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This cross-sectional study of 504 community-dwelling Australian adults (328 females, 176 males, mean age 50.8 ± 13.0 years) sought to examine the reliability and validity of measurement scales for physical activity (PA) self-efficacy and outcome expectations. Participants completed demographic and anthropometric measurements, and a 23-item psychosocial questionnaire pertinent to an intervention target of 10,000 steps per day. Exploratory (n = 252) and confirmatory (n = 252) factor analyses were conducted to determine psychometric properties of the measures. Based on theory and goodness-of-fit indices, six factors were extracted from the questionnaire: PA self-efficacy; PA barriers self-efficacy (including general, personal, and conflict); and physical and mental outcome expectations. From confirmatory factor analysis, the model demonstrated good data fit in four out of five indices: CFI = 0.99; TLI = 0.99; SRMR = 0.03; RMSEA = 0.03, 90%CI = 0.01-0.05, χ2 = 113.14 (88), p = 0.04; including good fit by sex, age, weight status, education, and birth country. PA interventions can employ our psychometrically sound social cognitive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loneliness can be defined as perceived social isolation and appears to be a relatively common experience in adults. It carries a significant health risk and has been associated with heart disease, depression and poor recovery after coronary heart surgery. The mechanisms that link loneliness and morbidity are unclear but one of the mechanisms may be through poor health beliefs and behaviours. The aims of this cross-sectional survey of 1289 adults were to investigate differences in health behaviours (smoking, overweight, BMI, sedentary, attitudes towards physical activity) in lonely and non-lonely groups. Lonely individuals were more likely to be smokers and more likely to be overweight – obese. The lonely group had higher body mass index scores controlling for age, annual income, gender, employment and marital status. Logistic regression revealed no differences in sedentary lifestyles. Lonely individuals were significantly less likely to believe it was desirable for them to lose weight by walking for recreation, leisure or transportation. The findings provide support for an association between health behaviours, loneliness and excess morbidity reported in previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]