Barriers and Facilitators to Participation in Vigorous Lifestyle Physical Activity in Adults Aged 55-75 Years: A Scoping Review.

Despite the well-known benefits of physical activity, less than half of adults aged 55-75 years participate in sufficient physical activity. Short bouts of vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA) accumulated throughout the day can contribute toward the recommended volume of physical activity. A rich characterization of the barriers and facilitators to participation in VILPA is needed to develop targeted interventions. This scoping review aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to participation in different components of VILPA in adults aged 55-75 years, and to map barriers and facilitators to the Theoretical Domains Framework. Within the 18 eligible studies, the most prevalent barriers were related to a person's skills, environmental context, and social influences. Most facilitators were related to a person's goals, social influences, and environmental context. Interventions to promote VILPA should test the effectiveness of behavioral change measures related to the unique barriers and facilitators in this age group.

Health behaviour profiles in young Australian adults in relation to physical and mental health: The Raine Study.

ISSUES ADDRESSED: We aimed to identify latent health behaviour profiles of young adults and examine their associations with physical and mental health outcomes. We also characterised the profiles by socio-demographic characteristics. METHODS: Data were collected between 2012 and 2014. Participants (N = 476) were young adults (M age [SD] = 22.1 [.57] years) from Generation 2 of the Raine Study longitudinal cohort. Health behaviours were measured via ActiGraph GT3X waist monitors (physical activity, sedentary behaviour) and questionnaires (diet quality, alcohol, smoking and sleep). Physical and mental health were measured using clinical health assessments, blood biomarkers, and questionnaires. Latent Profile Analysis using Mplus (8.2) was employed to identify profiles. RESULTS: Four latent profiles were identified: 'heavy drinkers with moderately unhealthy eating habits' (high takeaway foods; n = 135), 'unhealthy food abstainers' (low takeaway foods; n = 138), 'moderately sedentary alcohol abstainers' (n = 139) and 'physically active drinkers with unhealthy eating habits' (high takeaway foods and sugary drinks; n = 64). 'Physically active drinkers with unhealthy eating habits' had the poorest (physical and mental) health outcomes, yet the lowest insulin resistance. 'Unhealthy food abstainers' had the most favourable health outcomes (adiposity, health perceptions, blood pressure). Sex differed among the profiles. CONCLUSIONS: The profiles identified among young adults are different to profiles with general adult populations. A novel finding was that 'physically active drinkers with unhealthy eating habits' had low insulin resistance. The findings also suggest that future interventions may need to be sex specific. SO WHAT: Our findings suggest that health behaviour interventions for young adults should be targeted to distinct profile characteristics.

Predictors of intentions of adults over 35 years to participate in walking sport programs: A social-ecological mixed-methods approach.

There is a growing need to identify acceptable and feasible opportunities to engage adults over 35 years in physical activity. Walking sports may be a potential means to engage adults in sport; however, there is limited evidence regarding appeal and feasibility to support its implementation and delivery. Using a two-step mixed-methods approach, we aimed (1) to quantitively identify significant predictors of intentions of adults over 35 years to participate in walking sports and (2) to understand why and how these identified predictors may be contextually relevant to the target group. In phase one, 282 adults over 35 years (Mage = 46.08, SD = 9.75) without prior experience of walking sports completed an online questionnaire assessing personal, psychosocial, program-related, and environmental predictors, and intentions to participate in walking sports. Hierarchical multiple linear regressions showed that perceived health status, attitudes, subjective norms, and distance of venue were significant predictors of intentions. In phase two, interviews with a subset of 17 participants indicated that, when implementing walking sport programs, program labeling, fear of the unknown, and individual differences in the appeal of walking sport warrant consideration. Together, these findings offer insight into the complex interplay of personal, psychosocial, program-related, and environmental predictors of adults' intentions to participate in walking sports. Addressing these elements of a walking sport program would make such programs more appealing to potential participants, and ultimately, more feasible and sustainable to conduct in the long run.

