Journal of Physical Activity and Health, Aug 1, 2016
Background:The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of a web-ba... more Background:The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of a web-based intervention to promote physical activity and self-worth among working mothers.Methods:Participants (N = 69) were randomly assigned to receive a standard web-based intervention or an enhanced intervention that included group dynamics strategies to promote engagement. The 8-week intervention was guided by self-determination theory. Each week, participants were instructed to complete 3 tasks: listen to a podcast related to well-being, complete a workbook assignment, and communicate with other participants on a discussion board. Participants in the enhanced condition received an additional weekly task to enhance group cohesion. Data were collected at baseline, week 8, and week 16.Results:Physical activity (P < .001, η2 = 0.35) and self-worth (P < .001, η2 = 0.39) increased significantly in both groups following the intervention, and introjected (P < .001, η2 = 0.30) and external motivation (P = .04, η2 = 0.10) decreased. Website use declined across the 8-week intervention in both groups (P < .001, η2 = 0.48); however, discussion board use was higher in the enhanced condition (P = .04, η2 = 0.21).Conclusions:These findings suggest web-based interventions can improve physical activity and self-worth among working mothers. Group dynamics strategies only minimally enhanced user engagement, and future studies are needed to optimize web-based intervention designs.
International Journal of Health Promotion and Education, 2022
Promoting intrinsic affective exercise benefits may facilitate autonomous motivation and exercise... more Promoting intrinsic affective exercise benefits may facilitate autonomous motivation and exercise behavior. However, most media messages primarily emphasize extrinsic weight and health-related benefits. This study examined whether altering exercise messages would influence individuals' exercise motivation and behavior. Using a 2 x 2 factorial design, message frames were manipulated on the following dimensions: Intrinsic/Extrinsic exercise goal and Easy/Hard exercise routine. A representative sample of adults aged 30-45 (N = 505) completed measures of leisure-time exercise and motivation and then were randomly assigned to view one of the four messages or a control message. Immediately after viewing the message, participants indicated their primary exercise goal. One week later, they completed the exercise and motivation measures again. An ANCOVA revealed no between-group differences in motivation or exercise behavior. Relative to the extrinsic and control conditions, participants in the intrinsic message conditions were more likely to identify an effective primary exercise goal immediately after viewing the message. Overall, a single message exposure did not significantly affect individuals' exercise motivation or behavior in this sample. Future studies should consider honing optimal message content, assessing message understanding and determining the minimum dose of message exposure needed for a meaningful impact.
Background: COVID-19 restrictions and alterations to daily living (e.g. working from home, caregi... more Background: COVID-19 restrictions and alterations to daily living (e.g. working from home, caregiving responsibilities) necessitated changes in physical activity (PA) behavior. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand how PA within specific domains and behavior settings changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An e-survey, conducted April-June 2020, examined changes in PA across domains and settings in a national sample of adults (N=805; M age=38.7 ± 14.9 yrs; 78.0% female). Results: Respondents reported domain-specific increases in household and recreational PA, but decreases in active transportation, occupational PA, and public transportation use. Weekly minutes of PA changed significantly across all behavior settings, with reported increases in home-based, neighborhood, parks/trails, and total PA, and decreases in PA through recreational sports and fitness facilities. Total weekly PA minutes increased by 10.6% (Z= 4.428, p < .000). Those with caregiving respon...
Objectives Recent research suggests the possibility for significant variability in nutrient conte... more Objectives Recent research suggests the possibility for significant variability in nutrient content and dietary quality (DQ) of school lunches, even when meeting National School Lunch Program (NSLP) nutrition standards. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there were differences in nutrient content and DQ by socioeconomic status (SES) and rurality, among middle school lunch menus meeting NSLP standards. Methods All 283 Kansas school districts were stratified into high and low SES groups ( 50% of students received free/reduced-price lunch). Forty-five menus from low and from high SES strata (N = 90) were obtained from websites of randomly selected school districts for the same time period (first six weeks of school). Included menus were also stratified for analyses by rurality, determined by National Center for Education Statistics locales. Thirty days of each menu were portioned per NSLP standards for the middle school age group and per standardized assumptions across ...
