Psychosocial mediators of change in physical activity in the Welsh national exercise referral scheme: secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial

Objective: While an increasing number of randomised controlled trials report impacts of exercise referral schemes (ERS) on physical activity, few have investigated the mechanisms through which increases in physical activity are produced. This study examines whether a National Exercise Referral Scheme (NERS) in Wales is associated with improvements in autonomous motivation, self-efficacy and social support, and whether change in physical activity is mediated by change in these psychosocial processes.<p></p> Methods: A pragmatic randomised controlled trial of NERS across 12 LHBs in Wales. Questionnaires measured demographic data and physical activity at baseline. Participants (N = 2160) with depression, anxiety or CHD risk factors were referred by health professionals and randomly assigned to control or intervention. At six months psychological process measures were collected by questionnaire. At 12 months physical activity was assessed by 7 Day PAR telephone interview. Regressions tested intervention effects on psychosocial variables, physical activity before and after adjusting for mediators and socio demographic patterning.<p></p> Results: Significant intervention effects were found for autonomous motivation and social support for exercise at 6 months. No intervention effect was observed for self-efficacy. The data are consistent with a hypothesis of partial mediation of the intervention effect by autonomous motivation. Analysis of moderators showed significant improvements in relative autonomy in all subgroups. The greatest improvements in autonomous motivation were observed among patients who were least active at baseline.<p></p> Discussion: The present study offered key insights into psychosocial processes of change in an exercise referral scheme, with effects on physical activity mediated by autonomous motivation. Findings support the use of self-determination theory as a framework for ERS. Further research is required to explain socio-demographic patterning in responses to ERS, with changes in motivation occurring among all sub-groups of participants, though not always leading to higher adherence or behavioural change. This highlights the importance of socio-ecological approaches to developing and evaluating behaviour change interventions, which consider factors beyond the individual, including conditions in which improved motivation does or does not produce behavioural change

Staphylinidae from Under Bark and at Sap of Trees, a Preliminary Survey of Species Possibly Beneficial to Forestry (Coleoptera)

Two hundred and one species of Staphylinidae known to be found under bark or at sap of trees are listed. The possibility of these insects being important elements in the population dynamics of forest pests is discussed. An indication is given of the distribution and habitat of each species

Instrumentation for nondestructive testing of composite honeycomb materials

Program develops instrumentation for nondestructive testing of adhesive-bond strength in honeycomb materials and air coupled inspection methods suitable for large tankage

Preference for Some Nursery-grown Hybrid \u3ci\u3ePopulus\u3c/i\u3e Trees by the Spotted Poplar Aphid and Its Suppression by Insecticidal Soaps (Homoptera: Aphididae)

Susceptibility ranking of more than 50 clones of hybrid Populus whips showed a wide range of attack ranging from none to very heavy. Clones with P. x jackii parentage were the most susceptible, whereas Carolina poplar was unscathed. Growth loss differed little between very heavily aphid-attacked whips and unattacked whips. Two insecticidal soaps adequately controlled the aphid but one caused some phytotoxicity to Populus

Dividend Policies in an Unregulated Market: The London Stock Exchange 1895-1905

We examine the e¤ects of dividend policies on 469 British firms between 1895 and 1905. These firms operated in an environment of very low taxation and an absence of institutional constraints. We find strong support for asymmetric information/signaling theories of dividend policy, and little support for agency models. Our results suggest that dividends can signal information from managers to shareholders, even if dividend payments incur only very low taxes. However, taxes appear to be necessary to allow dividend policies to resolve agency problems between managers and investors.Dividend Policy;London Stock Exchange

Journal Bearings

A plurality of bearing sectors are mounted in a housing. Each sector functions as a lobed area in the bearing to obtain the required lubricant film geometry

Impact of the Poplar-Gall Saperda, \u3ci\u3eSaperda Inornata\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) on a Hybrid \u3ci\u3ePopulus\u3c/i\u3e Plantation in Michigan

Saperda inornata attacks on hybrid Populus were monitored in a stand for four years after planting. More than 60% of the whips were attacked the first year, resulting in a mean of 1.6 galls/tree (range 0-8). Branch attacks superseded stem attacks in the third and fourth years. Saperda injury significantly reduced height because of leader breakage after the second-year attacks, but the injured trees grew rapidly and recovered much of the height in the third and fourth years. Saperdas killed 4% of the trees during the study, but this was no more than would be expected in a newly established stand. Saperda, at the population levels studied, does not seem to greatly affect hybrid Populus growth or to reduce biomass

How Insiders Traded before Rules

Abstract: U.K. company insiders, such as directors, were legally allowed to trade in the shares of their own companies up until the Companies Act of 1980. We investigate the trading behaviour of directors over the period 1893 to 1907 in the U.K. Although insider trading was profitable, we find relatively few instances of directors who exploited their informational advantage.Corporate Governance;Insider Trading;London Stock Exchange

The Economic Benefits of Political Connections in Late Victorian Britain

The late-Victorian era was characteristed by especially close links between politicians and firms in the UK. Roughly half of all members of Parliament served as company directors, many as directors of multiple firms. We analyze 467 British companies over the period 1895 to 1904 to investigate the interaction of firms and politicians. We find that new-technology firms with politicians serving on their boards were more likely to issue equity finance and had higher Tobin's Q. Our evidence suggests that causality runs from director-politicians to a firm's performance, rather than in the opposite direction.Political Connections;Second Industrial Revolution;External Finance

Boundary layer separation on a liquid sphere

Boundary layer separation on liquid spher