How can older peer leaders best support motivation for walking in physically inactive older adults? A self-determination theory perspective.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine what older adults perceive to be need-supportive behaviours of peer walk leaders, drawing primarily from Self-Determination Theory (SDT). DESIGN: Experienced peer leaders (n = 13; Mage = 73.23, SD = 6.55) and walkers (n = 17; Mage = 72.88, SD = 5.79) were recruited from existing walking groups. Individuals who expressed an interest in becoming a peer leader (n = 18; Mage = 72.72, SD = 4.99) or walker (n = 20; Mage = 78.90, SD = 10.45) were recruited from retirement villages. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We conducted semi-structured interviews to identify leader behaviours that support autonomy, competence, and relatedness and analysed the data using framework analysis. RESULTS: We identified eight main themes: eliciting walker interest, acknowledging and adapting to walkers' requirements, ensuring walkers feel comfortable, cared for, and socially integrated, supporting walker confidence, and promoting success experiences. Inexperienced leaders differed from other sub-groups in what they perceived to be supportive behaviours. CONCLUSION: Future peer leaders could use the identified behaviours to help older adults feel motivated during group walks. New peer leaders can be educated about potential differences between what they describe as supportive and what walkers and experienced leaders perceive as need-supportive behaviours.

"More than just a walk in the park": A multi-stakeholder qualitative exploration of community-based walking sport programmes for middle-aged and older adults.

In spite of the large-scale growth of walking sport (WS) programmes globally, limited research has explored the experiences of the key stakeholders involved in such programmes (i.e. decision-makers, facilitators, and players). We aimed to explore stakeholder experiences of community-based WS programmes to better understand the appeal of such sport options for middle-aged and older adults, and propose tentative recommendations for the feasibility and sustainability of these types of programmes. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 21 stakeholders who were involved with WS programmes in Australia as decision-makers, facilitators, and/or players. Data were analysed with reflexive thematic analysis. Four key themes pertaining to the WS experience were identified - 'a renewed lease of life', 'navigating ageing stereotypes', 'tension between organisational demands and players' needs', and 'WS facilitators as catalysts of success'. Specifically, we found that WS participation enabled a positive ageing discourse for middle-aged and older adults. WS players had to negotiate stereotypes that, at times, were perceived as participation barriers. We also noted some tensions between the demands of sport organisations and the needs of middle-aged and older adults regarding sport participation. Finally, we also noted the importance of the facilitators' role in increasing accessibility of, and long-term participation in, such programmes. We suggest that to offer feasible and sustainable community-based WS programmes across Australia, incompatibilities across various stakeholders' perspectives need to be addressed.

Association of wearable device-measured vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity with mortality.

Wearable devices can capture unexplored movement patterns such as brief bursts of vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA) that is embedded into everyday life, rather than being done as leisure time exercise. Here, we examined the association of VILPA with all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer mortality in 25,241 nonexercisers (mean age 61.8 years, 14,178 women/11,063 men) in the UK Biobank. Over an average follow-up of 6.9 years, during which 852 deaths occurred, VILPA was inversely associated with all three of these outcomes in a near-linear fashion. Compared with participants who engaged in no VILPA, participants who engaged in VILPA at the sample median VILPA frequency of 3 length-standardized bouts per day (lasting 1 or 2 min each) showed a 38%-40% reduction in all-cause and cancer mortality risk and a 48%-49% reduction in CVD mortality risk. Moreover, the sample median VILPA duration of 4.4 min per day was associated with a 26%-30% reduction in all-cause and cancer mortality risk and a 32%-34% reduction in CVD mortality risk. We obtained similar results when repeating the above analyses for vigorous physical activity (VPA) in 62,344 UK Biobank participants who exercised (1,552 deaths, 35,290 women/27,054 men). These results indicate that small amounts of vigorous nonexercise physical activity are associated with substantially lower mortality. VILPA in nonexercisers appears to elicit similar effects to VPA in exercisers, suggesting that VILPA may be a suitable physical activity target, especially in people not able or willing to exercise.

Personality, Risk Perceptions, and Health Behaviors: A Two-Wave Study on Reciprocal Relations in Adults.

The aim of the study was to examine reciprocal associations between risk perceptions for cardiovascular disease and health behaviors (i.e., physical activity, fruit/vegetable consumption), while accounting for key personality characteristics in middle-aged adults. Participants (N = 297; M (SD) age = 51 (6.95); 72.4% female) completed online questionnaires assessing risk perceptions, physical activity, fruit/vegetable consumption, and personality (conscientiousness and neuroticism) on two occasions, one week apart. Physical activity did not have a statistically significant effect on risk perception over time (b = -0.00, p = 0.227). However, fruit and vegetable consumption (b = -0.19, p = 0.006) and neuroticism (b = 0.22, p = 0.001) predicted risk perception. Risk perception did not have a significant effect on physical activity (b = -343.86, p = 0.147) or fruit/vegetable consumption (b = -0.08, p = 0.144) over time; however, neuroticism had significant and negative effects on physical activity (b = -520.84, p = 0.029) and fruit/vegetable consumption (b = -0.20, p = 0.001). High levels of neuroticism in middle age may hinder engagement in physical activity and consumption of fruit/vegetable behaviors and should therefore be targeted accordingly to increase protective health behaviors and reduce incidence of cardiovascular disease.

