Perspectives on gender in health behaviour change : investigations on health-specific psychosocial and gender-related personality factors

Health behaviour change is influenced by domain-specific, modifiable psychosocial factors and more generalized, stable personality traits. The previous have been extensively researched, and self-efficacy, action planning and social support have been identified to be important behaviour change predictors. However, the relevance of these determinants for men and women and their dynamic change processes have rarely been investigated. The role of personality in health behaviour change has remained a less studied area until recently. Gender-role related personality traits agency and communion, although established predictors of psychological adjustment and physical health for both genders, have not been studied in the context of lifestyle change interventions. Yet, they may facilitate favorable outcomes, in an interplay with domain-specific psychosocial factors. The research questions were: I) Are there gender differences in the changes in self-efficacy and planning, as well as the level of social support, and do they predict change in physical exercise similarly in men and women? II) How do gender-related personality traits contribute to changes in abdominal obesity for women and men, and how do they interplay with more proximal psychosocial variables in predicting changes in obesity? Finnish men and women, age 50–65, N=385, at an increased risk for type 2 diabetes were recruited from health care centres to participate in the GOAL Lifestyle Implementation Trial. The program aims were to improve participants' lifestyle (physical activity, nutrition) and to decrease their overweight. Domain-specific psychosocial factors and exercise were measured at baseline (T1) and at three months (T2). Waist circumference was measured at T1, one-year (T3) and three-year follow-ups (T4). Gender-related traits were measured at T4. In Study I, at baseline, men reported receiving more social support than women. Post-intervention, women reported having formed more exercise plans. Among women, increases in self-efficacy and planning predicted increases in exercise whereas for men, changes in planning played a less significant role. In Study II, higher agency was associated with 1-year waist circumference reduction among women, but not among men. Among women, high agency and self-efficacy increase during T1-T2 were associated with 1-year waist circumference decrease. High communion was associated with weight loss when social support was high. Three-year waist circumference reduction was only predicted by initial (T1-T2) self-efficacy increase. The results implicate that certain psychological and social resources are beneficial in pursuing health outcomes for women. The findings may reflect life circumstances allowing less spontaneous lifestyle decisions and a lower acceptance of lifestyle changes by women's social environment than for men

Mitkä sosiaaliskognitiiviset tekijät selittävät varusmiesten käsihygieniaa?

Väestössä yleiset hengityselininfektiot ja mahasuolikanavan infektiot leviävät helposti riittämättömän käsihygienian vuoksi aiheuttaen sairauspoissaoloja ja siten myös merkittäviä taloudellisia kustannuksia. Käsihygienian edistämisinterventioiden suunnittelemiseksi tulisi ymmärtää käsienpesukäyttäytymiseen vaikuttavia tekijöitä. Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli tarkastella suomalaisten varusmiesten käsienpesuaikomukseen ja käsienpesuun vaikuttavia tekijöitä integroidun sosiaaliskognitiivisen teorian avulla. VirusFight-hankkeeseen kuuluva kyselytutkimuksen otos koostui 18–22-vuotiaista peruspalveluskauden miesalokkaista (N=139). Tilastollisena menetelmänä käytettiin hierarkkista lineaarista regressioanalyysia. Käsienpesuaikomusta ennustivat koettu pystyvyys, positiivinen tunneperäinen asenne, sosiaalinen paine sekä likaan ja puhtauteen liittyvät tunnereaktiot. Varsinaista käsienpesukäyttäytymistä puolestaan ennustivat käsienpesuaikomus, deskriptiivinen normi ja inhon tunteet. Käsienpesu on paitsi tietoiseen aikomukseen perustuvaa, myös automaattisemmin ympäristövihjeistä ohjautuvaa käyttäytymistä. Nuoriin miehiin kohdistuvissa käsihygieniainterventioissa mahdollisesti vaikuttavia toimenpiteitä ovat inhon virittäminen likaisuutta kohtaan ja käsienpesun yleisyyden korostaminen.Peer reviewe

Genetic causal beliefs about morbidity: associations with health behaviors and health outcome beliefs about behavior changes between 1982–2002 in the Finnish population.

