses indicated that the group characterized by elevated levels of both controlled motivated participation and non-participation in combination with amotivation displayed the least beneficial pattern of outcomes.ConclusionThe current findings point to the importance of more intensively studying students’ reasons for non-participation. Directions for future research are discussed.     

Challenging Fitness Ideology: Why an Adventurous Approach to Physical Activity is Better for Well-being

In this paper, I argue that adventurous approaches to physical activity can contribute more to well-being than approaches that have been shaped by fitness ideology. To defend this claim, I draw on work in philosophy and psychology concerning internal goods and intrinsic motivation, respectively. This work shows that motivating ourselves intrinsically and cultivating the internal goods of physical activity can contribute significantly to well-being. Unfortunately, the discourse and images associated with fitness culture tend to undermine intrinsic motivation and the cultivation of internal goods. Consequently, approaches to physical activity shaped by fitness ideology often fail to support well-being. In contrast, I argue that an adventurous approach to physical activity better fosters intrinsic motivation and the pursuit of internal goods. To show this, I consider three examples of internal goods strongly associated with adventure – character development, enlivening kinesthetic and psychological experience, and mindfulness – and highlight their connection to well-being. I then argue that the adventure concept can also counter social biases related to fitness and support a more inclusive and diverse understanding of fitness for all.     

A dual-process model of affective and instrumental attitudes in predicting physical activity

IntroductionA novel dual-process model based upon the affective-reflective theory which distinguishes between affective attitude and instrumental attitude at an explicit and implicit level was used to predict physical activity.MethodUndergraduate students (N = 114) completed a lab-based study at two time-points, spaced two weeks apart. Participants completed self-report measures of the theory of planned behavior constructs, including explicit affective attitude and explicit instrumental attitude. Implicit affective attitude and implicit instrumental attitude were measured using single category implicit association tests.ResultsExplicit affective attitude and perceived behavioral control indirectly predicted physical activity through intention, and explicit affective attitude, implicit affective attitude, and intention predicted physical activity directly with a modest effect size (R² = 0.24).DiscussionFindings suggest explicitly and implicitly held evaluative information are conceptually distinct, and affective evaluations are key in guiding physical activity behavior regardless of whether such evaluations are implicit or consciously accessible.