Determining the psychometric properties of a novel questionnaire to measure "preparedness for the future" (Prep FQ).

BACKGROUND: People are living longer than ever before. However, with living longer comes increased problems that negatively impact on quality of life and the quality of death. Tools are needed to help individuals assess whether they are practicing the best attitudes and behaviors that are associated with a future long life, high quality of life, high quality of death and a satisfying post-death legacy. The purpose of paper is to describe the process we used to develop a novel questionnaire ("Preparedness for the Future Questionnaire™ or Prep FQ") and to define its psychometric properties. METHODS: Using a multi-step development procedure, items were generated, for the new questionnaire after which the psychometric properties were tested with a heterogeneous sample of 502 Canadians. Using an online polling panel, respondents were asked to complete demographic questions as well as the Prep-FQ, Global Rating of Life Satisfaction, the Keyes Psychological Well-Being scale and the Short-Form 12. RESULTS: The final version of the questionnaire contains 34 items in 8 distinct domains ("Medico-legal", "Social", "Psychological Well-being", "Planning", "Enrichment", "Positive Health Behaviors", "Negative Health Behaviors", and "Late-life Planning"). We observed minimum missing data and good usage of all response options. The average overall Prep FQ score is 51.2 (SD = 13.3). The Cronbach alphas assessing internal reliability for the Prep FQ domains ranged from 0.33 to 0.88. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) used to assess the test-retest reliability had an overall score of 0.87. For the purposes of establishing construct validity, all the pre-specified relationships between Prep FQ and the other questionnaires were met. CONCLUSION: Analyses of this novel measure offered support for its face validity, construct validity, test-retest reliability, and internal consistency. With the development of this useful and valid scale, future research can utilize this measure to engage people in the process of comprehensively assessing and improving their state of preparedness for the future, tracking their progress along the way. Ultimately, this program of research aims to improve the quality and quantity of peoples live by helping them 'think ahead' and 'plan ahead' on the aspects of their daily life that matter to their future.

Why I Get Up Off My Butt: Older Adults' Motives to Limit Their Sedentary Behavior.

Older adults spend more time, on average, engaged in sedentary behaviors (SBs) compared with younger cohorts. This is concerning, because prolonged SB is associated with detrimental outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore the degree to which older adults' motives to limit their SB were internalized, consistent with self-determination theory. Following the qualitative description approach, seven focus groups (n = 27) of community-dwelling older adults were conducted. Focus groups were transcribed verbatim and coded using a thematic approach. Results revealed some motivation subthemes, which appeared to endorse similar content, varied in the degree to which participants internalized them, differentiating these motives along the self-determination theory motivational continuum. These findings demonstrated that not all motives are equal, highlighting the importance of theory-driven future SB interventions.

Starting Off on the Best Foot: A Review of Message Framing and Message Tailoring, and Recommendations for the Comprehensive Messaging Strategy for Sustained Behavior Change.

Health promotion programs represent a salient means through which physical activity promoters can cultivate positive health behavior change and maintenance. The messages communicated within these programs serve as an essential component as they are often used to convey valuable information, resources, or tools that facilitate health behavior initiation and sustained engagement. Identifying the most effective way to communicate health promotion information is, therefore, of considerable importance to ensuring that people not only attend to these messages, but also connect with and internalize the information conveyed within them. This paper was written to (1) summarize and evaluate the most prominent reviewed research approaches of message framing and tailoring to message design; and (2) offer a comprehensive messaging strategy to promote sustained health behavior change. A review of the literature demonstrated that a messaging strategy that has consistently led to healthy behavior change has yet to be identified. Furthermore, scholars have articulated that a multi-theoretical approach that places emphasis on facilitating motivation and healthy behavior change needs to be employed. Thus, this paper proposes and provides recommendations for employing the Comprehensive Messaging Strategy for Sustained Behavior Change (CMSSBC), which advocates tailoring messages to peoples' stage of change and framing them to focus on self-determined motives and intrinsic goals.

Initial development of the Coach Identity Prominence Scale: a role identity model perspective.

The focus of this multiphase research was to generate and test the psychometric parameters of the Coach Identity Prominence Scale (CIPS). First, a pilot study was conducted with context (n = 10) and construct (n = 6) specialists, who evaluated the technical quality and content validity of 20 items developed from semistructured interviews. Thirteen items were selected for Study 1, which tested the factorial validity and reliability scores of coaches' (n = 343) responses to the CIPS items. An eight-item structure, consisting of two factors (centrality and evaluative emotions) was selected as the final CIPS measure, which was examined with a final sample of coaches (n = 454) in Study 2 to evaluate the factorial validity, group invariance, concurrent validity, and nomological validity of respondents' scores to the CIPS. Initial evidence for the various types of validity and reliability tested across the studies was provided.

Motivation and Eudaimonic Well-Being in Athletes: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective.

Purpose: Drawing from self-determination theory (SDT), the present study examined the relationship between motivation and eudaimonic well-being in the sport context. Method: The association between motivation and eudaimonic well-being was assessed using a latent variable model through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Three hundred ninety-nine athletes (Mage = 25.08, SD = 7.35) from 15 different individual and team sports completed a questionnaire package. Results: Results indicated that integrated and identified regulations positively predicted athletes' eudaimonic well-being. External regulation was also a positive predictor of eudaimonic well-being, while introjected regulation and amotivation negatively predicted athletes' eudaimonic well-being. Finally, athletes' intrinsic motivation did not significantly predict their eudaimonic well-being. Conclusions: Results highlight the complex link between different types of sport motivation and athletes' well-being.

Reducing Sedentary Time among Older Adults in Assisted Living: Perceptions, Barriers, and Motivators.

Older adults accumulate more sedentary time (ST) than any other age group, especially those in assisted living residences (ALRs). Reducing prolonged ST could help maintain function among older adults. However, to develop effective intervention strategies, it is important to understand the factors that influence sedentary behavior. The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of ST as well as barriers and motivators to reducing ST among older adults in assisted living, in the context of the Social Ecological Model (SEM). Using a qualitative description approach, we sought to learn about participants' perceptions of sedentary time in their daily lives. Semi-structured focus groups were held at six ALRs with 31 participants (84% women, 83.5 ± 6.5 years). Data were transcribed and coded using an inductive thematic approach. Themes were categorized based on four levels of the SEM: individual, social, physical environment, and organization. Many reported barriers were at the individual level (e.g., lack of motivation, pain, fatigue) while others were associated with the organization or social environment (e.g., safety concerns, lack of activities outside of business hours, and social norms). These findings suggest that there are unique challenges and opportunities to consider when designing ST interventions for assisted living.

Homeostasis balance, homeostasis imbalance or distinct motivational processes? Comments on Marks (2015) 'Homeostatic Theory of Obesity'.

In his article, 'Homeostatic theory of obesity', Marks suggested that imbalances in homeostatic processes could explain weight gain and obesity. He proposes that over-consumption of high-caloric, low-nutrient and low satiating foods, combined with a stressful environment, is the origin of weight gain. Once weight gain occurs, individuals may develop body dissatisfaction and negative affect, leading to continued over-consumption, which sets in motion a system of feedback loops that leads to a Circle of Discontent and further weight gain. In this article, we attempt to clarify certain problematic aspects of Marks framework and identify specific directions that researchers should pursue to address these shortcomings.