Determinants of physical activity in newly diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea patients: testing the health action process approach.

This study aims to identify the determinants associated with physical activity (PA) behavior in newly diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients by applying the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) with a longitudinal design. Anthropometric and clinical (OSA severity, subjective somnolence, use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)) variables, the determinants of physical activity specified in the HAPA (motivational self-efficacy, outcome expectancies, risk perception, intention, maintenance self-efficacy, action planning, coping planning, social support), as well as physical activity behavior were assessed using a longitudinal (T1 and T2) design in a sample of 57 OSA patients in routine care. Applying regression analyses, regarding the motivation phase, the amount of explained variance in intention was 77% and 39% of the variance in physical activity. In the motivational phase, motivational self-efficacy, risk perception and outcome expectancies were associated with intention. In the volitional phase, physical activity at T1 and social support (family) were related with physical activity at T2. In conclusion, the assumptions of HAPA were partially found in the context of newly diagnosed OSA patients. This study provided additional evidence regarding the role of motivational self-efficacy, outcome expectancies and risk perception during motivational phase, and highlighted the important role of social support from the family in the PA in this population.

[Reducing the amount of time spent sitting in a professional setting: the "Sedentariness at Work" (SAW) survey] / Réduire le temps assis en milieu professionnel : l'étude « Sédentarité au travail ¼ (SAuT).

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effects of an intervention on reducing sitting time in a professional setting. METHODS: The intervention consisted of a group presentation on sedentary behavior at work and active work breaks, followed by an individual planning phase. Participants were then invited to use alert software for four weeks. The intervention lasted six weeks; 38 people aged 29 to 59 years participated (80% women). Before and after the intervention, participants wore accelerometers to assess behaviors (sedentary and physical activity at work) and responded to a questionnaire measuring the degree of automaticity for sitting at work and taking active breaks. RESULTS: After the intervention, the time spent in a sitting position during a working day decreased significantly. Specifically, sitting time decreased more among those aged 29 to 43 years; who had decided to take breaks of at least 5 minutes; and had more extended sitting time before the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that combining an informational strategy with computer- or mobile-generated alerts reduces sitting time spent in the workplace. This intervention was inexpensive for employees and companies. An interesting perspective could be to compare these effects with those of interventions based on a change in the physical work environment (such as the installation of adjustable desks).

Do implicit attitudes toward physical activity and sedentary behavior prospectively predict objective physical activity among persons with obesity?

This study conducted among adults with obesity examined the associations between implicit attitudes toward physical activity and sedentary behavior, and physical activity behavior measured 4 months later. At baseline, 76 participants (M AGE = 56; M BMI = 39.1) completed a questionnaire assessing intentions toward physical activity and sedentary behavior and two computerized Single-Category Implicit Association Tests assessing implicit attitudes toward these two behaviors. At follow-up, physical activity was measured with accelerometers. Multiple regression analysis showed that implicit attitudes toward physical activity were positively and significantly associated with physical activity when participants' age, BMI, past physical activity and intentions were controlled for. Implicit attitudes toward sedentary behavior were not associated with physical activity. Adults with obesity who implicitly reported more favorable attitudes toward physical activity at baseline were more likely to present higher physical activity levels at follow-up. Implicit attitudes could be targeted in future research to enhance physical activity.

Implicit attitudes and the improvement of exercise capacity during pulmonary rehabilitation.

The aim of this study was to examine the role of explicit and implicit attitudes in the improvement of exercise capacity during a 5-week pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). A total of 105 patients performed walking tests at baseline and at the end of PR. Change between performances was computed at the end of PR, and Minimal-Clinically-Important-Difference (MCID) were used to categorize patients as responders (i.e. change above MCID, N = 54) or non-responders (i.e. change below MCID, N = 51). At baseline, implicit attitudes were measured through a physical activity versus sedentary behavior Implicit Association Test; explicit attitudes toward physical activity and sedentary behavior were measured by questionnaires. Only implicit attitudes significantly differed between the two groups (p = .015), responders displaying implicit attitudes significantly more in favor of physical activity (M = .91, SD = .54) than non-responders (M = .60, SD = .71) at baseline. Measuring implicit attitudes in PR could help to accurately estimate patients' motivation, and design more individualized rehabilitation programs.

The adoption of physical activity and eating behaviors among persons with obesity and in the general population: the role of implicit attitudes within the Theory of Planned Behavior.

