Participants in the present study completed an online questionnaire that assessed empathy for a list of animals and perceived empathic and communicative abilities-anthropomorphic attributions-of said list of animals varying in phylogenetic relatedness to humans. Results showed near-perfect relationships between perceived empathic and communicative variables, and near-perfect relationships between these variables and phylogenetic relatedness to humans. Further, the majority of participants were more likely to use the animate pronouns "he" and "she" versus the inanimate pronoun "it" when referring to all animal exemplars except invertebrates, and this animate pronoun use was highly correlated with phylogenetic relatedness to humans. These data substantiate that the tendency to anthropomorphize varies with a species' genetic relatedness to humans. Further, these data provide evidence for the interconnectedness of empathy and communication and highlight the relationship between these cognitive processes and anthropomorphism. The relationship between anthropomorphism and animal welfare is discussed.

The authors investigated and then compared associations between 16 variables and vigorous physical activity in a minority student population. The sample (N = 347) drawn from six universities with minority representation ranging from 3% to 17% consisted of African-American (62%), Asians (29%) and Hispanics (9%). No significant differences emerged between race and physical activity levels; however, African-American respondents reported more regular physical activity habits than Asians or Hispanics. Significant (p<.001) differences emerged by gender, with males reporting more vigorous and regular physical activity than females. The regression model accounted for 36% of the variance in physical activity. The strongest individual relationships, explaining 34% of the variation, included gender, benefits, participation in high school varsity sports, participation in youth sports, and barriers. The findings contribute information regarding activity characteristics by race and gender.

This study is an examintion of the effects of race and income on leisure-time physical activity among women (n = 116). Perceived benefits of and barriers to participating in leisure-time physical activity were also compared. A regression model utilizing social cognitive variables was used to explore factors which may predict physical activity participation. No significant differences emerged between the groups regarding the amount of physical activity they reported either by race or socioeconomic status. Time expenditure emerged significantly different by race (p < .001) and income (p < .000); middle-income women reported time as a barrier more than lower-income women and Whites were likelier to report time as a barrier more than Blacks. Middle-income women perceived greater (p < .01) physical performance benefits from exercise than lower-income women. Social interaction, time expenditure, and body mass index were the strongest predictors of physical activity. The data and findings could be useful for increaseing our understanding of economic and racial disparities in physical activity participation and garnish information for use in constructing interven programs.

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