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The growth of the self-concept through increasing perspectives, identities, resources, and efficacy is known as self-expansion and typically involves novelty, challenge, interest, and/or excitement. Self-expansion is positively associated with health factors including self-reported physical activity (PA). This study is the first to investigate self-expansion and daily PA, and with a PA monitor. Fifty community participants completed baseline questionnaires, wore a Fitbit One and completed daily self-report questionnaires for 28 days, and completed follow-up questionnaires. Daily surveys included questions about both general and PA-specific self-expansion. Across the 4 weeks, steps taken was positively correlated with both general (all maximum likelihood r = 0.17) and PA-specific self-expansion (maximum likelihood rs of 0.15 and 0.16), and PA-specific self-expansion was positively correlated (maximum likelihood rs of 0.38 and 0.50) with aerobic activity. Future research should investigate this relationship in a larger more diverse sample and test whether PA-specific self-expansion can be utilized as an acceptable, feasible, and effective intervention to increase daily steps and other forms of PA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical activity (PA) has been shown to enhance physical health, mental health, and cognitive functioning. Adult and older adult research shows that PA positively influences neuropsychological performance and protects against cognitive decline. This study investigated neuropsychological performance in uninjured athletes and nonathletes using an iPad-based neuropsychological battery called C3Logix. Since literature suggests that PA enhances cognitive functioning, athletes may perform better on neurocognitive measures than nonathletes due to athletes' assumed higher level of PA. We hypothesized that collegiate athletes would outperform nonathletes on all cognitive tasks. Ninety-five athletes and 92 nonathletes completed the neurocognitive assessments and results showed that athletes outperformed nonathletes on reaction time tasks, but not in other cognitive domains. The implications of this study included extending the work of previous research using C3Logix and added to our understanding of a possible difference in reaction time between healthy collegiate athletes and nonathletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research utilizing repeated-measures such as daily assessments with self-report and/or objective measures [e.g., physical activity (PA) monitors] are important in understanding health behaviors and informing practice and policy. However, studies that utilize daily assessment often encounter issues with attrition and non-compliance. The current research yielded high levels of retention and adherence with both self-report and objective daily measures. The purpose of this paper is to highlight and discuss strategies utilized in maximizing retention, minimizing missing data, and some lessons learned from the research experience. Fifty community participants took part in a 4-week study utilizing both daily self-report questionnaires and daily use of PA monitors (Fitbit One™). This study focused on typical daily PA and was not an intervention study (e.g., participants were not randomized nor asked to change their PA behavior). Participants completed the study in two waves (wave 1 n = 10, wave 2 n = 40). The research team utilized several retention strategies including automating the data collection process, a prorated incentive structure, having a dedicated and responsive study staff, and utilizing the 2-wave process to optimize data collection during the 2nd wave. The study had 100% retention and generally positive anonymous feedback post-study. Overall, participants completed the vast majority of daily surveys (97%) and wore their Fitbits (for at least part of the day) on almost all days (99.57%) of the study, although there were individual differences. The strategies discussed and lessons learned may be useful to other researchers using daily measurements for whom adherence and retention are important issues. Future research employing these strategies in different populations, with different measurements, and for longer durations is warranted to determine generalizability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Cerebral perfusion is important in older adults as it is linked to cognitive declines. [•] Physical activity may be associated with greater cerebral perfusion. [•] MRI resting state cerebrovascular perfusion data was acquired for 59 older adults. [•] Women exhibited greater cerebrovascular perfusion than men. [•] Strength training was associated with great perfusion for women but not men. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objectives: Exercise rates are low, but perceived support from close others can influence exercise habits. The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of perceived support for exercise as well as close others’ exercise habits on own exercise, and to examine the differential effects of friend’s exercise and romantic partner’s exercise. Design: Undergraduates (N =220) at a northeastern university completed questionnaires on their own exercise habits, their romantic partner’s and best friend’s exercise habits, and perceived support for exercise. Results: Friend’s exercise was associated with own exercise, but only when perceived support was high. Being male, partner’s exercise, and friend’s exercise all independently predicted own exercise. Conclusions: Exercise habits of close others are associated with one’s own exercise habits, though this relationship may vary depending on perceived support. Attention should be paid to women’s exercise habits, since they are less likely to exercise than men. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Self-control is associated with positive health outcomes; however, there is limited information on self-control and weight loss. Thus, the purpose of this preliminary research was to examine how objectively measured self-control operates within the context of a behavioral weight loss program (BWL). Results showed that greater self-control and increases in self-control during BWL treatment were associated with greater weight loss (r's≥0.26; p's<0.05), better treatment attendance (r's≥0.26; p <0.05), adherence to a low fat diet (r's≤-0.37; p's<0.05), and greater increases in physical activity (r's≥0.46; p's<0.05). These preliminary findings suggest that self-control may play an important role in weight loss success. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]