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Aims: Most of the world population who is at work and production age does not have appropriate and regular physical activity for various reasons. Accordingly, the researchers tried to evaluate the effect of physical activity predictors of employees through the path analysis based on the Pender's Health Promotion Model (HPM). Methods and Materials: We conducted this study on 359 employees of the milk and milk powder production factories in Mashhad. A questionnaire consisted of items related to the structure of the Pender's Health Promotion Model (Perceived Benefits, Perceived Barriers,  Prior Related Behavior, Perceived Self-Efficacy, Activity Related Affect, Personal Factors, Interpersonal Influences and Situational Influences) and the IPAQ standard questionnaire related to the physical activity were designed and applied in interviews as data collection instruments. Findings: One fourth of the employees had proper physical activity. Generally, structures of the Pender's Health Promotion Model predicted 34.8 % of the physical activity behavior variance. Regression analysis has shown that the predictability of Prior Related Behavior, Perceived Self-Efficacy, Personal Factors, Activity Related Affect and Interpersonal Influences are significant and Situational Influences are nearly significant. Prior Related Behavior (β = 0.45, P < 0.000) and Self-Efficacy (β = 0.17, PConclusions: The findings of the study revealed that HPM is efficient in identifying and predicting the physical activity behavior. This pattern can be used as a framework for planning and implementing educational interventions in order to improve the physical activity of the adult employees.

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Effects of neighbourhood environment and leisure time physical activity on the elderly

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Aim: Level of physical activity as key determinant of healthy lifestyle is less than what is required in individuals particularly women. Applying theories of behavioral change about complex behaviors such as physical activity leads to identify effective factors and their relations. The aim of this study was to determine predictors of exercise behavior based on developed Theory of Planned Behavior with planning constructs in military personnel’s wives. Methods: We performed this cross-sectional study on 150 military personnel’s spouses residing in organizational houses, in Tehran, Iran in 2013. The participants were randomly selected with multi-stage cluster sampling. The validity and reliability of developed scale were evaluated before conducting the path analysis. Data were analyzed using SPSS.16 and LISREL8.8. Finding: The developed model predicted 48, 11, 12 and 35 percent of the variance in intention, action planning, coping planning and behavior, respectively. Subjective norms (Beta=0.35, p<0.01) and perceived behavioral control (Beta=0.28, p<0.01) were the predictors of intention. Determinants of behavior included action planning (Beta=0.40, p<0.01), coping planning (Beta=0.39, p<0.01), intention (Beta=0.23, p<0.01) and subjective norms (Beta=0.08, p<0.01). Instrumental and affective attitude had no significant path coefficient to dependent variables. The path of perceived behavioral control to behavior was non-significant. The developed theory fitted to data better than the original theory. Conclusion: This research demonstrated relative weights and relationships of Theory of Planned Behavior constructs with action and coping planning in physical activity behavior of military staffs' spouses. It is essential to consider these effective factors in designing of health education programs.

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City and physical activity

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Background: Sport and exercise therapy can be used for low back pain's prevention. This research was aimed to evaluate the level of functional disability, pain intensity difference between the two groups of patients with chronic low back pain.
Methods: this study was a cross-sectional-applied research conducted from December 2015 to March 2016 on the employed (N = 50) and nonemployee people (N = 40) suffering from chronic low back. Physical activity level and demographic properties in all subjects were measured by Baecke physical activity questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16.
Results: Totally, two groups employees (N = 50) with an average age of 45.14 ± 0.85 years old and the non-employee (N = 40) people with an average age of 45.42 ± 0.98 years old took part in the study. No significant differences was observed between both groups on such variables as age, weight, height (P > .05). Significant difference was observed between the mean body mass indexes between two groups so that among the employed group was more than the non-employed (p < .05). Significant difference was observed about the physical activity (p < .05) and exercise (p < .05) between two mentioned groups in free time.
Conclusion: This study revealed the different groups of people who have different jobs may be different due to physical activity.

