Kauno m. vidutinio amžiaus gyventojų pozicijos kaita dėl fizinio aktyvumo laisvalaikiu

In European countries, people, whatever the socio-economic group or nationality they belong to, men or women, the young or the elderly without distinction, should be guaranteed the right to health as well as its promotion and support measures (Javtokas, 2009). Personal health promotion reflects the general idea stating that in order to enhance health it is necessary to change the way of life (Tones, Tilford, 1994; Donev et al., 2007). In this era of radical modernity related to the increased personal anxiety and uncertainty, there appear new alternative ways to enhance a person’s health: taking a variety of medications, trying different diets, engaging in traditional and non-traditional forms and ways of physical education (Cavill et al., 2006). In turn, physical education specialists and health educators bring out the importance of exercise encouraging a person to understand the social value and significance of their health promotion and physical development (Schneider and Becker, 2005; Netz et al., 2005). It is widely recognized that a major health risk factor associated with a person’s lifestyle, is low physical activity, the importance of which for human health has been shown in numerous scientific studies. They have emphasized the positive interface between active leisure time physical activity and a range of health indicators (Kalėdienė et al., 1999; Domarkienė, 2000; Borodulin, 2006; Kallings, 2008; Klumbienė, 2008, Gill et al., 2010; Weiler et al., 2010). The importance of physical activity for personal lifestyle and disease prevention conditions the fact that physical activity research is relevant and developed by a number of investigators. They research not only physical self-development in general, but also attempt to identify the links between total physical activity and physical activity in occupation and leisure activities (Allender et al., 2008; Wolin, Bennett, 2008). Other researchers focus attention only to leisure physical activity (Burton, Turrell, 2000; Kardelienė et al., 2010), or are interested in the physical activity of specialists of individual disciplines in their working life, household chores, mobility and leisure (Reichert et al., 2007). However, due to a different treatment of physical activity and different testing methods, the authors’ research data are not always the same, especially when physically active actions are compared with such sociodemographic indicators as the subjects’ education, social status, age and gender. The data are not always the same in the countries of different cultural traditions. So, research on our country’s population physical activity remain relevant, especially since there is very little research, especially at the population level, where the activities are analyzed using the principle of triangulation, i. e. leisure time physical activity is measured by the frequency and duration of exercise according to different types physical activity linking them with other factors characterizing physical activity. Beyond doubt is the fact that the often declared idea of health promotion is directly related to lifestyle characteristics which are affected both by the individual approach to one’s health, and various external factors, in particular the conditions of life. Of course, focusing on enhancing people’s health should be imposed on various health promotion (wellness) programmes. The main aim of these programmes should be to change the person’s behaviour by using the impact of the media and the individual measures (Van der Bij et al., 2002; Rise, 2004; Roux et al., 2008). Some authors believe that public awareness of an active lifestyle principles promoting and encouraging the continuous realization of it and developing physical fitness, can improve people’s quality of life (Aхвердова, Maгин, 2002; Taylor et al., 2002; Netz et al., 2005; Kallings, 2008; Miller and Miller, 2010). On the other hand, when it comes to leisure time physical activity as a factor of personal comprehensive wellbeing and prevention of diseases, more emphasis is laid on its importance in childhood and adolescence. Much less physical activity issues are addressed for adults. Thus, the relevance of the chosen topic is associated with the problem of low physical activity among adult population, which is widely discussed in the scientific literature. It is addressed attempting to develop national preventive programmes (Domarkienė, 2000), but the lack of their effectiveness is influenced by many factors, and their ignorance or scientific groundlessness undermine the development of educational programmes and their implementation. It should be noted that there are only few works in which the educational effect would be applied to an individual aiming at changing his/her approach to leisure time physical activity and healthy lifestyle. The importance of such research is revealed in the scientific literature (Janz et al., 2002; McKenna, Vernon, 2004; Harrison, 2005; Vaisvalavičius, 2006; Biddle, Mutran, 2007). It would allow evaluating the factors that may influence the effectiveness of their impact. The establishment of such factors and the assessment of their interaction with physical activity is an important scientific problem which is solved in the study addressing two key problem questions: 1) What is the position of Kaunas city middle aged population regarding leisure time physical activity? and 2) How does the position of Kaunas city middle aged population regarding leisure time physical activity change when they are provided with information in the form of indirect enforcement why they need to increase their physical activity? In response to these problematic research questions, the work raises the following descriptive and explanatory inductive and deductive predictions (research hypotheses): H1: Most of Kaunas middle-aged population are hardly physically active during their leisure time. Persons demonstrating high physical activity more often than persons with low physical activity are characterised by health risk factors in compliance with specific regulatory characteristics. Population of higher social status and education are more physically active in their leisure. This descriptive inductive hypothesis is formulated on the basis of the Structuration Theory (Giddens, 1984), due to social and physical activity restrictions, a person can access only a certain capacity realization choice set. This means that a person’s physical activity is defined by both the country’s socio-economic changes and his/her personal approach. The inductive hypothesis will be tested after the analysis of the research data, obtained through the written survey method H2: Based on one’s own understanding of the vulnerability posed by Faith in Health Model (Becker et al., 1974), and an assumption (incorrect thinking) typical of middle-aged people (35–44 years), about the peculiarities of personal development at this age (Gould, 1978), it is likely that providing the information to the middle-aged population about their health indicators and health recommendations in a form of indirect enforcement, their position on physical activity during their leisure time would change in a more favourable to health direction. This interpretative targeted deductive hypothesis is based on the already mentioned Faith in Health Model as a preventive health behaviour factor which can encourage a person to change their position on physical activity because of the perceived benefits of physical activity reducing health risks. This scientific prediction reinforces the Concept of Health Education (Harrison, 2005), in which health education as an educational activity focuses on health improvement through the development of knowledge and attitudes. It responds to an Individual Concept of Healthy Behaviour Developing Health Education Model (Pezza, 1993), in which health education is related to providing information and facts about the disease and its prevention measures for the purpose of encouraging self-learning as one of the targeted lifelong learning categories (Longworth, 2007). The hypothesis will be tested by providing people with information about their health indicators and health improvement recommendations in a form of indirect enforcement, the effectiveness of which will be assessed repeating the study with the same study participants. Formulation of research questions and related hypotheses allowed defining the object of the research – position of Kaunas city middle-aged population regarding their leisure time physical activity. The research problem is solved by focusing on the disclosure of the links between physical activity and socio-demographic as well as medical risk factors and changes of a person’s position regarding physical activity. For the analysis of the research object, the position of the population regarding their leisure time physical activity was chosen as the dependent variable. For the assessment of the links of this position with health risk factors we selected anthropometric (a person’s height, weight and waist circumference), physiological (arterial blood pressure) and biochemical (total cholesterol and concentration of its variables in blood serum) indicators. Socio-demographic characteristics of the subjects and means of informational impact were independent variables. After selecting the research variables for the verification of research hypothesis, the research aim was set – to assess the changes in the position of Kaunas city middle-aged population regarding their leisure time physical activity. Aiming at achieving the research aims, the main research objectives were as follows: 1. Applying the normative provision for the assessment of the variables of the research object, to identify the population’s position regarding their leisure time physical activity. 2. To evaluate the subjects’ health risk factors aiming at achieving changes in their personal position regarding their leisure tim

