The feasibility of using pedometers and brief advice to increase activity in sedentary older women:a pilot study

Background: People over the age of 70 carry the greatest burden of chronic disease, disability and health care use. Participation in physical activity is crucial for health, and walking accounts for much of the physical activity undertaken by sedentary individuals. Pedometers are a useful motivational tool to encourage increased walking and they are cheap and easy to use. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of the use of pedometers plus a theory-based intervention to assist sedentary older women to accumulate increasing amounts of physical activity, mainly through walking. Methods: Female participants over the age of 70 were recruited from primary care and randomised to receive either pedometer plus a theory-based intervention or a theory-based intervention alone. The theory-based intervention consisted of motivational techniques, goal-setting, barrier identification and self-monitoring with pedometers and daily diaries. The pedometer group were further randomised to one of three target groups: a 10%, 15% or 20% monthly increase in step count to assess the achievability and acceptability of a range of targets. The primary outcome was change in daily activity levels measured by accelerometry. Secondary outcome measures were lower limb function, health related quality of life, anxiety and depression. Results: 54 participants were recruited into the study, with an average age of 76. There were 9 drop outs, 45 completing the study. All participants in the pedometer group found the pedometers easy to use and there was good compliance with diary keeping (96% in the pedometer group and 83% in the theory-based intervention alone group). There was a strong correlation (0.78) between accelerometry and pedometer step counts i.e. indicating that walking was the main physical activity amongst participants. There was a greater increase in activity (accelerometry) amongst those in the 20% target pedometer group compared to the other groups, although not reaching statistical significance (p = 0.192). Conclusion: We have demonstrated that it is feasible to use pedometers and provide theory-based advice to community dwelling sedentary older women to increase physical activity levels and a larger study is planned to investigate this further.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Gender and Children's Housework Time in China: Examining Behavior Modeling in Context

Differentiated gender roles in adulthood are rooted in one's gender role socialization. In order to understand the persistence of gender inequalities in the domestic sphere, we need to examine the gendered patterns of children's housework time. Although researchers have identified behavior modeling as a major mechanism of gender role reproduction and characterized gender socialization as a contextually embedded process, few have investigated contextual variation in behavior modeling, particularly in non-Western developing countries. Analyzing data from the China Family Panel Studies 2010, the author examined the differences in behavior modeling between boys and girls age 10-15 from 2-parent families (N = 1,903) in rural and urban China. The results revealed distinctive gendered interplays in the way parental housework and employment behavior helps shape children's housework time. This analysis is a crucial illustration of how the distinctive sociocultural contexts of rural and urban China moderate the effects of housework-behavior modeling on intergenerational gender role socialization

Measurement of Energy Expenditure During Laboratory and Field Activities

This dissertation was designed to examine the validity of heart rate (HR) and motion sensors for estimating energy expenditure (EE) during activities ranging from sedentary behaviors to vigorous exercise. A secondary purpose was to devise new ways to improve on current methods of estimating EE. Specific aims of the dissertation were: (1) to examine the use of pedometers to measure steps taken, distance traveled, and EE during treadmill walking at various speeds; (2) Examine the use of a Polar HR monitor to estimate EE during treadmill running, stationary cycling, and rowing; (3) compare the current Actigraph regression equations (relating counts·min-1 to EE) against three newer devices (Actiheart, Actical, and AMP-331) during sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous intensity activities; and (4) development of a new 2-regression model to estimate EE using the Actigraph accelerometer. For the first aim, 10 participants performed treadmill walking for five minutes at five speeds while wearing two pedometers of different brands (10 pedometer brands were tested) on the right and left hip. Simultaneously oxygen consumption (VO2) was measured and actual steps were counted using a hand tally counter. Six of the 10 pedometers were within ± 3% of actual steps at 80 m·min-1 and faster. Most pedometers were within ± 10% of actual distance at 80 m·min-1, but they overestimate distance at slower speeds, and underestimate distance at faster speeds. Most pedometers gave estimates of gross EE within ± 30% of measured EE across all speeds. In general, pedometers are most accurate for assessing steps, less accurate for assessing distance, and even less accurate for assessing kcals. In the second aim, 10 males and 10 females performed a maximal treadmill test. On a separate day they performed treadmill, cycle, and rowing exercise for 10 minutes at three different intensities. During each trial EE was estimated using two Polar S410 HR monitors (one with predicted VO2max and HRmax (PHRM) and one with actual VO2max and HRmax (AHRM), input into the watch). Simultaneously, EE was measured by indirect calorimetry (IC). For males there were no differences among the mean values of EE for the AHRM, PHRM and IC for any exercise mode (P ≥ 0.05). In females, the AHRM significantly improved the estimate of EE compared to the PHRM (P \u3c 0.05), but it still overestimated mean EE on the treadmill and cycle (P \u3c 0.05). The Polar S410 HR monitor provides the best estimate of EE when the actual VO2max and HRmax are used. For the third aim, 48 participants performed various activities ranging from sedentary pursuits to vigorous exercise. The activities were split into three routines of six activities and each participant performed one routine. During each routine an Actigraph (right hip), Actical (left hip), Actiheart (chest), and AMP-331 (right ankle) were worn. Simultaneously, EE was measured by IC. The Actiheart HR algorithm was not significantly different from measured EE for any of the 18 activities (P ≥ 0.05). The Actiheart combined HR and activity algorithm was only significantly different from measured EE for vacuuming and ascending/descending stairs (P \u3c 0.05). All remaining prediction equations, for the devices examined, over- or underestimated EE for at least seven activities. The Actiheart HR algorithm provided the best estimate of EE over a wide range of activities. The Actical and Actigraph tended to overestimate walking and sedentary activities and underestimate most other activities. For the fourth aim, 48 participants performed various activities (sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous intensities) that were split into three routines of six activities. Each participant performed one routine. During each test the participants wore an Actigraph accelerometer and EE was measured by IC. Forty-five tests were randomly selected for the development of the new equation, and 15 tests were used to cross-validate the new equation and compare against existing equations. For each activity the coefficient of variation (CV) of the counts per 10 seconds was calculated to determine if the activity was walking/running, or some other activity. If the CV ≤ 10 then a walking/running regression equation (relating counts·min-1 to METs) was used, while if the CV \u3e 10 a lifestyle/leisure time physical activity (LTPA) regression was used. The new 2-regression model explained 73% of the variance in EE for walking/running, and 83.8% of the variance in EE for lifestyle/LTPA and it was within ± 0.84 METs of measured METs for each of the 17 activities performed (P ≥ 0.05). The new 2-regression model is a more accurate prediction of EE then the currently published regression equations using the Actigraph accelerometer

