Examining the Effects of the AgingPLUS Program on Physical Activity: A Multiple Mediator Model

This study examined the effect of the AgingPLUS program on anticipated physical activity (PA) and PA engagement, along with the hypothesized mediator roles of self-efficacy (SE) and exercise intention (EI). Data came from 147 participants (Mage = 60.11 years; SD = 8.28 years) of the ongoing trial. Structural equation modeling tested the effects of the intervention, week 4 EI, and week 4 SE on anticipated PA at week 8 and engagement in PA at 6 months. The pathway from week 8 anticipated PA to month 6 PA was also assessed. Results showed that week 4 SE significantly mediated the pathway of intervention condition to week 8 anticipated PA, whereas week 4 EI significantly mediated the pathway from intervention condition to engagement in PA at 6 months. Furthermore, anticipated PA predicted subsequent engagement in PA. Results from these analyses provide preliminary support for the efficacy of the AgingPLUS program.

Integrating the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior With the Stages of Change to Predict Exercise Among Chinese People With Type 2 Diabetes

Background: There have been very limited prospective studies examining social-cognitive models within stages of behavior change in the exercise domain.Purpose: We examined the utility of the theory of planned behavior (TPB), incorporating self-identity and descriptive norm constructs, to predict exercise behavior across the stages of change, in individuals with type 2 diabetes.Methods: Data were obtained from a longitudinal study. Multi-group structural equation modeling was used to estimate the association between extended TPB constructs and exercise within different stages groups.Results: 647 individuals completed a self-report questionnaire at baseline and at 3 months follow-up. The extended TPB model explained 8–15% variance of exercise behavior and 42–81% variance of exercise intention within three stages groups in the cross-sectional design. The extended TPB model explained 4%-13% variance of exercise behavior and 42–66% variance of exercise intention in the longitudinal design. Intention was significantly related to exercise behavior in the pre-action and action stages. Self-identity, perceived behavioral control and descriptive norms were stronger predictors of intention in different stages.Conclusion: Discontinuity patterns in the extended theory of planned behavior for the different stages groups were found. Intention was a significant predictor of exercise in the pre-action and action stages at 3 months.

Mental Simulation to Promote Exercise Intentions and Behaviors

Mental simulation, which employs specific patterns of imagery, can increase the intention to exercise as well as actual engagement in exercise. The present studies explored the effects of mental simulation on the intention to engage in exercise while regulating emotions. The first study confirmed that mental simulation did promote intentions of participants. The second found that video-primed mental simulation was a more effective method of exercise intention promotion than semantic-primed and image-primed mental simulation. In the third study, it was found that combining process-based and outcome-based mental simulations increased exercise intentions. Positive emotions mediated imagery ability and intention to exercise. The final study found that the mental simulation interventions most effective for exercise adherence were those that balanced the valence of process and outcome components in such a way that a challenging process results in a positive outcome, or a smooth process results in a negative outcome. Each of these results has practical implications for exercise interventions that will be discussed.

Predict the exercise behavior intention of the older adults in Taipei City to promote exercise behavior

The purpose of this study employed the theory of planned behavior as a research framework to analyze the explanatory power of exercise attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control on exercise intention among older adults and to obtain insight on exercise behavior among older adults. The study used Ajzen's theory of planning behavior as a basis to compile the “Exercise Behavior Intention Questionnaire of the Older Adults.” Results showed that there were significant differences were detected in the exercise intentions of older adults with different subjective norms and perceived behavioral control. This indicated that older adults of greater age have a greater need for companionship from family members and stronger subjective norms. In addition, exercise attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control explained the variance in exercise intention among older adults, verifying the positive explanatory power of these variables on exercise intention in older adults. The study concluded that the theory of planned behavior, improving older adults’ exercise attitude alone was insufficient for increasing their exercise behavior intention. In particular, older adults of greater age had greater needs for social support from the main groups, and they required encouragement to enhance their self-efficacy and confidence.