Dimensions for physical activity, attitude towards it and reasons that hinder physical activity among teenagers from Lithuania and Germany

Numerous studies have shown that the greatest decline in physical activity appears in the 13–18 year age groups. The exact reasons of such physical activity decline with age are not clear and in various research studies these reasons are presented quite differently. Probably the main reason is the changed attitude of modern society towards physical activity in the process of changing economic, psychological, social and cultural factors, in general. The aim of the research was to compare dimensions of reasons for physical activity, attitude towards it and insufficient physical activity among teenagers from Lithuania and Germany. The object of the research – physical activity of teenagers, attitude towards it and reasons that hinder physical activity. The sample consisted of 200 students (100 from Lithuania and 100 from Germany). Subjects were given a questionnaire consisting of 14 questions and statements in order to reveal the students’ physical activity, attitude towards it, and physically active lifestyle with their parents, as well as, the reasons that hinder their physical activity. A Lithuanian questionnaire was translated into German and compared with the original upon having been translated back into Lithuanian by independent translators. The research has shown that a higher proportion of adolescents in Germany than in Lithuania exercise in non-formal education groups in educational institutions and sports schools. The research revealed that 22% German and 14% Lithuanian tested adolescents’ physical activity is in line with international recommendations, i.e., during 7 days of the week subjects are active more than 60 minutes, devoting time to moderate and high intensity physical activity.Sports fields located near their homes, teams and school teachers serve as an incentive for school-aged children from Germany to be more active physically, meanwhile, Lithuanians are mostly motivated by the media and friends. School-aged children from Germany indicated more often that physical activity is a great way to spend their leisure time, to meet with peers and find new friends. A negative attitude is observed: almost a one tenth of German students referred to physical activity as unnecessary waste of time and 14.3% Lithuanian peers pointed out that it requires a lot of time and interferes with their hobbies. A higher proportion of German students mentioned the lack of time as a reason for insufficient physical activity, whereas, Lithuanians pointed out laziness, a sense of embarrassment and desire but unpreparedness to start

