0000000000211575

AUTHOR

Mary Hassandra

Effects of Physical Activity, Smoking and Alcohol Consumption on Quality of Life of Students in Continuous Education Centers

Σκοπός της παρούσας εργασίας ήταν να διερευνηθούν οι επιδράσεις ορισμένων συμπεριφορών υγείας, όπως η άσκηση, το κάπνισμα και η κατανάλωση αλκοόλ στην ποιότητα ζωής ενηλίκων που βρίσκονται σε εκπαιδευτική διαδικασία. Το δείγμα της έρευνας ήταν 363 ενήλικες, (Μ.Ο. ηλικίας = 41.86, Τ.Α. = 11.42 έτη) που παρακολουθούσαν προγράμματα επιμόρφωσης, σε Κέντρο Εκπαίδευσης Ενηλίκων (ΚΕΕ). Χρησιμοποι- ήθηκαν ερωτηματολόγια για να καταγραφούν το κάπνισμα σε καθημερινή βάση, η κατανάλωση αλκοόλ σε εβδομαδιαία βάση, καθώς και η φυσική δραστηριότητα. Για την αξιολόγηση της ποιότητας ζωής χρησιμο- ποιήθηκε το ερωτηματολόγιο SF-36. Για τη στατιστική ανάλυση χρησιμοποιήθηκαν αναλύσεις παλινδρόμη- σης. Βρέθηκ…

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Individualized counselling for active aging: protocol of a single-blinded, randomized controlled trial among older people (the AGNES intervention study)

Background: Active aging has been established as a policy goal for aging societies. We define active aging at the individual level as striving for elements of well-being through activities in relation to a person’s goals, functional capacities and opportunities. Increasing evidence suggests that any meaningful activity is beneficial for different aspects of well-being in older people. The aim of the present randomized controlled trial is to test the feasibility and effectiveness of a one-year community-based intervention on active aging. The AGNES intervention aims at increasing older peoples’ participation in self-selected valued activities. Methods: The proposed study is a two-arm single-…

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Body Image in 13-17 Years Old Adolescents: Gender and Physical Activity Effects

Σκοπός της παρούσας έρευνας, ήταν να εξετάσει πώς διαφοροποιείται η εικόνα του σώματος και η ικανοποίηση της από αυτήν ανάλογα με το φύλο και την ηλικία, αλλά και πώς συνδέεται με τη φυσική δραστηριότητα και το Δείκτη Μάζας Σώματος σε εφήβους. Το δείγμα ήταν 496 έφηβοι (226 αγόρια και 270 κορίτσια) ηλικίας 13 έως 17 ετών, μαθητές από τη Β’ Γυμνασίου έως και τη Β’ Λυκείου επαρχιακών πόλεων της Ελλάδας. Τα εργαλεία που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν ήταν η κλίμακα της εικόνας του σώματος (Rand & Wright, 1999) και το ερωτηματολόγιο «Άσκηση κατά τον Ελεύθερο Χρόνο» (Godin & Shephard, 1985). Σύμφωνα με τα αποτελέσματα, τα αγόρια ήταν πιο ικανοποιημένα από την εικόνα του σώματός τους σε σχέση με τα κορίτσια. Η…

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Additional file 1: of Using physical education to promote out-of school physical activity in lower secondary school students â a randomized controlled trial protocol

PETALS measures. Measures, data collection time points and methods in the PETALS intervention. Overview of measures, data collection time points and methods in the PETALS intervention including main outcome measure, secondary outcome measure, mediating measures, additional measures, teacher measures, parenting measures and demographic measures. (DOCX 17 kb)

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Feasibility of a Responsibility-Based Leadership Training Program for Novice Physical Activity Instructors

Most coaches and instructors would like to teach more than just sport skills to their athletes and children. However, to promote athletes’ or children’s holistic development and teach them to take responsibility and lead, requires the coaches and instructors to first master the skills themselves. Therefore, feasible, high quality leadership training programs where coaches and physical activity instructors are taught to teach and share leadership are needed. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the feasibility of a leadership training program to optimize it and to determine whether to proceed with its evaluation. In the leadership training program, eight Finnish novice physical activ…

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Understanding the Experiences of Heavy Smokers after Exercise

There is now strong evidence that exercise has an acute effect on the urge to smoke and the accompanying withdrawal symptoms. However, the perceptions by heavy smokers of exercise and its relationship to the urge to smoke have not been well documented. The aim of the present study is to understand the experiences of heavy smokers with regard to exercise and its effect on their urge to smoke. Five physically inactive, heavy smokers are asked to abstain from smoking the night before exercising on a cycle ergometer under two conditions (one at medium and one at vigorous intensity done a week apart). Semi-structured, in-depth interviews are conducted after the second exercise session. Thematic …