Background: The role and meaning of genetic information has grown considerably in the recent decades. We examined changes in causal beliefs about morbidity as well as the associations between causal beliefs, health behaviors and obesity, and health outcome beliefs from 1982 to 2002. Methods: In five population-based risk-factor surveys (the FINRISK Studies) of individuals aged 25 to 64 years conducted from 1982 to 2002 (n = 37,503), respondents chose the most important cause of morbidity from a list of ten alternatives. Health outcome beliefs were assessed with two items. Physical inactivity and smoking status were based on self-reports and obesity was based on measured height and weight. Results: The prevalence of those who endorse genetic factors as the most important cause of morbidity increased from 4% in 1982 to 10% in 1992 and remained at that level until 2002. During the study period, lack of exercise and overweight increased, whereas inappropriate diet and stress diminished as causal beliefs about morbidity. Smokers and physically inactive were more likely to endorse genetic than behavioral causes of morbidity, whereas obese respondents were more likely to choose overweight over genetic causes of morbidity. Those who endorse genetic factors as the most important cause had more pessimistic outcome beliefs about health behavior changes, but these outcome beliefs became more positive in all causal belief groups during the study period. Conclusion: Despite increased public discussion of genomics, the relative proportion of those who endorse genetic factors as the most important cause of morbidity has remained low. However, within this group beliefs about benefits of health behavior changes have become more positive. This could indicate that increase in genomic health information does not lead to more negative appraisals of efficacy of lifestyle changes.Peer reviewe

Relations Between Autonomous Motivation and Leisure-Time Physical Activity Participation: The Mediating Role of Self-Regulation Techniques

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Mitkä sosiaaliskognitiiviset tekijät selittävät varusmiesten käsihygieniaa?

Väestössä yleiset hengityselininfektiot ja mahasuolikanavan infektiot leviävät helposti riittämättömän käsihygienian vuoksi aiheuttaen sairauspoissaoloja ja siten myös merkittäviä taloudellisia kustannuksia. Käsihygienian edistämisinterventioiden suunnittelemiseksi tulisi ymmärtää käsienpesukäyttäytymiseen vaikuttavia tekijöitä. Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli tarkastella suomalaisten varusmiesten käsienpesuaikomukseen ja käsienpesuun vaikuttavia tekijöitä integroidun sosiaaliskognitiivisen teorian avulla. VirusFight-hankkeeseen kuuluva kyselytutkimuksen otos koostui 18–22-vuotiaista peruspalveluskauden miesalokkaista (N=139). Tilastollisena menetelmänä käytettiin hierarkkista lineaarista regressioanalyysia. Käsienpesuaikomusta ennustivat koettu pystyvyys, positiivinen tunneperäinen asenne, sosiaalinen paine sekä likaan ja puhtauteen liittyvät tunnereaktiot. Varsinaista käsienpesukäyttäytymistä puolestaan ennustivat käsienpesuaikomus, deskriptiivinen normi ja inhon tunteet. Käsienpesu on paitsi tietoiseen aikomukseen perustuvaa, myös automaattisemmin ympäristövihjeistä ohjautuvaa käyttäytymistä. Nuoriin miehiin kohdistuvissa käsihygieniainterventioissa mahdollisesti vaikuttavia toimenpiteitä ovat inhon virittäminen likaisuutta kohtaan ja käsienpesun yleisyyden korostaminen.Peer reviewe

A systematic review of school-based interventions targeting physical activity and sedentary behaviour among older adolescents.

This is the final version of the article. It was first available from Taylor & Francis via http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1750984X.2015.1081706Lack of physical activity (PA) and high levels of sedentary behaviour (SB) have been associated with health problems. This systematic review evaluates the effectiveness of school-based interventions to increase PA and decrease SB among 15-19-year-old adolescents, and examines whether intervention characteristics (intervention length, delivery mode and intervention provider) and intervention content (i.e. behaviour change techniques, BCTs) are related to intervention effectiveness. A systematic search of randomised or cluster randomised controlled trials with outcome measures of PA and/or SB rendered 10 results. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Intervention content was coded using Behaviour Change Technique Taxonomy v1. Seven out of 10 studies reported significant increases in PA. Effects were generally small and short-term (Cohen's d ranged from 0.132 to 0.659). Two out of four studies that measured SB reported significant reductions in SB. Interventions that increased PA included a higher number of BCTs, specific BCTs (e.g., goal setting, action planning and self-monitoring), and were delivered by research staff. Intervention length and mode of delivery were unrelated to effectiveness. More studies are needed that evaluate long-term intervention effectiveness and target SBs among older adolescents

Healthy eaters beat unhealthy eaters in prototype evaluation among men, but abstinence may pose a risk for social standing

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Band termination in the N=Z Odd-Odd Nucleus 46V

High spin states in the odd-odd N=Z nucleus 46V have been identified. At low spin, the T=1 isobaric analogue states of 46Ti are established up to I = 6+. Other high spin states, including the band terminating state, are tentatively assigned to the same T=1 band. The T=0 band built on the low-lying 3+ isomer is observed up to the 1f7/2-shell termination at I=15. Both signatures of a negative parity T=0 band are observed up to the terminating states at I = 16- and I = 17-, respectively. The structure of this band is interpreted as a particle-hole excitation from the 1d3/2 shell. Spherical shell model calculations are found to be in excellent agreement with the experimental results.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Participants’ enactment of behavior change techniques : a call for increased focus on what people do to manage their motivation and behavior

