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Examined whether a Tai Chi exercise program enhanced the psychological well-being of 98 elderly individuals. Analyzed repeated measures data about participants using latent growth curve analysis. Results indicate the beneficial effects of participation in the Tai Chi program. Discusses implications related to the exercise-psychological health relationship in older adults. (SLD)

The influence of sources and types of social support in youth physical activities is investigated by conducting a survey among 372 youths. Results of the study indicated that a positive relation exists between social support and youth physical activity and it was also seen that friends were considered as the source of support for getting involved in physical activity.

Byline: Susan C. Duncan (1), Terry E. Duncan (1), Lisa A. Strycker (1) Keywords: neighborhood; substance use; multilevel; social cohesion Abstract: Various sources of data were used to examine hypothesized relations among neighborhood variables and youth alcohol and drug problems. Family members (N = 1186) were from 55 neighborhoods: 57% female, 41% African American, and 59% White. Data were clustered by neighborhood and analyzed within a multilevel design. At the neighborhood level, the study examined relations among poverty, stores selling alcohol, neighborhood social cohesion, neighborhood problems with youth alcohol and drug use, and drug and alcohol arrests. At the individual level, gender, ethnicity, adult versus child status, neighborhood social cohesion, and neighborhood problems were examined. Results indicated that more stores sold alcohol in higher poverty neighborhoods, which was associated with less social cohesion. Lower social cohesion was related to greater perceived neighborhood problems with youth alcohol and drug use, which was positively related to neighborhood youth drug and alcohol arrests. The study showed significant variation across neighborhoods and demonstrates the utility of combining different sources of neighborhood data to examine relations of interest. Author Affiliation: (1) Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, Oregon Article History: Registration Date: 13/10/2004

Byline: Fuzhong Li (1), Peter Harmer (2), Edward McAuley (3), K. John Fisher (1), Terry E. Duncan (1), Susan C. Duncan (1) Keywords: self-efficacy; physical function; Tai Chi Abstract: Using Tai Chi as an exercise mode, this study examined the association between self-efficacy and physical function. Ninety-four healthy, physically inactive older adults (M age = 72.8 years, SD = 5.1) were randomly assigned to either a 6-month, twice a week, Tai Chi condition or a wait-list control condition. Outcome variables included self-reports of movement efficacy and physical function assessed at baseline, middle, and termination of the study. Multisample latent curve analyses revealed a significant rate of change attributable to the Tai Chi intervention in both self-efficacy and physical function, with participants experiencing significant improvements over the course of the intervention. Analyses also showed a positive association between self-efficacy and physical function, indicating that improvements in older adults' self-efficacy of movement as a function of Tai Chi were related to increased levels of perceived physical capability. This study uncovered the need for further exploration of the relationship between exercise self-efficacy and physical function for enhancing health-related quality of life in older adults. Author Affiliation: (1) Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, Oregon (2) Willamette University, Salem, Oregon (3) University of Illinois at Urbana--Champaign, Urbana, Illinois Article History: Registration Date: 10/10/2004

Byline: Jisuk Park (1), Rick Kosterman (1), J. David Hawkins (1), Kevin P. Haggerty (1), Terry E. Duncan (2), Susan C. Duncan (2), Richard Spoth (3) Keywords: alcohol use; prevention; adolescence; growth modeling Abstract: Preparing for the Drug-Free Years (PDFY) is a curriculum designed to help parents learn skills to consistently communicate clear norms against adolescent substance use, effectively and proactively manage their families, reduce family conflict, and help their children learn skills to resist antisocial peer influences. This study examined the effects of PDFY on the trajectories of these factors, as well as on the trajectory of alcohol use from early to mid adolescence. The sample consisted of 424 rural families of sixth graders from schools randomly assigned to an intervention or a control condition. Data were collected from both parents and students at pretest, posttest, and 1-, 2- and 3 1/2 -year follow-ups. Latent growth models were examined. PDFY significantly reduced the growth of alcohol use and improved parent norms regarding adolescent alcohol use over time. Implications for prevention and evaluation are discussed. Author Affiliation: (1) Social Development Research Group, School of Social Work, University of Washington, USA (2) Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, Oregon (3) Institute for Social and Behavioral Research, Iowa State University, USA Article History: Registration Date: 10/10/2004

A randomized controlled trial examined the effect of two physical activity modes on changes in self-efficacy over the course of a 12-month period in older, formerly sedentary adults (N = 174, M age = 65.5 years). Participants were randomized into either an aerobic activity group or a stretching and toning group. Structural equation modeling was employed to conduct multiple sample latent growth curve analyses of individual growth in exercise and physical self-efficacy over time. Results revealed a curvilinear growth pattern for both types of efficacy with increases occurring over the first 6 months followed by declines at the 6-month follow-up. There was a significant treatment by mean level growth interaction for exercise efficacy with both groups increasing over time, but the aerobic group evidenced a twofold increase in growth over the stretching group. Structural analyses indicated that frequency of exercise participation was a significant predictor of overall growth in efficacy, and improvements in fitness were only related to exercise efficacy growth in the stretching group. Findings are discussed in terms of social cognitive theory and further application of latent growth curve modeling to studies of physical activity effects in older adults.