Students’ academic achievements and their relationships to physical activity and physical fitness

Šiuolaikinis gyvenimo tempas, didėjantis didžiosios dalies darbų automatizavimas, populiarėjantis sėdimas gyvenimo būdas didina protinio darbo svarbą. Reguliarus fizinis aktyvumas (FA) paauglystėje turi dvejopą – laikiną ir ilgalaikį – poveikį sveikatai. Pastaruoju metu stebima Lietuvos ir viso pasaulio mokinių fizinio aktyvumo mažėjimo tendencija, dėl to prastėja ir jų fizinis pajėgumas. Šio tyrimo tikslas – nustatyti 14–17 metų mokinių mokymosi pasiekimų, fizinio aktyvumo ir fizinio pajėgumo sąsajas. Tyrimo organizavimas. Tyrime dalyvavo 589 mokiniai nuo 14 iki 17 metų: 285 vaikinai ir 304 merginos. Tyrimas vyko aštuoniose miesto mokyklose. Mokinių fizinis aktyvumas (FA) nustatytas naudojant modifikuotą tarptautinio FA klausimyno (angl. IPAQ) trumpąją formą. Vadovaujantis modifikuotomis rekomendacijomis visi respondentai pagal bendrąją FA apimtį buvo suskirstyti į 3 FA grupes: didelio FA (DFA), vidutinio FA (VFA) ir mažo FA (MFA). Mokinių fiziniam pajėgumui nustatyti buvo taikyta Eurofito (2002) testavimo sistema šiems fizinio pajėgumo komponentams įvertinti: pusiausvyrai, galūnės judesio greičiui, raumenų jėgai ir ištvermei, staigiajai jėgai, lankstumui, vikrumui. Susumavus trijų geriausiai atliktų testų rezultatus (balais) buvo gautas suminis fizinio pajėgumo rezultatas (FPJ suminis vertinimas). Mokinių pasiekimai (MP) registruoti iš pasiekimų žurnalų ar elektroninių dienynų. Kiekvienas mokinys pagal mokymosi pasiekimus buvo priskirtas vienai iš 5 grupių: puikiai, labai gerai, gerai, patenkinamai ir blogai besimokančiųjų. [...]Recent modern life, increased automatization of all works and popularization of sedentary lifestyle raises the importance of mental work. At the same time allotted for regular physical activity (PA) decreases. Thus activity has twofold effect on teenager’s health: temporary and long-term health effects. Recently it is seen tendency that more and more schoolchildren are not meeting recommended amount of PA, and it is getting worse and worse. Therefore, this study was designed to establish 14–17 year-old students’ academic achievement, physical activity and physical fitness interrelationships. Material and Methods. The study included 14–17 years old aged 589 pupils: 285 boys and 304 girls. Physical Activity (PA) was measured by modified short form of international PA questionnaire (IPAQ). According to the modified recommendations, all respondents were divided into three activity groups. For assessment of student’s physical fitness Eurofit fitness test battery (2002) was used, and there were assessed these physical fitness components: balance, speed of limb movement, muscle strength and endurance, explosive power, flexibility, agility. Evaluation of all these fitness components according to reference scales and summing best three of them allowed us to get total physical fitness score (FFS). Student’s academic achievements were registered taking data from electronic journals or diaries. Students according to their academic achievement (AA) were split into 5 groups: excellent, very good, good, satisfactory and poor learners group. [...

Interface between Kaunas middle-aged people's leisure-time physical activity and socio-demographic factors

The aim of the research: to assess interface between Kaunas middle-aged people's leisure-time physical activity and socio-demographic factors...[Visą santraukos tekstą skaitykite spustelėję interneto prieigos nuorodą]

Physical activity of 15–17 year aged student’s, family and friends influence on it