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2011
The hippocampus shrinks in late adulthood, leading to impaired memory and increased risk for deme... more The hippocampus shrinks in late adulthood, leading to impaired memory and increased risk for dementia. Hippocampal and medial temporal lobe volumes are larger in higher-fit adults, and physical activity training increases hippocampal perfusion, but the extent to which aerobic exercise training can modify hippocampal volume in late adulthood remains unknown. Here we show, in a randomized controlled trial with 120 older adults, that aerobic exercise training increases the size of the anterior hippocampus, leading to improvements in spatial memory. Exercise training increased hippocampal volume by 2%, effectively reversing age-related loss in volume by 1 to 2 y. We also demonstrate that increased hippocampal volume is associated with greater serum levels of BDNF, a mediator of neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus. Hippocampal volume declined in the control group, but higher preintervention fitness partially attenuated the decline, suggesting that fitness protects against volume loss. Caud...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Sedentary behavior negatively impacts mental health, which can decrease employee productivity. Em... more Sedentary behavior negatively impacts mental health, which can decrease employee productivity. Employee mental well-being and work performance may improve with sedentary reduction interventions, especially strategies that include environmental workplace modifications and behavior-changing strategies. However, such interventions have not been examined among employees working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the Stand Up Kansas program, 95 sedentary university employees working from home were randomized into one of four intervention arms: height-adjustable desk provision (Desk Only), online sedentary behavior modification program (Program Only), Desk + Program, or Control. The outcomes were measured at a baseline (November 2020) and following the 12-week intervention (February 2021). Employees reported mood (positive and negative affect), stress, fatigue (duration, interference with activities and severity) and work performance (irritability, focus, work satisfaction,...
Journal of Physical Activity and Health, Aug 1, 2016
Background:The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of a web-ba... more Background:The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of a web-based intervention to promote physical activity and self-worth among working mothers.Methods:Participants (N = 69) were randomly assigned to receive a standard web-based intervention or an enhanced intervention that included group dynamics strategies to promote engagement. The 8-week intervention was guided by self-determination theory. Each week, participants were instructed to complete 3 tasks: listen to a podcast related to well-being, complete a workbook assignment, and communicate with other participants on a discussion board. Participants in the enhanced condition received an additional weekly task to enhance group cohesion. Data were collected at baseline, week 8, and week 16.Results:Physical activity (P &lt; .001, η2 = 0.35) and self-worth (P &lt; .001, η2 = 0.39) increased significantly in both groups following the intervention, and introjected (P &lt; .001, η2 = 0.30) and external motivation (P = .04, η2 = 0.10) decreased. Website use declined across the 8-week intervention in both groups (P &lt; .001, η2 = 0.48); however, discussion board use was higher in the enhanced condition (P = .04, η2 = 0.21).Conclusions:These findings suggest web-based interventions can improve physical activity and self-worth among working mothers. Group dynamics strategies only minimally enhanced user engagement, and future studies are needed to optimize web-based intervention designs.
International Journal of Health Promotion and Education, 2022
Promoting intrinsic affective exercise benefits may facilitate autonomous motivation and exercise... more Promoting intrinsic affective exercise benefits may facilitate autonomous motivation and exercise behavior. However, most media messages primarily emphasize extrinsic weight and health-related benefits. This study examined whether altering exercise messages would influence individuals' exercise motivation and behavior. Using a 2 x 2 factorial design, message frames were manipulated on the following dimensions: Intrinsic/Extrinsic exercise goal and Easy/Hard exercise routine. A representative sample of adults aged 30-45 (N = 505) completed measures of leisure-time exercise and motivation and then were randomly assigned to view one of the four messages or a control message. Immediately after viewing the message, participants indicated their primary exercise goal. One week later, they completed the exercise and motivation measures again. An ANCOVA revealed no between-group differences in motivation or exercise behavior. Relative to the extrinsic and control conditions, participants in the intrinsic message conditions were more likely to identify an effective primary exercise goal immediately after viewing the message. Overall, a single message exposure did not significantly affect individuals' exercise motivation or behavior in this sample. Future studies should consider honing optimal message content, assessing message understanding and determining the minimum dose of message exposure needed for a meaningful impact.