Funding Information: The writing of this manuscript was supported by the Kone Foundation and the Academy of Finland (Grant No. 285283). The author wishes to thank Dr. Minna Stenius, Dr. Keegan Knittle, Dr. Elaine Toomey and anonymous reviewers on useful comments to previous versions of the manuscript.Peer reviewe

Randomised controlled feasibility study of a school-based multi-level intervention to increase physical activity and decrease sedentary behaviour among vocational school students

BACKGROUND: No school-based physical activity (PA) interventions among older adolescents have demonstrated long-term effectiveness, and few of them so far have addressed sedentary behaviour (SB). Based on behavioural theories and evidence, we designed a multi-level intervention to increase PA and decrease SB among vocational school students. This study investigates feasibility and acceptability of two main intervention components and research procedures. We also examine uptake of behaviour change techniques (BCTs) by the participants. METHODS: Design was an outcome assessor blinded, cluster-randomised controlled trial. Four classes of students (matched pairs) were randomised into one intervention and one control arm. The intervention consisted of (1) a 6-h group-based intervention for students, (2) two 2-h training workshops to reduce their students' sitting in class for teachers, and (3) provision of light PA equipment in classrooms. At baseline (T1), mid-intervention (T2) at 3 weeks, post-intervention (T3) and 6 months after baseline (T4) we measured hypothesised psychosocial mediators and self-reported PA and sitting. Objective assessment of PA and SB (7-day accelerometry) was conducted at T1, T3 and T4. Body composition (bioimpedance) was measured at T1 and T4. Students and teachers in the intervention arm filled in acceptability questionnaires at T3. RESULTS: Recruitment rate was 64% (students) and 88.9% (teachers), and at T3, all post-intervention measurements were completed by 33 students (retention 76.7%) and 15 teachers (retention 93.8%). Acceptability ratings of sessions were high (students M = 6.29, scale 1-7), and data collection procedures were feasible. Intervention arm students reported increased use of BCTs, but uptake of some key BCTs was suboptimal. BCT use correlated highly with objective measures of PA. Based on both self-report and student evaluation, teachers in the intervention arm increased the use of sitting reduction strategies at post-intervention and T4 follow-up (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: We detected willingness of the target groups to participate, good response rates to questionnaires, adequate retention, as well as acceptability of the trial protocol. Investigation of BCT use among students helped further enhance intervention procedures to promote BCT use. After making necessary modifications identified, intervention effectiveness can next be tested in a definitive trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN34534846 . Registered 23 May 2014. Retrospectively registered.Background: No school-based physical activity (PA) interventions among older adolescents have demonstrated long-term effectiveness, and few of them so far have addressed sedentary behaviour (SB). Based on behavioural theories and evidence, we designed a multi-level intervention to increase PA and decrease SB among vocational school students. This study investigates feasibility and acceptability of two main intervention components and research procedures. We also examine uptake of behaviour change techniques (BCTs) by the participants. Methods: Design was an outcome assessor blinded, cluster-randomised controlled trial. Four classes of students (matched pairs) were randomised into one intervention and one control arm. The intervention consisted of (1) a 6-h group-based intervention for students, (2) two 2-h training workshops to reduce their students' sitting in class for teachers, and (3) provision of light PA equipment in classrooms. At baseline (T1), mid-intervention (T2) at 3 weeks, post-intervention (T3) and 6 months after baseline (T4) we measured hypothesised psychosocial mediators and self-reported PA and sitting. Objective assessment of PA and SB (7-day accelerometry) was conducted at T1, T3 and T4. Body composition (bioimpedance) was measured at T1 and T4. Students and teachers in the intervention arm filled in acceptability questionnaires at T3. Results: Recruitment rate was 64% (students) and 88.9% (teachers), and at T3, all post-intervention measurements were completed by 33 students (retention 76.7%) and 15 teachers (retention 93.8%). Acceptability ratings of sessions were high (students M = 6.29, scale 1-7), and data collection procedures were feasible. Intervention arm students reported increased use of BCTs, but uptake of some key BCTs was suboptimal. BCT use correlated highly with objective measures of PA. Based on both self-report and student evaluation, teachers in the intervention arm increased the use of sitting reduction strategies at post-intervention and T4 follow-up (p <.05). Conclusions: We detected willingness of the target groups to participate, good response rates to questionnaires, adequate retention, as well as acceptability of the trial protocol. Investigation of BCT use among students helped further enhance intervention procedures to promote BCT use. After making necessary modifications identified, intervention effectiveness can next be tested in a definitive trial.Peer reviewe