Perioperative Exercise Intention and Influencing Factors: A Multi-Centered Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the level and factors affecting the perioperative exercise intention in China.Design: This study was a cross-sectional survey in Southwest China.Methods: Four hundred and ninety nine participants were randomly sampled in eight medical centers from November 23, 2020 to November 27, 2020. The survey included sociodemographic information and a 24-item modified questionnaire, which aimed to evaluate the attitude toward daily exercise, perception of perioperative exercise, social support and the perioperative exercise intention. A multivariable linear regression model was used to evaluate the effect of different items on the patients' intention for perioperative exercise.Results: A total of 523 responses (95.09%) were collected and 499 (95.41%) were analyzed. The level of exercise intention of the patients during the perioperative period was: 14.83% planned to exercise every day in the hospital, 21.04% planned to exercise every other day, and 35.87% planned to exercise every week. Intensity of daily exercise (P = 0.016), positive attitude of daily exercise (P < 0.001), positive attitude of perioperative exercise (P < 0.001) and social support (P < 0.001) were positively associated with the intention for perioperative exercise. Female (P = 0.012), non-tertiary center (P = 0.011), and preoperative anxiety (P = 0.023) was negatively associated with it.Conclusions: The intention for perioperative exercise was low in Southwest China. The authors aimed to relieve preoperative anxiety, promote the education of perioperative exercise, design perioperative exercise programs, and provide more social support from medical staff and family for inpatients undergoing elective surgery.

Development and Effects of Combined Exercise and an Exercise Habit Formation Program for Undergraduate Nursing Students

Purpose: This study was conducted to develop and test the effects of a combined exercise and exercise habit formation program for undergraduate nursing students.Methods: A non-equivalent control group pre-post test design was used. The participants were 44 students (experimental group: 23, control group: 21) who had not done regular exercise for over 3 months before this study. The program was developed based on theory of planned behavior and the habit formation model. The program consisted of 24 sessions for 8 weeks and included combined exercise (aerobic exercise 30 minutes, resistance exercise 20 minutes, and flexibility exercise 10 minutes), exercise intention promotion strategy and exercise habit formation strategy (30 minutes, weekly). Data collection was done before, and immediately after the program: September 4 to October 29. Data were analyzed using t-test, paired t-test, <i>x</i>² test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Wilcoxon signed rank-sum test with SPSS/ WIN 21.0 program.Results: Exercise intention, exercise habit strength, exercise behavior, and physical fitness (cardiopulmonary endurance, muscle strength, and muscle endurance) were significantly better and stress and fatigue were significantly lower in the experimental group compared to the control group.Conclusion: The study findings indicate that the combined exercise and exercise habit formation program for undergraduate nursing students was effective and can be recommended as an intervention for improving healthy lifestyle of undergraduate nursing students.

Parents’ and Peers’ Autonomy Support and Exercise Intention for Adolescents: Integrating Social Factors from the Self-Determination Theory and the Theory of Planned Behaviour

Based on the theory of planned behaviour and self-determination theory, the objective of the present study was to analyse the relationship between (i) parents’ and peers’ autonomy support, and (ii) exercise intention in adolescents, while also considering the mediating role of attitude, control, subjective norms, and descriptive norms. A total of 428 secondary school students, aged between 13 and 19 years old (Mage = 15.30, SD = 1.15), filled in a questionnaire assessing the variables of interest. The relationships between the study variables were examined through a mediation model with bootstrapping technique (20,000 samples) using Mplus v. 7 software. The results showed that the perception of parents’ autonomy support was positively and statistically significant associated with exercise intention; this occurring indirectly through attitude and control both in boys and girls, as well as through subjective norms in the case of girls. Conversely, the perception of peers’ autonomy support was positively and statistically significant associated with exercise intention; this occurring directly both in boys and girls, as well as indirectly through attitude in the case of girls. These findings suggest that, by involving a form of pressure (i.e., subjective/descriptive norms), perceptions of autonomy support may play a more important role than other forms of social influence in predicting exercise intention in adolescents.