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Special attention to physical activity in children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic
 

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Aim: Physical inactivity, as the leading risk factor for death, is more common among women than men. Despite the effective role of extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) with planning to promote exercise behavior, there is no Iranian standard scale in this regard. This research evaluated psychometric characteristics of the expanded TPB-based questionnaire regarding to the physical activity of military staff’s spouses in Tehran. Methods: Content, face, construct validity and reliability (internal consistency and stability) of this scale was assessed. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 200 women, who were living in organizational houses, in Tehran, Iran in 2014, in order to do exploratory factor analysis (EFA).The participants were chosen with multi-stage cluster random sampling. EFA was performed applying the principal component analysis and Varimax rotation. Data were analyzed using SPSS. v16. Findings: Content validity index, content validity ratio and impact score of the extended TPB scale were 0.8-0.97, 0.78-0.98 and 4.5-4.8, respectively. An eight-factor structure was extracted as a result of the EFA and accounted for 76.33% of the variance. The calculated KMO was 0.72 and the Bartlett’s test of sphericity was significant (P<0.001). Eight constructs consisted of behavior, affective attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, coping planning, instrumental attitude, intention and action planning. Cronbach’s alpha value (0.83-0.97) and the intraclass correlation coefficient (0.63-0.91) demonstrated satisfying reliability for the subscales. Conclusion: Validity and reliability of the first developed TPB-directed scale with planning about women's exercise perceptions and behavior in Iran was appraised and approved in this study. This instrument can be utilized by other health researchers.

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Aim: Insufficient physical activity in women exposes them to problems such as overweight, diabetes, depression and cardiovascular diseases on top. In between, employees have minimum physical activity due to type of their job. The goal of this study was determining psychological factors effective on the physical activity of women working in University of Tehran based on the theory of planned behavior. Methods: The research population included female office workers from the University of Tehran, who were selected through a call at this university in 2014 for this descriptive analytical cross-sectional study. For data gathering, a questionnaire was used with acceptable validity and reliability including demographic information and constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as well as International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Data were analyzed using SPSS21. The statistical bivariate correlation test and stepwise regression test were employed at the significance level of 0.05. Findings: In this study, behavioral intention had a positive and significant relation with perceived behavioral control (P=0.000) and attitude (P=0.042). Also behavioral intention had a positive and significant relation with physical activity (P=0.000). Stepwise regression analysis was used to evaluate important factors effective on prediction of behavior and intention; it determined 40% of intention variance (R2= 0.408). Conclusion: The results of the study showed that constructs such as attitude and perceived behavioral control can be effective on the behavioral intention and physical behavior of female employees; therefore, these factors must be seriously considered in educational planning for this group of the society.

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Background: Low level Physical Activity (PA) among Chronic Low Back Pain for (CLBP) has been reported in many studies. The aim of this study was to predicting factors for physical activity behavior among CLBP patients referred to pain clinic in Yazd, Iran.
Methods and Materials: This cross sectional study was conducted on 182 eligible patients with CLBP who referred to pain clinic in Yazd, Iran from October to December 2016. A socio-demographic questionnaire as well as a 14-item researcher-made questionnaire regarding physical activity predictors based on Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) were used to collect data. Data were inserted into SPSS v.23 and AMOS v. 23 and analyzed using descriptive/analytical tests including linear regression analysis.
Results: Totally 182 individuals with mean age of 42.18 ± 13.12 completed the study. The results showed behavioral beliefs and evaluation of behavioral outcome of PA were predictors of patients' attitudes towards PA (P < 0.001). Normative beliefs and motivation to comply were also predictors of subjective norm (P < 0.001). Subjective norm was predictor for intention to perform the PA behavior (P < 0.001) that in turn was predictor for PA behavior (P < 0.001). However, attitudes towards PA was not predictor for intention to do PA (P = 0.085).
Conclusion: This study showed the individuals who had positive beliefs and evaluation regarding outcomes of PA were more likely to do this behavior.

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This study aimed to investigate the role of behavioral sciences in the management and promotion of students' physical activity and sports participation behavior. This research is in the category of applied knowledge development research and was conducted by a descriptive method. The study population consisted of all students in the country in each degree and field of study, which was conducted with a sample size of 400 people. Samples were randomly selected. Data collection tools were three questionnaires including demographic information, the third part of the questionnaire (GPAQ) of the World Health Organization, which was designed to measure participation in sports activities, and a questionnaire on the role of behavioral sciences on sports participation behavior (α = 0.87). Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, Friedman ranking test, independent t-test, and multiple linear regression test. The results showed that behavioral sciences affect sports participation behavior. There is a positive and significant relationship between them and prioritizing behavioral science components on sports participation behavior, including beliefs and concerns, attitudes, habits and lifestyle, health literacy, self-perception; perception is the consumption of others. Also, there is not much difference between men and women in their physical activity and sports from behavioral sciences.

