Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Effects Of Exercise On Mental Health: A Research Review, Kaylani Benson

Honors College Theses

This research review looks at the effects exercise and physical activity have on mental health. The results of this review are based upon the results of the formal studies that have been included. These studies are Benefits of Exercise on Physical and Mental Health in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients, Exercise Effects on Mental Health of Preschool Children, The Effect of Morning Exercise on Mental Health of Female Police Employees, Exercise and Mental Health of People Living with HIV: A Systemic Review, Exercise Improves Physical Function and Mental Health of Brain Cancer Survivors: Two Exploratory Case Studies, Effect of Yogic and Physical …

The Development And Testing Of A Direct Observation Protocol As A Criterion Measure For Children’S Simulated Free-Play Activity, Melanna Cox

Masters Theses

INTRODUCTION: Direct observation (DO) systems have been used for decades to assess free-living PA in children. These traditional DO systems identify the highest intensity observed during alternating observe-and-record periods. Using video-taped DO would allow researchers to code activities and contextual information each time the participant changes their behavior. PURPOSE: To develop and test a novel video-based DO system for children’s free-play activity. METHODS: Following iterative DO system development (The Observer XT, Noldus), 28 children (age=8.4 ± 1.5 years) participated in a 30-minute simulated free-play session that was recorded with a GoPro camera. Participants wore a portable indirect calorimetry (IC) device …

Asset-Based Community Capacity Building: A Process For Expanding A Retirement Home Physical Activity Program, Charlotte W. Crombeen

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The population is aging rapidly and physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour are on the rise, a trend noticed at a northern Ontario retirement home looking to improve the choices for, and attendance at, physical activities provided for residents. A community capacity building (CCB) approach using an asset-based, partnership methodology was utilized to create internal and external asset maps. These maps were used to inform potential partnerships within the community. Partnerships were recommended with a university, college, and two high schools, whose staff and students could help to implement new physical activities. Walking and gardening clubs were presented as examples that …

A Prospective Study Of Physical Activity And Fecundability, Lindsey M. Russo

Masters Theses

Background:

Physical activity (PA) may influence fecundability through alterations in endocrine function. The limited studies that have evaluated PA and fecundability in non-clinical populations have utilized internet-based recruitment, contain potential issues in measurement, and have yielded inconclusive results.

Methods:

We evaluated the association between PA and time-to-pregnancy in the Effects of Aspirin in Gestation and Reproduction trial, which included 1228 women attempting pregnancy ages 18–40 with prior pregnancy loss. PA was measured at baseline using the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire to determine hours/week of activity (vigorous, moderate, and walking) and hours/day of sedentary (sitting) behavior. Pregnancy …

Assessment Of Physical Activity And Sedentary Behavior Using Wearable Sensors: Measurement Considerations And Clinical Applications, Amanda Hickey

Doctoral Dissertations

The aims of study one of this dissertation were two-fold: 1) To understand the variability of sedentary behavior (SB) throughout a seven-day measurement period and 2) To determine the number of days of SB measurement required to reliably estimate seven-days of measurement. To address these aims, we utilized activPAL (AP) data from two existing data sets from the Physical Activity (PA) and Health Laboratory. Data were from 62 adults and 34 adolescents who had seven consecutive days of valid monitor wear. We found that adults were more sedentary on weekdays compared to weekend days, but there were no differences by …

Factors Influencing Health Behaviors In Those At Risk For Developing Schizophrenia, Adriana C. Pennacchi

Theses and Dissertations

Significant health concerns are common among those with schizophrenia- spectrum disorders and are associated with an average lifespan reduction of 15-20 years compared to the general public (Saha, Chant, & McGrath, 2007). Although symptoms of the disorder can disrupt self-care and health behaviors, evidence also suggests that problematic health behaviors are present before the onset of the manifest disorder. One example includes nicotine use which is elevated in those with a family history of schizophrenia (Ferchiou et al., 2012) and in those who show subclinical signs of risk for schizophrenia (Esterberg, Jones, Compton, & Walker, 2007). Despite these findings, there …

Examination Of The Monoamine Oxidase A Gene Promoter On Motivation To Exercise And Levels Of Voluntary Physical Activity, Erin M. Kinney

Senior Theses

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the genetic basis underlying voluntary exercise. Monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) is an enzyme that acts on monoamine neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, to cause inactivation. There are several polymorphisms in the promoter region of the MAO-A gene, and these variations change transcriptional activity and the amount of MAO-A produced, leading to alterations in available dopamine levels. Interestingly, polymorphisms in MAO-A have been associated recently with physical activity level. This study sought to determine whether there is an association between motivation to exercise, levels of voluntary physical activity, and MAO-A gene polymorphisms.