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Predictors of school students’ leisure-time physical activity : An extended trans-contextual model using Bayesian path analysis

Abstract Background:The trans-contextual model (TCM) has been applied to identify the determinants of leisure-time physical activity participation in secondary school students. In the current study, the TCM was extended to include additional constructs that represent non-conscious, implicit processes that lead to leisure-time physical activity participation alongside the motivational and social cognition constructs from the TCM. The current study used baseline and follow-up data from an intervention study to test the extended TCM.Methods:The current study adopted a two-wave prospective design. Secondary-school students (N = 502) completed measures of perceived autonomy support from physical…

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Process and outcome evaluation of the “No more smoking! It's time for physical activity” program

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the program “No more smoking! It's time for physical activity”, with a mixed methods design, in order to collect information to improve the program for future applications. Methods Forty patients across five anti-smoking clinics in Central Greece completed the program. Counselors' records and participants' questionnaires and interviews were used as data in order to evaluate the programs' process and outcome. Results Quantitative measures before and after the program revealed significant differences on smoking behavior, physical activity (PA) behavior, self-efficacy, and smoking habit measures. Qualitative data implied that the promotion…

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Patterns of Eating and Physical Activity Attitudes and Behaviors in Relation to Body Mass Index

The aim of the study was to identify and characterize the patterns of the psychological and behavioral characteristics, in relation to body mass index. In addition, the study examined the associations between the patterns and demographic characteristics, exercise, eating habits, and healthrelated psychological variables. Participants were 361 Greek adults, randomly selected and completed self-reported questionnaires. The surveys examined demographic characteristics, healthrelated psychological variables (attitudes and intentions toward exercise and healthy eating, perceived behavioral control, health locus of control, general health, self-control, and body image) and the behaviors of exerci…

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Using physical education to promote out-of school physical activity in lower secondary school students : a randomized controlled trial protocol

Background Given the documented decline in levels of physical activity in early adolescence, promoting physical activity in young people is a priority for health promotion. School physical education (PE) is an important existing network in which participation in physical activity beyond school can be promoted to the captive young people. The objective of current article is to present the protocol for a PE teacher-delivered theory-based trial to promote secondary school students’ participation in physical activity out-of-school contexts. The intervention will be guided by the trans-contextual model explaining the processes by which PE teachers’ support for autonomous motivation in the classr…

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Testing a physical education-delivered autonomy supportive intervention to promote leisure-time physical activity in lower secondary school students: the PETALS trial.

© 2020 The Author(s). Background: Inadequate physical activity in young people is associated with several physical and mental health concerns. Physical education (PE) is a potentially viable existing network for promoting physical activity in this population. However, little research has been conducted on whether PE teachers can influence students' engagement in leisure-time physical activity. The present study therefore examined the efficacy of an intervention aimed at increasing PE teachers' autonomy support on students' leisure-time physical activity (the PETALS trial). The intervention was guided by the trans-contextual model (TCM) explaining the processes by which PE teachers' provisio…

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The effect of individualized, theory-based counselling intervention on active aging and quality of life among older people (the AGNES intervention study)

Abstract Background We define active aging as a striving for activities as per one’s goals, capacities and opportunities. Aim To test the 1-year counselling intervention effects on active aging. Methods In this two-arm single-blinded randomized controlled trial, the intervention group received individually tailored counselling supporting autonomous motivation for active life (one face-to-face session, four phone calls and supportive written material, n = 101) and the control group written health information (n = 103). Participants were community-dwelling men and women aged 75 or 80 years with intermediate mobility function and without cognitive impairment. The primary outcome was active agi…

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Initial Evaluation of a Smoking Cessation Program Incorporating Physical Activity Promotion to Greek Adults in Antismoking Clinics

The purpose of this study was to evaluate an initial application of a smoking cessation program that integrated the promotion of physical activity (PA) as a cessation aid to Greek adults in antismoking clinics. From an initial pool of 50, 12 men and 28 women from Central Greece completed the program, and 18 of them succeeded in quitting for 1 year after the program. Additionally, after the program, they increased their PA. Suggestions for future applications of the program are further discussed. peerReviewed

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Feasibility of a Responsibility-Based Leadership Training Program for Novice Physical Activity Instructors

Most coaches and instructors would like to teach more than just sport skills to their athletes and children. However, to promote athletes' or children's holistic development and teach them to take responsibility and lead, requires the coaches and instructors to first master the skills themselves. Therefore, feasible, high quality leadership training programs where coaches and physical activity instructors are taught to teach and share leadership are needed. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the feasibility of a leadership training program to optimize it and to determine whether to proceed with its evaluation. In the leadership training program, eight Finnish novice physical activ…

