PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Lynda B Ransdell

Publications and source records attributed to Lynda B Ransdell.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Factors related to physical activity adherence in women: review and suggestions for future research.

Approximately 50 percent of individuals who start an exercise program withdraw within 6 months. Thus, many individuals withdraw before health benefits have been realized. This is a disconcerting statistic considering the well known benefits of physical activity for decreasing risk of hypokinetic diseases and improving quality of life. The literature has suggested a plethora of factors to increase the number of individuals who initiate a physical activity program. However, little is known about the factors that keep women exercising-otherwise known as exercise adherence. The purpose of this paper is to: (a) systematically review the quantitative literature to discern the major factors contributing to adherence to physical activity in women and men and make recommendations for specific gender-based considerations that are important when designing PA interventions for women, and (b) suggest areas of future research related to increasing adherence to physical activity in women. Key factors reviewed in this paper may be useful in developing efficacious physical activity programs for women.

Exercise↗
PubMed2005

A 6-month pilot study of effects of a physical activity intervention on life satisfaction with a sample of three generations of women.

This pilot study assessed possible changes in Life Satisfaction across three generations of women after a 6-mo. physical activity intervention. The primary purpose of the study was to test the study design and discover critical issues that should be controlled for or changed in a follow-up study. A quasi-experimental design was used to assign randomly a convenience sample of participant triads into two groups: a home-based group (n=27) and a control group (n=9). Daughters were pre-menarcheal (n=13, M=10.1 yr., SD=1.5), mothers were premenopausal (n=13, M=37.2 yr., SD=4.2), and grandmothers were postmenopausal (n=11, M=61.5 yr., SD=4.4). Life Satisfaction was measured using the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Participation in physical activity was measured using the Physical Best Physical Activity Questionnaire and a pedometer to count the number of steps taken per day. Compared with the control group, participants in the home-based group generally increased physical activity but their scores for Life Satisfaction did not increase. Recommendations concerning the study design, reducing limitations, and hypotheses for further study are given.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Teaching at the secondary level: wisdom from veteran health educators.

This qualitative study explored factors that helped veteran public school health educators sustain enthusiasm in the classroom throughout their careers. Twelve Caucasian participants, seven men and five women with 18 to 28 years of public school teaching experience (mean age = 49 years, mean experience = 24 years), were interviewed. Participants were selected from teachers with at least 18 years experience who lived within 60 minutes of Salt Lake City, Utah. Semi-structured, individual interviews addressed four questions: Why did participants enter teaching? What are some challenges of teaching? What factors contribute to successful teaching? What factors contributed to participants' longevity in teaching? A decision to teach was based primarily on having an influential teacher. The greatest challenges were discipline and diversity. Factors related to successful teaching also contributed to longevity in teaching. These factors included staying current with information and technology, supportive colleagues, and sharing oneself with students and colleagues. Those interested in a teaching career, and those already invested in teaching, can learn from these veterans in terms of skills and values.

Female↗
PubMed2004

Effects of home- and university-based programs on physical self-perception in mothers and daughters.

The primary purpose of this study was to compare two mother-daughter interventions designed to increase fitness and activity and improve physical self-perception (PSP).A secondary purpose was to test two of the proposed mechanisms for using physical activity to enhance PSP. Twenty mother-daughter pairs (n = 40) were randomly assigned to a university-based (UB) or home-based (HB) group. Initially, both groups received classroom training designed to improve PSP. Then, the UB group met three times per week, whereas the HB group received information concerning home-based activities. The Fitnessgram activity questionnaire and fitness test battery were used to measure physical activity and fitness level. The Physical Self-Perception Profile (PSPP) was used to detect changes in PSP. Separate 2 (group) x 2 (age) x 2 (time) ANOVAs with repeated measures on the last factor were conducted to examine changes in PSP, physical activity, and fitness. Correlations between physical activity, fitness, and PSP were examined to test the two mechanisms. Perceived sports competence and body attractiveness improved in UB and HB mothers and daughters (p =.002 and.005, respectively). UB and HB mothers and daughters increased their participation in aerobic (p =.000 and.015), muscular strength (p =.001 and.001), and flexibility (p =.000 and.000) activities. Support was not provided for the proposed mechanisms for the relationship between physical activity and PSP. These interventions demonstrate the potential to foster positive short-term changes in PSP and physical activity in mothers and daughters. More research is needed to test mechanisms explaining the relationship between activity and PSP.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Generations Exercising Together to Improve Fitness (GET FIT): a pilot study designed to increase physical activity and improve health-related fitness in three generations of women.

