Physical activity and depression: Validity of measures and evidence of psychosocial correlates
by Hu, Liang, Ph.D., UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN, 2008, 126 pages; 3337795

Abstract:

Depression is a mental health disease that affects a considerable number of individuals of all age and ethnic groups across the world. Although collective evidence has demonstrated that exercise represents a promising new approach in the treatment of depression, two important research issues that are critical to accurately understanding and promoting physical activity behaviors among individuals with depression have been ironically ignored in current literature. That is, the validity of physical activity measures and correlates of physical activity among individuals with depression. In a sample of 54 individuals with depression (M age = 32.44), the present study provided empirical evidence to examine these issues by: (1) Testing the validity of both objective and subjective measures of physical activity in a Multi-trait Multi-method framework; and (2) Examining a number of psychosocial correlates of physical activity participation. Participants' physical activity levels were measured objectively by wearing both MTI accelerometer and Omron pedometer for 7 days, and subjectively by completing the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ) and Internal Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Correlations between objective measures and subjective measures were found in the hypothesized manner except for the consistently low and non-significant correlations between the IPAQ and other physical activity measures. However, correlations the Leisure Time Physical Activity (LTPA) component of the IPAQ was found to be correlated with other physical activity measures reasonably well. In addition, the pattern of correlations among these measures was not changed after controlling for depression scores. It was recommended that accelerometer, pedometer, GLTEQ, and LTPA component of the IPAQ demonstrated correlations in the hypothesized manner and are suitable for future studies of physical activity and depression. From the perspective of identifying psychosocial correlates of physical activity among individuals with depression, both correlational and regression analyses found that exercise and barrier self-efficacy, enjoyment and importance of physical activity, and overall pain intensity rating were associated with physical activity levels. Such findings may have implications for designing and implementing future exercise programs among individuals with depression, and thus be of particular interest to health practitioners and researchers.

 
AdviserEdward McAuley
SchoolUNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
SourceDAI/B 69-11, p. , Jan 2009
Source TypeDissertation
SubjectsKinesiology; Clinical psychology
Publication Number3337795
Adobe PDF Access the complete dissertation:
 

» Find an electronic copy at your library.
  Use the link below to access a full citation record of this graduate work:
  http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl%3furl_ver=Z39.88-2004%26res_dat=xri:pqdiss%26rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation%26rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3337795
  If your library subscribes to the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (PQDT) database, you may be entitled to a free electronic version of this graduate work. If not, you will have the option to purchase one, and access a 24 page preview for free (if available).

About ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
With over 2.3 million records, the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (PQDT) database is the most comprehensive collection of dissertations and theses in the world. It is the database of record for graduate research.

The database includes citations of graduate works ranging from the first U.S. dissertation, accepted in 1861, to those accepted as recently as last semester. Of the 2.3 million graduate works included in the database, ProQuest offers more than 1.9 million in full text formats. Of those, over 860,000 are available in PDF format. More than 60,000 dissertations and theses are added to the database each year.

If you have questions, please feel free to visit the ProQuest Web site - http://www.proquest.com - or call ProQuest Hotline Customer Support at 1-800-521-3042.