1. The effects of a pedometer-based intervention on first-year university students: A randomized control trial.
- Author
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Sharp, Paul and Caperchione, Cristina
- Subjects
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ANALYSIS of variance , *BEHAVIOR modification , *CHI-squared test , *COLLEGE students , *DOCUMENTATION , *HEALTH promotion , *MULTIVARIATE analysis , *PROBABILITY theory , *QUALITY of life , *QUESTIONNAIRES , *STATISTICAL sampling , *T-test (Statistics) , *PEDOMETERS , *PSYCHOSOCIAL factors , *WELL-being , *RANDOMIZED controlled trials , *PRE-tests & post-tests , *PHYSICAL activity , *DATA analysis software , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
Objectives: To assess the effects of a 12-week pedometer-based intervention on the physical activity behavior, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and psychological well-being of first-year university students. Participants: First-year university students (N = 184) were recruited during September 2012 and randomly assigned to an intervention or a control group. Methods: Intervention participants were provided with a pedometer, monthly tracking logs, and follow-up e-mails. Control participants received no intervention. Physical activity, HRQOL, and psychological well-being were measured at baseline and post intervention. Data were analyzed using multivariate/univariate analysis of variance (MANOVA/ANOVA). Results: All participants experienced an increase in mild physical activity (p <.01) from baseline to follow-up. The intervention failed to produce significant differences between groups for physical activity (p =.28), HRQOL (p =.80), or psychological well-being (p =.72). Psychological well-being (p <.001), vigorous physical activity (p =.04), and mental health status (p <.001) decreased across the duration of the study. Conclusions: More intensive interventions may be required to elicit physical activity behavior change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2016
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