A tailored wellness intervention for college students using internet-based technology

Objective. The purpose of this study was to develop and implement a theory-based, computertailored feedback system for freshman students at a large, public university. The objective was to understand its potential effectiveness in helping the university in enhancing student wellness. Participants: Sixty-two college students, out of the over 1,300 contacted, completed the eight week intervention.;Methods. The participants were randomly assigned into two groups and received the survey three times, consistently receiving normative or personalized feedback.;Results. Mainly constituted by freshman, Caucasian, and normal weight individuals, the participating sample was generally healthy. Repeated-measure ANOVAs were run and some small significant differences were found in the changes happened in the interactions between the received feedback and the amount of moderate physical activity, the number of drinks per day and the likelihood to engage and the importance attributed to moderate drinking behaviors.;Conclusions. This study showed potential preventive aspects of this intervention, which could help institutions in supplying preventive helpful services, and eventually delivering curative health services related to unhealthy diet, drinking habits, or inactive lifestyle. However, ceiling effects present in all dependent variables and the short time frame of the intervention limited its effectiveness in changing attitude or behaviors.;Keywords: College Students, physical activity, nutritional, and drinking habits, Internet, tailored feedback

A Tailored Wellness Intervention for College Students Using Internet-Based Technology: A Pilot Study

The purpose of this study was to develop and pilot a theory-based, computer-tailored feedback system for healthy behaviors for college students at a large, public university, aiming to enhance student wellness. A total of 1300 college students were contacted. Sixty–two students completed the eight week intervention. The participants were randomly assigned into two groups and received the survey three times, consistently receiving normative or personalized feedback. The participating sample was generally healthy and mainly comprised of freshman, Caucasian, and normal weight individuals. Repeated-measure ANOVAs were run and small significant interactions were found between the type of feedback received and some of the dependent variables. This study showed potential benefits of this intervention which can help institutions in supplying preventive services as a part of the transition to university life. Suggestions are provided for delivering preventative health services related to unhealthy diet, drinking habits, or inactive lifestyle

The Effects of a Lifetime Physical Fitness (LPF) Course on College Students Health Behaviors.

The purpose of this study was to examine motivational constructs and the effect of physical activity engagement on health behaviors in college students who were required to take a 15-week lifetime physical fitness (LPF) course for graduation. A total of fifty-eight first and second year college students aged between 17 and 23 years (M=18.72; SD=1.09). Paper and pencil questionnaires were anonymously administered at the beginning and at the end of the 15-week long spring 2012 semester. Analysis of the differences between the beginning and the end of the semester was completed. Physical activity behaviors and Behavioral Regulations variables did not change across time (p > .05). Appearance (d = -0.34, p = .013) and fitness (d = -0.37, p = .006) reasons for participating in physical activity and all Theory of Planned Behavior variables decreased over time (d = -0.32 to - 0.41, p < .05). Changes in attitude toward physical activity negatively predicted changes in alcohol consumption (r = -.261 to -.357). This study sustains the already existing literature that supports the positive impact of LPF courses offered to college students

Development and initial validation of the Italian Mood Scale (ITAMS) for use in sport and exercise contexts

The current study presents initial validation statistics for the Italian Mood Scale (ITAMS), a culturally- and linguistically-validated Italian version of the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS: Terry and Lane, 2010). The ITAMS was administered to 950 sport participants (659 females), who ranged in age from 16 to 63 years (M = 25.03, SD = 7.62). In the first stage of the validation process, statistical procedures in Mplus were used to evaluate the measurement model. Multigroup exploratory structural equation modeling supported the hypothesized 6-factor measurement model for males and females separately and for the combined sample. Analysis of the scale scores using SPSS provided further support for the construct validity of the ITAMS with hypothesized relationships observed between ITAMS scores and measures of depression and affect. The development and validation of the ITAMS opens the way for mood-related research and sport or exercise interventions requiring mood assessments, in an Italian-language context