Obesity can be prevented by the combined adoption of a regular physical activity (PA) and healthy eating behaviors (EB). Researchers mainly focused on socio-cognitive models, such as the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), to identify the psychological antecedents of these behaviors. However, few studies were interested in testing the potential contribution of automatic processes in the prediction of PA and EB. Thus, the main objective of this study was to explore the specific role of implicit attitudes in the pattern of prediction of self-reported PA and EB in the TPB framework, among persons with obesity and in adults from the general population. One hundred and fifty-three adults participated to this cross-sectional study among which 59 obese persons (74% women, age: 50.6 ± 12.3 years, BMI: 36.8 ± 4.03 kg m-²) and 94 people from the general population (51% women; age: 34.7 ± 8.9 years). Implicit attitudes toward PA and EB were estimated through two Implicit Association Tests. TPB variables, PA and EB were assessed by questionnaire. Regarding to the prediction of PA, a significant contribution of implicit attitudes emerged in obese people, ß = .25; 95%[CI: .01, .50]; P = .044, beyond the TPB variables, contrary to participants from the general population. The present study suggests that implicit attitudes play a specific role among persons with obesity regarding PA. Other studies are needed to examine which kind of psychological processes are specifically associated with PA and EB among obese people.

Motivational Profiles for Physical Activity Practice in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective.

Drawing on Self-Determination Theory, this study explored the motivational profiles toward Physical Activity (PA) among adults with type 2 diabetes and the relationships between motivational profile, perceived competence and PA. Participants were 350 men and women (Mean age 62.77 years) who were interviewed on their motivations toward PA, perceived level of competence to practice, and PA practice. Cluster analyses reveal the existence of three distinct profiles: "High Combined" (ie, high scores on motivations ranging from intrinsic to external regulation, moderate level on amotivation), "Self-Determined" (ie, high scores on intrinsic, integrated, and identified regulations; low scores on other regulations), and "Moderate" (ie, moderate scores on all regulations). Participants with "High Combined" and "Self-Determined" profiles reported higher perceived competence and longer leisure-time PA practice in comparison to those with a "Moderate" profile. This study highlights the necessity of adopting a person-centered approach to better understand motivation toward PA among type 2 diabetics.

Examination of the hierarchical structure of the brief COPE in a French sample: empirical and theoretical convergences.

This study aimed to determine whether the various factors of coping as measured by the Brief COPE could be integrated into a more parsimonious hierarchical structure. To identify a higher structure for the Brief COPE, several measurement models based on prior theoretical and hierarchical conceptions of coping were tested. First, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results revealed that the Brief COPE's 14 original factors could be represented more parsimoniously with 5 higher order dimensions: problem-solving, support-seeking, avoidance, cognitive restructuring, and distraction (N = 2,187). Measurement invariance across gender was also shown. Second, results provided strong support for the cross-validation and the concurrent validity of the hierarchical structure of the Brief COPE (N = 584). Results indicated statistically significant correlations between Brief COPE factors and trait anxiety and perceived stress. Limitations and theoretical and methodological implications of these results are discussed.

An individualized mobile health intervention to promote physical activity in adults with obstructive sleep apnea: An intervention mapping approach.

Objective: Combining continuous positive airway pressure with physical activity (PA) might be a promising strategy to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This article describes how intervention mapping (IM) can guide the development, content, and mechanisms of action of a mobile application to promote PA in adults with OSA. Methods: To develop the program, the IM approach was followed. This article presents the first three steps of IM to develop a mixed intervention (with interventionists and a digital application) aiming to: (1) assess patients' health problems and needs in a literature review to determine their expectations and perceived facilitators and barriers to PA behavior change and thus select the determinants of behavior; (2) formulate the expected intervention outcomes and objectives to be met to achieve the overall program goals; and (3) select and implement the behavior change techniques (BCTs) to achieve the change objectives. Results: The literature review identified the relevant determinants (e.g., self-efficacy, coping, planning, and habit) of PA behavior using the health action process approach and multiprocess action control. These results were used to specify the program outcomes for PA adapted to physical, psychological, and social parameters. Overall, 11 performance objectives and 30 change objectives were defined. Lastly, BCTs and practical applications were identified. Conclusions: The study provides a theoretical and methodological basis for researchers and practitioners given the current paucity of evidence-based PA interventions for adults with OSA. It addresses the lack of BCTs (framing and prompts/cue techniques) and meaningful behavioral determinants (identity and habit) in most interventions.

Predictors of situational disengagement in the academic setting: the contribution of grades, perceived competence, and academic motivation.

