Subject's Anxiety Levels And Self Efficacy example essay topic

Acting on the National Physical Activity Guidelines Introduction The purpose of this study was to identify if presenting a sedentary individual with the Australian governments National Physical Activity Guidelines (NPAG) would improve their overall physical activity. There was a structured interview which was conducted at 2 week intervals. The interview assessed the subject current physical activity levels and their willingness to be able to incorporate physical activity into there daily lives while following the guidelines suggested. The NPAG guidelines were presented before each interview and explained to the subject.

Additional surveys were conducted to evaluate the subject's anxiety levels and self-efficacy. Throughout the study we could benefit by seeing if presenting a sedentary individual with the NPAG would help improve levels of fitness and see if the governments' intervention would help the Australian population. Methods This study was conducted on a sedentary 48 year old Canadian woman. The details of the study were presented and an informed consent was gained from the participant.

The interviews were conducted over the phone, since the subject is currently living in Canada. The first structured interview (see appendix 1) was conducted and then the physical activity guidelines were presented. Being unable to physically present the pamphlet to the subject the researcher had her access them via the internet (Australian Gouvernment, 1999). As the subject reviewed the guidelines the researcher explained them and ask the subject to choose 1 or more of the guidelines that she felt she could incorporate into her daily life.

At this stage a general self-efficacy scale was administered. The survey consists of 10 simple questions aimed at finding if the subject had a high or low self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is described as being ones belief in their ability to organize and execute the sources of action required to manage prospective situations (Albert Bandura, 1986). A third and final survey was administered and measured the subject's proactive attitude levels, meaning the subjects beliefs about their ability to carry out a course of action through personal motivation. This questionnaire consisted of 8 short questions where the subject had to answer by; 1) not true at all, 2) barely true, 3) moderately true or 4) exactly true. web Selection / Turkish/Proactive Attitude / proactive attitude. htm After conducting all the surveys the subject was instructed to print off the NPAG and put in on the fridge as a reminder of what the guidelines were and what she was supposed to be following for the next 2 weeks. After the 14 day period, the second structured interview was administered (see appendix).

The subject was asked to be as honest as possible and not try and respond to this survey by memory. The self-efficacy and proactive attitude surveys were also re-administered. After collaboration of the results, it became increasingly evident that the subject did not adhere to the guidelines and had no hope in changing her behavior. Based on these findings a third questionnaire was conducted.

This Social Physique Anxiety Questionnaire was administered, again over the phone. The survey was conducted to see if self-esteem, body image and social pressures were a factor for her none compliance. Results The physical activity guidelines chosen by the subject were: 1) Think of movement as an opportunity, not an inconvenience 2) Be active every day in as many ways as you can 3) Put together at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, preferably all, days. The following tables present the data obtained from the 2 structured interviews. Table 1: Total Time Spent in Inactive Recreation Total hours Mon-FriSurvey 1 Total hours Mon-FriSurvey 2 Total hours Sat & Sun Survey 1 Total hours Sat & Sun Survey 2 Hobbies 6 5 0 0 Reading 5 5 2 2 Sitting and socializing 3 2 6 4 Sitting / lying and listening to music / radio 0 0 0 0 Talking on telephone 5 4 1 2 Watching TV / videos 8 12 4 4 Using the computer 8 7 2 2 Going for a drive 0 0 0 0 Relaxing, thinking, resting (not including sleep) 4 4 0 0 From this data it can be seen that the subject did not decrease time spent in inactive recreation, suggesting that she did not adhere to the physical activity guidelines that she had selected.

Time spent in inactive recreation actually increased by three hours from Monday to Friday and decreased by just one hour on the weekends over the two-week test period. The most common form of inactive recreation was watching TV or videos (16 hours over the two week test period), followed by using the computer (9 hours over the two week test period). Table 2: Time Spent being Physically Active Sessions per week Survey 1 Time Survey 1 Sessions per week Survey 2 Time Survey 2 Walked continuously (at least 10 mind) 7 1 hour 7 1 hour Climb flight of stairs 7 2 flights of stairs 2 2 flights of stairs Vigorous household chores 0 0 0 0 Vigorous household gardening of heavy work 0 0 0 0 Vigorous physical activity 2 1 hour 1 1 Moderate physical activity 0 0 1 30 mins In comparing this data it is evident that the subject did not increase her levels of physical activity and did not follow the guidelines she had selected for herself. The hours of continuous walking remained constant, but she had a decrease in her levels of vigorous physical activity. Before the guidelines were presented the subject did 2 sessions of vigorous physical activity and during the 2 week test period she only did 1 but subsequently increased her levels of moderate physical activity.

The subject admitted to having a maid and never took part in household chores; therefore she would never increase her levels of physical activity by doing house cleaning. Results of the general perceived self-efficacy The results of the questionnaire prove that the subject has relatively low self-efficacy. Although this was a general questionnaire and not an exercise geared questionnaire the subject did not feel that she would be able to follow out an exercise plan. The subject scored relatively low on questions like when I am confronted with a problem, I can find several solutions and if someone opposes me I can find the ways and means and get what I want. She also admitted to having a bad exercise experience a few years ago and was not excited about following out another exercise plan. These results were very similar with those obtained two weeks later once the test was re-administered.

