A Transversal and Integrative Analysis of Exercise: A Study with Physical Activity Practitioners

Abstract

RESUMOEste estudo foi realizado junto de praticantes de exercício físico (EF), tendo como principais objetivos: (a) compreender a importância dos fatores psicológicos na fase de adoção e manutenção do comportamento de EF; e (b) analisar o comportamento de EF tendo por base uma perspetiva conceptual integradora de diferentes fatores envolvidos neste comportamento, principalmente ao nível psicológico. Foram incluídos no estudo quinze participantes com diferentes níveis de experiência de EF (cinco com 1 mês, cinco com 6 meses e cinco com 12 ou mais meses de prática), sendo sete do sexo masculino e oito do sexo feminino, com uma média de idades de 37.3 anos. Os dados foram recolhidos tendo por base o guião de entrevista "Avaliação Psicológica no EF: Guiões de Entrevista para os Praticantes e para os Monitores (APEF-PM) -versão praticantes". Os principais resultados evidenciaram que o comportamento de EF foi explicado por fatores individuais (e.g., psicológicos), contextuais (e.g., local de prática) e culturais (estereótipos) que, por sua vez, apresentaram alterações ao longo do tempo de prática de EF. Concluindo, a utilização de uma perspetiva qualitativa que integre diferentes abordagens conceptuais revelou-se fundamental para a compreensão dos fatores envolvidos no comportamento de EF. Palavras-chave: Exercício Físico; Fatores Psicológicos; Adoção e Manutenção de Exercício Físico ABSTRACTThis study was done with individuals that practiced exercise and had two main objectives: (a) understand the importance of psychological factors in the process of adoption and maintenance of exercise behavior; and (b) analyze exercise behavior by assuming an integrative conceptual perspective of different factors involved in exercise, especially the ones related with the psychological domain. Fifteen participants (seven males and eight females) with different levels of experience in exercise were selected for this study (five at one month, five at six months and five with 12 or more months of exercise practice). The participants had a mean age of 37.3 years old. Data were collected based on the interview guide "Psychological Assessment in Exercise: Interview Guides for Practitioners and Instructors -Version for Practitioners". The main results showed that the exercise was explained by individual factors (e.g., psychological), contextual factors (e.g., local of practice), and cultural factors (e.g., stereotypes) that, in turn, changed across the time of exercise practice of participants. In conclusion, the use of a qualitative perspective that integrates different conceptual approaches proved to be crucial to understand the factors involved in exercise behavior.

Association Between Physical Activity in Its Different Domains and Eating Habits in Female Breast Cancer Survivors

“…In the present study, the higher consumption of white meat was related to greater leisure/sport and total PA practices. According to Morais et al, this adherence to changes in diet has been combined with the practice of PA, especially the practice of PA during leisure 29 . Irwin et al showed that women who participate in any leisure activity with moderate intensity present a risk of mortality approximately 64% lower than inactive women 30 .…”