Relationship between Expectations Regarding Aging and Physical Activity among Middle Aged Adults in Urban Areas: Based on the Pender's Health Promotion Model

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to measure the level of expectations regarding aging (ERA) and identify relationship between ERA and physical activity of middle aged adults. METHODS: Participants were middle aged adults who resided in the community in three cities in Korea. Data were collected using questionnaires that contained items on individual characteristic, International Physical Activity Questionnaires (IPAQ), and behavior-specific cognitive factors including ERA-12. Hierarchical multiple regression was conducted to examine whether ERA would predict physical activity by controlling other factors. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 51.1+/-6.9 years. The mean score for ERA (possible range=0 to 100) was 40.04+/-14.31. More than half of the participants (62.6%) were not engaged in health promoting physical activity. Gender, employment status and exercise confidence were associated with level of physical activity (F=7.14, p<.001, R2=.36). After controlling for individual factors and behavior-specific cognitive factors, ERA was independently related to physical activity (F=7.19, p<.001, R2=.38). CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that individuals' belief about aging has effects on physical activity in Korean middle aged adults. Thus, nursing interventions which focused on ERA could help enhance physical activity in middle aged adults.

Influence of Self Efficacy, Social Support and Sense of Community on Health-related Quality of Life for Middle-aged and Elderly Residents Living in a Rural Community

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between self-efficacy, social support, sense of community and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), including the direct and indirect effects of the variables on HRQoL. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a convenience sample of 249 middle-aged and elderly residents living in a rural community in A-County, K Province. The structured questionnaire included 4 scales from the Euro Quality of life-5 Dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression), and measures of General Self-Efficacy, Social Support, and Sense of Community. Data were analyzed using SPSS WIN 20.0 and AMOS 21.0 program. RESULTS: The mean HRQoL score for the participants was 0.87+/-0.13. Self-efficacy (beta=.13, p=.039) and age (beta= -.38, p<.001) were significantly associated with HRQoL, explaining 21% of the variance. In the path analysis, self-efficacy showed a significant direct effect on HRQoL (beta=.14, p=.040) and significantly mediating relationships between both social support (beta=.05, p=.030) and sense of community (beta=.02, p=.025) and HRQoL. CONCLUSION: Although self-efficacy was found to be the main predictor for HRQoL, the findings imply that social environmental factors such as social support and sense of community need to be considered when developing interventions to increase HRQoL in middle-aged and elderly residents in rural communities.

Factors Associated with Physical Activity among Chinese Immigrant Women

PURPOSE: This study was done to assess the level of physical activity among Chinese immigrant women and to determine the relationships of physical activity with individual characteristics and behavior-specific cognition. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 161 Chinese immigrant women living in Busan. A health promotion model of physical activity adapted from Pender's Health Promotion Model was used. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data during the period from September 25 to November 20, 2012. Using SPSS 18.0 program, descriptive statistics, t-test, analysis of variance, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were done. RESULTS: The average level of physical activity of the Chinese immigrant women was 1,050.06+/-686.47 MET-min/week and the minimum activity among types of physical activity was most dominant (59.6%). As a result of multiple regression analysis, it was confirmed that self-efficacy and acculturation were statistically significant variables in the model (p<.001), with an explanatory power of 23.7%. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the development and application of intervention strategies to increase acculturation and self-efficacy for immigrant women will aid in increasing the physical activity in Chinese immigrant women.

A new member of alpha 1-adrenoceptor-coupled G alpha h (transglutaminase II) family in pig heart: purification and characterization

We previously reported an identification of a 77-kDa GTP-binding protein that co-purified with the alpha 1-adrenoceptor following ternary complex formation. In the present paper, we report on the purification and characterization of this GTP-binding protein (termed G alpha h5) isolated from pig heart membranes. After solubilization of pig heart membranes with NaCl, G alpha h5 was purified by sequential chromatographies using DEAE-Cellulose, Q-Sepharose, and GTP-agarose columns. The protein displayed high-affinity GTP gamma S binding which is Mg(2+)-dependent and saturable. The relative order of affinity of nucleotide binding by G alpha h5 was GTP > GDP > ITP >> ATP > or = adenyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate, which was similar to that observed for other heterotrimeric G-proteins involved in receptor signaling. Moreover, the G alpha h5 demonstrated transglutaminase (TGase) activity that was blocked either by EGTA or GTP gamma S. In support of these observations, the G alpha h5 was recognized by a specific antibody to G alpha h7 or TGase II, indicating a homology with G alpha h (TGase II) family. These results demonstrate that 77-kDa G alpha h5 from pig heart is an alpha 1-adrenoceptor-coupled G alpha h (TGase II) family which has species-specificity in molecular mass.