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Training programme for novice physical activity instructors using Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility (TPSR) model : a programme development and protocol

Previous research indicates that programmes employing Hellison?s Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility (TPSR) model in physical activity have had a positive impact on youth development by increasing participants? positive values, autonomy, life skills, and prosocial behaviour. Despite encouraging results of the effects of TPSR-based programmes, there remains lack of research on the effective content of these programmes, and their implementation and evaluation. The current protocol article describes the development of a TPSR-based instructor training programme and a plan for an intervention study in which novice instructors learn to understand and apply the TPSR model in practice. The …

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A scoping review on interventions to promote physical activity among adults with disabilities

Abstract Background Despite the strong evidence that physical activity (PA) is a key determinant of health, there is limited knowledge on the content and outcomes of PA promotion interventions among individuals with disabilities. Objective To conduct a scoping review in order to examine the published literature on PA promotion interventions among adults with disabilities. Methods A scoping review following the methodological framework provided by Arksey and O'Malley used electronic databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL), reference lists, and journals to locate studies. Inclusion criteria were based on study aim, outcome measures, and a disability definition by the WHO International Class…

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Exercise and Healthy Eating Intentions and Behaviors among Normal Weight and Overweight/Obese Adults

Strong evidence suggests that exercise and eating behaviours are strongly linked. Theory of Planned Behaviour is a theoretical framework that has been successfully used to explain and predict both behaviours. The aim of the present study is to explore the constructs of Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) that better predicts exercise and healthy eating: a) intentions and b) selfreported behaviors among normal weight and overweight/obese adults. Participants were 361 adults in Greece (women: N = 152). According to their BMI scores, they have been grouped into normal weight and overweight/obese. Data were collected with an online questionnaire assessing variables of the theory of planned behavio…

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The Basic Psychological Needs in Physical Education Scale in Filipino: An Exploratory Factor Analysis

Fulfillment of students’ basic psychological needs in school physical education is essential for their optimal motivation and well-being. The present study aimed to: (1) translate the Basic Psychological Needs in Physical Education Scale (BPNPE Scale; Vlachopoulos, Katarzi, & Kontou, 2011) to Filipino, and (2) examine the reliability and validity of the Filipino version. Instrument translation was conducted using a committee-approach back-translation procedure. The Filipino version was then administered to 408 public high school students from Metro Manila during one of their PE classes. Results showed that internal consistency reliabilities of the subscales were adequate with alphas ranging…

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Effects of achievement goals on perceptions of competence in conditions of unfavourable social comparisons: The mastery goal advantage effect

Background Previous prospective studies have documented that mastery-approach goals are adaptive because they facilitate less negative psychological responses to unfavourable social comparisons than performance-approach goals. Aims This study aimed to confirm this so-called ‘mastery goal advantage’ effect experimentally. Methods A 2 × 3 design was adopted where achievement goals (mastery vs. performance) and normative information (favourable vs. no-normative information vs. unfavourable) were manipulated as between participant factors. Sample Participants were 201 undergraduates, 57 males and 144 females, ranging in age from 17 to 55 years (Mage = 22.53, SD = 6.51). Results Regression analy…

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An mHealth App for Supporting Quitters to Manage Cigarette Cravings With Short Bouts of Physical Activity: A Randomized Pilot Feasibility and Acceptability Study

BackgroundWhile gains in reducing smoking rates in Finland have been made, prevalence rates are still substantial. Relapse rates among smokers engaged in quit-smoking programs are high. Physical activity has been proposed as one means to help smokers manage cravings. Software and apps on mobile phone and handheld devices offer an opportunity to communicate messages on how to use physical activity to manage cravings as part of quit-smoking programs. ObjectiveWe aimed to test the feasibility, acceptability, usability, and preliminary efficacy of an mHealth mobile phone app, Physical activity over Smoking (PhoS), to assist smokers in quitting smoking in a randomized controlled trial. The app w…

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Effects of an Individualized Active Aging Counseling Intervention on Mobility and Physical Activity: Secondary Analyses of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives: The aim of this study was to report preplanned secondary analyses of the effects of a 12-month individualized active aging counseling intervention on six mobility and physical activity outcomes. Methods: A two-arm, single-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted among 75- and 80-year-old community-dwelling people. The intervention group (IG, n = 101) received counseling aimed at increasing self-selected, primarily out-of-home activity. The control group (CG, n = 103) received general health information. Data were analyzed with generalized estimating equations. Results: Physical performance improved in the IG more than that in the CG (group by time p = .022), self-repor…

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Effectiveness of a Mobile Phone App for Adults That Uses Physical Activity as a Tool to Manage Cigarette Craving After Smoking Cessation: A Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

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