Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

What Sets Physically Active Rural Communities Apart From Less Active Ones? A Comparative Case Study Of Three Us Counties, Christiaan G. Abildso, Cynthia K. Perry, Lauren Jacobs, M. Renée Umstattd Meyer, Megan Mcclendon, Michael B. Edwards, James N. Roemmich, Zachary Ramsey, Margaret Stout

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Background: Rural US communities experience health disparities, including a lower prevalence of physical activity (PA). However, “Positive Deviants”—rural communities with greater PA than their peers—exist. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that help create physically active rural US communities. Methods: Stakeholder interviews, on-site intercept interviews, and in-person observations were used to form a comparative case study of two rural counties with high PA prevalence (HPAs) and one with low PA prevalence (LPA) from a southern US state, selected based on rurality and adult PA prevalence. Interview transcripts were inductively coded by three readers, resulting in a …

Field Test Of A Passive Infrared Camera For Measuring Trail-Based Physical Activity, Christiaan G. Abildso, Vaike Haas, Shay M. Daily, Thomas K. Bias

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Introduction: Trails are ubiquitous and far-reaching, but research on the impact trails have on physical activity is limited by the lack of resource-efficient, accurate, and practical systematic observation tools. Commonly used infrared trail sensors count trail use and may broadly differentiate activity (i.e., bicyclist vs. pedestrian), but cannot detect nuances needed for outcomes research such as frequency, intensity, time, and type of activity. Motion-activated passive infrared cameras (PICs), used in ecological research and visitor management in wildlife areas, have potential applicability as a systematic observation data collection tool.

Materials and Methods: We conducted a 7-month field test of a PIC …

A Phenomenological Photovoice Exploration Of Female Exercisers’ Experiences Of Their Body In Fitness Center Environments, Katherine E. Fairhurst

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

For many women, the relationship with their body and exercise is complex. Exercise can have positive effects on body image, however, not all women appear to benefit positively from all types of exercise. To date, body image research has focused on exercise as an activity and less so on the context in which exercise is performed. Women frequently exercise in fitness centers as young adults which, unfortunately, is associated with body dissatisfaction. Using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach with Photovoice methodology, we explored young adult women’s lived body experiences while exercising in fitness centers. A purposive sample of 11 …

Physical Activity Mediates The Association Between Personality And Biomarkers Of Inflammation, Eileen K. Graham, Emily D. Bastarache, Elizabeth Milad, Nicholas A. Turiano, Kelly A. Cotter, Daniel K. Mroczek

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Objectives: The current study investigated whether personality traits and facets were associated with interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen, and whether physical activity mediated the relationship between personality and biomarkers of inflammation. Methods: Personality was assessed in the Midlife Development in the United States study using the Multi-Dimensional Personality Questionnaire and Midlife Development Inventory personality scale. Data were included from 960 participants (mean age = 57.86 years, standard deviation = 11.46). Personality was assessed from 2004 to 2009. Serum levels of interleukin-6, fibrinogen, and C-reactive protein were assessed in 2005–2009 as part of the Midlife Development in the United States biomarkers …

A Case Study Of International Students’ Social Adjustment, Friendship Development, And Physical Activity, Shaung Li, Sam Zizzi

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Previous literature has focused on international student’s social transition and monocultural and bicultural ties. Little research has explored international students’ multicultural friendship development and the role that physical activity plays in their social interaction. The current case study explored a group of international students’ friendship development and the social aspect of physical activity. Data from individual interviews (pre and post), and 5 months of participant observations was used to describe two female international students’ experiences. Results suggested international students faced both language and cultural barriers in their social interactions with American students. Engagement in physical activities served as the context …

Relationship Between Adherence To Individual Goals Within The 5-2-1-0 Guidelines For Obesity Prevention And Number Of Pacer Laps In Adolescents, Kibum Cho, Emily Jones, Christa Lilly, Sean Bulger, Luciana Braga, Eloise Elliott

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

BACKGROUND—The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between adolescents’ adherence to the 5-2-1-0 goals and the number of completed Progressive Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) laps. METHODS—Participants included 1792 students aged 10 to 16 years who were randomly selected across 9 data collection periods between 2012 and 2014. The Survey of Physical Activity and Nutrition was used to measure time spent in physical activity and sedentary behavior, and dietary intake and the dependent variable was the number of PACER laps achieved. The KruskalWallis test and pairwise post hoc comparisons were conducted. RESULTS—Only 0.95% (N = 17) participants met …

Physical Activity And Quit Motivation Moderators Of Adolescent Smoking Reduction, Melissa D. Blank, Kaitlyn A. Ferris, Aaron Metzger, Amy Gentzler, Christina Duncan, Traci Jarrett, Geri Dino

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Objectives—We examined participant characteristics as moderators of adolescents’ smoking cessation outcomes as a function of intervention: Not-on-Tobacco (N-O-T), N-O-T with a physical activity (PA) module (N-O-T+FIT), or Brief Intervention (BI). Methods—We randomly assigned youth (N = 232) recruited from public high schools to an intervention, and measured their baseline levels of PA and motivation to quit. The number of cigarettes/day for weekdays and weekends was obtained at baseline and 3-month follow-up. Results—Across time-points, cigarette use declined for youth in N-O-T (p = .007) and N-O-T +FIT (ps < .02), but not BI (n.s.). For N-O-T+FIT youth, the steepest declines in weekday smoking occurred for those with high PA levels (p = .02). Weekend cigarette use decreased for NO-T+FIT youth with moderate-high levels of intrinsic motivation to quit (ps < .04). Conclusions—Adolescents may benefit from interventions designed to address the barriers faced during a quit attempt, including their motivation to make a change and their engagement in other healthy behaviors such as physical activity.

The Association Between Sedentary Behaviors During Weekdays And Weekend With Change In Body Composition In Young Adults, Clemens Drenowatz, Madison M. Demello, Robin P. Shook, Gregory A. Hand, Stephanie Burgess, Steven N. Blair

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Background: High sedentary time has been considered an important chronic disease risk factor but there is only limited information on the association of specific sedentary behaviors on weekdays and weekend-days with body composition. The present study examines the prospective association of total sedentary time and specific sedentary behaviors during weekdays and the weekend with body composition in young adults. Methods: A total of 332 adults (50% male; 27.7 ±3.7 years) were followed over a period of 1 year. Time spent sedentary, excluding sleep (SED), and in physical activity (PA) during weekdays and weekend-days was objectively assessed every 3 months with …