Background Psychological, social, and environmental factors are important determinants for physical activity promotion. There are numerous studies of the direct effects of these factors on physical activity. However, only a few studies have been examined the direct and mediated effects of these factors on physical activity.Purpose The purpose of the present study was to examine the direct and indirect influences of psychological, social, and environmental factors on physical activity among Japanese adults.Methods An internet-based cross-sectional survey was conducted to 2,000 Japanese adults aged 20-79 years. Seven sociodemographic attributes (e. g., gender, age, and marital status), self-efficacy, pros and cons, social support for exercise and environmental variables (home fitness equipment, access to facilities, neighborhood safety, aesthetics, seeing others exercising) were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. The physical activity was estimated from the Japanese version of the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling by gender.Results The respondents' mean (SD) age was 43.6(13.0). Environmental factors had indirect effects on physical activity through self-efficacy, social support and pros and cons. On both gender, the strongest indirect effects was the path of environmental factors on physical activity through pros to self-efficacy. The total effects of environmental factors on physical activity were 0.06 of males and 0.04 of females.Conclusion The results indicate that environmental factors had indirect effects on physical activity through psychological and social factors among Japanese adults. These results could contribute to the development of physical activity promotion strategies in Japan.

Engaging in physical activity was proved to have positive effects on physical and mental health in children. Built environment is an important correlate of physical activity participation. School recess provides a daily opportunity for children to be active during school day. Therefore, the purpose of the present article was to review literatures regarding 1) physical activity during school recess, 2) the relationship between recess physical activity and school physical environment, 3) intervention for physical activity promotion during recess by changing school physical environment, and to explore trends of current researches and assignments of future research. A review was conducted and included studies published to May 31, 2011. Twenty-two studies were selected in 1) and showed boys often engaged in more physical activity than girls, but the results on differences in physical activity between ages were inconsistent. Six studies were selected in 2) and indicated recess physical activity was associated with playground environments such as equipments, marking, and surface situate. School environment intervention was observed to be a potential method for promoting physical activity in children by 8 studies in 3). Playground environment with marking, additional play equipments, and designated activity zones increased physical activity during recess. Most researches regarding recess physical activity was conducted in U.S., Australia, and Western countries, and confirmed the effectiveness of recess to promote physical activity. However, few studies on this topic were conducted in Japan. Further researches are needed to draw a conclusion about the possibility of recess to promote physical activity among Japanese children.

Objective : The present study examined the effects of the self-management print media intervention on improving quality of life.Methods : The study was designed as an intervention study. We conducted questionnaire research on women (JKOM, Japanese style CSQ) over 40 years old who had knee pain. After program relevance determination, self-management print media intervention and an exercise intervention were implemented. The participants were 63 women (self-management print media intervention), and 80 women (exercise intervention). We examined valiances of pain intensity and activity limitation and pain coping strategies on each intervention using Wilcoxon signed-ranks test.Results : Pain intensity and activity limitation improved in both interventions. On the other hand, pain coping strategies differed. In the self-management print media intervention, the scores of diverting attention, praying or hoping, increasing activity level and increasing pain behavior significantly decreased. For the exercise intervention, a significant decrease was seen in coping, self-statements, catastrophizing, increasing activity level, and increasing pain behavior.Conclusion : The results indicated that the self-management print media intervention had greater effect than the exercise intervention for women with knee pain. As one health assistance measure, this self-management print media intervention should become widely used.