Objective: This article demonstrates use of a latent variable model for longitudinal data which encompasses nested structures. Using Multilevel Latent Growth Modeling (LGM), levels of alcohol use and development of alcohol use over 4 years were examined among individuals (adolescents and parents) nested within families. Method: An LGM model was tested for alcohol use with a sample of 435 families (435 target adolescents, 203 sibling and 566 parents [168 fathers and 398 mothers]). Adolescents (targets and siblings) comprised 312 boys and 326 girls, with a mean ([+ or -] SD) age at Time 1 (T1) of 13.69 [+ or -] 1.95 years. It was hypothesized that there would be homogeneity in level and development of alcohol use among family members and heterogeneity in alcohol use and development across families. The effects of family status (single-parent, two-parent intact and stepparent families) and socioeconomic status (SES) on family levels of alcohol use were also examined. Results: Results suggested that stepparent families, and less educated and more economically disadvantaged families, had higher family levels of alcohol use and developed in their use of alcohol at a faster rate. Conclusions: Findings suggest that the alcohol use of individuals in the same family is more alike than that of individuals from different families and that family alcohol use may be influenced by family-level variables such as family status or SES. Methods such as those presented, which incorporate family-level clustering, are likely to provide additional information regarding the etiology of alcohol use and risk factors for alcohol use within and across families. (J. Stud. Alcohol 59: 399-408, 1998), Alcoholic use and development of alcohol use within 435 families was examined over a four year period. Stepparent families, less educated and economically disadvantaged families showed higher family levels of alcohol use. Family members also used alcohol at a faster rate., Over the last three decades, we have witnessed a gradual increase in the complexity of theoretical models that attempt to explain problem behavior, such as alcohol use and abuse in [...]

Use of the cohort-sequential model, which uses growth curve methodology, to study the progressional change in adolescent alcohol use and the effect of family cohesion and peer encouragement on such changes, reveals that family cohesion and peer support for alcohol use influence the early status and progression of alcohol uptake during adolescence. Family cohesion inhibits the early intake levels to postpone the linear growth of alcohol use. Transition to high school involves a major increase in alcohol use.

Sedentary older adults who had completed a five-month exercise program were assessed nine months later for physiological change, continuing participation in exercise programs and self-assessments of physical ability and participation (self-efficacy). Compliers and non-compliers differed in continuing participation, aerobic strength and self-efficacy ratings. While initial assessments revealed large declines in both participation and self-efficacy ratings, expectations of efficacy taken after a set of physical tests increased significantly.

Objective: This study examined issues of heterogeneity in multiple stage development as it corresponds to qualitatively different developmental trajectories in alcohol use during adolescence. Method: Using a piecewise growth mixture modeling methodology, a two-piece growth model capturing growth trajectories in adolescent alcohol use from middle school (Grades 6 through 8) to high school (Grades 9 through 12) was examined (N = 179; 54% male). It was hypothesized that (1) two stages of alcohol use development with varying trajectories would exist in these data (the first corresponding to development during middle school, followed by a second stage of continuing growth during high school) and (2) there would be multiple growth trajectories (subgroups) of alcohol use in the stage-wise development, with varying effects in initial alcohol use and growth rates of alcohol use. Results: Results indicated the tenability of the two-piece growth model of alcohol use with heterogeneity in the population comprising two distinct latent developmental trajectory classes. Class 1, with a high initial status of alcohol use at Grade 6, showed an upward increase in trajectory only during high school. Class 2, with a low initial status of alcohol use at Grade 6, showed a linear increase in middle school with a second growth spurt at high school entry and continuity in growth throughout the high school years. Analyses, incorporating time-invariate covariates, indicated varying influences of gender, early levels of deviant behavior, family structure (single vs two parent), peer encouragement and parent disapproval of alcohol use, and adolescent deviant behavior upon high school entry, on the two trajectory classes. Results also showed effects of the identified trajectories, with varying magnitudes, on later substance use in young adulthood, with Class 1 showing the strongest continuity in later substance use. Conclusions: Findings suggest heterogenous development of alcohol use in the adolescent population, associated with varying background and covariate influences. In addition, this heterogeneity is linked to alcohol and other substance use in young adulthood. (J. Stud. Alcohol 62: 199-210, 2001), ALCOHOL USE typically begins in adolescence. Findings from the Monitoring the Future Study (Johnston et al., 1995) indicated that 9.5% of 8th graders and 5.5% of 10th graders reported having [...]

Researchers increasingly recognize the potential influence of the neighborhood environment on individual health and social behavior. To examine these influences, it is important to use varying measures and sources of neighborhood characteristics. Though neighborhood residents are often surveyed, the perceptions of neighborhood workers have been largely ignored. The current study documents procedures and findings from two longitudinal studies in which workers in 60 neighborhoods were surveyed about neighborhood social cohesion and social control (collective efficacy), and neighborhood problems. Results indicated that workers within neighborhoods were more homogeneous in their views of neighborhood collective efficacy and neighborhood problems than were workers across neighborhoods. In addition, not only were workers' perceptions of their neighborhoods similar to the perceptions of neighborhood residents but they also provided unique information. Overall, this study demonstrates the viability and usefulness of local workers as an additional source of neighborhood information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]