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Browsing by Author "Graham, Daniel, advisor"

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    An exploration of varying attentional focus strategies on the exercise experience
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Oselinsky, Katrina, author; Graham, Daniel, advisor; Cleary, Anne, committee member; Thomas, Micheal, committee member; Hickey, Matthew, committee member
    Background: Research indicates attentional focus (AF) has a significant impact on the overall exercise experience, however, little is known regarding how AF manipulations via the use of distracting technology exerts a beneficial influence on the exercise experience. Additionally, the effect of varying AF strategies on the exercise experience may vary based on individual characteristics and/or familiarity with the exercise task. Purpose: The goal of Study 1 was to determine if distinct exerciser profiles could be created from a sample of group fitness participants. The goal of Study 2 was to determine if AF mediates the relationship between immersive virtual reality (VR) technology and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE)/enjoyment during an exercise session. Methods: In Study 1, a sample of group fitness participants (n=31) completed one traditional cycling class in which only audio cues were presented (AUD) and one video-enhanced immersive cycling class (IMM) in which a combination of music and video images was presented. After each cycling session, participants complete a brief survey that asked them to rate their perceived exertion, AF, and enjoyment of the exercise sessions. In Study 2, additional study volunteers (n=84) were randomly assigned to complete either an audio-only cycling class or an immersive VR-enhanced cycling class in which a combination of music and video images was presented. After cessation of the exercise session, participants completed a brief survey regarding their experiences in which they reported their recalled, in-task AF, RPE, and level of exercise enjoyment. Results: Study 1 leveraged Latent profile analysis (LPA) which indicated three, distinct classes could be drawn from the sample of 31 group fitness participants. These classes were classified as Low Heart Rate (HR) Dissociator, High HR Dissociator, and Associator. Results of Study 2 indicated AF did not act as a mediator relating immersive technology with RPE and exercise enjoyment (n=84). Additionally in Study 2, experimental condition did not have a significant influence on AF, RPE, or enjoyment directly, however, post-hoc, exploratory analyses revealed that average heart rate and time spent working in a moderate to vigorous heart rate zone (i.e., time spent at 70% or greater of age calculated heart rate maximum) were significantly greater in the immersive video enhanced condition than the audio only. Conclusions: Study 1 expands on the extant literature by elucidating the different attentional focus techniques used by different groups of exercisers and the varying response patterns of these sub-groups on commonly assessed exercise experience variables. Study 1 demonstrates the need for a deeper exploration of how individual characteristics differentially impact the exercise experience and how emerging analytical techniques can be employed to create more targeted interventions. Study 2 suggests that although AF was not a mediator relating immersive technology to RPE and exercise enjoyment, this technology does seem to exert a beneficial influence on the exercise experience as evidenced by the increased work rate found in this study. The results of Study 2 suggest future research should seek to identify other causal mechanisms that explain how immersive technology exerts its beneficial influence on the exercise experience.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Evaluating the impact of a novel immersive simulation on affect, rate of perceived exertion, and attention during a group cycling class
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2022) Oselinsky, Katrina, author; Graham, Daniel, advisor; Cleary, Anne, committee member; Tompkins, Sara, committee member; Hickey, Matthew, committee member
    Background: Emerging evidence within the exercise psychology literature has highlighted the importance of positive affective responses to physical activity (PA) for both PA adoption and maintenance. A potential avenue to increase positive affective responses to PA is through attentional focus. Purpose: The goal of this study was to examine the impact of a novel immersive technology on participants attentional focus, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), affect, and enjoyment during a group cycling class. Methods: Participants were asked to take one traditional group cycling class with audio cues only (AUD) and one video enhanced immersive cycling class (IMM). Heart rate (HR) data was gathered throughout each class. At the conclusion of each session, participants completed a brief survey asking them to report their RPE, attentional focus, and affect during the cycling class. Results: Participants on average reported lower RPEs and higher enjoyment in the IMM class compared to the AUD class. Although attention was not significantly different between classes, when instructor was held constant, participants reported significantly more dissociative attentional focus during the IMM class than the AUD class. Finally, HR did not differ significantly between classes. Conclusions: To combat the rising rates of physical inactivity researchers must strive to make the PA experience more enjoyable. This study supports the use of a novel immersive technology to lower RPE and increase enjoyment without compromising actual exertion.
