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Biomedical subjects

G Godin

Publications and source records attributed to G Godin.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Prediction of leisure-time exercise behavior: a path analysis (LISREL V) model.

In an attempt to understand the inherent process underlying the regular practice of physical activity, the relationships among subjective norm, attitude, habit, intention, and future behaviors have been investigated in a random sample of 136 University of Toronto employees. For this purpose, leisure-time exercise behavior was measured on two occasions after a statement of intentions had been obtained: 3 weeks later (proximal behavior) and 2 months later (distal behavior). The results of a path analysis (LISREL) suggest that intention is directly influenced by habit and attitude, proximal behavior is the result of habit only, and distal behavior can be explained by a combination of intention and proximal behavior. Subjective norm was not a significant predictor of intention, proximal behavior, or distal behavior. This modeling approach offers a clearer understanding of the dynamics of exercise intention and behavior, strongly supporting the role of habit as a determinant of exercise behavior.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

The impact of physical fitness and health-age appraisal upon exercise intentions and behavior.

This study investigated the relative and combined effectiveness of the Canadian Home Fitness Test (CHFT) and Health Hazard Appraisal (HHA) to modify (1) intention to exercise with and without knowledge of the results and (2) intention and behavior to exercise over 3 months. The 200 subjects were randomly attributed to groups, either (1) physical-fitness evaluation (PF), (2) appraised health age (HA), (3) physical-fitness evaluation and health-hazard appraisal (PF-HA), or (4) control (C). The immediate impact on the intention to exercise of passing one and/or the other tests, without knowledge of the results, was not significant. With knowledge of the results, the intentions of the PF and PF-HA groups differed from those of the C group. This effect disappeared after 3 months. There was no significant impact on exercise behavior over 3 months. The results indicated a short-term motivational effect from being informed of CHFT results. Maintaining this effect might require intervention on a long-term basis.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Prediction of leisure time exercise behavior among a group of lower-limb disabled adults.

The aim of this study was to predict leisure time exercise behavior among a group of 62 lower-limb disabled adults. The theory of reasoned action proposed by Fishbein (Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975) provided a framework for the study. Variables measured included the Fishbein model variables, habit, education, disability type, fitness level, and a 7-day follow-up of exercise behavior. Some 35% of the variance in exercise behavior could be explained; intention was the strongest predictor (.31, p less than .05). In comparison, the ability to predict intentions to exercise by using the other variables was quite poor, with only 7% of the variance explained by habit. None of the Fishbein model variables contributed to this prediction. These results indicated the importance of specific factors, such as the strength of the exercise habit and the cause of disability, on exercise behavior.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Children's perception of parental exercise: influence of sex and age.

The purpose of the study was to document children's perception of parental exercise, relating these perceptions to (1) the self-reported parents' habits of exercise, and (2) the children's own activity patterns. The subjects were 198 students of both sexes, aged 12 to 14 yr. and enrolled in school Grades 7 to 9. A standard questionnaire assessed their perceptions of parental and personal physical activity. Both parents of each subject also reported their respective levels of habitual physical activity. Congruence between the children's perceptions and the self-reported exercise habits of the opposite-sex parent differed for boys and girls, increasing for boys and decreasing for girls between Grades 7 and 9. No significant associations were observed between the children's perception of parental exercise patterns and their own like habits. This suggests that during adolescence parental influences are minimized by other factors, personal or environmental.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Gender differences in perceived physical self-efficacy among older individuals.

Gender differences in perceived physical self-efficacy were investigated in 90 subjects, stratified by sex and age (45 to 54 yr., 55 to 64 yr., and 65 to 74 yr.). Application of the scale by Ryckman, Robbins, Thornton, and Cantrell yielded scores for total perceived physical self-efficacy, perceived physical ability, and confidence in physical self-presentation. Men showed greater efficacy than women on the first two scales. There was no evidence of an age effect in perceived physical self-efficacy.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1985

Psycho-social predictors of exercise intentions among spouses.

Psychosocial predictors of the intention to undertake leisure-time exercise have been studied in 210 couples with children attending grades 7 through 9. For both partners in these households, the variables measured included Fishbein's concepts of beliefs, attitudes and societal norms, in addition to age, education level, current physical activity habits, prior experience of physical activity, and family socio-economic status. Considered together, these observations explained 49% and 27% of the variance in intentions to exercise among male and female partners respectively. In contrast to previous studies using a less structured methodology, attitude was the most important determinant of intention in both male and female partners. In the men only, interaction terms relating to passive forms of spousal support and socio-economic status increased the explained proportion of variance. Differences of beliefs and their evaluations between those with high and low intentions to exercise generally coincided with the patterns previously observed in surveys of exercise class participants. However, there were some persistent culture--related gender differences, women seeking to improve health and control body weight, while men attempted to improve other aspects of their personal appearance and "meet people". Such expectations have important practical implications for the design of fitness promotion programmes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

A simple method to assess exercise behavior in the community.

