Does Participating in a Variety of Activities at a Variety of Locations or With Different People Predict Physical Activity Behavior Among Adolescents? The Mediating Role of Perceived Variety.

We examine whether adolescents' participating in a variety of physical activities, locations, and/or with a variety of people relates to physical activity 16 months later and whether perceptions of variety mediate these relationships. Adolescents (N = 369) completed measures indicating various physical activities they participated in, where they primarily participated, and with whom they primarily participated, at three time points over a year (averaged for baseline measures). Perceptions of variety was measured 8 months later.

Flourishing or physical activity?: Identifying temporal precedence in supporting the transition to university.

Flourishing is a mental health indicator that helps students function optimally, which may be important for first-year university students. Physical activity (PA) also contributes to optimal functioning, yet the flourishing and PA relationship has received little attention. The bidirectional relationships between flourishing and meeting moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) guidelines were assessed during the first year of university.

Relative contributions of health behaviours versus social factors on perceived and objective weight status in Canadian adolescents.

Objectives: Public health interventions for adolescent "obesity prevention" have focused predominantly on individualistic health behaviours (e.g., diet and physical activity) at the expense of recognizing body weight diversity and the array of social factors (e.

Sampling sports during adolescence, exercise behaviour in adulthood, and the mediating role of perceived variety in exercise.

Physical activity levels decline from adolescence to adulthood, but participation in a variety of sports during childhood and adolescence (i.e., sampling) may increase physical activity behaviour during adulthood.

Changes in physical activity behavior and C-reactive protein in breast cancer patients.

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations are associated with morbidity and mortality in breast cancer patients and moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) may help regulate CRP levels.

Purpose: The purpose of this prospective study was to examine intraindividual and interindividual changes in MVPA on changes in CRP levels among early posttreatment breast cancer patients.

Methods: During five data collections over the first year posttreatment for breast cancer, women (N = 138, Mage = 55.

Changes in light-, moderate-, and vigorous-intensity physical activity and changes in depressive symptoms in breast cancer survivors: a prospective observational study.

Purpose: Despite the recommendations for cancer survivors to engage in either moderate or vigorous physical activity, light-intensity physical activity may also have beneficial effects on mental health. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity and depressive symptoms in breast cancer survivors over 1 year post-treatment.

Methods: Participants (N = 201) were a sample of breast cancer survivors who self-reported depressive symptoms and wore an accelerometer for seven consecutive days to measure physical activity, on five occasions every 3 months post-treatment for cancer.

Framework for the design and delivery of organized physical activity sessions for children and adolescents: rationale and description of the 'SAAFE' teaching principles.

The economic burden of inactivity is substantial, with conservative estimates suggesting the global cost to health care systems is more than US$50 billion. School-based programs, including physical education and school sport, have been recommended as important components of a multi-sector, multi-system approach to address physical inactivity. Additionally, community sporting clubs and after-school programs (ASPs) offer further opportunities for young people to be physically active outside of school.

Effects of Variety Support on Exercise-Related Well-Being.

Background: The purpose of this study was to experimentally examine the extent to which variety support in a resistance exercise program influences exercise-related well-being among inactive adults.

Methods: A sample of 121 inactive university students were randomly assigned and participated in either a high or low variety support 6-week exercise program. Measures of exercise-related perceived variety, positive affect, negative affect, and subjective vitality were completed at baseline, after 3 weeks, and after 6 weeks (i.

Variety support and exercise adherence behavior: experimental and mediating effects.

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which the provision of variety (i.e., variety support) is related to exercise behavior among physically inactive adults and the extent to which the 'experience of variety' mediates those effects.

The effectiveness of multi-component goal setting interventions for changing physical activity behaviour: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Drawing from goal setting theory (Latham & Locke, 1991; Locke & Latham, 2002; Locke et al., 1981), the purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of multi-component goal setting interventions for changing physical activity (PA) behaviour. A literature search returned 41,038 potential articles.

Understanding for whom, under what conditions, and how group-based physical activity interventions are successful: a realist review.

Background: Participation in group-based physical activity (GBPA) interventions has been found to result in higher levels of exercise adherence and program compliance. However, previous reviews of GBPA programs have provided limited insight regarding 'for whom', 'under what conditions', and 'how' these interventions increase physical activity behavior.

Methods: A realist review was conducted by following the seven recommended iterative and overlapping steps (J Health Serv Res Policy 10S1:21-34, 2005).

Is variety a spice of (an active) life?: perceived variety, exercise behavior, and the mediating role of autonomous motivation.

In this study, we examined whether perceived variety in exercise prospectively predicts unique variance in exercise behavior when examined alongside satisfaction of the three basic psychological needs (for competence, relatedness, and autonomy) embedded within self-determination theory (Ryan & Deci, 2002), through the mediating role of autonomous and controlled motivation. A convenience sample of community adults (N = 363) completed online questionnaires twice over a 6-week period. The results of structural equation modeling showed perceived variety and satisfaction of the needs for competence and relatedness to be unique indirect positive predictors of exercise behavior (through autonomous motivation) 6 weeks later.

Perceived variety, psychological needs satisfaction and exercise-related well-being.

Objective: Perceived variety represents a psychosocial experience that gives rise to, and supports the maintenance of, an individual's well-being. In this study, we developed an instrument to measure perceived variety in exercise (PVE), and examined whether ratings of PVE predict unique variance in indices of exercise-related well-being in addition to that explained by satisfaction of the three basic psychological needs (for competence, relatedness and autonomy) embedded within self-determination theory (SDT). We also examined the extent to which variance in perceived variety is empirically distinct from (or subsumed by) competence, relatedness and autonomy in the context of exercise.

Effects of social belonging and task framing on exercise cognitions and behavior.

The objective of the studies presented in this paper was to examine whether the need to belong can be used to enhance exercise cognitions and behavior. Two studies examined the effectiveness of framing exercise as a means of boosting social skills (versus health benefits) for self-regulatory efficacy, exercise intentions, and (in Study 2) exercise behavior. In Study 1, inactive adults primed to feel a lack of social belonging revealed that this manipulation led to greater self-regulatory efficacy (but not exercise intentions).