Methods: …

The Connection Between Gasoline Prices And Physical Activity: Potential Ways To Combat The Rise In Obesity, John Perrotti

Honors Theses

It is widely understood that one of the most significant public health challenges in the United States is obesity which could rightly be considered an epidemic. Accompanied by billions of dollars in both explicit and implicit costs obesity places great strain on the health care system and economy as a whole. Years of scientific research has linked obesity to three main determinants: genetics over-eating and lack of physical activity. Recent research has introduced the study of the connection between the macro-economy and rates of physical activity thus linking economic variables to obesity. This paper investigates the connection between gasoline prices …

Effect Of Activity Trackers And Text Messaging On Exercise, Fitness, And Physical Activity Self-Efficacy Of Middle School Students, Alison F. Pittman

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

A decrease in physical activity as children age is a contributing factor to the U.S. obesity epidemic. Middle school children are particularly vulnerable to sedentary activities. Activity trackers show promise as a means to motivate children and adults to increase physical activity (PA). This study examined the effect of a text messaging intervention and use of activity trackers with a companion social website on the body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, physical fitness, and PA self-efficacy of middle school children. Children aged 11-14 (n=102) were randomly assigned to one of three groups for a 10-week intervention: activity tracker group; …

Social Support For Physical Activity For High Schoolers In Rural Appalachia, Pooja M. Shah

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of the present study is to conduct a secondary qualitative analysis to examine parent, teacher, and high school adolescents’ perceptions of social support for physical activity (PA) for high schoolers in Southern Appalachia. Social support for PA is linked to higher rates of PA participation in adolescents. Parents, siblings, and peers provide key sources of support. Social support for PA may be even more important in under-resourced communities such as Appalachia, where geographic, economic, and environmental barriers negatively impact PA engagement. During 2013-2014, focus groups and semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents of adolescents (n=39), high school teachers …

The Association Between Motor Proficiency, Cognitive Tempo, Academic Skills, Balance And Visual Efficiency In Elementary School Aged Children., Franklin R. Muntis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between motor proficiency, cognitive tempo, academic skills, balance and visual efficiency in elementary school aged children at a local Spanish immersion school. Forty-nine students and their parents provided consent to participate in the study. Motor proficiency was measured using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency Second Edition (BOT-2), cognitive tempo and academic skills were assessed using the Child and Adolescent Behavior Inventory, Visual Efficiency was measured using Visual Efficiency Rating (VERA) and Balance was measured using a Neurocom^® platform function for stability evaluation test to determine limits of stability. …

Physical Activity During Indoor And Outdoor Free Play In Toddlers, Jordan Boyd

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Exploring Physical Activity And Screen-Viewing Policies In Canadian Childcare Centres, Emily C. Ott

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study aimed to explore the presence and characteristics of physical activity and screen-viewing regulations in Canadian childcare centres. Using a modified version of the Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation Self-Report tool (EPAO-SR), an online survey was distributed to childcare directors/administrators. A total of 1,290 childcare representatives accessed the survey, 514 provided complete data. Of these, 295 (44%) centres indicated having a written physical activity policy (with the majority regulated at the provincial-level). Characteristics of these policies included amount of time: spent outdoors (395; 63%); in teacher-led active play (101; 16%); and physical activity education for children (91; 16%). …

Physical Activity Levels & Successful Aging, Ryan R. Bourque

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Hypothesis: Greater levels of physical activity have a positive correlation with greater levels of independence as well as better outcomes with respect to self-perceived health-related quality of life for elderly individuals (65+ years of age).

Predictability Of Vo2max Using A Commercially Available Gps Sports Watch, Andrew Pearson

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Using accurate submaximal methodologies to estimate VO_2max is a convenient alternative to maximal exercise testing. Submaximal testing is practical because it provides a cheaper, more time-efficient method to determine VO_2max and allows a wider range of individuals to be tested. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the predictability of VO_2max using a GPS sports watch. Methods: Thirty participants, 16 males and 14 females between the ages of 18 and 55, volunteered for this study. A total of three separate VO_2max values were recorded during the study: (a) directly measured VO_2max, (b) …

Income, Education, Age, And Physical Activity Among Physically Disabled African American Women, Sherèè Johnson Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was designed to identify possible risk factors about physical activity in middle-aged disabled African American women (AAW) aged 45 to 64 years. Disabled middle-aged AAW has a disproportionate prevalence of obesity and chronic illness than nondisabled women. Most disabled middle-aged AAW leads a sedentary lifestyle, and they do not meet the recommended physical activity (PA) guidelines. Little is known about this group, and a social ecological model was used to explain PA patterns. Data were extracted from the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (N = 1,599) for women who responded yes to indicate that they needed specialized …

