Browsing by Author "Cox, Matthew George"

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    Prompting safety-belt use with a positive versus negative prompt: Comparative impact on the target behavior and relevant body language
    Cox, Matthew George (Virginia Tech, 2009-04-21)
    Two studies were conducted to compare the efficacy of two behavioral prompts in increasing safety-belt use. Two approaches were used in both studies. The first approach involved showing a sign with the message, "Please Buckle Up, I Care" to unbuckled drivers leaving a parking lot; the second involved displaying the nationwide slogan "Click it or Ticket" (CioT). Participants were 1,822 unbuckled drivers exiting two student parking lots of a large university. Research assistants identified an unbuckled driver, flashed one of two signs, and recorded whether the driver buckled after the prompt, as well as the driver's facial reactions and hand gestures. Of the unbuckled drivers, 34% buckled following the Flash-for-Life (FfL) prompt, and 26% with the CioT prompt (p < .05). Drivers gave significantly more positive facial expressions and hand gestures following FfL vs. CioT prompt (p < .05). The second study used a variation of the procedures in Study I and implemented the intervention at a large department store. Driver age was measured with the previous driver variables. Participants were 1,990 unbuckled drivers exiting a parking lot. Results showed no significant differences in terms of compliance to signs (20.8% for FfL and 20.4% for CioT, p's > .05). Significant differences in hand gestures, facial expressions and ages were detected as a function of compliance, regardless of sign (all p's < .001). Specifically, drivers who complied with either prompt were more likely to be younger, and present positive hand gestures and facial expressions. Implications and future directions are discussed.
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    Theoretical and psychometric specificity of self-regulation for physical activity: Validating measures of self-regulation
    Cox, Matthew George (Virginia Tech, 2012-05-18)
    Physical activity (PA) has been shown to be an important component in preventing a number of negative health outcomes and in improving cardio respiratory fitness. However, there is little consensus as to what mediates the relationship between PA interventions and PA behaviors. Numerous studies have identified self-regulation as a proximal mediator of PA interventions, but there appears to be little consensus as to what constitutes self-regulation and how it should be measured. The current study explores the theoretical underpinnings of self-regulation from several different theories and identifies several measures related to those theories. Overlapping factors are identified by combining the measures and conducting exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses in order to understand the components of self-regulation. The results of the factor analyses revealed a seven-factor model consisting of 96 items. The factors from the final model included Self-Regulation Self-Efficacy, Negative Affect, Goal Setting/Goal Planning, Goal Communications, Goal Setting/Outcome Expectancy, Self-Monitoring, and Goal Planning. Analyses reveal that Goal Setting/Goal Planning and Goal Setting/Outcome Expectancy significantly predicted PA behaviors. How these factors relate to the theories of self-regulation and how they relate to the original measures are discussed; however several factors derived from this study contained several theoretically distinct constructs which made interpretation of these factors difficult. Future directions for identifying and developing factors of self-regulation are discussed and special consideration is given to the process of self-regulation.