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Biomedical subjects

Lawrence R Brawley

Publications and source records attributed to Lawrence R Brawley.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Moms in motion: a group-mediated cognitive-behavioral physical activity intervention.

BACKGROUND: When examining the prevalence of physical inactivity by gender and age, women over the age of 25 are at an increased risk for sedentary behavior. Childbearing and motherhood have been explored as one possible explanation for this increased risk. Post natal exercise studies to date demonstrate promising physical and psychological outcomes, however few physical activity interventions have been theory-driven and tailored to post natal exercise initiates. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a group-mediated cognitive behavioral intervention based upon social-cognitive theory and group dynamics (GMCB) to a standard care postnatal exercise program (SE). METHOD: A randomized, two-arm intervention design was used. Fifty-seven post natal women were randomized to one of two conditions: (1) a standard exercise treatment (SE) and (2) a standard exercise treatment plus group-mediated cognitive behavioral intervention (GMCB). Participants in both conditions participated in a four-week intensive phase where participants received standard exercise training. In addition, GMCB participants received self-regulatory behavioral skills training via six group-mediated counseling sessions. Following the intensive phase, participants engaged in a four-week home-based phase of self-structured exercise. Measures of physical activity, barrier efficacy, and proximal outcome expectations were administered and data were analyzed using ANCOVA procedures. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: ANCOVA of change scores for frequency, minutes, and volume of physical activity revealed significant treatment effects over the intensive and home-based phases (p's < 0.01). In addition, ANCOVA of change in mean barrier efficacy and proximal outcome expectations at the conclusion of the intensive phase demonstrated that GMCB participants increased their initial level of barrier efficacy and outcome expectations while SE participants decreased (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: While both exercise programs resulted in improvements to exercise participation, the GMCB intervention produced greater improvement in overall physical activity, barrier efficacy and proximal outcome expectations.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Postural, physiological and psychological reactions to challenging balance: does age make a difference?

OBJECTIVES: To determine if increases in balance challenge influenced concomitant change in self-efficacy, state anxiety and physiological arousal, and if these changes were correlated with changes in standing balance in young and older adults. DESIGN: A 2 x 2 between- (age) by within-subject (balance challenge) factorial design. SETTING: quiet standing trials were performed on low and high support-surface heights in a research laboratory. SUBJECTS: 14 Young (22-31 years) and 14 older (60-83 years) adults with no known neurological or balance disorders, or falls within the last year. METHODS: Forceplate-derived measures of standing balance, measures of state anxiety, blood pressure and task-specific balance and coping self-efficacy. RESULTS: Independent of age, mean position, amplitude and frequency of centre of pressure displacements were significantly influenced by surface height, as were anxiety and efficacy. Decreased amplitude and increased frequency changes observed in both age groups with increased balance challenge were consistent with a stiffening strategy. Blood pressure, state anxiety and self-efficacy were correlated with different postural control changes in young and older adults. CONCLUSIONS: Older adults used the same stiffening strategy as young adults to cope with the increased anxiety and lowered confidence associated with standing on a high surface. Converging evidence indicates that physiological status, state anxiety and balance efficacy are related to specific changes in postural performance with increased balance challenge. Findings highlight the potential additive effects of psychological and physiological factors on clinical balance performance and the need to consider comprehensive rehabilitation and prevention techniques that concern psychological and physiological contributions to balance deficits.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Preferring proxy-agency: impact on self-efficacy for exercise.

We examined: (a) the social-cognitions of those who differ in preferred level of proxy-assistance in both proxy-led and independent exercise contexts; and (b) the relationships between proxy-agency and reliance. Sixty-five fitness class participants completed measures of self-regulatory efficacy, task self-efficacy, exercise intentions, proxy-efficacy and perceived reliance. A 2 (exercise context) by 2 (preferred assistance) MANOVA revealed significant main effects for assistance and context. Also, significant assistance by context interactions was found for both efficacies. When facing exercise without a proxy, individuals preferring high proxy assistance expressed lower self-regulatory and task self-efficacy. Finally, proxy- and self-regulatory efficacy were shown to be separate predictors of reliance on a proxy. Results support Bandura's theorizing about the proxy-led context and its influence on self-regulatory efficacy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Functional health: innovations in research on physical activity with older adults.

