Heather A. Hausenblas - US grants

[unreadable] DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application is in response to PA: NIMH Small Grants Program (PA-03-039). Because of the increased prevalence of eating disorders and their chronic nature, theoretically examining their precipitating and perpetuating mechanisms are essential for establishing effective prevention and treatment programs. The most empirically supported theory for the acquisition and maintenance of eating disorders is the socio-cultural model, which identifies the mass media's portrayal of the culturally-ideal physique of a thin and lean physique for women and a lean and muscular physique for men as the impetus behind increases in eating disorder symptoms (e.g., increased body dissatisfaction, anger, anxiety, depression). The most significant source of data examining the media effects on eating disorder symptoms are laboratory experimental studies that expose participants to images of the ideal physique to determine their immediate impact on eating disorder symptoms. Because these studies have contradictory results and methods, a meta-analytic synthesis of this literature and its moderating mechanisms is required before the effects of the mass media's portrayal of the ideal physique on eating disorder symptoms are determined. The objective of this study will be to meta-analytically review the laboratory research examining the acute exposure to the media's portrayal of the ideal physique on eating disorder symptoms and the mechanisms that moderate this effect. This objective will aid in understanding the Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health conclusion that mental illness and related health problems must be understood in a social and cultural context, and it will provide important information for further research in this area and for developing effective media-literacy interventions. [unreadable] [unreadable]

[unreadable] DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Women's exercise is significantly reduced during pregnancy and postpartum due to the physical and psychological demands of childbearing. For example, about 60 percent of pregnant women are sedentary, which is significantly above the national average of 25 percent for U.S. adults. Thus, pregnancy and postpartum are strong contributors to either a sedentary or a low active lifestyle, thereby placing these women at increased risk for cardiovascular and related diseases. Exercise interventions increase exercise behavior during pregnancy and reduce excessive weight gain and the severity of the physical (e.g., nausea) and psychological (e.g., depression, anxiety) symptoms experienced during this time. Most women, however, are unaware of the guidelines and prescriptions for and the physiological and psychological effects of exercise during pregnancy and postpartum. Multimedia can be used to present exercise interventions economically and efficiently to pregnant and postpartum women. Consequently, the primary purpose of this STTR project is to develop a behavioral multimedia package to achieve these desirable effects. Phase I tasks will include: (a) developing content for the CD-ROM; (b) examining the accuracy and usability of the generated content; (c) producing a prototype CD-ROM; (d) evaluating the acceptability, usability, and potential utility of the prototype CD-ROM with the target population; (e) pilot testing measures and procedures to be used in Phase II; and (f) finalizing plans to produce a revised prototype CD-ROM and evaluate its effects on pregnant and postpartum women's knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and behavioral intentions regarding exercise in Phase II. [unreadable] [unreadable] [unreadable]

[unreadable] DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Pregnancy is a specific event that often results in decreased physical activity for women; thereby placing this special population at increased risk for several chronic diseases and premature mortality. The existing research examining exercise during pregnancy is limited, however, with respect to the following 3 important factors: (a) cross-sectional assessments that do not capture the specific physical and psychological demands of each trimester; (b) nonstandardized and unvalidated measures of exercise with pregnant women; and (c) nontheoretical studies of exercise determinants. Before effective physical activity interventions are implemented with pregnant women, it is necessary to prospectively examine, during each trimester, women's exercise beliefs and behaviors using standardized measures of exercise behavior within a theoretical framework. This approach will provide the theoretical basis to implement exercise interventions specific to the physical and psychological demands of each trimester. The theory of planned behavior is one of the most influential and successful theories for understanding and predicting exercise intention and behavior, and will thus serve as the theoretical framework to prospectively determine the exercise beliefs and behaviors for this special population. The specific aims of this application are: (1) Determine the normative, control, and behavioral beliefs of exercise during each trimester. (2) Determine whether: (a) the beliefs predict attitude, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norm during each trimester; (b) intention and perceived behavioral control predict exercise behavior during each trimester; and (c) attitude, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norm predict exercise intention during each trimester. (3) Examine physical activity levels during each trimester. And (4) explore potential mediators and moderators of the theory of behavior. [unreadable] [unreadable] [unreadable]

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Postpartum is a specific event that often results in decreased physical activity (PA) for women;thereby placing this special population at increased risk for several chronic diseases and premature mortality. The existing research examining PA during postpartum is limited, however, with respect to the following 3 important factors: (a) cross-sectional assessments that do not capture the specific physical and psychological demands of early, middle, and late postpartum;(b) nonstandardized and unvalidated PA measures;and (c) nontheoretical studies of PA motivators and predictors. Before effective PA interventions are implemented with postpartum women, it is necessary to prospectively examine their PA beliefs and behaviors using standardized measures of PA behavior within a theoretical framework. This approach will provide the theoretical basis to implement PA interventions specific to the physical, environmental, and psychological demands of postpartum. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) is one of the most influential and successful theories for understanding and predicting PA intention and behavior, and will serve as the theoretical framework to prospectively determine the PA beliefs and behaviors for women at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months postpartum. The overall objectives of our proposal are to: a) determine and examine the predictive ability of the TPB for postpartum women;b) examine PA levels during postpartum (i.e., min of moderate-strenuous PA per week, energy expenditure, mean counts/min, and days/min of PA to meet current PA guidelines);and c) evaluate theory-based demographic, quality of life, and environmental moderators of PA behaviors, as guided by the TPB. The results from this proposal will be used to design a theory-based randomized clinical trial to increase and maintain PA of postpartum women. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Before effective PA interventions are implemented with postpartum women, it is necessary to prospectively examine their PA beliefs and behaviors using standardized measures of PA behavior within a theoretical framework. This approach will provide the theoretical basis to implement PA interventions specific to the physical, environmental, and psychological demands of postpartum. Guided by the theory of planned behavior we will prospectively determine the PA beliefs and behaviors (i.e., accelerometers and self-report) for women at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months postpartum, and variables that moderate the theory of planned behavior and PA relationship.