The Aussie-FIT process evaluation: feasibility and acceptability of a weight loss intervention for men, delivered in Australian Football League settings.

OBJECTIVE: This process evaluation aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of Aussie-FIT, a group-based weight loss intervention for men with overweight and obesity in Australia. DESIGN: Process data and data collected from: (1) six-participant focus groups (n= 24), (2) coach interviews (n = 4), (3) audio recordings of Aussie-FIT sessions and (4) post-program participant surveys (n= 93) were analysed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We explored the feasibility and acceptability of program setting and context, recruitment strategies, factors impacting implementation and mechanisms of impact. RESULTS: Recruitment via Australian Football League (AFL) clubs was highly effective; 426 men expressed interest within 3 days of advertising, 130 men took part. Program attendance was not consistently recorded by coaches. Coach interviews indicated a 'core group of men' participated in each session (typically 10-12 of 15 men). Program delivery proved feasible in the AFL context. Program acceptability and satisfaction were high. Internalisation of autonomous motives was identified as driving behaviour change. Behaviour change to support maintained weight loss was facilitated through habit formation, goal setting and effective management of multiple goals. CONCLUSION: Aussie-FIT sets a blueprint for future weight loss interventions that utilise behaviour change strategies and principles of self-determined motivation to support men to lose weight. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12617000515392.© 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Challenges to Engaging Older Adults in a Group-Based Walking Intervention: Lessons From the Residents in Action Trial.

This qualitative research explored older adults' perceptions of participating in group-based walking programs set in independent-living retirement village contexts. Semistructured interviews were conducted with a subset of participants from the Residents in Action Trial. Data were analyzed through a combination of deductive and inductive thematic analysis. Findings were interpreted from a social identity perspective. Five themes were identified: (a) varying levels of social cohesion in retirement villages; (b) degree of shared identity between residents; (c) health, mobility, and preferred pace; (d) devotion to spouse; and (e) busy lives. When designing group-based walking interventions in retirement villages, it is important to consider community-level social cohesion and degree of relatedness between village residents. When attempting to build a sense of shared identity and relatedness between group members, researchers and policy makers should consider differing backgrounds, capabilities, schedules, and interests of participants.

Older Adults' Perceptions toward Walking: A Qualitative Study Using a Social-Ecological Model.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aimed to investigate older adults' perceptions of their walking experiences, using the social-ecological model as a guiding framework and to propose future walking intervention content. METHODS: Thirty-eight participants (19 women; 47% from private elderly centers; mean age = 72.8 (SD = 7.4 years) took part in semi-structured interviews. Qualitative data analysis software QSR-NVivo was used for thematic coding. RESULTS: Thematic deductive analysis revealed pertinent themes at the individual level (health benefits and barriers, fall risk, perseverance, and walking as a suitable activity for older adults), social environment level (social support and social interaction), physical environment level (density, land-use mix, and connectivity; perceived safety, pedestrian facilities (benches, quality of walking paths and sidewalks, and aesthetics), other pedestrian behaviors, and weather, and policy level (lack of walking programs in the community, and supportive culture for an active lifestyle). DISCUSSION: Our findings provide insights for the planning of future multilevel walking intervention programs for older adults in Hong Kong. It is suggested that future walking intervention should include professionals (e.g., physiotherapist or coach) in a group setting, practical walking recommendations such as proper walking posture, and additional fun activities for older adults.

Stress, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and resilience-The effects of naturalistic periods of elevated stress: A measurement-burst study.