Relationships between socioeconomic position and objectively measured sedentary behaviour in older adults in three prospective cohorts

Objectives: To Investigate whether sedentary behaviour in older adults is associated with a systematic and comprehensive range of socioeconomic position (SEP) measures across the lifecourse. SEP measures included prospective measures of social class, income, educational qualifications and parental social class and contemporaneous measures of area deprivation. Setting: Glasgow and the surrounding (West of Scotland) combined with Edinburgh and the surrounding area (the Lothians). Participants: Community dwelling adults aged around 79, 83, and 64 years from, respectively, the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 (LBC1936) (n=271) and the 1930s (n=119) and 1950s (n=310) cohorts of the West of Scotland Twenty-07 study Primary outcome measure: Sedentary behaviour was measured objectively using an activPAL activity monitor worn continuously for seven days, and used to calculate percentage of waking time spent sedentary. Results: Among retired participants, for most cohort and SEP combinations, greater social disadvantage was associated with increased sedentary time. For example, in the Twenty-07 1930s cohort those most deprived on the Carstairs measure spent 6.5% (95% CI 0.3 to 12.7) more of their waking time sedentary than the least deprived. However, for employed people the relationship between SEP and sedentary behaviour was much weaker For example, in terms of social class differences, among the retired the most disadvantaged spent 5.7% more waking time sedentary (95% CI 2.6% to 87%) whereas among the employed there was effectively no difference (-0.5%; 95% CI -9.0 to 8.0. Conclusions: Diverse SEP measures were associated with increased sedentary behaviour among retired people. There was little evidence for a relationship between SEP measures and sedentary behaviour among employed older adults. Prior to retirement the constraints of the workplace may be masking effects which are only apparent at weekends

Mental Health of Parents and Life Satisfaction of Children: A Within-Family Analysis of Intergenerational Transmission of Well-Being

This paper addresses the extent to which there is an intergenerational transmission of mental health and subjective well-being within families. Specifically it asks whether parents’ own mental distress influences their child’s life satisfaction, and vice versa. Whilst the evidence on daily contagion of stress and strain between members of the same family is substantial, the evidence on the transmission between parental distress and children’s well-being over a longer period of time is sparse. We tested this idea by examining the within-family transmission of mental distress from parent to child’s life satisfaction, and vice versa, using rich longitudinal data on 1,175 British youths. Results show that parental distress at year t-1 is an important determinant of child’s life satisfaction in the current year. This is true for boys and girls, although boys do not appear to be affected by maternal distress levels. The results also indicated that the child’s own life satisfaction is related with their father’s distress levels in the following year, regardless of the gender of the child. Finally, we examined whether the underlying transmission correlation is due to shared social environment, empathic reactions, or transmission via parent-child interaction

Parent–child relationships and adolescents’ life satisfaction across the first decade of the new millennium

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Antonia Jiménez-Iglesias, Irene GarcÍa-Moya, and Carmen Moreno, ‘Parent–Child Relationships and Adolescents' Life Satisfaction Across the First Decade of the New Millennium’, Family Relations, Vol. 66 (3): 512-526, July 2017, which has been published in final form at: https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12249. Under embargo until 31 July 2018. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.Objective: To examine whether changes occurred in parent–child relationships (maternal and paternal affection, ease of communication with the mother and father, maternal and paternal knowledge, and family activities) between 2002 and 2010 in boys and girls and to examine the contributions of these family dimensions to life satisfaction. Background: Although parent–child relationships may be affected by social change, there are few investigations of change in parent–child relationships over time. Method: The sample consisted of 46,593 adolescents between 11 to 18 years of age who participated in the 2002, 2006, or 2010 editions of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in Spain. Trend analysis including univariate analyses of variance (ANOVAs) and factorial ANOVAs were conducted separately for boys and girls, and effect size tests were calculated. Results: Communication with fathers and family activities statistically increased across HBSC editions and parent–child relationships were positively associated with life satisfaction across the examined period. Conclusion: There were small positive changes in some family dimensions, and some of them were increasingly important for adolescent life satisfaction over time. Implications: Interventions for strengthening parent-child relationships and promoting adolescent well-being should include mothers and fathers and emphasize affection, communication, and family activities.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Instruction of the Deaf

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