Imagery use in older adults

Underpinned by Bandura’s social-cognitive theory (SCT), this thesis examined the perceptions of physical activity (PA) in healthy and unhealthy older adults, and examined imagery as a potential strategy to promote PA. Focus groups with healthy older adults (Chapter 2) and those diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (Chapter 3) examined how PA is incorporated into daily living, and the unique barriers and enablers of PA in older adults. The subsequent chapters focus on the role of imagery as a strategy to increase PA. Using the revised applied model of deliberate imagery use as a framework, Chapter 4 explored where, when, what, and why older adults image PA. Based on Chapter 2 and 3’s finding that older adults use a range of imagery types and functions, and the importance of self-regulation, Chapter 5 investigated how self-regulatory imagery (i.e., images of goals and planning) related with social-cognitive variables, enjoyment, and PA. Overall, the thesis recognises the importance of SCT in explaining the unique challenges older adults face in relation to PA while accounting for contextual factors including PA level, disease severity, and employment status. The thesis also demonstrates imagery as a potential strategy for promoting PA in older adults

Investigating the Psychosocial Determinants of Physical Activity in Older Adults: A Qualitative Approach

Objective: Despite the benefits of physical activity (PA), only one-third of older adults meet the recommended levels. The present study focused on psychosocial determinants of PA following retirement. Social cognitive theory (SCT) was used to better understand pre- and post-retirement adults’ thoughts about PA, the reasons why some individuals are more active than others, and how PA is incorporated into daily life after retirement. Design: Seven focus groups of older adults (N = 37, M = 64, SD = 5.20; males = 20) representing a range of PA levels and retirement length participated in one of seven focus groups. Results: Aligned with SCT, self-efficacy beliefs along with perceptions about barriers and benefits of PA were among the major determinants of PA. Findings highlighted the importance of social support, positive outcome expectations and self-regulatory strategies as motivators. The lack of structure in retirement was a hindrance to incorporating PA into daily routine but, when incorporated, PA provided a sense of purpose in the lives of retired individuals. Conclusion: It is important to understand the meaning of retirement as a life transition and how it affects beliefs about PA to inform SCT-based health promotion interventions targeting individuals in retirement age

How the Bright and Dark Side of Self-Determination Theory Influence Participants' Life Skills Development in Youth Sport

Objectives: This study investigated whether basic needs satisfaction versus frustration mediated the relationships between autonomy-supportive versus controlling coaching and participants’ life skills development in youth sport. Design: This descriptive study used a cross-sectional research design. To ensure a diverse sample, participants were recruited from a wide range of sports. Methods: British and Irish youth sport participants (N = 309) completed measures of autonomy-supportive and controlling coaching, basic need satisfaction versus frustration (autonomy, competence, and relatedness), and life skills development in sport (teamwork, goal setting, social skills, problem solving, emotional skills, leadership, time management, and communication skills). Results: Correlational analyses showed that coach autonomy support was positively related to participants’ basic need satisfaction and life skills development. Controlling coaching was only positively associated with participants’ basic need frustration. Mediational analyses revealed that satisfaction of the three needs combined mediated the relationships between coach autonomy support and participants’ development of all eight life skills. Relatedness satisfaction mediated the relationships between coach autonomy support and participants’ development of all life skills except for goal setting. Autonomy satisfaction only mediated the relationships between coach autonomy support and time management; whereas, competence satisfaction mediated the relationships between coach autonomy support and participants’ goal setting and emotional skills. Conclusions: Findings indicated that basic need satisfaction is a mechanism that helps explain the relationships between coach autonomy support and sport participants’ life skills development. As such, coaches should create an autonomy-supportive climate that satisfies participants’ three basic needs and may help to develop their life skills

Barriers and enablers of physical activity engagement for patients with COPD in primary care

Maria-Christina Kosteli,1 Nicola R Heneghan,1 Carolyn Roskell,1 Sarah E Williams,1 Peymane Adab,2 Andrew P Dickens,2 Alexandra Enocson,2 David A Fitzmaurice,2 Kate Jolly,2 Rachel Jordan,2 Sheila Greenfield,2 Jennifer Cumming1 1School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, 2Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK Background: Given that physical activity (PA) has a positive impact on COPD symptoms and prognosis, this study examined the factors that both encourage and limit participation in PA for individuals with COPD in a primary care setting from the perspective of social cognitive theory.Methods: A purposive sample of 26 individuals with a range of COPD severity (age range: 50–89 years; males =15) were recruited from primary care to participate in one of four focus groups. Thematic analysis was undertaken to identify key concepts related to their self-efficacy beliefs.Results: Several barriers and enablers closely related to self-efficacy beliefs and symptom severity were identified. The main barriers were health related (fatigue, mobility problems, breathing issues caused by the weather), psychological (embarrassment, fear, frustration/disappointment), attitudinal (feeling in control of their condition, PA perception, older age perception), and motivational. The main enabling factors were related to motivation (autonomous or controlled), attitudes, self-regulation, and performance accomplishments.Clinical implications: When designing interventions for individuals with COPD, it is important to understand the patient-specific social cognitive influences on PA participation. This information can then inform individually tailored management planning. Keywords: COPD, social cognitive theory, self-efficacy, barriers, enablers, primary car

Exploring Imagery as a Technique for Promoting Physical Activity in Older Adults.

Exercise imagery can be beneficial for insufficiently active people as a means to promote physical activity (PA) engagement and positive psychological states. The present study explored imagery use in physically active and insufficiently active older adults. The revised applied model of deliberate imagery use (RAMDIU) was used as a framework to explain When, Where, Why, What, and How older adults image and explored whether the Who component of the model (older adults/PA status) interacts with these different components; 37 ( Mage = 64, SD = 5.2; 17 females) participants representing a range of PA levels took part in one of seven focus groups. Thematic analysis provided support for RAMDIU, with motivation, memory, and planning identified as the most common imagery functions, and scenery and reward images as the most commonly reported imagery content. Although some similarities exist, older adults tend to use imagery for unique functions compared with younger counterparts (e.g., to improve memory). Understanding the use of imagery in older adults will help to tailor PA interventions for promoting healthy aging in this population. </jats:p

How the Bright and Dark Side of Self-Determination Theory Influence Participants' Life Skills Development in Youth Sport

Objectives: This study investigated whether basic needs satisfaction versus frustration mediated the relationships between autonomy-supportive versus controlling coaching and participants’ life skills development in youth sport. Design: This descriptive study used a cross-sectional research design. To ensure a diverse sample, participants were recruited from a wide range of sports. Methods: British and Irish youth sport participants (N = 309) completed measures of autonomy-supportive and controlling coaching, basic need satisfaction versus frustration (autonomy, competence, and relatedness), and life skills development in sport (teamwork, goal setting, social skills, problem solving, emotional skills, leadership, time management, and communication skills). Results: Correlational analyses showed that coach autonomy support was positively related to participants’ basic need satisfaction and life skills development. Controlling coaching was only positively associated with participants’ basic need frustration. Mediational analyses revealed that satisfaction of the three needs combined mediated the relationships between coach autonomy support and participants’ development of all eight life skills. Relatedness satisfaction mediated the relationships between coach autonomy support and participants’ development of all life skills except for goal setting. Autonomy satisfaction only mediated the relationships between coach autonomy support and time management; whereas, competence satisfaction mediated the relationships between coach autonomy support and participants’ goal setting and emotional skills. Conclusions: Findings indicated that basic need satisfaction is a mechanism that helps explain the relationships between coach autonomy support and sport participants’ life skills development. As such, coaches should create an autonomy-supportive climate that satisfies participants’ three basic needs and may help to develop their life skills