Background: COVID-19 restrictions and alterations to daily living (e.g. working from home, caregi... more Background: COVID-19 restrictions and alterations to daily living (e.g. working from home, caregiving responsibilities) necessitated changes in physical activity (PA) behavior. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand how PA within specific domains and behavior settings changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An e-survey, conducted April-June 2020, examined changes in PA across domains and settings in a national sample of adults (N=805; M age=38.7 ± 14.9 yrs; 78.0% female). Results: Respondents reported domain-specific increases in household and recreational PA, but decreases in active transportation, occupational PA, and public transportation use. Weekly minutes of PA changed significantly across all behavior settings, with reported increases in home-based, neighborhood, parks/trails, and total PA, and decreases in PA through recreational sports and fitness facilities. Total weekly PA minutes increased by 10.6% (Z= 4.428, p < .000). Those with caregiving respon...
Objectives Recent research suggests the possibility for significant variability in nutrient conte... more Objectives Recent research suggests the possibility for significant variability in nutrient content and dietary quality (DQ) of school lunches, even when meeting National School Lunch Program (NSLP) nutrition standards. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there were differences in nutrient content and DQ by socioeconomic status (SES) and rurality, among middle school lunch menus meeting NSLP standards. Methods All 283 Kansas school districts were stratified into high and low SES groups ( 50% of students received free/reduced-price lunch). Forty-five menus from low and from high SES strata (N = 90) were obtained from websites of randomly selected school districts for the same time period (first six weeks of school). Included menus were also stratified for analyses by rurality, determined by National Center for Education Statistics locales. Thirty days of each menu were portioned per NSLP standards for the middle school age group and per standardized assumptions across ...
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2011
The hippocampus shrinks in late adulthood, leading to impaired memory and increased risk for deme... more The hippocampus shrinks in late adulthood, leading to impaired memory and increased risk for dementia. Hippocampal and medial temporal lobe volumes are larger in higher-fit adults, and physical activity training increases hippocampal perfusion, but the extent to which aerobic exercise training can modify hippocampal volume in late adulthood remains unknown. Here we show, in a randomized controlled trial with 120 older adults, that aerobic exercise training increases the size of the anterior hippocampus, leading to improvements in spatial memory. Exercise training increased hippocampal volume by 2%, effectively reversing age-related loss in volume by 1 to 2 y. We also demonstrate that increased hippocampal volume is associated with greater serum levels of BDNF, a mediator of neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus. Hippocampal volume declined in the control group, but higher preintervention fitness partially attenuated the decline, suggesting that fitness protects against volume loss. Caud...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Sedentary behavior negatively impacts mental health, which can decrease employee productivity. Em... more Sedentary behavior negatively impacts mental health, which can decrease employee productivity. Employee mental well-being and work performance may improve with sedentary reduction interventions, especially strategies that include environmental workplace modifications and behavior-changing strategies. However, such interventions have not been examined among employees working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the Stand Up Kansas program, 95 sedentary university employees working from home were randomized into one of four intervention arms: height-adjustable desk provision (Desk Only), online sedentary behavior modification program (Program Only), Desk + Program, or Control. The outcomes were measured at a baseline (November 2020) and following the 12-week intervention (February 2021). Employees reported mood (positive and negative affect), stress, fatigue (duration, interference with activities and severity) and work performance (irritability, focus, work satisfaction,...
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Papers by Emily L. Mailey