BACKGROUND. Although psychological disengagement is a well-documented phenomenon in the academic setting, the attempts to identify its predictors are scarce. In addition, existing research has mainly focused on chronic disengagement and less is known on the determinants of situational disengagement. AIMS. The purpose of the present study was to identify the predictors of situational disengagement in a physical education (PE) setting. In line with the core postulate of psychological disengagement, it was hypothesized that grades contribute to discounting through a decrease in perceived competence. Drawing upon self-determination theory, it was also expected that devaluing reflects the motivational orientations of individuals. SAMPLE. A total of 120 students who were in seventh, eighth, and ninth grades. METHOD. Students were asked to report their motivation towards PE and their perceived competence at the beginning of a 10-week cycle. Perceived competence in PE and psychological disengagement were assessed at the end of cycle, after grades were communicated individually to each student. RESULTS. The results revealed that grades significantly predicted discounting, through perceived competence, but did not predict devaluing. Devaluing was negatively predicted by integrated and identified regulations, and positively predicted by amotivation, whereas no motivational variables were related to discounting. CONCLUSION. The present study extends the core postulate of psychological disengagement to situational disengagement. It revealed that students may temporarily disengage their self-esteem from performance feedback through discounting, but are less inclined to devalue the academic domain when faced with negative feedback in a particular situation because of their motivational orientations.

Relative age and dropout in French male soccer.

The aim of this study was to examine the birthdates distribution of French male soccer players (n = 363,590) who dropped out during or after the 2006-2007 season, to determine whether the relative age effect is linked to dropout behaviour. An over-representation of players born late in the competitive year was observed among dropouts, from the U-9 to the U-18 age categories, whereas their counterparts born earlier in the year were under-represented. The distortion of the distribution was most marked for the extreme quarters of the competitive year, and in the U-13 and U-15 categories. This biased distribution was not confirmed for the U-7 category. Finally, regarding the adult category, an unbiased distribution of dropouts was observed as hypothesized. Practical implications to avoid the negative consequences of the relative age effect are advanced.

Automaticity facets applied to screen-time sedentary behaviours and active commuting measured by accelerometers.

Background: The time adults spend sitting in front of screens is a health risk factor. In contrast, walking and cycling to and from work, also known as active commuting, could promote physical activity and improve population health. Objective: This study investigated automatic properties role in explaining active commuting and screen-based sedentary behaviours. The stable, daily conditions for carrying out active commuting and screen-based sedentary behaviour are most likely to develop automatic properties. These characteristics mean performing behaviours via external cues (i.e. lack of intentionality), with an unpleasant emotional experience of not carrying out a set routine (i.e. lack of controllability), and without paying much attention (i.e. efficiency). Method: This article describes findings of a prospective and correlational study in which 128 people participated. First, participants responded to questions assessed using the Generic Multifaceted Automaticity Scale (GMAS), which measured the automatic properties of screen-based sedentary behaviour and active commuting. The following week, both behaviours were assessed by daily logs to document active commuting and screen-based sedentary behaviour events, and by an accelerometer, worn for seven days, as an objective criterion. Confirmatory factor analyses, bivariate correlations, and multiple linear regressions were computed for the associations between the GMAS scores and objective criterion measures of screen-based sedentary behaviours and active commuting. Results: Automaticity facets displayed different relationships with screen-based sedentary behaviours and active commuting - people with higher lack of intentionality and lack of controllability for active commuting present higher levels of moderate physical activity. In contrast, the lack of controllability of screen-based sedentary behaviours was a significant predictor of sedentary screen time. Conclusions: The multidimensional approach to automaticity could be useful in determining more precisely the features that need to be addressed to promote the adoption of active commuting and limit the time spent sitting in front of screens.

Students physical activity assessed by accelerometers and motivation for physical education during class: Should we consider lessons as a whole or only active periods?

BACKGROUND: This study explores the links between measures of motivation based on Self-Determination Theory, and physical activity (PA) indicators assessed with accelerometers during physical education lessons. METHODS: Questionnaires about motivation and psychological needs on the context of physical education were completed by 319 middle high school students, up to 5 times within a 2-year period; they were equipped with an accelerometer and videotaped during a physical education lesson. PA-related indicators were computed considering the entire duration of the lessons (strategy 1), but also retaining only active times during the lesson (strategy 2). RESULTS: When the first strategy was used very few correlations emerged between motivation constructs and PA-related indicators. On the other hand, the second strategy was more effective to detect the link between motivation and students activity during class-time, in particular with sedentary time, moderate and vigorous PA. CONCLUSIONS: This study shed light on the importance of considering how the sequences of PA sessions should be coded, in order to link psychological phenomena with PA levels, as well as to provide a meaningful support for motivational hypotheses.

