Theory of Planned Behaviour Variables and Objective Walking Behaviour Do Not Show Seasonal Variation in a Randomised Controlled Trial

Overview

Journal BMC Public Health

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Public Health

Date 2014 Feb 7

PMID 24499405

Citations 5

Authors

Stefanie L Williams

David P French

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Longitudinal studies have shown that objectively measured walking behaviour is subject to seasonal variation, with people walking more in summer compared to winter. Seasonality therefore may have the potential to bias the results of randomised controlled trials if there are not adequate statistical or design controls. Despite this there are no studies that assess the impact of seasonality on walking behaviour in a randomised controlled trial, to quantify the extent of such bias. Further there have been no studies assessing how season impacts on the psychological predictors of walking behaviour to date. The aim of the present study was to assess seasonal differences in a) objective walking behaviour and b) Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) variables during a randomised controlled trial of an intervention to promote walking.

Methods: 315 patients were recruited to a two-arm cluster randomised controlled trial of an intervention to promote walking in primary care. A series of repeated measures ANCOVAs were conducted to examine the effect of season on pedometer measures of walking behaviour and TPB measures, assessed immediately post-intervention and six months later. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to assess whether season moderated the prediction of intention and behaviour by TPB measures.

Results: There were no significant differences in time spent walking in spring/summer compared to autumn/winter. There was no significant seasonal variation in most TPB variables, although the belief that there will be good weather was significantly higher in spring/summer (F = 19.46, p < .001). Season did not significantly predict intention or objective walking behaviour, or moderate the effects of TPB variables on intention or behaviour.

Conclusion: Seasonality does not influence objectively measured walking behaviour or psychological variables during a randomised controlled trial. Consequently physical activity behaviour outcomes in trials will not be biased by the season in which they are measured. Previous studies may have overestimated the extent of seasonality effects by selecting the most extreme summer and winter months to assess PA. In addition, participants recruited to behaviour change interventions might have higher levels of motivation to change and are less affected by seasonal barriers.

Trial Registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN95932902.

Citing Articles

Parents' participation in physical activity predicts maintenance of some, but not all, types of physical activity in offspring during early adolescence: A prospective longitudinal study.

Brunet J, Gaudet J, Wing E, Belanger M J Sport Health Sci. 2019; 8(3):273-279.

PMID: 31193265 PMC: 6525103. DOI: 10.1016/j.jshs.2017.04.012.

Determinants of oral hygiene behaviour among patients with moderate and severe chronic periodontitis based on the theory of planned behaviour.

Patel J, Kulkarni S, Doshi D, Srikanth Reddy B, Reddy M, Buunk-Werkhoven Y Int Dent J. 2018; 69(1):50-57.

PMID: 30028020 PMC: 9379055. DOI: 10.1111/idj.12413.

Moderating Effects of Weather-Related Factors on a Physical Activity Intervention.

Welch W, Spring B, Phillips S, Siddique J Am J Prev Med. 2018; 54(5):e83-e89.

PMID: 29551330 PMC: 5911409. DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2018.01.025.

Season and vitamin D status are independently associated with glucose homeostasis in pregnancy.

OBrien E, OSullivan E, Kilbane M, Geraghty A, McKenna M, McAuliffe F Nutr Metab (Lond). 2017; 14:50.

PMID: 28775759 PMC: 5539754. DOI: 10.1186/s12986-017-0203-5.

Predictors of intention to marriage based on theory of planned behavior among university students in Iran.

Shahrabadi R, Karimi-Shahanjarini A, Dashti S, Soltanian A, Garmaroudi G Electron Physician. 2017; 9(4):4090-4095.

PMID: 28607640 PMC: 5459277. DOI: 10.19082/4090.