The Effect Of Two Modes Of Aerobic Assessment On Fifth Grade Students' Self Efficacy, Debra Roth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Declining youth physical activity levels and lack of aerobic fitness have been well documented with a corresponding rise in obesity levels and health issues. Based on Bandura's social cognitive theory, healthy physical activity levels and aerobic fitness are strongly connected to positive physical activity self-efficacy beliefs. This study examined whether student physical activity self-efficacy, motivation, and effort were different for the FitnessGram-® (FG) 1-Mile Run when compared to the 15-minute Aerobic Assessment Based on Improvement (AABI). A concurrent mixed method quasi-experimental approach measured 5th grade students' physical activity self-efficacy beliefs through a pretest and posttest survey while aerobic assessment scores …

Exercise Adherence Among Active Working Women, Roxane Evonne Hearn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low levels of exercise adherence has contributed to the increased prevalence of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes in American women. These low levels, coupled with high exercise program dropout rates, point to a need for strategies to increase exercise frequency in women who exercise, but not enough to improve their health and reduce risks. Real-time interventions, such as text messaging, could be useful in improving the cognitions that regulate adherence. Using a snowball sampling strategy, a cross-sectional sample of working women (N =130), ages 18-64, in the volitional stage of exercise behavior, completed a 60-item survey on exercise behavior. Social …

Teleexercise For People With Disabilities, Byron Lai

All ETDs from UAB

Exercise is recognized as a method of improving health and function and preventing deconditioning for adults with neurological disabilities. However, they experience a multitude of barriers that prevent them from regular participation in exercise. To address these barriers, the goal of this dissertation was to explore the use of monitoring technology as a means for delivering exercise to adults with neurological disabilities at home. This pursuit involved three studies. The first study reviewed the extant literature for current trends in exercise interventions for people with disabilities. Regarding technology, the review indicated that technology is rarely used to deliver one-on-on supervised …

Investigating The Practice And Capacity Of Paediatric Occupational Therapists To Promote The Physical Activity Levels Of Children In Western Australia, Sally Coombs

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Reorientation of the Australian health care system to meet the increasing burden of disease requires health workers to develop a focus on disease prevention and health promotion. In Western Australia (WA) a priority area for the promotion of health involves increasing the physical activity levels (PAL) of children in accordance with Australia’s Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines. There is substantial support in the literature for paediatric occupational therapists, who assist children to participate in a range of meaningful occupations, to incorporate the promotion of children’s PAL into their service. However, there is a dearth of research world-wide regarding occupational …

The Relationship Between Physical Exercise And Cognition In Children With Typical Development And Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Beron Wei Zhong Tan

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This research project sought to investigate the relationship between physical exercise and cognition in children with and without a neurodevelopmental condition. To achieve this aim, three approaches were undertaken to explore the exercise and cognition relationship. The first approach sought to understand the efficacy of exercise interventions on cognition in individuals with a neurodevelopmental disorder. The second approach was to understand the effectiveness of an exercise activity when compared to a cognitively-engaging tablet game activity on measures of implicit learning and attention in children with and without a neurodevelopmental condition. The third approach was to investigate if psychophysiological measures could …

Diabetes Risk In Women: Pschosocial And Lifestyle Determinants, Sarah Katherine Sweatt

All ETDs from UAB

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a major public health concern. Physical inactivity, poor diet, and psychosocial distress have emerged as factors contributing to T2D. Women may be uniquely affected by these factors as obesity, physical inactivity, and the prevalence of psychosocial distress are higher in women. Additionally, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women and increases the risk of both T2D and psychosocial distress. However, the relationship between physical activity (PA), psychosocial distress, and metabolic health is not fully understood, particularly in at risk populations such as minorities and women with PCOS. Therefore, the goal …

The Mobius Strip Of Total Health: Manipulation Of Thinking Prior To Exercise Activity, Joseph A. Schenk

Honors College Theses

Research shows mental and physical health are interdependent. We sought to test various methods of external motivation to effect change in the physical performance and mental health of students enrolled in walking classes. We hypothesized that if there was a correlation between physical exercise and mental health and we could motivate individuals to exercise, then that motivation would in turn result in better mental health. Participants, 19 in the pilot and 320 in the main study, were randomly assigned into three groups to receive messages prior to conducting physical activity: those who received neutral messages about exercise, those who received …