Balance across contexts: importance of balanced need satisfaction across various life domains.

Self-determination theory posits that satisfaction of three basic psychological needs-autonomy, competence, and relatedness-are required for psychological well-being, and a recent study showed that the balance in the satisfaction of these three needs independently affects well-being. The present investigation builds on these findings by examining the balance of adolescents' need satisfaction across distinct life contexts. The results of three studies show that adolescents who experience a balance of need satisfaction across important life contexts, including at school, at home, with friends, and in part-time jobs, reported higher well-being and better school adjustment. This finding emerged consistently across four countries and across multiple measures of school adjustment, including teacher reports. Together, these results support previous research that highlights the importance of consistency for psychological functioning.

Coping with examinations: exploring relationships between students' coping strategies, implicit theories of ability, and perceived control.

BACKGROUND: Relatively little is known about the contribution of students' beliefs regarding the nature of academic ability (i.e. their implicit theories) on strategies used to deal with examinations. AIMS: This study applied Dweck's socio-cognitive model of achievement motivation to better understand how students cope with examinations. It was expected that students' implicit theories of academic ability would be related to their use of particular coping strategies to deal with exam-related stress. Additionally, it was predicted that perceived control over exams acts as a mediator between implicit theories of ability and coping. SAMPLE: Four hundred and ten undergraduate students (263 males, 147 females), aged from 17 to 26 years old (M=19.73, SD=1.46) were volunteers for the present study. METHODS: Students completed measures of coping, implicit theories of academic ability, and perception of control over academic examinations during regular classes in the first term of the university year. RESULTS: Multiple regression analyses revealed that incremental beliefs of ability significantly and positively predicted active coping, planning, venting of emotions, seeking social support for emotional and instrumental reasons, whereas entity beliefs positively predicted behavioural disengagement and negatively predicted active coping and acceptance. In addition, analyses revealed that entity beliefs of ability were related to coping strategies through students' perception of control over academic examinations. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm that exam-related coping varies as a function of students' beliefs about the nature of academic ability and their perceptions of control when approaching examinations.

Proximal and distal factors associated with dropout versus maintained participation in organized sport.

The purpose of this study was to investigate a large number of determinants of sport dropout among French adolescents, in order to reveal proximal and distal factors of dropout. 261 current and 106 dropout athletes (M = 14.6) participated to the study. The data were collected by a questionnaire assessing demographic information, athletes' perceptions on their experience, their parents, teammates and coach. t-tests revealed that current and former athletes were distinct on numerous variables. A discriminant function analysis showed three proximal predictors of sport dropout (perceived value of the activity, satisfaction, parents' investment). Subsequent regression analyses showed that perceived value was positively predicted by perceived competence, the value of the activity for teammates, coach's investment, and negatively by conflicts of interest and goal conflict with teammates; satisfaction was positively predicted by the coach's mastery climate, but negatively predicted by conflicts of interest and goal conflict with teammates and with the coach; parents investment was negatively predicted by the goal conflicts with them. This study permitted to discriminate between proximal and more distal psychological antecedents of the dropout behaviour. It brings information relative to the possible targets of interventions aiming at preventing dropout from organized sport. Key pointsGeographical, financial and time constraints did not predict dropout from organized sport.The value of the activity, the level of satisfaction of the athlete, and the perceived parental investment, were identified as proximal predictors of maintained participation.Athletes' perceptions about themselves (perceived competence, conflict of interest) or their coach (investment, climate, goal conflicts), peers (value, goal conflicts) or parents (goal conflicts), seem to act as distal factors.

Development and validation of the 'Echelle de Motivation envers l'Activité Physique en contexte de Santé': A motivation scale towards health-oriented physical activity in French.

This article presents the validation of the 'Echelle de Motivation envers l'Activité Physique en contexte de Santé' including the six forms of motivation underlined by self-determination theory. Study 1 underlines the content validity of a pool of 30 items ( N = 20). Study 2 supports the six-factor structure validity of the 18-item Echelle de Motivation envers l'Activité Physique en contexte de Santé ( N = 309). Study 3 ( N = 191) confirms structure validity, as well as concurrent validity and 2-week temporal reliability. The Echelle de Motivation envers l'Activité Physique en contexte de Santé can be considered as a valid and reliable tool to use in prevention or rehabilitation contexts.

Understanding the dynamics of physical activity practice in the health context through Regulatory Focus and Self-Determination theories.

