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Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine 1/2014

01-08-2014 | Brief Report

Implementation Intentions for Physical Activity Behavior in Older Adult Women: An Examination of Executive Function as a Moderator of Treatment Effects

Authors: Peter A. Hall, Ph.D., Christopher Zehr, M.Sc., Jeffrey Paulitzki, Ph.D., Ryan Rhodes, Ph.D.

Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

Background

Implementation intentions are effective for enhancing physical activity, but it is unknown how well these effects extend to older adults and/or are modified by cognitive variables.

Purpose

Our objective is to examine (1) the efficacy of an implementation intentions intervention for physical activity in older adult women and (2) to examine the moderating effects of executive function.

Methods

Participants (N = 75, M age = 73.72) completed measures of executive function and were randomly assigned to weekly implementation intentions for physical activity (experimental condition), implementation intentions for an unrelated behavior (control condition), or no treatment. Baseline activity was measured by accelerometer and self-report; follow-up activity was measured by weekly self-report.

Results

Findings indicated a significant treatment effect for the experimental condition and a treatment by executive function interaction. Specifically, participants with relatively stronger executive function benefited most from the experimental intervention.

Conclusions

Implementation intentions are effective for enhancing physical activity among older adult women, and the effects may be especially pronounced for those with relatively stronger executive function.
Footnotes
1
For our purposes, executive function is defined as an emergent property of cognitive function enabled by operation of the prefrontal cortex and associated neural circuitry, minimally comprising inhibition, working memory, and mental flexibility.
 
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Metadata
Title
Implementation Intentions for Physical Activity Behavior in Older Adult Women: An Examination of Executive Function as a Moderator of Treatment Effects
Authors
Peter A. Hall, Ph.D.
Christopher Zehr, M.Sc.
Jeffrey Paulitzki, Ph.D.
Ryan Rhodes, Ph.D.
Publication date
01-08-2014
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Annals of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 1/2014
Print ISSN: 0883-6612
Electronic ISSN: 1532-4796
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-013-9582-7

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