An experiment was conducted with 48 healthy young adults engaged in a supervised 10-week exercise program to determine whether a placebo effect is involved within the exercise-psychological enhancement connection. Based on an expectancy modification procedure, one-half of the subjects were led to believe that their program was specifically designed to improve psychological well-being (experimental condition) whereas no such intervention was made with the second half (control condition). Expectations for psychological benefits and aerobic capacity (VO2max) were measured before and after completion of the program. Self-esteem, as the indicator of psychological well-being, was measured on four specific occasions: at the beginning, after the fourth and seventh weeks, and upon completion of the training program. The results showed similar significant increases in fitness levels in both conditions. Moreover, self-esteem was significantly improved over time in the experimental but not in the control condition. These findings provide evidence to support the notion that exercise may enhance psychological well-being via a strong placebo effect. Implications of the results with regard to exercise prescription are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

University students' intention to seek medical care promptly if symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases were suspected.

The aim of this study was to identify the factors explaining intention to seek medical care promptly if STD symptoms were suspected. A random sample of 1617 undergraduate students completed a questionnaire assessing intention, attitude, perceived norm among friends, perceived behavioral control, and risk of disease, along with different socio-demographic variables. The regression of intention on all variables yielded an adjusted R2 of 0.32 (P < 0.0001). The factors explaining this variance were the perceived advantages, easiness, and social norm among friends regarding seeking medical care promptly, age, and gender. Perception of risk to delay seeking medical care and perceived personal risk of getting STDs were not significant variables. Overall, the results indicate the need to develop programs for male first-year students. These programs will have to influence the attitude, that is, the perceived advantages of seeking medical care promptly if STD symptoms are suspected. Seeking advice from students' friends, and perception of these friends as a significant reference source if STD symptoms are suspected, should also be promoted.

Adolescent↗

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Social support received by mothers of chronically ill children.

The main purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of the social networks and social support of mothers of chronically ill children and adolescents. The data collected also allowed for the identification of the predisposing factors to receiving low social support among the mothers. Receipt of social support was assessed according to six dimensions: source of support, type of support, perceived need for support, satisfaction with the quality and the quantity of support, as well as most valued source of support. Results indicate that mothers wanted more support than they received, particularly in the areas of emotional, appraisal, and informative support. Furthermore, spouses, professionals, and immediate family members were identified by mothers as important sources of support. Discriminant analysis showed that the probability of receiving low support increased if the chronically ill child was an adolescent, the father had a higher level of education, and the family income was middle-low. Results are discussed in terms of the implications for intervention.

Activities of Daily Living↗

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The theory of planned behavior: a review of its applications to health-related behaviors.

PURPOSE: To review applications of Ajzen's theory of planned behavior in the domain of health and to verify the efficiency of the theory to explain and predict health-related behaviors. METHODS: Most material has been drawn from Current Contents (Social and Behavioral Sciences and Clinical Medicine) from 1985 to date, together with all peer-reviewed articles cited in the publications thus identified. FINDINGS: The results indicated that the theory performs very well for the explanation of intention; an averaged R2 of .41 was observed. Attitude toward the action and perceived behavioral control were most often the significant variables responsible for this explained variation in intention. The prediction of behavior yielded an averaged R2 of .34. Intention remained the most important predictor, but in half of the studies reviewed perceived behavioral control significantly added to the prediction. CONCLUSIONS: The efficiency of the model seems to be quite good for explaining intention, perceived behavioral control being as important as attitude across health-related behavior categories. The efficiency of the theory, however, varies between health-related behavior categories.

