Isolating the role of researcher observation on reactivity to the measurement of physical activity.

Reactivity to physical activity (PA) measurement may result from the introduction of a measurement device, researcher observation, or both. Accessing data from prior to study enrollment afforded the rare opportunity to compare behavior during versus prior to participation. This study introduced researcher observation among adults who owned their own PA monitoring device, to test whether measurement reactivity can also be observed in experienced PA trackers, by comparing their data from before versus after the introduction of observation.

A scoping review of behavior change techniques used to promote physical activity among women in midlife.

Unlabelled: Women in midlife experience health risks that could be mitigated by regular physical activity and reduced sedentary time, but this population rarely achieves physical activity levels that would protect their health. As a result, many behavioral interventions are designed to promote physical activity in this population, which are purportedly guided by theoretical models of health behavior (change) and activate an associated set of behavior change techniques (BCTs). The efficacy and effectiveness of these interventions appear to be limited, however, raising questions about their design and adaptation for women in midlife.

Development and Initial Testing of a Personalized, Adaptive, and Socially Focused Web Tool to Support Physical Activity Among Women in Midlife: Multidisciplinary and User-Centered Design Approach.

Background: Women in midlife are vulnerable to developing cardiovascular disease, particularly those who have conditions such as hypertension. Physical activity (PA) can reduce risk, but efforts to promote PA in this population have been only modestly effective. More attention to social influences on PA behavior may be useful, particularly social support and social comparison processes.

The Roles of Social Comparison Orientation and Regulatory Focus in College Students' Responses to Fitspiration Posts on Social Media: Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Information shared via social media influences college students' self-perceptions and behavior, particularly, "fitspiration" posts (ie, images of healthy food, people exercising, or fitness quotations). There are mixed findings regarding the mental health implications of fitspiration and its potential to motivate healthy behavior. Individual differences such as social comparison orientation and regulatory focus could aid in determining for whom fitspiration may be helpful versus harmful, though these characteristics have received limited attention in terms of students' fitspiration perceptions.

Predictors of change in BMI over 10 years among midlife and older adults: Associations with gender, CVD risk status, depressive symptoms, and social support.

Rationale: Change in BMI is recognized as a key health indicator among midlife and older adults, though predictors of BMI change in this group have received little attention.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine relations between hypothesized predictors (i.e.

Rationale and Design of the Women's Health And Daily Experiences Project: Protocol for an Ecological Momentary Assessment Study to Identify Real-Time Predictors of Midlife Women's Physical Activity.

Background: Midlife women are at an elevated risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and associated mortality. Those who have additional risk conditions such as obesity or hypertension report specific barriers to engaging in cardioprotective behaviors such as physical activity (PA). Considerable effort has been devoted to understanding PA determinants and designing interventions for midlife women, although with suboptimal success, as increasing PA could meaningfully attenuate CVD risk.

Daily Relations between Social Perceptions and Physical Activity among College Women.

Objectives: There is a need to develop more effective physical activity (PA) promotion programs for college women. Theory and evidence suggest that perceptions of the social environment play a role in college women's PA, though little is known about how these perceptions are associated with PA at the day level. The goal of this study was to examine relations between changes in college women's daily social perceptions and objectively assessed PA over seven days.

Social Comparison Features in Physical Activity Promotion Apps: Scoping Meta-Review.

Background: Smartphone apps promoting physical activity (PA) are abundant, but few produce substantial and sustained behavior change. Although many PA apps purport to induce users to compare themselves with others (by invoking social comparison processes), improvements in PA and other health behaviors are inconsistent. Existing literature suggests that social comparison may motivate PA for some people under some circumstances.

Differences between accelerometer cut point methods among midlife women with cardiovascular risk markers.

Objective: Midlife women experience elevated risk for cardiovascular disease and often receive advice to increase physical activity to mitigate this risk. Use of accelerometers to measure ambulatory physical activity requires selection of appropriate thresholds for estimating moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and choice of cut points may lead to meaningfully different conclusions about midlife women's physical activity (PA) engagement. This is particularly important given the recent elimination of 10-minute bout requirements for MVPA.

Methods to Assess Social Comparison Processes Within Persons in Daily Life: A Scoping Review.

Self-evaluations relative to others (i.e., ) have well-established implications for health and well-being, and are typically assessed via global, retrospective self-report.

Perceptions of social support for weight loss among patients in primary care.

This study examined primary care patients' experiences with support for weight loss efforts. Adult patients (N = 106) were recruited through primary care clinics and completed an electronic survey pertaining to their weight loss efforts. The majority (76%) received support from their existing social network (e.