Dataset Information

Analyzing Exercise Behaviors during the College Years: Results from Latent Growth Curve Analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Unlabelled

The objective of this study is to analyze changes in the predictors of physical activity behavior among college students. The Theory of Planned Behavior served as its theoretical framework.

Methods

Among an initial sample of 417 college students, 195 participants completed a validated questionnaire measuring attitudes, subjective norms, perceived control, intentions and self-reported physical activity, at the beginning and end of each of 3 college semesters. Latent growth curve modeling analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between the trajectories of changes in PA, intentions, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control.

Results

Good fit indices supported the validity of the proposed longitudinal model (CFI > .97, RMSEA < .05). Changes in perceived control (? = 0.57) were significantly linked with changes in intentions (p < .05). Perceived control (? = 0.28) and intention growth (? = 0.36) predicted behavior changes (p < .05). No gender differences were observed on attitudes, subjective norms and perceived control (p > .10). However, girls tend to have higher growth parameters on intentions and physical activity (p < .05). In summary, intentions and physical activity has significantly increased over 3 college semesters (growth parameters significant at p < .05).

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that attitudes and perceived control are key determinants regarding the intentions of being active. On a longer term perspective, future physical activity interventions should focus on the enhancement of students' perceived control. Such educational context should help in promoting the adoption of an active lifestyle during college.

SUBMITTER: Lemoyne J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4849640 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Analyzing Exercise Behaviors during the College Years: Results from Latent Growth Curve Analysis.

Lemoyne Jean J Valois Pierre P Wittman Werner W

PloS one 20160428 4

<h4>Unlabelled</h4>The objective of this study is to analyze changes in the predictors of physical activity behavior among college students. The Theory of Planned Behavior served as its theoretical framework.<h4>Methods</h4>Among an initial sample of 417 college students, 195 participants completed a validated questionnaire measuring attitudes, subjective norms, perceived control, intentions and self-reported physical activity, at the beginning and end of each of 3 college semesters. Latent grow ...[more]

PMID: 27124179

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Project description:BackgroundObservational studies have consistently reported severe weight gains during the college years; information about the effect on body composition is scarce, however. Thus, the aim of the study was to determine the effect of exercise changes on body composition during 5 years at university.MethodsSixty-one randomly selected male and female dental (DES; 21 ± 3 years., 22 ± 2 kg/m(2)) and 53 sport (physical education) students (SPS; 20 ± 2 years., 22 ± 3 kg/m(2)) were accompanied over their 5-year study program. Body mass and body composition as determined via Dual-Energy x-ray-absorptiometry (DXA) at baseline and follow-up were selected as primary study endpoints. Confounding parameters (i.e., nutritional intake, diseases, medication) that may affect study endpoints were determined every two years. Endpoints were log-transformed to stabilize variance and achieve normal distributed values. Paired t-tests and unpaired Welch-t-tests were used to check intra and inter-group differences.ResultsExercise volume decreased significantly by 33% (p < .001) in the DES and increased significantly (p < .001) in the SPS group. Both cohorts comparably (p = .214) gained body mass (SPS: 1.9%, 95%-CI: 0.3-3.5%, p = .019 vs. DES: 3.4%, 1.4-5.5%, p = .001). However, the increase in the SPS group can be completely attributed to changes in LBM (2.3%, 1.1-3.5%, p < 0.001) with no changes of total fat mass (0.6%, -5.0-6.5%, p = 0.823), while DES gained total FM and LBM in a proportion of 2:1. Corresponding changes were determined for appendicular skeletal muscle mass and abdominal body-fat. Maximum aerobic capacity increased (p = .076) in the SPS (1.6%, -0.2-3.3%) and significantly decreased (p = .004) in the DES (-3.3%, -5.4 to -1.2%). Group differences were significant (p < .001). With respect to nutritional intake or physical activity, no relevant changes or group differences were observed.ConclusionWe conclude that the most deleterious effect on fatness and fitness in young college students was the pronounced decreases in exercise volume and particularly exercise intensity.Trial registrationNCT00521235; "Effect of Different Working Conditions on Risk Factors in Dentists Versus Trainers. A Combined Cross sectional and Longitudinal Trial with Student and Senior Employees."; August 24, 2007.

Dataset Information

Analyzing Exercise Behaviors during the College Years: Results from Latent Growth Curve Analysis.

Unlabelled

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Analyzing Exercise Behaviors during the College Years: Results from Latent Growth Curve Analysis.

Similar Datasets

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