Stress is an important consideration for understanding why individuals take part in limited or no physical activity. The negative effects of stress on physical activity do not hold for everyone, so examinations of possible resilience resources that might protect individuals from the harmful effects of stress are required. Accordingly, we conducted a measurement-burst study with 53 university students over a 6-month period to examine the dynamics among stress, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and resilience resources. Participants completed three bursts of 6 days, with each burst separated by an 8-week gap. Expectations regarding the moderating effects of resilience resources were unsupported. Daily reports of academic and general stress were positively associated with sedentary behavior and negatively associated with light and moderate intensity physical activity. Hair cortisol concentration significantly moderated the association between academic stress and sedentary behavior, such that in bursts where cortisol was lower the daily positive association between stress and sedentary behavior was weaker. The finding that academic and general stress are dynamically associated with lower levels of light and moderate intensity physical activity and higher levels of sedentary behavior is an important extension to previous research, which has relied mainly on cross-sectional designs and self-report methods. Future research might examine resilience resources that are specific to the outcomes of interest rather than rely on generic resources.

Postnatal Exercise Partners Study (PEEPS): a pilot randomized trial of a dyadic physical activity intervention for postpartum mothers and a significant other.

Background: Research suggests dyadic interventions can increase physical activity; such interventions are untested within postpartum parent couples. Methods: A three-armed pilot randomized trial addressed this gap and tested which type of dyadic intervention is most effective. Inactive postpartum mothers and a significant other were recruited in Australia (n = 143 assessed for eligibility) and randomised in a single-blinded fashion (i.e. participants were blinded) to 1 of 3 dyadic conditions involving a single face-to-face session with access to web-based group support: a minimal treatment control (n = 34), collaborative planning group (n = 38), or collaborative planning + need supportive communication group (n = 30). Participants were asked to wear their accelerometers for 8 days and completed self-report measures at baseline, end of intervention (week 4), and follow-up (week 12). We expected dyads in the collaborative planning + need supportive communication group would have the greatest increases in Physical Activity (PA), autonomous motivation, and partners' need supportive behaviours; and decreases in controlled motivation and controlling partner behaviours. Results: Results from 51 dyads using Bayesian actor-partner interdependence models provided some evidence for a small positive effect on total PA at follow-up for postpartum mothers in the collaborative planning group and for partners in the collaborative planning + need supportive communication group. Furthermore, partners in the collaborative planning + need supportive communication group were more likely to engage in some vigorous PA. At follow-up, postpartum mothers in the collaborative planning + need supportive communication group scored lower on personal autonomous reasons. Conclusions: The impact of prior specification mean intervention effects need to be interpreted with caution. Progression to a full trial is warranted.

Mind the gap: Habit and self-determined motivation predict health behaviours in middle-aged and older adults.

OBJECTIVES: Physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption are two key health behaviours associated with the health and well-being of middle-aged and older adults. The present research investigated how habit and self-determined motivation interact with intention to prospectively predict physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption in middle-aged and older adults. DESIGN: A prospective correlational design (two data collection points) was used. METHODS: A convenience sample of 195 adults completed online questionnaires measuring intention, habit, and self-determined motivation. One week later, 177 participants (67.2% female), aged 52-87 years (M = 61.50, SD = 5.90), completed self-report measures of physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption over the previous week. RESULTS: Separate hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted. For physical activity, the model explained 46% of the variance in behaviour, F(8, 168) = 17.88, p < .001 and a large effect size (ƒ2  = .85). Two-way interactions contributed an additional 3.70% of unique variance in physical activity, F(3, 165) = 4.07, p = .008, ƒ2  = .04. For fruit and vegetable consumption, the model explained 19.20% of the variance in behaviour, F(5, 171) = 8.13, p < .001 and a medium effect size (ƒ2  = .24). Two-way interactions did not significantly improve the model, F(3, 168) = 1.68, p = .174. CONCLUSIONS: Habit and self-determined motivation were both important in narrowing the intention-behaviour gap for two key health behaviours, and combining these processes may better inform strategies to support people's intentions to improve these health behaviours.

Development and feasibility of a mobile phone application designed to support physically inactive employees to increase walking.

