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The study purpose was to examine whether adolescents who participated in organized physical activity (PA) programs differed from nonparticipants in motivation, social support, and self-efficacy related to PA; PA (min/hr); and sedentary screen time behavior. Thirty-nine 5th–7th grade adolescents participated in organized PA programs; 41 did not. Approximately 56.3% were Black, and 52.5% had annual family incomes <$20,000. Compared to nonparticipants, those who participated reported significantly higher social support (M = 2.32 vs. 3.13, p <.001) and fewer hours watching television or movies on a usual weekend day (M = 2.49 vs. 1.59, p =.016); and had higher accelerometer-measured vigorous PA (M = 0.58 vs. 1.04, p =.009) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (M = 2.48 vs. 3.45, p =.035). Involving adolescents in organized PA programs may be important for improving their moderate-to-vigorous PA, vigorous PA, and related psychosocial factors, as well as reducing sedentary screen time behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Investigate the associations between psychosocial factors and physical activity. Design: Secondary data analysis utilizing baseline data of a large-scale community-based randomized controlled lifestyle behavior intervention. Setting: The Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children in Michigan, USA. Subjects: Low-income overweight or obese mothers with young children (N = 740, 65% response rate). Measures: Survey data were collected via phone interview. Predictors included self-efficacy, autonomous motivation, emotional coping, and social support. Self-reported leisure physical activity was the outcome variable. Covariates were age, race, smoking, employment, education, body mass index, and postpartum status. Analysis: A multiple linear regression model was applied. Results: Self-efficacy (β =.32, 95% CI =.11,.52, P =.003) and autonomous motivation (β =.10, 95% CI =.03,.17, P =.005) were positively associated with physical activity. However, emotional coping and social support were not associated with physical activity. Conclusion: Future research should examine the longitudinal association of key psychosocial factors with physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data from a community-based lifestyle behavioral intervention study, this secondary data analysis investigated whether emotional coping, coping self-efficacy, and autonomous motivation mediated the association between the intervention and perceived stress in low-income overweight or obese mothers of young children. Results showed that coping self-efficacy significantly mediated the association between the intervention and perceived stress. However, emotional coping and autonomous motivation did not significantly mediate the association between intervention and perceived stress. Interventions may be more effective in helping the target audience reduce stress if they incorporate practical skills that can increase a sense of coping self-efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to identify factors that influenced stress, healthy eating and physical activity among low-income overweight or obese pregnant women. We conducted seven focus groups with 96 low-income overweight and obese pregnant women. Common themes were identified from audio tapes and transcripts. Women said that poor communication affected their relationships with spouses or significant others. They were frustrated or upset with significant others for three key reasons: failure to understand or listen to the pregnant women's pregnancy concerns, refusal to be helpful when asked and being overly concerned with the woman's safety. Most women said that they were emotional and took naps throughout the day after becoming pregnant. Many withdrew from their social interactions. They also faced numerous challenges that made healthy eating more difficult, e.g., craving for unhealthy foods and eating foods for comfort. To eat healthier, some reminded themselves to avoid overeating or stop eating in the car. Women were not physically active because of tiredness, lack of motivation, inadequate social support, or bad weather. Some stayed physically active to prevent excessive pregnancy weight gain and have an easier labor. Women equivocally said weighing themselves to manage weight would add to their stress and make them feel more depressed. When designing interventions to help low-income overweight and obese pregnant women avoid excessive pregnancy weight gain, it is important to include information and practical advice on stress management, emphasizing effective communication skills with significant others and helping them plan effective ways to manage negative feelings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We investigated whether autonomous motivation and self-efficacy might mediate the association between a lifestyle behavior intervention and dietary fat intake in low-income overweight or obese women with young children.Methods: Participants were randomized to an intervention or comparison group. Intervention participants received a 16-week intervention aimed to prevent weight gain through promotion of stress management, healthy eating and physical activity. During the intervention phase, participants viewed a designated video lesson at home and dialed in a peer support group teleconference every week (weeks 1-4) then every other week (weeks 5-16). Potential mediation effects were analyzed using sequential mixed-effects linear models and path analysis.Results: The intervention led to increased autonomous motivation (β = 0.34, standard error [SE] = 0.15, P = 0.005), which subsequently increased self-efficacy (β = 0.18, SE = 0.35, P < 0.001), and higher levels of self-efficacy were associated with decreased dietary fat intake (β = -0.22, SE = 0.28, P < 0.001). In other words, autonomous motivation and self-efficacy mediated the association between the lifestyle behavior intervention and dietary fat intake.Conclusion: To decrease dietary fat intake for low-income overweight or obese women with young children, strategies, such as those promoting peer encouragement, may be warranted in interventions to enhance autonomous motivation and/or practical skills for increasing self-efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]