PURPOSE: This symposium was structured to provide two keynote addresses and recent innovations on the topic of physical activity interventions. OVERVIEW: In the first paper, Drs. W. Jack Rejeski and Lawrence R. Brawley combine the content of their two keynotes into a single integrative review. This paper is then followed by four studies that build on and extend the research reviewed in their keynotes. The first is a study that examines the measurement properties of a scale designed to assess older adults' desire for physical competence. The second is an experiment that tests the efficacy of a brief intervention for increasing older adults' motives to attend educational sessions on physical activity in the context of assisted living. The third involves a pilot study in older adults that explores the feasibility and efficacy of using a group-mediated intervention for psychological empowerment in conjunction with more traditional methods of strength training. The fourth examines an innovative intervention that was designed to link the abilities acquired during strength training to older adults' performance of activities of daily living. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity interventions should be designed to promote collaborative relationships between interventionists and participants. Older adults bring with them symptoms, emotions, motives, and beliefs that are as important to adherence and to the outcomes of interventions as the physical training regimen itself. Furthermore, from the perspective of both behavior change and physical training, the design of physical activity programs for older adults should pay close attention to intended objectives.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2006

Weight training to activities of daily living: helping older adults make a connection.

PURPOSE: To compare a weight training alone treatment (WT) to an innovative WT plus education treatment (WT + ED) about the use of strength-training gains when performing activities of daily living (ADL) with respect to their effects on ADL self-efficacy and performance. METHODS: Twenty-three men and 41 women (mean age = 74.4 +/- 3.7 yr) were randomly assigned to WT or WT + ED. Both groups performed 12 wk (two sessions per week) of WT targeting eight major muscle groups. WT + ED received behavioral training and associated written materials emphasizing the link between WT and ADL. WT received a placebo educational intervention. Baseline and posttest measures were collected for self-efficacy for performing eight lab-based ADL tasks and performance of the eight ADL tasks. A manipulation check compared participants' knowledge of ADL that might be improved through WT. RESULTS: The WT + ED treatment listed more ADL that could be improved with WT and had greater posttest self-efficacy for performing the ADL lab tasks than the WT treatment. Greater ADL self-efficacy did not translate into better ADL performance. CONCLUSIONS: A targeted educational intervention can help older adults generalize the benefits and confidence obtained through WT to their performance of ADL. Further research is needed to determine the behavioral and psychosocial impact of enhanced ADL self-efficacy on older adults.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2005

Breast cancer survivors involved in vigorous team physical activity: psychosocial correlates of maintenance participation.

Physical activity is increasingly being promoted as a means to achieve both physical and psychological benefits for cancer survivors. For women with breast cancer, one sport growing in popularity is dragon boating. The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the psychosocial correlates of dragon boat participation over the course of a season. Six crews completed the baseline (early-season) assessment (n = 109) and late-season assessments (n = 56). The self-report questionnaire completed at both time points included an assessment of the theory of planned behaviour variables, quality of life, cohesion, and physical activity levels. A prospective examination of the TPB variables revealed attitude at early season as the only significant predictor of behavioural intentions 12 weeks later at late season (R2 adjusted = 0.27, p < 0.001). Overall, the group environment was cohesive at a level similar to that for female sport teams among the asymptomatic population. As well, participants' health-related quality of life was similar to normal, healthy women of similar age for both mental and physical health.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Group-mediated activity counseling and traditional exercise therapy programs: effects on health-related quality of life among older adults in cardiac rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: Regular physical activity has been consistently related to improvements in health- related quality of life (HRQL) in older adults. Nevertheless, systematic investigations of the influence of exercise therapy on older men and women enrolled in cardiac rehabilitation remain sparse. PURPOSE: The primary purpose of this investigation was to compare the effects of a group-mediated cognitive behavioral physical activity intervention program (GMCB) to a traditional cardiac rehabilitation program (CRP) with regard to changes in HRQL in a community-dwelling sample of older adults. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial assigned 147 participants who were eligible for inclusion in cardiac rehabilitation to the GMCB or traditional CRP arms. Changes in HRQL at 3 and 12 months were assessed using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) from the Medical Outcomes Study. RESULTS: Mixed-model analyses yielded significant Baseline x Gender x Treatment interactions for the self-reported mental health component and the Vitality subscale of the SF-36. Decomposition of these interactions revealed that men in both exercise therapy groups and women in the GMCB treatment with low baseline values demonstrated more favorable improvements in the HRQL perceived mental health measures than women in the CRP treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in HRQL among older adults enrolled in cardiac rehabilitation differ as a function of treatment, gender, and initial mental health status. Results are discussed in terms of the implications for the design of future physical activity interventions among older adults with cardiovascular disease and the measurement of their HRQL.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Promoting physical activity for older adults: the challenges for changing behavior.