Increasing Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches\u27 Communication of Training Performance and Process Goals With Athlete

The purpose of this paper is to present information about goal setting and how strength and conditioning coaches (SCCs) can incorporate goal setting strategies in their training of athletes. This paper presents an overview of outcome, performance, and process goals, and the SMAART framework. Strategies a SCC can utilize are presented to illustrate how to increase the effectiveness of the performance and process goals that informed the program periodization and feedback provided by the SCC. This paper aims to start bridging the gap between SCCs familiarity with goal setting and incorporation of this mental strategy into their communication with athletes about training

Strength and Conditioning Coaches\u27 Perceptions of Sport Psychology Strategies

Strength and conditioning coaches (SCCs) hold a central role in the development of student-athletes. Although they certainly focus on student-athletes\u27 physical skill development, SCCs are in an ideal position to integrate mental skills into their strength and conditioning sessions. For example, sport psychology (SP) strategies can be used within strength and conditioning sessions to assist in athlete exercise execution by regulating arousal, improving concentration, confidence, as well as improve self-correction through self-talk and imagery. The purpose of this study was to assess collegiate SCCs\u27 use of SP skills/strategies. A total sample of 415 SCCs (19.7% return rate) across the United States participated in an online survey. Although the majority of these coaches reported having less than moderate training in SP (59.9%), they also reported a moderate to high use of certain SP strategies (e.g., goal setting, self-talk). Strength and conditioning coaches\u27 familiarity with, knowledge of, and confidence to use the SP strategies were found to be predictors of SCCs\u27 frequency of SP strategy use. This study aimed to provide an initial exploration of SCCs\u27 understanding and use of specific SP strategies, which was influenced by the SCCs\u27 perceived level of preparation to use these strategies. For SCCs to be able to purposefully and confidently incorporate SP strategies into training sessions, the current study suggests the need for specific training aimed to enhance the SCCs\u27 knowledge of and confidence in using specific SP strategies

Predictors of Weight Loss Maintenance following an Insurance-Sponsored Weight Management Program

Intentional weight loss among overweight and obese adults (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2) is associated with numerous health benefits, but weight loss maintenance (WLM) following participation in weight management programming has proven to be elusive. Many individuals attempting to lose weight join formal programs, especially women, but these programs vary widely in focus, as do postprogram weight regain results. We surveyed 2,106 former participants in a community-based, insurance-sponsored weight management program in the United States to identify the pre, during, and post-intervention behavioral and psychosocial factors that lead to successful WLM. Of 835 survey respondents (39.6% response rate), 450 met criteria for inclusion in this study. Logistic regression analyses suggest that interventionists should assess and discuss weight loss and behavior change perceptions early in a program. However, in developing maintenance plans later in a program, attention should shift to behaviors, such as weekly weighing, limiting snacking in the evening, limiting portion sizes, and being physically active every day

Imagery ability of elite level athletes from individual vs. team and contact vs. no-contact sports

Background In the sport context, imagery has been described as the condition in which persons imagine themselves while executing skills to deal with the upcoming task or enhance performance. Systematic reviews have shown that mental imagery improves performance in motor tasks Methods The aim of the present study was to explore whether imagery vividness (i.e., the clarity or realism of the imagery experience) and controllability (i.e., the ease and accuracy with which an image can be manipulated mentally) differ by sport types (team vs. individual and contact vs. non-contact). Participants were athletes from team contact and non-contact sports (rugby and volleyball, respectively), and individual contact and non-contact sports (karate and tennis, respectively) between the ages of 20 and 33 years (M = 24.37, SD = 2.85). The participants completed the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire, the Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire-2, and the Mental Image Transformation Tasks. Results A 2 ×2 × 2 (gender × 2 contact-no-contact × 2 sport type) between groups MANOVA showed differences in imagery ability by sport type. Practical indications deriving from the findings of this study can help coaches and athletes to develop mental preparation programs using sport-specific imagery