Health Behavior↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[What motivates adult heterosexual couples to use condoms?].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Young adults and HIV vaccine: determinants of the intention of getting immunized.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the acceptability of a hypothetical HIV vaccine and to identify the psychosocial determinants of the intention of receiving HIV immunization, based upon Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). Of the 136 young adults surveyed, 120 (88%) had a moderate to high intention to receive the HIV vaccine. A logistic regression was performed and two psychosocial factors from the TPB were significant predictors of the young adults' intention of getting HIV immunization: their attitude towards getting HIV immunization (OR = 4.80, CI 95% = 2.08; 13.05) and the perceived behavioural control of getting HIV immunization (OR = 2.52, CI 95% = 1.17; 6.05). These results show that HIV immunization is well accepted by young adults. This finding is particularly relevant because the effectiveness of HIV immunization programs will depend on an individual's acceptance of this vaccine. Also, our results suggest that psychosocial determinants can influence a young adult's decision to receive the HIV vaccine once it becomes available.

AIDS Vaccines↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Predicting and reinforcing children's intentions to wear protective helmets while bicycling.

The researchers undertook to identify the factors that are most likely to influence children's intentions to use bicycle helmets. To determine the most important intention influencing factors, a random sample of 797 students in grades 4 through 6 completed a self-administered questionnaire concerning their beliefs about helmet use. They were asked about their perceptions of the risk of riding bicycles unprotected, the severity of possible head injuries, and about other bicycle-safety related behaviors. Factors that best predicted the student's intentions to use bicycle helmets involved both behavioral beliefs and normative beliefs. Analysis of factors influencing those with low intentions to use helmets, compared to those with high intentions, suggests the most effective messages that health planners can provide preadolescents to influence them to use helmets. They are that helmet use is fun and attractive, helmets provide a new look and a sporting image, and friends approve of and value this behavior. Parents, and particularly mothers, can reinforce their children's intentions to use helmets and their involvement should be encouraged.

Bicycling↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Factors influencing intentions of pregnant women to exercise after giving birth.

The aim of this study was to identify factors that may influence a pregnant woman's decision to exercise after giving birth. A sample of 98 pregnant women were asked to complete a questionnaire investigation attitudes, social norms, perceived barriers to exercise, and intention regarding exercising after giving birth. Also determined were age, education level, exercise habits, number of months elapsed since onset of present pregnancy, and number of children. The regressions of intentions to exercise on all variables yielded R2 of 0.52 for nulliparous and 0.60 for pluriparous pregnant women. Important differences in variables that explained intentions were found between both groups of women, with perceived barriers to exercise being a key predictor that was, in turn, influenced by previous experience with pregnancy. It is suggested that the experience of the postnatal period modifies the interrelation between the variables explaining intentions regarding exercise after giving birth. Consequently, the programs should take into account the impact that the birth of a first child will have on the perceived barriers to exercise.

Attitude to Health↗

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The cognitive profile of those who intend to exercise but do not.

The purpose of this study was to identify the cognitive profile of people who intend to exercise but fail to carry out this intention. A theoretical framework was adopted to study the attitudinal beliefs of these persons about exercise, their evaluation of the associated consequences, and their normative beliefs and motivation to comply with these norms. Subjects were classified according to the congruence between stated intention and self-reported exercise behavior 2 months later in this way: positive intention and congruent behavior (CONG+, N = 74). positive intention and incongruent behavior (INCONG-, N = 45). negative intention and congruent behavior (CONG-, N = 42). negative intention and incongruent behavior (N = 2, not analyzed). MANOVA analysis indicated little difference between the cognitive profiles of inactive and active positive intenders. Relative to the CONG+ group, the INCONG- group perceived that regular exercise would be "tiring" (P less than 0.001) and "time consuming" (P less than 0.001); they also placed less value on the consequence of "being healthy" (P less than 0.05). Both groups differed from the CONG- group. As would be expected, those with positive intentions to exercise identified more advantages to being physically active. It appears that sedentary positive intenders perceived the exercise behavior as physically demanding and had difficulty in reconciling the time demands of an exercise program with their weekly schedules. This observation suggests that these two beliefs should be considered for the promotion of physical activity as well as the investigation of influential social and environmental variables.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied