An Internet-Based Intervention for Promoting and Maintaining Physical Activity in Thai University-Aged Females: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Author / Creator

  Sriramatr, Sonthaya

• Introduction: Thai female students are not likely to participate in leisure-time physical activity (PA). This dissertation comprised two studies that examined the efficacy of a Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) based internet intervention PA designed to promote and maintain leisure-time PA in university-aged female students in Thailand.
  Methods: Study 1. Three steps were used: (1) translation, back-translation and expert committee confirmation; (2) test-retest reliability; and (3) exploratory factor analysis. Study 2. SCT and intervention mapping (IM) were used as the theoretical frameworks in developing the SCT-based internet intervention PA program. A 3-month randomized control trial intervention was conducted employing a Solomon four-group design with a 3-month follow-up assessment.
  Results: Study 1 revealed that the Thai versions of the questionnaires have acceptable test-retest reliability, concurrent validity, construct validity, and internal consistency reliability. The questionnaires have suitable psychometric properties and can be used to assess leisure-time PA, exercise-related self-efficacy, outcome expectations and self-regulation in Thai female undergraduate students. Study 2 revealed that there were no pretest sensitization effects on any outcome. The internet intervention significantly increased steps, leisure-time activity score (LTAS), SCT variables and reduced resting heart rate (RHR) at the end of the intervention. With the exception of RHR, the intervention effects on these variables also remained at the 3-month follow-up. The intervention had no effects on Predicted Vo2Max at either the end of the intervention or the 3-month follow-up. The intervention effects on weekly LTAS at the end of the intervention were partially mediated by self-efficacy and self-regulation. Self-regulation also partially mediated changes in steps/day at the end of the intervention.
  Conclusions: The Thai versions of the questionnaires were found to be valid and reliable measures and can be used for conducting research and interventions that target health behaviour changes in the Thai population. Also, the SCT-based internet intervention program is effective in promoting and maintaining leisure-time PA in university-aged female students in Thailand.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Steps/day
  • Social cognitive theory
  • Outcome expectations
  • Weekly leisure-time activity score
  • Physical activity
  • Self-efficacy
  • Internet-based intervention
  • Self-regulation

• Graduation date

  Fall 2013

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Doctor of Philosophy

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3KM4V

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.