Applying Mixed-Effects Location Scale Modeling to Examine Within-Person Variability in Physical Activity Self-Efficacy

Authors

  • Genevieve Fridlund Dunton Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, 2001 N. Soto Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
  • Audie A. Atienza Science of Research and Technology Branch, Behavioral Research Program, National Cancer Institute, 6130 Executive Blvd, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
  • Jimi Huh Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, 2001 N. Soto Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
  • Cynthia Castro Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1265 Welch Road, Mail Code 5411, Stanford, CA 94305-5411, USA
  • Donald Hedeker Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois, Chicago, 1603 W. Taylor, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
  • Abby C. King Division of Epidemiology, Department of Health Research & Policy, and Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 259 Campus Drive, HRP Redwood Building, T221, Stanford, CA 94305-5405, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-6029.2013.02.02.05

Keywords:

Within-person variability, Multilevel modeling, Walking, Mood, Adults

Abstract

Background: Physical activity self-efficacy is conceptualized as a construct that is changeable and responsive to contextual factors. The current study applied mixed-effects location scale modeling to examine within-person variability in physical activity self-efficacy among middle-aged and older adults (N = 14 adults, mean age = 59.4 years) who were attempting behavior change.

Methods: An electronic diary was used to record self-reported self-efficacy and physical activity via Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) twice a day (2:00 pm and 9:00 pm). Data from weeks 1-6 were analyzed using a Mixed-Effects Location Scale Model in SAS PROC NLMIXED.

Results: Participants differed from each other in the degree to which physical activity self-efficacy varied from day to day (p = .03). Within-person variation in self-efficacy was negatively related to levels of brisk walking each week (p = .002), and decreased over time (p = .03).

Conclusions: Preliminary results suggest that fluctuations in self-efficacy may be as important for predicting short-term behavior as the overall or mean level of self-efficacy.

Author Biographies

Genevieve Fridlund Dunton, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, 2001 N. Soto Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA

Genevieve Dunton, Ph.D, MPH is an Assistant Professor of Research in the Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Southern California. She earned a doctorate in Health Psychology from the University of California, Irvine and a Master of Public Health from the University of Southern California. Dr. Dunton received post-doctoral training in physical activity, nutrition, and cancer prevention from the Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program at the National Cancer Institute. The objectives of Dr. Dunton´s research are to understand the etiology of health behaviors related to chronic disease risk in children and adults, with particular focus on physical activity and nutrition. This work is guided by a social-ecological perspective of behavior change, which takes into account the interplay between environmental, social, and individual variables. She has authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications and several book chapters on these topics. Dr. Dunton uses real-time data capture strategies to better understand antecedents, concomitants, and consequences of health behaviors. She is currently the PI on two studies, which use mobile phones to deliver electronic surveys, objectively measure physical activity, and indicate geographic location. Dr. Dunton is also the Chair of the Physical Activity Section of the American Public Health Association.

Audie A. Atienza, Science of Research and Technology Branch, Behavioral Research Program, National Cancer Institute, 6130 Executive Blvd, Rockville, MD 20852, USA

Science of Research and Technology Branch, Behavioral Research Program

Jimi Huh, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, 2001 N. Soto Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA

Department of Preventive Medicine

Cynthia Castro, Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1265 Welch Road, Mail Code 5411, Stanford, CA 94305-5411, USA

Stanford Prevention Research Center

Donald Hedeker, Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois, Chicago, 1603 W. Taylor, Chicago, IL 60612, USA

Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health

Abby C. King, Division of Epidemiology, Department of Health Research & Policy, and Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 259 Campus Drive, HRP Redwood Building, T221, Stanford, CA 94305-5405, USA

Division of Epidemiology, Department of Health Research & Policy, and Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine

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Published

2013-04-30

How to Cite

Dunton, G. F., Atienza, A. A., Huh, J., Castro, C., Hedeker, D., & King, A. C. (2013). Applying Mixed-Effects Location Scale Modeling to Examine Within-Person Variability in Physical Activity Self-Efficacy. International Journal of Statistics in Medical Research, 2(2), 117–122. https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-6029.2013.02.02.05

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2013)

Section

General Articles

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Copyright (c) 2013 Genevieve Fridlund Dunton, Audie A. Atienza, Jimi Huh, Cynthia Castro, Donald Hedeker, Abby C. King

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