Results of the Proactive Attitude Scale The results of the proactive attitude scale prove that the subject had a negative attitude towards planning her future. The subject did not plan much in advance and did not carry out long term goals. The subject scored very low on questions such as I feel in charge of making things happen, as well as, I am able to choose my own actions. This helps explain the subjects none compliance to the guidelines she had chosen. These results remain constant after re-administration of the test, two weeks later. Results of the Social Physique Anxiety Questionnaire: In this questionnaire the subject indicated the "degree to which the statement is characteristic or true of you" on a 5-point scale (not at all, slightly, moderate, very, extremely characteristic).

The score can range from 12 (low SPA) to 60 (high SPA). The subject score in this questionnaire was 52 which was well above the mean score for female of 37.9 (SD 9.78) (Hart et al. 1989). The subject indicated she was extremely characteristic of the following statements: - When it comes to displaying my physique / figure to others, I am a shy person. - There are times when I am bothered by thoughts that other people are evaluating my weight or muscular development negatively. - In the presence of others, I feel apprehensive about my physique / figure.

Summary and Discussion Although the majority of the population understands the importance of physical activity and its health benefits only 38.7% of the Australian population participates in weekly physical activity (web). This does not even meet the Australian government's recommendations for improved health benefits. The subject studied was consistent with the norms of the population. Age, sex and environment also seemed to play a role. Women aged between 45 and 54 were much less likely than man the same age to participate in physical activity (ibid). Seeing as the subject studied lived in Canada environment played a role in her none compliance, the subject admitted to being extremely unmotivated to going outside and found it difficult to include physical activity into her lifestyle.

The simple task of trying to walk half an hour outside is not too feasible in Canada where the weather can be quite unbearable. Although the subject found her neighborhood friendly and attractive, a cycle path was not accessible and shops are not within walking distance. The subject also admitted to being much more active during the summer, she said that even if the shops were in walking distance she would never walk to them in the winter! The subject was asked after survey 2 whether she understood the health benefits of regular physical activity and she responded "it's not that I'm ignorant, I just don't want to do it". The subject also commented that despite being knowledgeable about the benefits of exercise, she was not motivated. This lack of intention to exercise, despite being well educated, must be addressed in order to produce more effective physical activity guidelines.

If we were to apply a psychological theory, such as the trans theoretical model, our subject would be in the pre-contemplation phase. She understands its importance and the benefits, but yet is unwilling to incorporate exercise into her life. Presenting the subject with the NPAG should have aided the subjected in moving her from the pre-contemplation phase to the contemplation phase where she could start to see exercise as an opportunity and not an inconvenience. And our final hopes would be to move the subject to the action phase, where she could be active in as many ways as she could and lastly into the maintenance phase of regular daily physical activity.

This lack of motivation is highly correlated with a low self-efficacy. Dzewaltowski, Noble, & Shaw (1990) noted that motivating people to do regular physical activity depends on several factors. Perceived self-efficacy has been a dominating force in ones motivation to carry out an exercise plan. High self-efficacy has also been noted to being extremely important in motivating someone to stick with regular exercise. Since the subject scored extremely low on the self-efficacy scale it is no surprise that she did not adhere to the guidelines. For someone with low self-efficacy it can be quite daunting to try and implement a structured exercise plan.

The proactive attitude scale also gave insightful information for our subjects none compliance. A proactive individual is someone who takes responsibilities for his or her own growth. It is also a personality characteristic that guides someone motivation to action. As well it is a belief in ones ability to change or adapt to improve or benefit the individual. (web Selection / Turkish/Proactive Attitude / proactive attitude. htm). Since our subject scored so low on the proactive questionnaire it is no wonder she did not comply with the guidelines. Since motivation for exercise has to come from an internal cue, which our subject was obviously not receiving, it is no wonder she did not adhere.

Our subject also scored very low on the question; I feel in charge of making things happen. Since she did not feel that she was in charge of making things happen in her life, it is no coincidence that she did not take control and start exercising thus, adhering to the guidelines. Crawford & Eklund (1994) and Hard et al. (1989) indicated the significance of the social nature and physical self in exercise and proposed that social physique anxiety is likely to impact on physical activity behavior.

Hart et al. (1989) found that females typically have a higher SPA than men and that high SPA woman were more stressed and had negative thoughts frequently than low SPA women. Having self-presentational concerns negatively impacts on intention to exercise (Crawford et al. 1994).

Our subject had body image and self-esteem issues that were noted with the social physique anxiety questionnaire. Seeing that the subject felt anxiety when people were looking at her body she was highly unmotivated to attend a gym or even just to do simple exercises. The guidelines, an active way to better health, set out by the Australian government provide valuable information for sedentary individuals. However it is limited to individuals who are willing to exercise. Most people in the pre-contemplation phase are aware of the health benefits they just do not want to include physical activity into there lifestyle. There are several common barriers to exercise such as no time, lack of energy, no social support, weather and other interests.

The NPAG is not geared towards helping people overcome these barriers; instead it's intended to help individuals increase their levels of physical activity. The guidelines need to stimulate people with no intention to exercise by addressing the underlying determinants behind physical activity behavior. In this study the subject's self-efficacy was low; she had a negative proactive attitude as well as a high social physique anxiety. All of these factors positively correlate to our subject's lack of compliance and adherence and also explain why our subject did not even intend to change her behavior.

The guidelines are a good starting point for someone who is willing to make behavior changes but it is not necessarily the best tool to help motivate people to start exercising.

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