https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(12)60735-1.pdf

Correlates of physical activity: why are some people physically active and others not?

Motivation is a critical factor in supporting sustained exercise, which in turn is associated with important health outcomes. Accordingly, research on exercise motivation from the perspective of self-determination theory (SDT) has grown considerably in recent years. Previous reviews have been mostly narrative and theoretical. Aiming at a more comprehensive review of empirical data, this article examines the empirical literature on the relations between key SDT-based constructs and exercise and physical activity behavioral outcomes. This systematic review includes 66 empirical studies published up to June 2011, including experimental, cross-sectional, and prospective studies that have measured exercise causality orientations, autonomy/need support and need satisfaction, exercise motives (or goal contents), and exercise self-regulations and motivation. We also studied SDT-based interventions aimed at increasing exercise behavior. In all studies, actual or self-reported exercise/physical activity, including attendance, was analyzed as the dependent variable. Findings are summarized based on quantitative analysis of the evidence. The results show consistent support for a positive relation between more autonomous forms of motivation and exercise, with a trend towards identified regulation predicting initial/short-term adoption more strongly than intrinsic motivation, and intrinsic motivation being more predictive of long-term exercise adherence. The literature is also consistent in that competence satisfaction and more intrinsic motives positively predict exercise participation across a range of samples and settings. Mixed evidence was found concerning the role of other types of motives (e.g., health/fitness and body-related), and also the specific nature and consequences of introjected regulation. The majority of studies have employed descriptive (i.e., non-experimental) designs but similar results are found across cross-sectional, prospective, and experimental designs. Overall, the literature provides good evidence for the value of SDT in understanding exercise behavior, demonstrating the importance of autonomous (identified and intrinsic) regulations in fostering physical activity. Nevertheless, there remain some inconsistencies and mixed evidence with regard to the relations between specific SDT constructs and exercise. Particular limitations concerning the different associations explored in the literature are discussed in the context of refining the application of SDT to exercise and physical activity promotion, and integrating these with avenues for future research.

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Exercise, physical activity, and self-determination theory: A systematic review

The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP), in cooperation with ParticipACTION and other stake- holders, and with support from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), has developed the new Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for Children (aged 5-11 years), Youth (aged 12-17 years), Adults (aged 18-64 years), and Older Adults (aged ‡65 years). The new guidelines include a preamble to provide context and specific guidelines for each age group. The entire guideline development process was guided by the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research Evaluation (AGREE) II instrument, which is the international standard for clinical practice guideline development. Thus, the guide- lines have gone through a rigorous and transparent developmental process; we based the recommendations herein on evi- dence from 3 systematic reviews, and the final guidelines benefitted from an extensive online and in-person consultation process with hundreds of stakeholders and key informants, both domestic and international. Since 2006, the products of our efforts resulted in the completion of 21 peer-reviewed journal articles (including 5 systematic reviews) that collectively guided this work. The process that Canadian researchers undertook to update the national physical activity guidelines rep- resents the most current synthesis, interpretation, and application of the scientific evidence to date.

New Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines

The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP), in partnership with the Healthy Active Living and Obe- sity Research Group (HALO) at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, and in collaboration with ParticipACTION, and others, has developed the Canadian Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines for Children (aged 5-11 years) and Youth (aged 12-17 years). The guidelines include a preamble to provide context, followed by the specific recommen- dations for sedentary behaviour. The entire development process was guided by the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research Evaluation (AGREE) II instrument, which is the international standard for clinical practice guideline development. Thus, the guidelines have gone through a rigorous and transparent developmental process and the recommendations are based on evidence from a systematic review and interpretation of the research evidence. The final guidelines benefitted from an ex- tensive online consultation process with 230 domestic and international stakeholders and key informants. The final guide- line recommendations state that for health benefits, children (aged 5-11 years) and youth (aged 12-17 years) should minimize the time that they spend being sedentary each day. This may be achieved by (i) limiting recreational screen time to no more than 2 h per day — lower levels are associated with additional health benefits; and (ii) limiting sedentary (mo- torized) transport, extended sitting time, and time spent indoors throughout the day. These are the first evidence-based Canadian Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines for Children and Youth and provide important and timely recommendations for the advancement of public health based on a systematic synthesis, interpretation, and application of the current scientific

Canadian Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines for Children and Youth