This research aimed to associate for the first time in the literature Regulatory Focus and Self-Determination theories to understand the dynamics of physical activity practice in the health context. Two cross-sectional studies were conducted with 603 (Study 1) and 395 (Study 2) French volunteer participants aged from 18 to 69 and 19 to 71 respectively, who were healthy or concerned by a health condition. The main results of structural equation modeling analyses demonstrated that across the two studies, health promotion focus was positively associated with intrinsic motivation (.44 < ß < .74, p < .001), integrated regulation (.47 < ß < .72, p < .001), identified regulation (.40 < ß < .69, p < .001) and introjected regulation (.41 < ß < .53, p < .001), whereas health prevention focus was positively related with external regulation (.31 < ß < .45, p < .001) and amotivation (.32 < ß < .38, p < .001). Bootstrapping analyses main results in Study 2 showed that health promotion focus was indirectly associated with physical activity through intrinsic motivation (95% CI [.02 to .11]), integrated regulation (95% CI [.00 to .08]), identified regulation (95% CI [.00 to .09]) and introjected regulation (95% CI [.04 to .12]), whereas health prevention focus was indirectly associated with physical activity through external regulation (95% CI [.00 to .12]). These studies reveal meaningful associations between Regulatory Focus and Self-Determination theories' variables which support the relevance of associating these two models to understand the processes underlying the physical activity practice.

Disgust assessment: Factorial structure and psychometric properties of the French version of the Disgust Propension and Sensibility Scale Revised-12.

The present study examined the internal and external validity of the French version of the 12-item Disgust Propensity and Sensitivity Scale-Revised (DPSS-12) in a nonclinical sample from the general population. Two hundred and eighty-two participants completed the DPSSf-12 questionnaire as well as the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), Anxiety Trait (STAI B), Obsessional Belief Questionnaire 44 items (OBQ 44), Obsessive Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R) and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Confirmatory Factor Analysis supported a 2-factor structure after two sensitivity items were removed. The 10-item scale showed good internal consistency, construct validity and test-retest reliability. These adequate psychometric properties make the DPSSf-10 appropriate for use by researchers and practitioners.

Intention and automaticity toward physical and sedentary screen-based leisure activities in adolescents: A profile perspective.

PURPOSE: Physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) are increasingly considered independent health behaviors. Additionally, current research suggests that both controlled and automatic determinants account for their adoption. The purpose of this article was to identify intention-automaticity profiles toward PA and screen-based SB and to examine how those profiles are associated with different behavioral patterns. METHOD: Two cross-sectional studies based on self-report questionnaires were conducted with French high school students (Study 1: n = 198; Study 2: n = 185). RESULTS: In all, 4 distinct motivational profiles appeared. The first 3 clusters emerged in both studies: "PA" (high levels of automaticity and intention for PA, low levels of automaticity and intention for screen-based SB); "screen" (high levels of automaticity and intention for screen-based SB, low levels of automaticity and intention for PA), and "mixed" (high levels of all variables), whereas the fourth cluster was observed only in Study 2: "high control" (below-mean levels of automaticity, high levels of intention toward both PA and screen-based SB). Adolescents with a screen profile displayed the least healthy behavioral pattern, whereas those in the PA profile demonstrated the most favorable behaviors. CONCLUSION: Future research is needed to extend these results to other populations using complementary assessment methods of automatic psychological processes and PA and SB behaviors.

Interaction between self-regulation, intentions and implicit attitudes in the prediction of physical activity among persons with obesity.

OBJECTIVE: Both explicit and implicit motivational processes predict physical activity (PA); however, their respective contributions may depend on interindividual differences. This study examined the moderating role of trait impulsivity and executive functions in the associations between PA intentions, implicit attitudes toward sedentary behavior, and PA measured with accelerometers in persons with obesity. METHODS: Participants (N = 76; Mage = 56 years, SD = 11.9; MBody Mass Index = 39.1, SD = 6.5) completed baseline questionnaires measuring their PA intentions and trait impulsivity. They also performed 2 computerized tests measuring implicit attitudes toward sedentary behavior and executive functions. PA was assessed 4 months later with an accelerometer. RESULTS: Implicit attitudes toward sedentary behavior and executive functions interacted to predict PA. Higher implicit attitudes were associated with significantly lower PA in participants with low and moderate executive functions but not high executive functions. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the role of implicit processes and cognitive factors in health-related behavior adoption through time. Practically, these variables may be useful to identify individuals at risk of abandoning PA after programs who thus may benefit from complementary interventions (e.g., provide feedback on implicit attitudes and develop self-regulatory skills). (PsycINFO Database Record