References

Buchowski M, Choi L, Majchrzak K, Acra S, Mathews C, Chen K . Seasonal changes in amount and patterns of physical activity in women. J Phys Act Health. 2009; 6(2):252-61. PMC: 2800047. DOI: 10.1123/jpah.6.2.252. View

Clemes S, Hamilton S, Griffiths P . Summer to winter variability in the step counts of normal weight and overweight adults living in the UK. J Phys Act Health. 2011; 8(1):36-44. DOI: 10.1123/jpah.8.1.36. View

Darker C, French D, Eves F, Sniehotta F . An intervention to promote walking amongst the general population based on an 'extended' theory of planned behaviour: a waiting list randomised controlled trial. Psychol Health. 2010; 25(1):71-88. DOI: 10.1080/08870440902893716. View

Tudor-Locke C, Bassett D, Swartz A, Strath S, Parr B, Reis J . A preliminary study of one year of pedometer self-monitoring. Ann Behav Med. 2004; 28(3):158-62. DOI: 10.1207/s15324796abm2803_3. View

Haidich A, Ioannidis J . Determinants of patient recruitment in a multicenter clinical trials group: trends, seasonality and the effect of large studies. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2001; 1:4. PMC: 33393. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2288-1-4. View

Morris J, Hardman A . Walking to health. Sports Med. 1997; 23(5):306-32. DOI: 10.2165/00007256-199723050-00004. View

Badland H, Christian H, Giles-Corti B, Knuiman M . Seasonality in physical activity: should this be a concern in all settings?. Health Place. 2011; 17(5):1084-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2011.06.003. View

French D, Williams S, Michie S, Taylor C, Szczepura A, Stallard N . A cluster randomised controlled trial of the efficacy of a brief walking intervention delivered in primary care: study protocol. BMC Fam Pract. 2011; 12:56. PMC: 3141510. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2296-12-56. View

Jaccard J, Wan C, Turrisi R . The Detection and Interpretation of Interaction Effects Between Continuous Variables in Multiple Regression. Multivariate Behav Res. 2016; 25(4):467-78. DOI: 10.1207/s15327906mbr2504_4. View

10.

Swartz A, Strath S, Bassett D, Moore J, Redwine B, Groer M . Increasing daily walking improves glucose tolerance in overweight women. Prev Med. 2003; 37(4):356-62. DOI: 10.1016/s0091-7435(03)00144-0. View

11.

Chan C, Ryan D, Tudor-Locke C . Relationship between objective measures of physical activity and weather: a longitudinal study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2006; 3:21. PMC: 1557535. DOI: 10.1186/1479-5868-3-21. View

12.

Hamilton S, Clemes S, Griffiths P . UK adults exhibit higher step counts in summer compared to winter months. Ann Hum Biol. 2008; 35(2):154-69. DOI: 10.1080/03014460801908058. View

13.

French D . The role of self-efficacy in changing health-related behaviour: cause, effect or spurious association?. Br J Health Psychol. 2013; 18(2):237-43. DOI: 10.1111/bjhp.12038. View

14.

Merchant A, Dehghan M, Akhtar-Danesh N . Seasonal variation in leisure-time physical activity among Canadians. Can J Public Health. 2007; 98(3):203-8. PMC: 6975733. View

15.

Hamer M, Chida Y . Active commuting and cardiovascular risk: a meta-analytic review. Prev Med. 2007; 46(1):9-13. DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2007.03.006. View

16.

Darker C, French D, Longdon S, Morris K, Eves F . Are beliefs elicited biased by question order? A theory of planned behaviour belief elicitation study about walking in the UK general population. Br J Health Psychol. 2007; 12(Pt 1):93-110. DOI: 10.1348/135910706X100458. View

17.

Scott E, Eves F, French D, Hoppe R . The theory of planned behaviour predicts self-reports of walking, but does not predict step count. Br J Health Psychol. 2007; 12(Pt 4):601-20. DOI: 10.1348/135910706X160335. View

18.

Clemes S, OConnell S, Rogan L, Griffiths P . Evaluation of a commercially available pedometer used to promote physical activity as part of a national programme. Br J Sports Med. 2009; 44(16):1178-83. DOI: 10.1136/bjsm.2009.061085. View

19.

Tucker P, Gilliland J . The effect of season and weather on physical activity: a systematic review. Public Health. 2007; 121(12):909-22. DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2007.04.009. View

20.

Murphy M, Nevill A, Murtagh E, Holder R . The effect of walking on fitness, fatness and resting blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomised, controlled trials. Prev Med. 2007; 44(5):377-85. DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2006.12.008. View