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This study aimed to provide a model for improving the quality of women's and girls' leisure time in the family with an approach based on physical activity in Isfahan province. This research was carried out using a qualitative method with a systematic approach of grounded theory. The theoretical population consisted of knowledgeable and experienced women's sports and leisure professors who also used the snowball method for sampling. The data collection tool and method were semi-structured individual interviews, and the interviews continued until the theoretical saturation of 15 interviews. For data analysis, a systematic approach includes three main steps: open coding, axial coding and selective coding. In the axial coding stage, the connection between the following categories of causal conditions (support of important others, organizing, applicability of activities, institutionalization of activities); context factors (environmental attractions, environmental conditions, sports attractions(; interfering factors (evolutionary changes, cultural and social barriers, gender hegemony, macro trends, structural barriers); strategies (education and culture building, measures to support women's recreational sports, promotion and development of physical activities, respect for the dignity of women and girls, justice in the implementation of activities, media support) and consequences of qualifying women's leisure time (reducing behavioral disorders, individual empowerment, collective empowerment, increasing participation) in terms of coding paradigm in Sports manufacturing corporations was determined; also in selective coding phases, each component of coding paradigm described. The province's sports managers can use the signs, concepts and categories identified in their plans to improve the leisure time of women and girls in the family with an approach based on physical activity and use the proposed appropriate strategies to compensate for the backwardness and development of women's sports.

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Aim: Regular physical activity has several physical, psychological and social benefits. However, it is a global health problem, especially among ICU nurses. Therefore, in order to improve nurses’ physical activity, it is required to determine the effective correlated factors. The aim of this study was to delineate predictive factors on the physical activity of ICU nurses based on a trans-theoretical model (TTM) using path analysis.
Method: Accordingly, in this cross-sectional study, 82 nurses from eight intensive care units of six hospitals in Guilan University of Medical Sciences completed the translated version of Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) and another questionnaire, which included a range of constructs from the TTM. Data were analyzed using bivariate correlation and path analysis.
Findings: It was revealed that self-efficacy (β=0.24) and Pros (β=0.18) had a direct effect on the participants’ physical activities. It is important to state that self-efficacy was effective on the participants, behavioral physical activity both directly and indirectly. Totally, self-efficacy with the path coefficient of 0.62 was considered as the strongest predictive factor of physical activity among the ICU nurses.
Conclusion: To enclose, the determined effective factors in improving the ICU nurses’ physical activity were expected to be of more concern, especially self-efficacy as the strongest one.

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Aim: Hypertension (HTN) is considered to be the most important modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although lifestyle modifications such as increase in physical activity (PA) are effective for lowering blood pressure (BP), it can often be difficult for hypertensive (HTN) individuals to modify their lifestyle and maintain such modification. So this study aimed at assessing the effectiveness of trans-theoretical model (TTM)-based intervention on PA in HTN patients.
Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 78 hypertensive patients (39 in the experimental group (EG) and 39 in the control group (CG)) from January 2015 to September 2015 in the city of Shiraz in southern Iran. The EG received TTM-based intervention about PA for four weeks. The study outcomes included PA stages of change, processes of change, exercise self-efficacy (ESE), decisional balance and PA, which were measured at the onset and at one week post-intervention. The data were analyzed using SPSS 16 software.
Findings: At one week post-intervention, PA increased significantly in the EG (1218.35±917.95) compared to the CG (810.28±785.21) (p=0.04). A significantly larger percentage of the EG (80.6%, n= 25) progressed to the stage of action compared with the CG (16.1%, n=5). Also one week post-intervention, the EG demonstrated higher ESE (p=0.004), higher decisional balance (p<0.001), and greater process of change (p=0.001) compared with the CG.
Conclusion: The present study showed that the TTM-based intervention effectively increased PA. So the use of TTM-based interventions can be effective in increasing the commitment to PA in HTN patients.

