| Autor: |
Buechner BM; Williams College of Business, Xavier University, 3718 Francis Xavier Way, Cincinnati, OH 45207, USA., Traylor MK; Integrative Laboratory of Exercise and Applied Physiology (iLEAP), Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Sport, College of Education and Professional Studies, University of South Alabama, 171 Student Services Dr, Mobile, AL 36688, USA., Feldman RI; Integrative Laboratory of Exercise and Applied Physiology (iLEAP), Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Sport, College of Education and Professional Studies, University of South Alabama, 171 Student Services Dr, Mobile, AL 36688, USA., Overstreet KF; Integrative Laboratory of Exercise and Applied Physiology (iLEAP), Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Sport, College of Education and Professional Studies, University of South Alabama, 171 Student Services Dr, Mobile, AL 36688, USA., Hill BD; Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of South Alabama, Humanities Room 118, Mobile, AL 36688, USA., Keller JL; Integrative Laboratory of Exercise and Applied Physiology (iLEAP), Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Sport, College of Education and Professional Studies, University of South Alabama, 171 Student Services Dr, Mobile, AL 36688, USA. |
| Abstrakt: |
Adults do not engage in enough physical activity. Investigating cognitive and physiological factors related to improving this behavior-and reducing health risks-remains a public health priority. Our objective was to assess whether cognitive flexibility influenced perceptions and choice of exercise programs and whether flexibility was associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Independent sample groups of college-aged adults (18-24 yrs) participated in two studies. Data were collected on individuals' degree of cognitive flexibility (both self-reported and objectively measured), perceptions and choice of exercise programs, and health status markers known to be associated with CVD (vascular function, muscular strength, and body composition). Vascular function was assessed with a near-infrared spectroscopy device, strength was defined as handgrip, and body composition was estimated via digital circumferences. Self-reported flexibility reliably predicted individuals' choice of exercise program and perceptions of effort required for success on an exercise program. The relationships among CVD risk factors and objectively measured cognitive flexibility were not significant, demonstrating that identifying a healthy individual's degree of performance-based cognitive flexibility does not predict health status. Furthermore, although greater self-reported trait flexibility (rigidity) is known to predict higher (lower) likelihood of physical activity, this finding should not be extrapolated to also assume that flexibility (rigidity), as measured by objective cognitive tests, is associated with reduced CVD risk in healthy adults. We posit a rationale for how understanding cognitive flexibility and rigidity can play an impactful role in improving adherence to exercise prescriptions targeted to reducing risks. |