It is well established that regular physical activity (PA) has numerous short- and long-term benefits for health (Lohman et al., 2008). Recent studies indicate that student’s physical activity decreases rapidly in all over the world as well as in Lithuania (Volbekienė et al., 2008; Zaborskis, Raskilas, 2011) and that in turn has influence on their health. Parents and peers are important social agents in the physical activity (PA) of youth (De Bourdeaudhuij et al., 2005). The aim of research was to determine 15–17 year aged students’ physical activity, as well as family and friends influence on physical activity. The 9th and 10th grade pupils (206 girls and 194 boys respectfully) took part in the research. The survey was carried out in two urban areas and two rural area schools. Physical activity was measured by modified short form of international PA questionnaire (IPAQ). According to the modified recommendations (Guidelines for Data Processing and Analysis of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) all respondents were divided into three activity groups: vigorous, moderate and low physical activity. Student’s family and friends influence on PA was assessed using Project Grad (Two Year Follow-Up Health Survey) Survey. Results: it was established statistically significant difference (p0.05). It was established that younger students were more engaged in physical activity with their families, discussed them together, as well as their parents were more interested in how much they like to do it (p 0.05). Conclusion: it was established that boys were statistically significantly more active in vigorous physical activity (day/week), moderate physical activity (day/week) and for sitting allotted time (hours/day). Weak correlations were identified among total amount of physical activity and family influence on physical activity (r=0.200, p0.05). Among the family influence and friends influence on physical activity there was found weak correlation (r=0.341, p<0.01)

Subjective perception of the realities of modern physical education classes among physical education teachers and students in higher grades

Background. Intense changes in national education require new students’ teaching technologies in physical education. There are a number of studies, published books or articles on the topics of modern physical education classes and they provide guidance for teachers, but we believe that there is a lack of modernity in the reality of physical education, still focusing on sports lessons avoiding non-traditional content of the lessons. Research aim was to reveal the subjective opinions of physical education teachers and students in higher grades about the realities of modern physical education classes. Methods. The sample included physical education teachers (n=33) and 10–11th grade students (n=324), who were selected applying the convenience sampling strategy from Kaunas city schools. The research employed a questionnaire by Pate, Corbin, and Pangrazi (1998), and some more questions of interest to the researchers were added. The survey was conducted in spring of 2012. The research participants were surveyed in their schools during the classes with the consent of physical education teachers and students and with the permission of school administration received in advance. Results. Students more often pointed out the lack of attention to individual work and its implementation, just one-fifth of the students indicated that lessons met their needs and physical education teachers sometimes met modern requirements, showing sincerity, respect, etc. The survey showed that physical education classes were still largely dominated by sports and movement skills, and only sometimes by the non-traditional or healthy lifestyle. Teachers more often than students highlighted the progress and initiative criteria. The most common means of discipline for students in physical education were a whistle and loud shouting. Conclusion. Physical Education teachers tend to subjectively better evaluate the contemporary realities of physical education classes compared to students. Teachers more often indicated that they applied independent work in their lessons, and thought that the lesson content met the needs of the students and led enough to unconventional physical activity and healthy lifestyle. Students more often pointed out that teachers never assessed them according to their progress in the development of their physical qualities and knowledge during lessons. In the opinions of teachers and students, physical fitness test results are still common evaluation criteria in the lessons

Interface between Kaunas middle-aged people's subjective health self-assessment, physical activity and socio-demographic factors

Aim of the research was to reveal the interface between Kaunas middle-aged people’s attitude towards their health, leisure-time physical activity and socio-demographic factors. Exploratory sample included 916 respondents (392 men and 524 women) who were selected randomly from Kaunas citizens. Respondents aged 35-64 years took part in the research. The interview method was applied to assess the respondents’ attitude towards their health and leisure-time physical activity, in addition, their sociodemographic characteristics were determined. Conventional statistical methods were applied to process the data of the research. The research data of the attitudes of Kaunas citizens aged 35-64 years towards their health revealed that 25.1% of the respondents thought that they were in good and very good health, 61.7% reported that they were in fair health and 13.2% assessed it as poor or very poor. Compared with males, females were less likely to assess their health as good or very good (29.8% and 21.4%, p < 0.01). The data of the attitudes towards physical activity, assessed in terms of frequency of physical activity during leisure time, revealed that 23.8% the respondents were physically active, whereas others were insuffi ciently active. The comparative analysis of the data showed correlation between subjective health self-assessment, education and social status of the respondents: people from lower social classes and less educated respondents evaluated their health 2.6 times worse.Subjective health self-assessment became worse with increasing age: from 6.3% of the respondents aged 35-44 years, 11.6% of people aged 45-54 years to 19.6% (p < 0.05) aged 55-64 years thought they were in poor and very poor health. One-dimensional data analysis revealed correlation between worse subjective health self-assessment and insuffi cient physical activity. Logistic regression analysis revealed statistically significant possibility that people from lower social classes, those who are insufficiently active during their leisure time, and the older ones will be more likely to assess their health worse and, as well as women compared with men