This article addresses the formidable topic of promoting physical activity among older adults. The primary focus is on older adults who are at risk for or who have evidence of functional limitations or physical disabilities that often accompany chronic disease; where relevant, findings about healthy older adults are also discussed. All of these individuals experience barriers for physical activity that range from cultural expectations to complex symptoms that accompany the disablement process. Conducting physical activity programs in diverse settings and utilizing multiple channels of communication help to alleviate some of these barriers. A major emphasis of the article concerns behavior change strategies necessary in interventions for at-risk older adults with diverse needs and individual differences. Based on recent investigations, several challenges for research are proposed. It is suggested that further attention should be directed toward individualized tailoring of programs that recognize unique barriers in older adults such as intermittent illness and the burden of caregiving. Furthermore, research on physical activity interventions should examine whether they will benefit from collaborative, social problem-solving models of behavior change that link individual and group-mediated interventions. The final challenge proposed is research to examine viable ways of linking these interventions to population-based health promotion activity programs.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Older adults with chronic disease: benefits of group-mediated counseling in the promotion of physically active lifestyles.

In this 12-month trial standard exercise training was compared with a group-mediated cognitive-behavioral (GMCB) intervention with respect to effects on long-term adherence and change in physical function of older adults who were either at risk for or had cardiovascular disease. Participants (147 older men and women) were randomized to the 2 treatments. Outcomes included self-reportedphysical activity, fitness, and self-efficacy. The GMCB treatment produced greater improvements on all outcomes than did standard exercise therapy. Regardless of treatment assignment, men had more favorable change on the study outcomes than did women. Analysis of a self-regulatory process measure in the GMCB group revealed that change in barriers efficacy was related to change in physical activity and fitness. Results suggest that teaching older adults to integrate physical activity into their lives via GMCB leads to better long-term outcomes than standardized exercise therapy.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Older adults in cardiac rehabilitation: a new strategy for enhancing physical function.

PURPOSE: This study contrasted the effect of a group-mediated cognitive-behavioral intervention (GMCB) versus traditional cardiac rehabilitation (CRP) upon changes in objective and self-reported physical function of older adults [mean (SD) age of 64.7 (7.5) yr] after 3 months of exercise therapy. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial enrolled 147 participants who were eligible for inclusion into cardiac rehabilitation. Baseline to 3-month changes in self-reported and performance related measures of physical function were assessed using a physical functioning questionnaire, a 6-min walk test, and measured MET levels. RESULTS: Paired t-tests revealed that participants made improvements in all measures across the first 3 months of the study, irrespective of group treatment (P < 0.001). General linear models including effects for baseline levels of physical function, treatment, and gender revealed that lower functioning men in the GMCB treatment made greater improvements than any other subgroup on the two performance outcomes: 6-min walk and measured MET levels (P < 0.01). Gender did not moderate change in self-reported level of physical function (P > 0.05); however, the lower functioning participants in the GMCB intervention experienced greater improvements in self-reported physical function than those in CRP (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Exercise therapy is a valuable intervention for improving physical function of older adults with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and those at increased risk for CVD. Baseline level of physical function and gender are important variables to consider when studying the relationship between exercise therapy and improvements in physical function.

Activities of Daily Living↗