"Step by Step". A feasibility study of a lunchtime walking intervention designed to increase walking, improve mental well-being and work performance in sedentary employees: Rationale and study design

BACKGROUND: Following an extensive recruitment campaign, a 16-week lunchtime intervention to increase walking was implemented with insufficiently physically active University employees to examine programme feasibility and the effects of the programme in increasing walking behaviour, and in improving well-being and work performance. METHODS/DESIGN: A feasibility study in which participants were randomised to an immediate treatment or a delayed treatment control (to start at 10 weeks) group. For the first ten weeks of the intervention, participants took part in three facilitator-led group walks per week each of thirty minutes duration and were challenged to accumulate another sixty minutes of walking during the weekends. In the second phase of the intervention, the organised group walks ceased to be offered and participants were encouraged to self-organise their walks. Motivational principles were employed using contemporary motivational theory. Outcome measures (including self-reported walking, step counts, cardiovascular fitness, general and work-related well-being and work performance) were assessed at baseline, at the end of the 16-week intervention and (for some) four months after the end of the intervention. Process and outcome assessments were also taken throughout, and following, the intervention. DISCUSSION: The results of the intervention will determine the feasibility of implementing a lunchtime walking programme to increase walking behaviour, well-being and performance in sedentary employees. If successful, there is scope to implement definitive trials across a range of worksites with the aim of improving both employee and organisational health

Actigraph Accelerometer-Defined Boundaries for Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Intensities in 7 Year Old Children

Background: Accurate objective assessment of sedentary and physical activity behaviours during childhood is integral to the understanding of their relation to later health outcomes, as well as to documenting the frequency and distribution of physical activity within a population.Purpose: To calibrate the Actigraph GT1M accelerometer, using energy expenditure (EE) as the criterion measure, to define thresholds for sedentary behaviour and physical activity categories suitable for use in a large scale epidemiological study in young children.Methods: Accelerometer-based assessments of physical activity (counts per minute) were calibrated against EE measures (kcal.kg(-1).hr(-1)) obtained over a range of exercise intensities using a COSMED K4b(2) portable metabolic unit in 53 seven-year-old children. Children performed seven activities: lying down viewing television, sitting upright playing a computer game, slow walking, brisk walking, jogging, hopscotch and basketball. Threshold count values were established to identify sedentary behaviour and light, moderate and vigorous physical activity using linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.Results: EE was significantly associated with counts for all non-sedentary activities with the exception of jogging. Threshold values for accelerometer counts (counts. minute(-1)) were = 3841 for light, moderate and vigorous physical activity respectively. The area under the ROC curves for discrimination of sedentary behaviour and vigorous activity were 0.98. Boundaries for light and moderate physical activity were less well defined (0.61 and 0.60 respectively). Sensitivity and specificity were higher for sedentary (99% and 97%) and vigorous (95% and 91%) than for light (60% and 83%) and moderate (61% and 76%) thresholds.Conclusion: The accelerometer cut points established in this study can be used to classify sedentary behaviour and to distinguish between light, moderate and vigorous physical activity in children of this age

Social contextual and environmental determinants of physical activity adoption, adherence and well-being

Over two thirds of the UK population do not meet physical activity (PA) recommendations set by the Department of Health (2011) to improve or maintain health. It is therefore essential to focus research on effective and efficient methods to promote autonomous reasons to engage and persist in PA. Employing a variety of research designs this thesis explores the social contextual and environmental determinants, predominantly from a Self-Determination Theory perspective, of PA adoption, persistence and psychological well-being (Study 1; qualitatively). Study 2 and 3 examined unique sources of support from within and beyond a PA programme including human and non-human sources (i.e., technology). Study 3 employed an intervention focusing on the effect of autonomy supportive text messages on PA behaviour and well-being. Deriving from findings of Study 1, the final study (4) investigated the effect of the physical environment and PA levels on affective states. Results highlight the importance and relevance of socio-contextual (considering each unique contribution of individual sources of support) and environmental determinants (moderate intensity PA within a natural outdoor environment being key for positive high activation) in the promotion of PA. Findings carry important practical implications for those involved in promotion of long-term PA behaviour

The effect of the physical environment and levels of activity on affective states

The physical environment and physical activity can independently improve positive affect. The current studies investigated the effects of two opposing environments (urban versus natural) and levels of activity (walking and sitting) on affective states in either a laboratory (study 1) or an outdoor setting (study 2). While doing each activity (walking and sitting in each environment), participants watched film clips of urban or natural outdoor settings (study 1), or were naturally immersed in an urban or a natural environment (study 2). Measures of affect were administered pre, mid and post each condition. Findings highlighted the benefits of being immersed in a natural outdoor environment with physical activity being key for positive effects on energy. Short bouts of sedentary behaviour increased state negative affect, tiredness, and decreased energy levels. Attempts by policy-makers, urban planners and public health promoters should encourage greater use of natural open space to promote acute psychological well-being

What factors drive regular exercise behavior?: Exploring the concept and maintenance of habitual exercise