BACKGROUND: Physical inactivity is a global health concern. mHealth interventions have become increasingly popular, but to date, principles of effective communication from Self-Determination Theory have not been integrated with behavior change techniques to optimize app effectiveness. We outline the development of the START app, an app combining SDT principles and 17 purposefully chosen BCTs to support inactive office employees to increase their walking during a 16-week randomized controlled trial. We also explored acceptability, engagement with, associations between app usage and behavioral engagement, and perceived impact of the app in supporting behavior change. METHODS: Following development, fifty insufficiently physically active employees (M age = 44.21 ± 10.95 years; BMI = 29.02 ± 5.65) were provided access and instructions on use of the app. A mixed methods design was used to examine feasibility of the app, including the User Mobile App Rating Scale, app engagement data, step counts, and individual interviews. Linear mixed modeling and inductive thematic analysis were used to analyze quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. RESULTS: Walkers rated the app quality favorably (M = 3.68 out of 5). Frequency of entering step counts (i.e., frequency of self-monitoring) on a weekly basis positively predicted weekly step counts measured via Fitbits at both the between-and within-individual levels. App features (entering daily step counts, reminders, and motivational messages) were perceived to assist walkers in fostering goal achievement by building competence and via self-monitoring. CONCLUSIONS: The START app may be a useful component of walking interventions designed to increase walking in the workplace. Apps designed to promote walking behavior may be effective if they target users' competence and integrate BCTs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was part of a pilot larger randomized controlled trial, in which a component of the intervention involved the use of the mobile app. The trial was retrospectively registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12618000807257) on 11 May 2018 https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=375049&isReview=true .

Mobilising people as assets for active ageing promotion: a multi-stakeholder perspective on peer volunteering initiatives.

BACKGROUND: Successful peer volunteering is central to many community-based, active ageing initiatives. This study synthesises the perspectives of a range of stakeholders involved in peer volunteering initiatives and provides recommendations as to how peer volunteers can be effectively mobilised as community assets. METHODS: An evidence synthesis of qualitative data from (a) the evaluation of ACE (Active, Connected, Engaged), a feasibility trial of a peer volunteering active ageing intervention, and (b) interviews with volunteers and managers of third sector organisations providing peer volunteering programmes. Data were analysed using directed content analysis. RESULTS: Ten managers, 22 volunteers and 20 ACE participants were interviewed. The analysis identified six main themes, 33 higher and 22 sub themes. Main themes were: (i) Motives, (ii) Benefits, (iii) Skills and Characteristics, (iv) Challenges, (v) Training Needs, (vi) Recruitment and Retention. Altruism, changes in life circumstances, opportunities to reconnect with the community and personal fulfilment were the main reasons for volunteering. Volunteering was described as being personally rewarding, an avenue to acquire new skills and knowledge, and an opportunity for increased social connections and physical activity. Good peer volunteers are committed, reliable, have a good sense of humour, good interpersonal skills and are able to relate to participants. When pairing volunteers with participants, shared interests and geographical proximity are important to consider. Clarity of role, level of time commitment, regular feedback, recognition of effort and strong networks for on-going support are important strategies to facilitate volunteer retention. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study support the value of peer volunteering as a strategy for mobilising community assets in promoting active ageing. To ensure success and longevity, these schemes require appropriate funding and efficient administrative support.

Does self-compassion help to deal with dietary lapses among overweight and obese adults who pursue weight-loss goals?

OBJECTIVES: Self-compassion can facilitate self-improvement motivation. We examined the effects of self-compassion in response to dietary lapses on outcomes relevant to weight-loss strivings using a longitudinal design. The indirect effects of self-compassion via guilt and shame were also explored. DESIGN: An Ecological Momentary Assessment methodology was employed with a sample of adults who were overweight or obese attempting to lose weight via dietary restriction (N = 56; Mage  = 34.88; SD = 13.93; MBMI  = 32.50; SD = 6.88) and who responded to brief surveys sent to their mobile phones twice daily for two weeks. METHODS: Dietary temptations and lapses were assessed at each diary entry, and self-compassion in response to dietary lapses, intention to continue dieting, weight-loss-related self-efficacy, negative reactions to the lapse, and self-conscious emotions were surveyed on occasions when participants reported having experienced a dietary lapse. The participants were also weighed in a laboratory prior to the EMA phase and via self-report straight after the EMA phase. Weight was measured again in the laboratory 12 weeks after the EMA period. RESULTS: Bayesian multilevel path analyses showed that self-compassion did not predict weight loss. However, at the within-person level, self-compassion was positively related to intentions and self-efficacy to continue dieting, and negatively related to negative affective reactions to the lapses. Guilt mediated the associations of self-compassion with intention, self-efficacy, and negative reactions. CONCLUSION: Self-compassion may be a powerful internal resource to cultivate when dieters experience inevitable setbacks during weight-loss strivings which could facilitate weight-loss perseverance.

A meta-analysis of self-determination theory-informed intervention studies in the health domain: effects on motivation, health behavior, physical, and psychological health.

