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    <title>Journal of Physical Activity Research</title>
    <link>http://www.sciepub.com/journal/JPAR</link>
    <description>Journal of Physical Activity Research (JPAR) publishes original research and communication papers concerning the interdisciplinary field of physical activity both as a health outcome as well as a risk factor.  Articles published by the journal include (but not limited to) physical activity epidemiology, measurement of physical activity, interventions related to physical activity, physical activity and chronic disease, meta-analyses of physical activity research, and studies related to mediators and/or moderators of physical activity behavior.</description>
    <dc:publisher>Science and Education Publishing</dc:publisher>
		<dc:language>en</dc:language>
		<dc:rights>2013 Science and Education Publishing Co. Ltd All rights reserved.</dc:rights>
		<prism:publicationName>Journal of Physical Activity Research</prism:publicationName>
		11
		1
		January 2026
		<prism:copyright>2013 Science and Education Publishing Co. Ltd All rights reserved.</prism:copyright>
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<rdf:li resource="http://pubs.sciepub.com/jpar/11/1/2"/>
<rdf:li resource="http://pubs.sciepub.com/jpar/11/1/3"/>
<rdf:li resource="http://pubs.sciepub.com/jpar/11/1/4"/>
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  <item rdf:about="http://pubs.sciepub.com/jpar/11/1/1">
<title>
The Effects of An Eight-week Fitness Class on Body Composition and Fitness among African Americans
</title>
<link>http://pubs.sciepub.com/jpar/11/1/1</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among African Americans while compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Sixty-three African American college students were recruited from North Carolina Central University (NCCU), a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). All students participated in an eight-week fitness course designed and led by a certified fitness instructor at NCCU. This study assessed the effectiveness of this eight-week fitness program (NCCU Active8 Program) to improve cardiovascular fitness, muscular endurance, and reduce the CVD risk factors including blood pressure, BMI, and body fat percentage (BF%). Pre- and post-measurements were compared with a paired-t test at significant level of p= 0.05. Students’ health behaviors, such as alcohol, tobacco, and vegetable consumptions, and activity level were also assessed with a modified Young Adult Health Behavior Questionnaire. Our results showed that there were significant changes in their blood pressure, BMI, muscular endurance, and cardiovascular fitness after completing the program. However, we did not see significant change in their BF% or health behaviors. Therefore, this 8-week fitness program was effective in reducing several CVD risk factors and improving muscular fitness.]]>
</description>
<dc:creator>
Hsin-Yi  Liu, Mark  Langley
</dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-02-23</dc:date>
<dc:publisher>Science and Education Publishing</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-02-23</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:number>1</prism:number>
<prism:volume>11</prism:volume>
<prism:startingPage>1</prism:startingPage>
<prism:endingPage>9</prism:endingPage>
<prism:doi>10.12691/jpar-11-1-1</prism:doi>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://pubs.sciepub.com/jpar/11/1/2">
<title>
Affective Reappraisal of Physical Activity Using Guided Autobiography: A Proof-of-Concept
</title>
<link>http://pubs.sciepub.com/jpar/11/1/2</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[Many adults understand the health benefits of physical activity (PA) yet struggle to translate intentions into sustained behaviour. Narrative-based approaches may support this process by reactivating affective and identity-related mechanisms linked to past PA experiences. Guided Autobiography (GAB) is a structured, non-directive small-group method designed to facilitate meaning-making through reflective writing and sharing, but it has not previously been applied in a PA context. This proof-of-concept study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary psychological impact of a brief PA-themed GAB intervention and explored whether it showed sufficient promise to warrant further testing. Seventeen mature-aged adults participated in a PA-themed GAB intervention, “My Physically Active Life”, involving completion of a 25-year PA timeline, autobiographical writing, and shared reflection. A mixed-methods pre–post design was used, with quantitative measures of PA-related attitudes (instrumental and affective), identity, and behavioural intentions collected at baseline, with a 7-day follow-up. Qualitative data were analysed thematically to examine participants’ experiences of reflection and narrative reframing. Participants reported high acceptability and described GAB as a meaningful prompt for reconnecting with positive early-life PA experiences and active identities. Instrumental attitudes were high at baseline and unchanged, functioning as a control indicator. In contrast, small-to-moderate positive effects were observed for affective attitudes (enjoyment, pleasantness) and PA-related identity, with a modest increase in behavioural intention. Qualitative findings supported these patterns, highlighting shifts in affective meaning, and self-concept. This ORBIT Phase IIa proof-of-concept study provides initial evidence that PA-themed GAB is feasible, acceptable, and engages theoretically relevant psychological mechanisms. Further refinement and controlled testing are warranted to examine its role as a preparatory intervention supporting intention–behaviour translation.]]>
</description>
<dc:creator>
Gordon  B. Spence, Ryan  E. Rhodes
</dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-02-25</dc:date>
<dc:publisher>Science and Education Publishing</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-02-25</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:number>1</prism:number>
<prism:volume>11</prism:volume>
<prism:startingPage>10</prism:startingPage>
<prism:endingPage>20</prism:endingPage>
<prism:doi>10.12691/jpar-11-1-2</prism:doi>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://pubs.sciepub.com/jpar/11/1/3">
<title>
Exploring and Comparing Physical Activity Behaviors among College Students Enrolled in an 8-week and 16-week Fitness Class at an HBCU
</title>