Background: Understanding the long-term effects of environment on health behavior is important for the promotion of population-based physical activity.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between perceived environment and active commuting among Japanese adults.Methods: Internet-based cross-sectional survey were conducted to 3,000 Japanese adults aged 30-59 years. Seven sociodemographic attributes (gender, age, marital status, employment status, living status, educational attainment and household income), type of commute and International Physical Activity Questionnaire Environment Module were assessed by self-administered questionnaire.Results: Of all respondents to the survey, 2,032 (mean age: 43.8±9.2, male: 62.5%) were employed. Those who use an active commute were 1,401 (68.9%). In both genders, high residential density (male: OR=2.28, female: OR=3.08), good access to shops (OR=2.03, 3.06), public transportation (OR=1.65, 3.78), recreational facilities (OR=1.31, 1.44), presence of sidewalks (OR=1.42, 1.77), crossroads (OR=1.87, 1.76), having a destination (OR=1.84, 2.34), and not having household vehicles (OR=15.13, 41.24) were associated with an active commute. The results indicated some gender differences. Among male, the presence of a bicycle lane and good aesthetics was positively associated with the active commute, while traffic safety was negatively associated. On the other hand, crime safety was associated with the active commute in female.Conclusion: The results indicate that perceived environment was associated with the active commute among Japanese adults.

The purpose of this study was to explore patterns of lifestyle walking behavior among Japanese adults aged 30-49 and to identify their sociodemographic characteristics.A sample of 5,009 was collected from registrants of a social research company. The study was a cross-sectional survey using the Internet. Measured variables were walking behavior in five domains (commuting, working, shopping, exercising and other movement) and sociodemographic characteristics. Hierarchical cluster analysis was utilized to identify walking patterns.Four walking behavior clusters were identified: cluster 1 (N=1,089) walking while commuting, working and shopping; cluster 2 (N=381) walking while commuting; cluster 3 (N=1,257) walking for exercise; cluster 4 (N=1,161) walking while shopping. Cluster 1 had the highest proportion of walkers who met physical activity recommendations. Also it had a high proportion of women who were unmarried, employed, without children, or finished university or graduate school. Cluster 2 showed a high proportion of men who were married, with children, with high household income, or finished university or graduate school, and women who were married, employed, without children, with high household income, or finished university or graduate school. Cluster 3 had a high proportion of women aged 40-49. Cluster 4 showed a low proportion of men with high household income and a high proportion of women who were married, unemployed, or with children.This study indicated that walking behavior patterns in both genders was different depending on marital status, number of children, educational level and household income. In addition, the employment status of women had apparent effects on these patterns.

We conducted a randomized, controlled trial to evaluate the effect of self-monitoring approach (SMA) on exercise maintenance, self-efficacy for physical activity (SEPA), and objective physical activity (OPA) over the long-term after supervised cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Forty-five myocardial infarction (MI) patients (mean age 64.2 years) were recruited following completion of an acute-phase exercise-based CR program. Patients were randomly assigned to a SMA or control group. Along with CR, the SMA group performed self-monitoring of their weight and OPA for 6-months ; the control group participated in CR only. Twelve months after MI onset, exercise maintenance, SEPA scores, and OPA as a caloric expenditure were assessed. More patients maintained their exercise routine in the SMA than the control group. Mean SEPA score and mean OPA after CR were significantly higher in the SMA than control group. SMA during CR may effectively increase exercise maintenance, SEPA, and OPA over a 1-year after MI.

Background A behavioral science-based approach is essential for constructing effective intervention programs to promote the shift from a sedentary to active lifestyle. Recently, the influences of social and physical environment on physical activity have been recognized as key factors for promoting physical activity. The present study attempts to identify the social and physical environmental influences associated with physical activity promotion.Methods We recruited volunteers from a 14,000 population of community-dwelling adults. Seventy-two adults (intervention group : n=35, control group : n=37) participated in the present study. The intervention consisted of 8 sessions for 2 months using The Waseda Walking Program. We assessed social support for exercise, perceived neighborhood environment for walking, stages of change in exercise behavior and physical activity outcomes at baseline and 2 months. Ffifty-seven out of 72 subjects (intervention : n=30, control : n=27) completed all of the intervention including the final questionnaire.Results There were significant intervention effects on physical activity outcomes, stages of change and perceived neighborhood environment. However, no significant improvement in social support was found. In addition, improvement of perceived physical environment was related to an increase in physical activity.Conclusion Perceived neighborhood environment for walking would be identified as a key factor to influence an effect of physical activity promotion. On the other hand, social support would be influenced to the earlier stages of change in exercise.