A 6-month home-based (HB) physical activity program was compared to a control (CTL) condition in terms of effect on physical activity and health-related fitness in three generations of women (daughter/ mother/maternal grandmother). Volunteers were randomly assigned to a HB or CTL condition. HB participants (n = 28) were asked to participate in lifestyle, aerobic, muscular strength, and flexibility activities at least 3 times per week and they completed 73% of the recommended PA bouts. CTL condition participants (n = 9) were asked to continue their usual pattern of physical activity. Changes in physical activity were measured pre-and post-intervention using the Physical Best questionnaire and pedometer step counts (3-day average). Changes in health-related fitness were assessed using Fitnessgram tests. Group x Time interactions were significant for changes in participation in flexibility activity (d/wk) and steps/day, indicating that the HB group experienced significant positive changes in the expected direction (+305% and +37%, respectively), while the CTL group regressed (-15% and -13%, respectively). The G x T interaction for mile time was significant, although not in the expected direction (CTL group < by 14% and HB group < by 5%). Findings should be interpreted with caution due to several limitations of the study, but several suggestions are made for more effectively studying this topic in the future.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Daughters and mothers exercising together: effects of home- and community-based programs.

PURPOSE: This pilot study compares the effectiveness of home- and community-based physical activity interventions that target mothers and daughters to increase physical activity and improve health-related fitness. METHODS: Mothers (45.18 +/- 7.49 yr) and daughters (15.41 +/- 1.33 yr) were randomly assigned to a community-based (CB) (N = 20 participants) or home-based (HB) (N = 14 participants) program. CB participants attended three instructor-led sessions per week for 12 wk. HB participants were asked to participate in 3 sessions per week for 12 wk in a program similar to the CB program. The main difference between the programs was that CB activities were completed at a fitness facility within a university and HB activities were completed in or near the home. Before and after the intervention, changes in health-related fitness and physical activity were assessed. A series of 2 (group assignment) x 2 (time) ANOVAs were conducted to assess changes separately for mothers and daughters. RESULTS: CB participants attended 77% of the sessions, and none of the pairs dropped out. HB participants completed 70% of the recommended sessions, and three pairs dropped out. Mothers and daughters in both groups significantly increased their participation in aerobic, muscular strength, and flexibility activities (P = 0.02 to 0.000). Daughters in both groups significantly improved their muscular endurance (sit-ups,P = 0.000). Mothers in both groups improved their muscular strength (push-ups, P = 0.003), muscular endurance (sit-ups, P = 0.000), flexibility (sit-and-reach, P = 0.008), and aerobic capacity (1-mile walk, P = 0.002). Positive changes in diastolic blood pressure also occurred (P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Mothers and daughters responded positively to CB and HB physical activity programs. Home-based physical activity programming is a cost-effective means to increase physical activity and improve health-related fitness in these groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Quantifying physical activity via pedometry in elementary physical education.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to determine a pedometer steps per minute standard for quantifying the lesson time that first- and second-grade physical education students spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). METHODS: The sample was divided into validation (N = 246) and cross-validation (N = 123) samples using the holdout technique. Using the criterion test model, steps per minute cut points were empirically and judgmentally determined. C-SOFIT systematic observation was the criterion instrument and pedometry was the predictor instrument. Data were collected from 45 physical education lessons implemented in six schools. The three-step analytic procedure of computing mastery/nonmastery outcome probabilities, phi coefficients, and error proportions was used to determine the optimal steps per minute cut point for quantifying 33.33% of the physical education lesson time engaged in MVPA within a 30 class. RESULTS: Steps per minute was highly correlated with observation (r = 0.74-0.86, P < 0.0001). Five steps per minute scores that were accurate indicators of 33.33% of the class time engaged in MVPA in the validation sample were accurate indicators of steps per minute in the cross-validation sample. The optimal steps per minute cut point ranged from 60.00 to 63.00, which is equivalent to 1800-1890 steps in a 30-min physical education class. CONCLUSION: Data supports the use of pedometry steps per minute values as an accurate indicator of MVPA. Pedometry demonstrates promise as a viable large-scale surveillance instrument for measuring MVPA in physical education.

Child↗
PubMed2003

Worksite intervention model for facilitating changes in physical activity, fitness, and psychological parameters.

The purpose was to examine the effectiveness of a physical activity intervention which combined behavior-change strategies with a variety of physical activities for 30 sedentary adults in a 12-wk. intervention that included behavior-change strategy sessions and supervised physical activity. Before and after the intervention, psychological and physiological variables were measured. Statistically significant changes right after the intervention included (1) an increase in physical activity participation, (2) an increase in muscular endurance, flexibility, and predicted VO2 max, and (3) a decrease in the number of barriers to physical activity. Changes in physical self-perception, a psychological variable often linked to increased physical activity, were not statistically significant, but effect sizes were large. The use of behavior-change strategies in conjunction with a variety of physical activities may be useful in improving physical and psychological well-being in previously sedentary adults. Stability of change requires study.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Potential benefits of physical activity for children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is the most common form of paediatric leukaemia. The survival rate in children with ALL has improved significantly over the past several years, which makes quality of life an important focus for researchers. Some of the side effects of treatment (i.e. osteoporosis and obesity) are not realized until years after conclusion of therapy. Few studies have addressed the impact of physical activity (PA) on the side effects that occur during treatment of children with ALL. This paper discusses the increased risk for both osteoporosis and obesity due to treatment for ALL and suggests ways that PA may attenuate bone loss and risk of obesity by discussing what is known about effects of PA in healthy children and children with other chronic diseases. Recommendations will be made for PA interventions and future research in children with ALL.

Body Composition↗