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Objectives: The aims of this study were to examine the longitudinal and bi-directional associations of pain and fatigue with sedentary, standing and stepping time in RA., Methods: People living with RA undertook identical assessments at baseline (T1, n = 104) and 6-month follow-up (T2, n = 54). Participants completed physical measures (e.g. height, weight, BMI) and routine clinical assessments to characterize RA disease activity (DAS-28). Participants also completed questionnaires to assess physical function (HAQ), pain (McGill Pain Questionnaire) and fatigue (Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue Scale). Participants' free-living sedentary, standing and stepping time (min/day) were assessed over 7 days using the activPAL3µ™. For the statistical analysis, hierarchical regression analysis was employed to inform the construction of path models, which were subsequently used to examine bi-directional associations of pain and fatigue with sedentary, standing and stepping time. Specifically, where significant associations were observed in longitudinal regression analysis, the bi-directionality of these associations was further investigated via path analysis. For regression analysis, bootstrapping was applied to regression models to account for non-normally distributed data, with significance confirmed using 95% CIs. Where variables were normally distributed, parametric, non-bootstrapped statistics were also examined (significance confirmed via β coefficients, with P < 0.05) to ensure all plausible bi-directional associations were examined in path analysis., Results: Longitudinal bootstrapped regression analysis indicated that from T1 to T2, change in pain, but not fatigue, was positively associated with change in sedentary time. In addition, change in pain and fatigue were negatively related to change in standing time. Longitudinal non-bootstrapped regression analysis demonstrated a significant positive association between change in fatigue with change in sedentary time. Path analysis supported the hypothesized bi-directionality of associations between change in pain and fatigue with change in sedentary time (pain, β = 0.38; fatigue, β = 0.44) and standing time (pain, β = -0.39; fatigue, β = -0.50)., Conclusion: Findings suggest pain and fatigue are longitudinally and bi-directionally associated with sedentary and standing time in RA., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology.)

Background and Objectives: Peer volunteers offer a promising avenue for promoting physical activity in older adults. However, recruiting and retaining such volunteers are challenging. We aimed to examine longitudinally factors that determine whether older volunteer walk leaders will persist in their role., Research Design and Methods: We recruited older adults volunteering as walk leaders, from retirement villages in Perth, at the start of a 16-week walking intervention. Using a mixed-methods multiple case study design, informed by self-determination theory, we examined the motivational processes of three profiles: Dropouts, Completers, and Extenders. One male and 10 female (medianAge = 75 years, age range: 66-83 years) peer walk leaders were interviewed twice over 4 months, and data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Questionnaires provided information on volunteer characteristics, leadership confidence, and volunteer motivation., Results: Self-orientated goals, obligation and guilt, emotional exhaustion, lack of psychological need satisfaction, and perceived lack of support were barriers to volunteer persistence. Social confidence and relatedness satisfaction motivated volunteers to persist until program completion (Completers). Altruistic goals, using sustainable helping strategies, psychological need satisfaction, optimism, and enjoyment were important for continuing the role after the program (Extenders)., Discussion and Implications: Results describe how differences in volunteer motives, personal characteristics, and training may affect motivational processes that determine persistence as an older peer walk leader. We provide suggestions on selecting, training, and supporting older volunteer walk leaders to facilitate their retention., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Physical inactivity is prevalent in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, increasing the risk of poor physical health and compromised well-being. Interventions are therefore required to support physical activity (PA) behavior change in this population. This study examined whether a self-determination theory (SDT) based exercise intervention for people with RA, increased autonomous motivation for PA and in turn, moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and subjective vitality RA patients (n = 115) were randomized to a 3-month SDT-based psychological intervention + RA-tailored exercise program (experimental group, n = 59) or a RA-tailored exercise program only (control group, n = 56). During the program, the SDT-based intervention group received one-on-one consultations with a PA advisor trained in delivering strategies to promote autonomous motivation for PA. Well-established questionnaires assessed autonomous and controlled motivation for PA, MVPA (min/week), and subjective vitality at baseline (T1) and 3 months (T2). Path analysis examined the hypothesized theoretical process model. The model demonstrated an excellent fit to the data (n = 70, χ2 (26) = 28.69, p = .33, comparative fit index = 0.99, root square mean error of approximation = 0.04). The intervention corresponded to higher autonomous motivation and lower controlled motivation for PA at T2, after controlling for T1 autonomous and controlled motivation. In turn, changes in autonomous motivation from T1 to T2 significantly positively predicted changes in MVPA and subjective vitality. Results suggest an SDT based psychological intervention comprising autonomy-supportive strategies for PA predicted greater reported autonomous reasons for PA in RA patients participating in a tailored 3-month exercise program. Increased autonomous motivation linked to increased engagement in MVPA and feelings of vitality in these patients., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Behavioral Medicine.)