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    Exercise goal acknowledgment and its effects on short-term exercise
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2015) Heidrick, Charles, author; Graham, Daniel, advisor; Butki, Brian, committee member; Rickard, Kathryn, committee member
    Regular physical activity has been shown to have substantial physical and mental benefits, ranging from protection against obesity to greater quality of life (Harvard School of Public Health, 2014; Faulkner & Taylor, 2005). Yet, a low percentage of people in the United States meet recommended levels of physical activity (Troiano et al., 2008). Goal setting has been shown to be an effective way to improve behavior (Locke & Latham, 1990; Latham & Budworth, 2006), but may be impacted by underexplored social factors. This study examined the role that another person, apart from the goal-setting exerciser, can have on physical activity goal pursuit. College students (n = 143) participated in a controlled experiment. A researcher demonstrated four exercises (push-ups, planks, jumping jacks, and single-leg balancing), after which participants set personal goals regarding their own imminent performance of these exercises. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: 1) private goals: participants set goals and did not share them with experimenter; 2) acknowledged goals: participants' goals were positively acknowledged by experimenter; 3) unacknowledged goals: participants gave their goals to an experimenter who did not provide acknowledgment. A significant effect of condition on performance and goal attainment was seen for planks and a significant effect of condition on goal attainment was seen for pushups. No significant effects were seen for jumping jacks or balancing. Results indicate positive effects of goal acknowledgment on subsequent goal attainment and exercise performance and also suggest negative effects of having goals that could be acknowledged go unacknowledged.
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    Mirror, mirror by the stairs: the impact of self-awareness on stair versus elevator use in college students
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2015) Hodgin, Katie L., author; Graham, Daniel, advisor; Nelson, Tracy, committee member; Witt, Jessica, committee member
    Previous research has indicated that self-awareness-inducing mirrors can successfully incite behavior change, such as encouraging helping. However, few studies have examined how mirror exposure and perceived body size influence physical activity participation. The present study assessed stair versus elevator use on a western college campus and hypothesized that mirror exposure would increase stair use. One hundred and sixty-seven students enrolled in an introductory psychology course were recruited to take a survey interested in their "transportation choices" at an indoor campus parking garage. Participants were individually exposed to either no mirror, a standard full-length mirror, or a full-length mirror manipulated to make the reflected body size appear either slightly thinner or slightly wider than normal before being asked to go to the fourth floor of the garage for a survey. Participants’ choice of floor climbing method (stairs or elevator) was recorded and they were administered an internet-based survey assessing demographic information, body mass index (BMI), self-awareness, and other variables likely to be associated with stair use. Results from logistic regression analyses revealed that participants who were not exposed to a mirror (OR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.14 – 0.96), males (OR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.13 – 0.85), those with lower BMI (OR = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.71 – 0.99), those with higher exercise participation (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.02 – 1.18), and those engaging in more unhealthy weight-control behaviors (OR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.14 – 2.11) were significantly more likely to take the stairs. Implications and future directions are discussed.
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    The influence of mirror exposure on weight-related health behaviors: physical activity and food selection
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2017) Hodgin, Katie L., author; Graham, Daniel, advisor; Bellows, Laura, committee member; Fisher, Gwenith, committee member; Harman, Jennifer, committee member
    In terms of Objective Self-Awareness (OSA) theory, heightened focus on the self leads individuals to align their behavior with a personally- or socially-derived standard. Exposure to a mirror may increase self-awareness and has previously been found to induce behaviors that align with a known or implied standard, such as honesty and helping behavior. However, very little research has investigated the influence of mirror exposure on health behaviors, which are commonly valued. The present research describes two studies examining the effects of mirror exposure on the health behaviors of stair vs. elevator use and food selection, hypothesizing that individuals exposed to a mirror prior to one of these health choices would be more likely to take the stairs instead of the elevator and to select more healthful food products (i.e., lower in calories, saturated fat, sugar, and sodium), respectively. University students (n = 204 for stair use and n = 79 for food selection) were observed as they chose to take the stairs or elevator to the fourth floor of a campus parking garage or after they selected four food items from a laboratory-turned-grocery aisle, and then were surveyed on demographic information and their behaviors likely linked with physical activity and healthy eating. Results indicate that participants' odds of stair use were increased after exposure to a body-length mirror with a health sign describing caloric expenditure during stair use (OR = 2.99, p = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.96, 9.31) and after exposure to a social norm sign on its own (i.e., without a mirror) describing the high stair use of university students (OR = 3.63, p = 0.02, 95% CI: 1.21, 10.94). Neither body-length nor small mirrors showing only the face were found to predict the mean caloric, saturated fat, sugar, or sodium content of participants' selected food items. Implications of these findings regarding weight-related health behaviors are discussed in the context of OSA theory and mirror exposure for health promotion.