There are no literature reviews that have examined the impact of health-domain interventions, informed by self-determination theory (SDT), on SDT constructs and health indices. Our aim was to meta-analyse such interventions in the health promotion and disease management literatures. Studies were eligible if they used an experimental design, tested an intervention that was based on SDT, measured at least one SDT-based motivational construct, and at least one indicator of health behaviour, physical health, or psychological health. Seventy-three studies met these criteria and provided sufficient data for the purposes of the review. A random-effects meta-analytic model showed that SDT-based interventions produced small-to-medium changes in most SDT constructs at the end of the intervention period, and in health behaviours at the end of the intervention period and at the follow-up. Small positive changes in physical and psychological health outcomes were also observed at the end of the interventions. Increases in need support and autonomous motivation (but not controlled motivation or amotivation) were associated with positive changes in health behaviour. In conclusion, SDT-informed interventions positively affect indices of health; these effects are modest, heterogeneous, and partly due to increases in self-determined motivation and support from social agents.

"It's Better Together": A Nested Longitudinal Study Examining the Benefits of Walking Regularly With Peers Versus Primarily Alone in Older Adults.

The authors examined whether purposeful walking with peers at least once a week contributes to better behavioral and health outcomes in older adults than primarily walking alone. The authors used a longitudinal cohort design and recruited participants aged 60 years and older (N = 136) at the start of a 16-week walking intervention. Participants who walked on average at least once a week in the final 8 weeks of the intervention were included in the analysis (N = 79; 66 females, Mage [SD] = 77.73 [6.91]). The authors found that autonomous motivation, walking self-efficacy, functional capacity, body fat, and physical activity improved more in the walking with peers group compared with the walking alone group, after controlling for whether participants lived alone/with others and their health status. The results extend current literature by providing longitudinal evidence for the added benefits of regular peer-accompanied walking in older adults and highlight the importance of investing in peer-supported interventions.

Volunteer Motivation and Retention of Older Peer Walk Leaders: A 4-Month Long Investigation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Peer volunteers offer a promising avenue for promoting physical activity in older adults. However, recruiting and retaining such volunteers are challenging. We aimed to examine longitudinally factors that determine whether older volunteer walk leaders will persist in their role. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We recruited older adults volunteering as walk leaders, from retirement villages in Perth, at the start of a 16-week walking intervention. Using a mixed-methods multiple case study design, informed by self-determination theory, we examined the motivational processes of three profiles: Dropouts, Completers, and Extenders. One male and 10 female (medianAge = 75 years, age range: 66-83 years) peer walk leaders were interviewed twice over 4 months, and data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Questionnaires provided information on volunteer characteristics, leadership confidence, and volunteer motivation. RESULTS: Self-orientated goals, obligation and guilt, emotional exhaustion, lack of psychological need satisfaction, and perceived lack of support were barriers to volunteer persistence. Social confidence and relatedness satisfaction motivated volunteers to persist until program completion (Completers). Altruistic goals, using sustainable helping strategies, psychological need satisfaction, optimism, and enjoyment were important for continuing the role after the program (Extenders). DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Results describe how differences in volunteer motives, personal characteristics, and training may affect motivational processes that determine persistence as an older peer walk leader. We provide suggestions on selecting, training, and supporting older volunteer walk leaders to facilitate their retention.

Untapping the Health Enhancing Potential of Vigorous Intermittent Lifestyle Physical Activity (VILPA): Rationale, Scoping Review, and a 4-Pillar Research Framework.

Recently revised public health guidelines acknowledge the health benefits of regular intermittent bouts of vigorous intensity incidental physical activity done as part of daily living, such as carrying shopping bags, walking uphill, and stair climbing. Despite this recognition and the advantages such lifestyle physical activity has over continuous vigorous intensity structured exercise, a scoping review we conducted revealed that current research in this area is, at best, rudimentary. Key gaps include the absence of an empirically-derived dose specification (e.g., minimum duration of lifestyle physical activity required to achieve absolute or relative vigorous intensity), lack of acceptable measurement standards, limited understanding of acute and chronic (adaptive) effects of intermittent vigorous bouts on health, and paucity of essential information necessary to develop feasible and scalable interventions (e.g., acceptability of this kind of physical activity by the public). To encourage collaboration and research agenda alignment among groups interested in this field, we propose a research framework to further understanding of vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA). This framework comprises four pillars aimed at the development of: (a) an empirical definition of VILPA, (b) methods to reliably and accurately measure VILPA, (c) approaches to examine the short and long-term dose-response effects of VILPA, and (d) scalable and acceptable behavioural VILPA-promoting interventions.