Background and Objectives: Peer-led interventions are promising for the promotion of physical activity behavior in older adults. However, little is known about the attributes of effective older peer leaders in such intervention programs. The objective was to determine what older adults perceive to be effective peer leader attributes., Research Design and Methods: A mixed-methods concurrent triangulation design was used. Participants, aged 60 years and older, were recruited from retirement villages and existing walking groups in Western Australia. They were predominantly white, Australian-born, female, healthy retirees. The sample consisted of four groups of older adults: those who had taken part in past peer-led walking programs (experienced walkers; n = 18), those interested in joining as walkers in a peer-led walking intervention (inexperienced walkers; n = 43), those interested to take on a peer leader role (inexperienced peer leaders; n = 25), and those who had already served as peer leaders (experienced peer leaders; n = 15). Questionnaires measured perceived effective leadership attributes, and physical activity was measured using ActivPAL devices (N = 101; Mage [SD] = 75.36 [7.59]). Semistructured interviews were conducted with the majority of participants (N = 68; Mage [SD] = 74.68 [7.78])., Results: Overall, participants described an effective peer leader as optimistic, compassionate, and friendly, but differences in perceptions were apparent between the groups., Discussion and Implications: Our findings advance knowledge about important characteristics of an effective older peer leader, which can inform peer leader training, recruitment of peer leaders, and future scale development., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Little attention has been paid to within-person daily associations among light physical activity (PA), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sedentary behavior (SB) with subsequent bodily pain and fatigue. Daily reports of pain and fatigue are less likely to be affected by recall bias and to conflate days of high and low pain/ fatigue into one overall score., Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine daily within-person associations between pain, fatigue, and physical health and ascertain whether such associations are moderated by individual differences in these variables., Methods: Participants were 63 community-living older adults (female n = 43, mean age = 70.98 years). Questionnaires measured typical levels of PA, SB, bodily pain, fatigue, and physical health. Subsequently, on a daily basis over a 1-week period, participants' levels of light PA, MVPA, and SB were measured using accelerometers. Participants completed a questionnaire rating their pain and fatigue at the end of each day., Results: Multilevel modeling revealed positive within-person associations between daily light PA, dailyMVPA, and pain, as well as negative within-person associations between daily SB and pain. For individuals with higher typical levels of fatigue, there was a negative association between daily light PA, MVPA, and fatigue. For individuals with better levels of physical health, there was also a negative association between daily MVPA and fatigue. For those with higher typical levels of fatigue and better levels of physical health, there was a positive association between daily SB and fatigue. No such interaction effects were found between high levels of typical pain and PA or SB., Conclusions: Our findings indicate that efforts to promote daily PA in older adults might be more effective for those who report high typical levels of fatigue and physical health, compared to those who report high levels of daily physical pain.

Background: Injury prevention is an important issue for police officers, but the effectiveness of prevention initiatives is dependent on officers' motivation toward, and adherence to, recommended health and safety guidelines., Aims: To understand effects of police officers' motivation to prevent occupational injury on beliefs about safety and adherence to injury prevention behaviours., Methods: Full-time police officers completed a survey comprising validated psychometric scales to assess autonomous, controlled and amotivated forms of motivation (Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire), behavioural adherence (Self-reported Treatment Adherence Scale) and beliefs (Safety Attitude Questionnaire) with respect to injury prevention behaviours., Results: There were 207 participants; response rate was 87%. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses demonstrated that autonomous motivation was positively related to behavioural adherence, commitment to safety and prioritizing injury prevention. Controlled motivation was a positive predictor of safety communication barriers. Amotivation was positively associated with fatalism regarding injury prevention, safety violation and worry., Conclusions: These findings are consistent with the tenets of self-determination theory in that autonomous motivation was a positive predictor of adaptive safety beliefs and adherence to injury prevention behaviours., (© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Occupational Medicine. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com)

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of different physical fitness levels [assessed by the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) test] with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in patients with RA., Methods: A total of 150 RA patients were assessed for cardiorespiratory fitness with a VO2max test and, based on this, were split in three groups using the 33rd (18.1 ml/kg/min) and 66th (22.4 ml/kg/min) centiles. Classical and novel CVD risk factors [blood pressure, body fat, insulin resistance, cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), physical activity, CRP, fibrinogen and white cell count], 10-year CVD risk, disease activity (DAS28) and severity (HAQ) were assessed in all cases., Results: Mean VO2max for all RA patients was 20.9 (s.d. 5.7) ml/kg/min. The 10-year CVD risk (P = 0.003), systolic blood pressure (P = 0.039), HDL (P = 0.017), insulin resistance and body fat (both at P < 0.001), CRP (P = 0.005), white blood cell count (P = 0.015) and fibrinogen (P < 0.001) were significantly different between the VO2max tertiles favouring the group with the higher VO2max levels. In multivariate analyses of variance, VO2max was significantly associated with body fat (P < 0.001), HDL (P = 0.007), insulin resistance (P < 0.003) and 10-year CVD risk (P < 0.001), even after adjustment for DAS28, HAQ and physical activity., Conclusion: VO2max levels are alarmingly low in RA patients. Higher levels of VO2max are associated with a better cardiovascular profile in this population. Future studies need to focus on developing effective behavioural interventions to improve cardiorespiratory fitness in RA., (© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the factors related to dietary lapse occurrence in a community sample of dieters., Methods: An ecological momentary assessment (EMA) methodology, via mobile phone-based diaries, was employed to record dietary lapse occurrences in a group of dieters (N = 80; M age  = 41.21 ± 15.60 years; M BMI = 30.78 ± 7.26) over 7 days., Results: Analyses indicated that lapses were positively associated with the strength of dietary temptation, presence of others, coping responses, and the environment (exposure to food cues) in which the dieters were in; lapses were more likely to occur in the evening and were negatively associated with the use of coping mechanisms. Additionally, lapse occurrence was found to mediate the relationships among the above predictors of lapse and the self-efficacy to resist future dietary temptations., Conclusions: Results provide an insight into the occurrence of lapses in dieters and have implications for interventions focusing on weight loss maintenance and relapse prevention.