Research has shown consistent findings supporting the benefits of exercise both physically and psychologically. However, the current population continues to remain inactive with high dropout rates of exercise programs indicating that health promotion schemes are not succeeding. Despite this, some individuals continue to maintain patterns of regular activity, and it is this group that may demonstrate unique characteristics that would allow for understanding how and why exercise can become a habit and maintained over time. A qualitative study was conducted to understand the opinions of individuals and their unique experiences with regards to their maintained exercise behavior. A sample of 197 university gym attendees completed a basic screening questionnaire to identify regular exercisers who fulfilled the criteria of exercising 3 times a week for at least 30 min a session for 3 months or longer. Twelve volunteers (7 male, 5 female) participated in one of three focus groups; each focus group was determined by participants' employment status--university students, administration employees, and academic staff. Focus group topics were derived from aspects of self-determination, self-efficacy, and theory of planned behavior. All focus group interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed by thematic content analysis through grounded theory enabling the development of a structured and theoretical account of the general features associated with habitual exercise. Results showed that, in all three groups, maintained exercise behavior can be attained if key factors of intrinsic motivation to exercise, value of exercise, commitment to exercise, structure, and planning are present. The overarching themes of self-concept and identity, collectively, with the above factors allow habitual exercise to be achieved. Further research is required to ascertain the extent to which this model fully represents habitual exercise behavior, whether it applies to other population groups, and whether this is useful for interventions to promote continued exercise participation

The effect of the physical environment and levels of physical activity on affective states

Purpose: The physical environment and physical activity can independently improve positive affect. The current studies investigated the effects of two opposing environments (urban versus natural) and levels of activity (walking and sitting) on affective states in either a laboratory (study 1) or an outdoor setting (study 2). Methods: Using an experimental within subject design, 70 physically inactive participants were randomly allocated to study 1 (32 female, 8 male; BMI; M=23.35 kg/m2, SD = 5.1) or study 2 (17 females, 13 males; BMI: M= 23.11 kg/m2, SD = 3.67). Participants completed 4 conditions (15 minutes of walking and sitting in each environment) over 2 visits. While doing each activity, participants either watched film clips of urban or natural outdoor settings (study 1), or were naturally immersed in an urban or a natural environment (study 2). Measures of affect were administered pre, mid and post each condition. Elements of weather were entered as a covariate (study 2). Results: Findings highlighted the benefits of being immersed in a natural outdoor environment with physical activity being key for positive effects on energy (Study 1 and 2: p<.05) and positive affect (Study 1: p<.05). Short bouts of sedentary behavior increased state negative affect (Study 1: p<.05), tiredness (Study 1: p<.05, Study 2: p<.01), calmness (Study 1 p< .05), and decreased energy levels (Study 1 & 2: p<.01). Conclusions: Attempts by policy-makers, urban planners and public health promoters should encourage greater use of natural open space to increase physical activity levels to promote acute psychological well-being

From adoption to adherence: the processes impacting physical activity engagement

Objective: Adherence to physical activity interventions is poorly understood. Using Self-Determination Theory as an organising framework, this study explored the processes of physical activity adoption through to adherence of sedentary University employees participating in a 16-week lunchtime walking programme (‘Step by Step’). Design: An interpretative phenomenological approach was used to answer three inter-related questions: How do sedentary adults experience the transition from a sedentary to the commencement of a physically active lifestyle? How do adults cope with temptations of returning to a sedentary lifestyle? What are the main factors affecting relapse and drop-out from a physical activity programme? Method: 17 participants were interviewed one-to-one on three separate occasions (prior, at mid-term and immediately post) during the 16-week intervention (10-week group led followed by six-week independent phase). Interviews explored motivations for engagement and adherence to the walking programme, satisfaction of the three basic psychological needs within the activity, challenges regarding handling barriers, and perceived social/autonomy support throughout the programme. Results: Introjected reasons (guilt) for engagement was a prominent theme during the adoption stage of the intervention. As the programme continued, temptations of returning to a sedentary lifestyle were reduced in individuals who demonstrated more internalised and integrated motivations for engagement (enjoyment of the activity). Adhering individuals experienced increases in competence, relatedness and to some extent autonomy. Conclusions: Findings support the hypothesised inter-relationships between need satisfaction, self-regulation and positive behavioural aspects towards physical activity and offers additional in-depth and longitudinal detail to complement existing cross-sectional and qualitative research

Assessing perceived need support and need satisfaction in physical education:adaptation and validation with English students

This study aimed to validate an English version of two questionnaires to analyze perceived psychological need support and need satisfaction in the physical education context. Participants included 453 students aged between 12 and 17 years. For the psychological need-support scale (BPNSQ) the hypothesized 3-factor solution displayed high interfactor correlations (rs > 1), and a follow-up analysis indicated that the items were represented by a single need-support factor. For the psychological need-satisfaction scale (BPN-PE), we found support for the hypothesized 3-factor solution. Both scales were found invariant across gender, and the nomological validity was also demonstrated through the associations between factors of both scales. This study provides initial support for the use of the Basic Psychological Needs Support Questionnaire (BPNSQ) and the Basic Psychological Needs in Physical Education Scale (BPN-PE) to assess perceptions of psychological need support and psychological need satisfaction within the physical education context