The reliability and concurrent validity of a simple questionnaire to assess leisure time physical activity has been investigated on 306 self-selected healthy adults of both sexes (163 M; 143 F). Values of body fat (BF) and maximum oxygen intake (VO2 max) expressed as percentiles of appropriate age and sex categories were used as criteria of validity for the questionnaire. BF and VO2 max were predicted from the Durnin and Womersley skinfold equations, and the laboratory version of the Canadian Home Fitness Test respectively. The strongest correlation was between VO2 max (percentile) and reported strenuous exercise (r = 0.35). The optimum discriminant function for VO2 max was based on a combination of reported strenuous and light activity. This yielded a correct 2-way classification of 69% of the subjects. A combination of sweat-inducing and moderate exercise yielded a correct 2-way classification of BF for 66% of subjects. The reliability coefficients for the optimum discriminant functions classifying VO2 max and BF were 0.83 and 0.85 respectively. We conclude that this simple instrument has potential value for the assessment of leisure time exercise behavior, offering the possibility of examining changes in behavior following the implementation of health and physical fitness promotion programmes in the community.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Normative beliefs of school children concerning regular exercise.

The main purpose of the study was to examine societal norms toward exercise as perceived by school children. To this end, the normative beliefs of specific referents (parents, teachers, and friends) and the motivation to comply with the beliefs of these specific referents were measured in 698 students of both sexes attending grades seven-nine. Results indicated major changes in both normative beliefs and motivation to comply with "significant others" as the children move from grade seven to nine. There also were substantial differences between the results for active and sedentary children. Teachers seem to provide a stable norm, less influenced by the age, sex, and level of physical activity of the student.

Attitude↗
PubMed1983

The impact of physical fitness evaluation on behavioural intentions towards regular exercise.

The Fishbein model was used to assess the impact of physical fitness evaluation with subsequent counselling by professional staff on individual intentions to exercise regularly. The subjects for this study were 172 self-selected adults seeking an evaluation of their current physical fitness. Experimental subjects were given a sequence of fitness testing and counselling; however, this did not significantly change the intention to exercise relative to control subjects. The only significant differences in intentions to exercise regularly were found (i) between subjects differing in fitness level (p less than .002), and (ii) between subjects differing in current exercise behaviour (p less than .001). Thirty-five percent (35%) of the variance in intentions to exercise were explained by a combination of (i) the two components of the Fishbein model (attitude and social norm) and (ii) an index of current physical activity. Since most of our subjects reported a positive intention to exercise, the most appropriate tactic for an increase of community activity may be to initiate policy changes facilitating behaviour in accordance with existing attitudes.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Physical fitness promotion programmes: effectiveness in modifying exercise behaviour.

Over the past decade many physical fitness promotion programmes have been developed and implemented as a means of modifying the exercise behaviour of individuals. The expectation has been that such strategies would improve community health, with a subsequent reduction in the costs of health care. The present review critically analyses published studies in the light of a theoretical framework proposed by Green (1979). Strengths and weaknesses of the designs adopted by various researchers are identified and recommendations for future studies are presented.

Canada↗
PubMed1982

[Determination of the effectiveness of certain physical conditioning apparatuses for development of muscle quality].

This study attempted to compare on twenty male subjects the intensity of muscular activity during selected exercises executed with and without physical fitness gadgets. Each subject executed two exercises with or without the Total Body Shaper, three exercises with or without the Power X and one exercise with or without the Prone Cycle. The electrical activity of four muscles was studied for each exercise; theoretical data and the publicity of the manufactures were utilized to select the muscles. The statistical analysis showed that exercises executed with the Total Body Shaper are generally less solicitating than similar exercises executed without the gadget, that the Power X has evident advantages for the muscle groups that it activates but that its manufacturers tend to generalize its effects to muscle groups that it does not solicitate and, finally, that the Prone Cycle is the least valuable of the gadgets tested. The results enlighten the need for consumer protection agencies to look more carefully at the publicity utilized to promote the benefits of physical fitness gadgets.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

[Electromyographic validation of exercise for physical conditioning].

This study attempted to investigate on ten male subjects the intensity of muscular activity during the execution of various physical fitness exercises. Each subject executed thirteen exercises of different types which were selected because of their popularity in physical fitness programs. The various exercises involved muscles of the shoulder, elbow, knee and hip joints as well as abdominal and back muscles. The electrical activity of four muscles for each joint or muscular area was investigated by surface electromyography. The statistical analysis showed that the various exercises solicitated the participation of the same muscles at a given joint or muscular area. However, the intensity of solicitation, varied significantly between the various exercises. The results imply that the selection of various exercises should be carefully considered by physical fitness instructors.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed1981

[Analysis of the content of information transmitted by television on physical conditioning].

This investigation was conducted to analyze the content of televised physical fitness programs. A specially designed study to investigate the information content of four televised series. The analysis of a representative sample of the information content presented on these televised programs revealed that the strategy adopted by french speaking instructors differed on specific aspects froms those adopted by their English speaking counterparts. The information content provided by English speaking instructors was concerned primarily with improvement of muscular qualities, whereas French speaking instructors seem more preoccupied to transmit general information on physical fitness, physical fitness programs and on health habits.

Humans↗