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Aim: Continuous physical activity is required after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery to prevent recurrence of the disease; however, its amount is not suitable in many patients. The present study aimed to investigate the stages of physical activity in patients after CABG using the Trans-Theoretical Model (TTM).
Methods: In this cross-sectional research, 120 cardiac patients participated; they had CABG surgery and referred to Ekbatan Hospital of Hamadan. Sampling was conducted using a purpose-based approach. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire based on the TTM and analyzed using the SPSS18 software. Descriptive statistics and statistical processes of one-way ANOVA, Tukey's post-hoc, and Chi-square tests were also conducted at a significant level of p<0.05.
Findings: The mean age of the participants was 57.87±9.89 years. From the 120 patients under study, 4.2% were in the pre-contemplation phase, 14.2% in the contemplation stage, 58.3% in the preparation stage, 10.8% in the action stage, and 12.5% in the maintenance phase of the physical activity. The results of ANOVA test showed a significant difference between the stages of change in behavior with perceived advantages, perceived disadvantages, perceived self-efficacy, and processes of change (p <0.001).
Conclusion: The results showed that many patients did not have regular physical activity after surgery. This makes clear the need for educational interventions based on theoretical models by health educators.

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Aims: There is evidence that physical activity plays an essential role in preventing illnesses during pregnancy. This study aimed to determine facilitators, barriers, and structural factors of physical activity in nulliparous pregnant women: A qualitative study using Maxqda.
Participants & Methods: This qualitative study was conducted from January to June 2020 in nulliparous pregnant women. Forty participants selected randomly from the Pounak Health Center of Tehran City, Iran, answered open-ended questions about the obstacles that deprived them of physical activity during pregnancy. Data were analyzed by MAXQDA 12 software.
Findings: According to the results, 620 primary codes, 42 secondary codes, 11 sub-themes, and 6 themes were extracted. These themes were divided into the PEN-3 categories; facilitators, barriers, and structural factors. The nurture factors as facilitators had communication and support from others as sub-themes. Barriers consisted of socio-cultural (participate in pregnancy loss with a companion; social beliefs; culture of poverty), socioeconomic (financial problems), individual factors (physical, psycho-emotional, and spiritual dimensions), and structural factors consisting of environmental (equipment) and organizational (possibilities in health centers) factors.
Conclusion: It is essential to comprehend why pregnant women face obstacles to physical activity. Many issues are proposed: the need for enough information on the advantages of physical activity and the role of nurturing factors that need to be motivated to physical activity. Therefore, its a need to investigate structural problems in the community to provide facilities for pregnant women to have physical activity during pregnancy.

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Aims: Although physical activity has many health benefits during pregnancy, few women engage in regular physical activity. The purpose of this study was to test the validity and reliability of a physical activity scale in pregnant women based on social cognitive theory.
Instrument & Methods: A multi-phase scale development method was used to build the scale. To generate a pre-final version of the instrument, face and content validity were measured at the following step. The validation of the instrument was evaluated through a sample of 240 pregnant women. Then, the construct validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and Cronbach’s alpha of the scale were calculated.
Findings: In the beginning, a 36-item scale was created by undertaking a qualitative phase. This number was lowered to 24 items after content validity. Seven factors emerged from the exploratory factor analysis (outcome expectations, outcome value, self-efficacy, social support, self-regulation, mutual determinant, and behavior) which accounted for 52% of the observed variance. The confirmatory factor analysis revealed a model with a suitable fitness for the data. For the subscales, Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranged from 0.83 to 0.94, and the Intraclass correlation coefficient ranged from 0.80 to 0.88, which is within acceptable limits.
Conclusion: The findings showed that the psychometric properties of the physical activity scale is valid and reliable scale that can help us better understand aspects associated to physical activity in pregnant women. As a result, it has the potential to be employed in the future research.

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Aims: A healthy lifestyle reduces the mortality from diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an online health and well-being program in improving physical activity, nutrition, and sleep in college students.
Materials & Methods: The present study utilized a quantitative methodology, mainly a two-group pretest-posttest design on 178 college students. The experimental group received three months of a health and well-being program while the control resumed their daily activities. The participants answered an adapted online questionnaire divided into socio-demographic and physical activity, nutrition, and sleep data. Data were analyzed using SPSS 27 software.
Findings: In both experimental and control groups, the participants’ physical activity in a day was at an average level. Moreover, the frequency of eating nutritious foods in a week was at an average level for both groups. In terms of hours of sleep per night, the total pretest and posttest mean scores for the experimental and control groups indicated that the participants’ hours of sleep per night are at a below-average level. In terms of physical activity, nutrition, and hours of sleep per night, there was no statistically significant difference between the pretest and posttest for both groups (p>0.05).
Conclusion: There is no evidence of a significant difference between college students' physical activity, nutrition, and sleep after the online health well-being program.