Increasing self-efficacy is generally considered to be an important mediator of the effects of physical activity interventions. A previous review identified which behaviour change techniques (BCTs) were associated with increases in self-efficacy and physical activity for healthy non-obese adults. The aim of the current review was to identify which BCTs increase the self-efficacy and physical activity behaviour of obese adults. A systematic search identified 61 comparisons with obese adults reporting changes in self-efficacy towards engaging in physical activity following interventions. Of those comparisons, 42 also reported changes in physical activity behaviour. All intervention descriptions were coded using Michie et al’s (2011) 40 item CALO-RE taxonomy of BCTs. Meta-analysis was conducted with moderator analyses to examine the association between whether or not each BCT was included in interventions, and size of changes in both self-efficacy and physical activity behaviour. Overall, a small effect of the interventions was found on self-efficacy (d = 0.23, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.16-0.29, p < 0.001) and a medium sized effect on physical activity behaviour (d = 0.50, 95% CI 0.38-0.63, p < 0.001). Four BCTs were significantly associated with positive changes in self-efficacy; ‘action planning’, ‘time management’, ‘prompt self-monitoring of behavioural outcome’ and ‘plan social support/social change’. These latter two BCTs were also associated with positive changes in physical activity. An additional 19 BCTs were associated with positive changes in physical activity. The largest effects for physical activity were found where interventions contained ‘teach to use prompts/cues’, ‘prompt practice’ or ‘prompt rewards contingent on effort or progress towards behaviour’. Overall, a non-significant relationship was found between change in self-efficacy and change in physical activity (Spearman’s Rho = −0.18 p = 0.72). In summary, the majority of techniques increased physical activity behaviour, without having discernible effects on self-efficacy. Only two BCTs were associated with positive changes in both physical activity self-efficacy and behaviour. This is in contrast to the earlier review which found a strong relationship between changes in physical activity self-efficacy and behaviour. Mechanisms other than self-efficacy may be more important for increasing the physical activity of obese individuals compared with non-obese individuals.

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What are the most effective techniques in changing obese individuals’ physical activity self-efficacy and behaviour: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background
An understanding of the determinants of physical activity through mediators of behaviour change is important in order to evaluate the efficacy of interventions. Prior reviews on this topic noted that few studies employed mediator analyses in experimental physical activity trials; the purpose of this review is to update these prior reviews in order to evaluate the state of our present understanding of interventions that include proposed mediators of behaviour change.

/pdf/mediators-of-physical-activity-behaviour-change-among-adult-23v4i3du83.pdf

Mediators of physical activity behaviour change among adult non-clinical populations: a review update.

Personality and Physical Activity

Adolescent girls are insufficiently active to achieve the health benefits associated with physical activity (PA). Physical education (PE) classes can provide part of the solution, yet most girls opt out when it is no longer mandatory. This qualitative case study used Self-Determination Theory (SDT) as a framework to explore female students’ motivation towards PA in one elective PE 10-12 course tailored to meet their interests and needs. A secondary objective determined if the pre-requisites and outcomes of their motivation were consistent with SDT constructs. Emerging themes reflected the elements of SDT. The students expressed their needs were supported through the PE course content and learning environment. Students felt motivated because they now enjoyed PE. Positive outcomes included PA participation, positive affect towards PE and PA, meaningful learning, and a sense of well-being. This study provides physical educators with insight to improve PA motivation and participation of girls in elective PE.  Les adolescentes ne sont pas assez actives pour profiter pleinement des bienfaits possibles de l’activite physique (AP) sur la sante. Meme si les cours d’education physique (EP) offrent une solution partielle a ce probleme, les filles tendent a les abandonner des qu’ils ne sont plus obligatoires. Cette etude de cas qualitative s’inspire de la theorie de l’autodetermination pour explorer l’attitude des filles envers l’activite physique dans le cadre d’un cours facultatif d’education physique 10-12 concu sur mesure pour repondre a leurs interets et besoins. Un objectif secondaire consiste a determiner si les prerequis et les resultats de leur motivation sont conformes aux premisses qui sous-tendent la theorie de l’autodetermination. Des thematiques emergentes refletent les premisses de la theorie de l’autodetermination. Les eleves disent que le contenu du cours d’education physique et le contexte d’apprentissage repondent a leurs besoins. Elles se sentent motivees parce qu’elles aiment maintenant l’education physique. Entre autres resultats positifs, mentionnons la participation a l’activite physique, une attitude positive envers l’education physique et l’activite physique, un apprentissage valable et un sentiment de bien-etre. Cette etude  propose aux enseignants des facons d’ameliorer la motivation des eleves a l’egard de l’activite physique  et la participation des filles aux cours d’education physique facultatifs.

/pdf/girls-getting-active-exploring-a-physical-education-program-4afzp56jrr.pdf

Leila A. Pfaeffli

Papers

Mediators of physical activity behaviour change among adult non-clinical populations: a review update.

Personality and Physical Activity

Girls Getting Active: Exploring a Physical Education Program Tailored to Young Women

L'activité physique au féminin - Un programme d'éducation physique sur mesure pour les jeunes femmes