Self-regulation and self-control in exercise: The strength-energy model

Self-regulation is an important component of psychosocial theories of exercise behaviour and lack of self-regulatory skills are associated with low adherence to health-related exercise. This review presents a strength-energy model of self-control as an explanation of self-regulation in exercise contexts. The review will provide impetus for original research aimed at understanding exercise behaviour and help develop recommendations for exercise promotion. In the model, self-control is conceptualized as a global but limited resource. Engaging in actions requiring self-control depletes resources leading to self-regulatory failure. Self-control resource depletion is reduced through rest and frequent training on self-control. The expectation of the need to exert self-control in future leads to a conservation of self-control resources. Proposed mechanisms for self-control resource depletion include changes in physiological markers and blood glucose levels. Based on our review, we propose an integrated model of self-regulation incorporating hypotheses from the strength-energy model with those from traditional psychosocial models of exercise behaviour. Recommendations for future research include incorporating hypotheses from the strength-energy model into theories of self-presentation and interpersonal relations in exercise. Practical recommendations aimed at minimising self-control depletion in exercise include the provision of advice on nutrition and recovery, self-control training and motivational and implementation intention strategies

Does neighbourhood walkability moderate the effects of mass media communication strategies to promote regular physical activity?

Background: Mass media campaigns are widely used in Australia and elsewhere to promote physical activity among adults. Neighbourhood walkability is consistently shown to be associated with walking and total activity. Campaigns may have different effects on individuals living in high and low walkable neighbourhoods. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare pre- and post-campaign cognitive and behavioural impacts of the Heart Foundation’s Find Thirty every day® campaign, in respondents living in high and lower walkable neighbourhoods. Methods: Pre- and post-campaign cross-sectional survey data were linked with objectively measured neighbourhood walkability. Cognitive and behavioural impacts were assessed using logistic regression stratified by walkability. Results: Cognitive impacts were significantly higher post-campaign and consistently higher in respondents in high compared with lower walkable neighbourhoods. Post campaign sufficient activity was significantly higher and transport walking significantly lower, but only in residents of lower walkable areas. Conclusions: Cognitive impacts of mass media physical activity campaigns may be enhanced by living in a more walkable neighbourhood

Motivated to walk but nowhere to walk to: Differential effect of a mass media campaign by mix of local destinations.

OBJECTIVE: Built environment attributes are associated with walking but little is known about how the impact of walking campaigns varies across different environments. The objective of this study was to compare the impact of a campaign on changes in walking between respondents with a high versus low mix of local destinations. METHODS: Pre- and post-campaign data from a quasi-experimental study were used to compare changes in walking for residents aged 40-65 with high and low destination mix in a West Virginia community campaign (March-May 2005). RESULTS: Overall samples consisted of 777 intervention community respondents and 388 comparison community respondents with pre- and post-campaign data. Among insufficiently active intervention respondents, those with high destination mix increased their walking by 0.64 days more than those with low mix (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed among the comparison community. CONCLUSION: The walking response to campaigns in those insufficiently active may be influenced by neighborhood attributes

Testing the Hierarchy of Effects model - Pathways from awareness to outcomes in the VERB campaign 2002-2003

Background The McGuire hierarchy-of-effects (HOE) model, used extensively in mass-media interventions to describe the mechanisms for understanding effects, has not been tested in physical activity campaigns. Design Data collected at baseline (2002) and follow-up (2003) surveys in the VERB™ evaluation were used in structural equation modeling to test pathways and hierarchies of campaign effects. Setting/participants Population-based cohort of youth aged 9–13 years (N=2364) for whom complete baseline and follow-up data were available. Main outcome measures Awareness of the VERB campaign, understanding of the VERB message, attitude toward being active, outcome expectations, and physical activity participation. Results Among youth aged 9–13 years (tweens) in the study cohort, significant paths were identified between awareness and understanding (0.72,

Health benefits of cycling: a systematic review : Cycling and health

The purpose of this study was to update the evidence on the health benefits of cycling. A systematic review of the literature resulted in 16 cycling-specific studies. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies showed a clear positive relationship between cycling and cardiorespiratory fitness in youths. Prospective observational studies demonstrated a strong inverse relationship between commuter cycling and all-cause mortality, cancer mortality, and cancer morbidity among middle-aged to elderly subjects. Intervention studies among working-age adults indicated consistent improvements in cardiovascular fitness and some improvements in cardiovascular risk factors due to commuting cycling. Six studies showed a consistent positive dose–response gradient between the amount of cycling and the health benefits. Systematic assessment of the quality of the studies showed most of them to be of moderate to high quality. According to standard criteria used primarily for the assessment of clinical studies, the strength of this evidence was strong for fitness benefits, moderate for benefits in cardiovascular risk factors, and inconclusive for all-cause mortality, coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality, cancer risk, and overweight and obesity. While more intervention research is needed to build a solid knowledge base of the health benefits of cycling, the existing evidence reinforces the current efforts to promote cycling as an important contributor for better population health

Testing Pathways from Awareness to Outcomes in the VERB Media Campaign, 2002-2003

Evaluations of mass media campaigns used to increase community awareness about physical activity (PA) have not explored the mechanisms through which the campaigns exert their influence. The hierarchy of effects (HOE) model (conceptualized as a causal chain between awareness, understanding, attitudes, expectations, and behavior change) has been proposed to explain the immediate and media-specific effects of campaigns, but it has not been empirically tested. PURPOSE: To systematically test the HOE model, using data from a nationwide PA media campaign. METHODS: The VERB campaign was a large-scale, multi-strategy campaign developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and targeting US youth aged 9–13. Survey data from a longitudinal sample (n = 2364), collected pre-campaign (2002) and post-campaign (2003), were used in structural equation modeling to test pathways and hierarchies of campaign effects. Variables considered were VERB campaign awareness, understanding of the VERB message, attitudes to PA, outcome expectations and change in PA participation. RESULTS: Among all participants, significant paths were identified between campaign awareness and message understanding (path coefficient 0.72,