<link>http://pubs.sciepub.com/jpar/11/1/3</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[This study examined and compared physical activity behaviors and fitness outcomes among college students enrolled in 8‑week and 16‑week fitness courses at a historically Black college and university (HBCU) in the southeastern United States. Using a quasi‑experimental design grounded in Ajzen’s (1991) Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), physical fitness and behavioral intention outcomes were analyzed across course formats. Participants included 57 students who completed pre‑ and post‑fitness assessments and an early‑semester physical activity behavior survey. Results indicated significant pre‑ to post‑test improvements in both course formats, with broader multidimensional gains observed in the 8‑week course. Students reported positive exercise attitudes and moderate‑to‑high intentions for moderate‑to‑vigorous physical activity. No significant between‑group differences were detected across course length. Findings suggest that both condensed and traditional academic fitness formats can effectively promote physical activity engagement in HBCU populations. Implications for fitness curriculum design, behavioral sustainability, and equitable access to structured physical activity are discussed.]]>
</description>
<dc:creator>
Amy  D. Linder, Hsin-Yi  Liu, Mijon  R. Knight, Chermaine  Cole, Sonya  Reddick-Shaw, Walter  Munoz
</dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-03-22</dc:date>
<dc:publisher>Science and Education Publishing</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-03-22</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:number>1</prism:number>
<prism:volume>11</prism:volume>
<prism:startingPage>21</prism:startingPage>
<prism:endingPage>28</prism:endingPage>
<prism:doi>10.12691/jpar-11-1-3</prism:doi>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://pubs.sciepub.com/jpar/11/1/4">
<title>
Multilevel Influences on Physical Activity among Young Rural Women: A Qualitative Study
</title>
<link>http://pubs.sciepub.com/jpar/11/1/4</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[Physical activity reduces chronic disease risk, yet less attention has been given to how social and environmental conditions shape physical activity among rural Appalachian women. Existing physical activity research and measurement tools are often based on urban or suburban environments, which may not fully capture barriers in rural communities. This qualitative descriptive study explored social and environmental factors influencing physical activity behaviors among 19 rural women aged 25–34 years living in McDowell County, West Virginia. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling using community contacts and local organizations. Semi-structured interviews, guided by the Social Ecological Model, examined individual, social, and environmental influences on physical activity participation. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic content analysis. Barriers and facilitators were organized across socioecological domains. Individual-level barriers included health concerns, perceptions of physical activity, and competing work and family responsibilities. Interpersonal influences included family, spouses, and social support networks. Community-level barriers included limited availability, accessibility, and affordability of physical activity resources; geographic isolation; unsafe walking environments; and broader community safety concerns. Personal motivation, family encouragement, and supportive relationships were identified as facilitators. Findings suggest that physical activity behaviors among rural Appalachian women are shaped by intertwined individual, interpersonal, and community-level factors. Interventions that incorporate social support, improve access to safe environments, and address structural challenges within rural communities may help reduce physical inactivity and promote healthier lifestyles among rural women.]]>
</description>
<dc:creator>
Karen  Lynn Webb, Jongwon  Lee
</dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-05-26</dc:date>
<dc:publisher>Science and Education Publishing</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-05-26</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:number>1</prism:number>
<prism:volume>11</prism:volume>
<prism:startingPage>29</prism:startingPage>
<prism:endingPage>37</prism:endingPage>
<prism:doi>10.12691/jpar-11-1-4</prism:doi>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://pubs.sciepub.com/jpar/11/1/5">
<title>
Maternal Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist Treatment and Discontinuation: Impacts on Male and Female Offspring Voluntary Wheel Running
</title>
<link>http://pubs.sciepub.com/jpar/11/1/5</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[Despite its clinical use, the reversibility of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) treatment after discontinuation remains poorly understood, particularly regarding offspring physical activity. Therefore, this study examined voluntary wheel-running activity as an assessment of physical activity in male and female offspring born to female rats that received GnRHa treatment early in life followed by its discontinuation. Four-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats received either daily 100 µg subcutaneous injections of the gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) triptorelin as a puberty blocker (P, n=6) or saline as a control (C, n=6) daily for 28 days. Injections then discontinued and female rats were paired with male rats for breeding. Male (M) and female (F) Offspring (O) from the P and C females were housed in cages outfitted with voluntary running wheels for 56 days (M WR (M+WR+PO, n=3; F+WR+PO, n=3; M+WR+CO, n=3; F+WR+CO, n=3). Wheel running activity was then assessed for 8 weeks. A significant main parent treatment effect (p=0.0213) and sex effect (p=0.0228) was observed for total WR distance (M+WR+PO, 158 ± 54 km; M+WR+CO, 378 ± 27 km; F+WR+PO  373 ± 58 km; F+WR+CO 738 ± 187 km), but there was no parent treatment x sex interaction (p=0.4988). No significant main effects or interactions were observed in weekly WR distances during Week 1, but significant parent treatment effects were observed in Weeks 2-5 (p=0.0157, p=0.0131, p=0.0114, p=0.0263, respectively) with significant main sex effects observed in Weeks 2, 3, and 4 (p=0.0026, p=0.0088 and p= 0.0169 respectively).  No significant main effects or interactions were observed in WR distances for Weeks 6-8 (p>0.05). Male and female offspring from GnRHa treated and discontinued female rats had lower WR activity than their respective control counterparts suggesting that physical activity levels may be impacted by the temporary disruption in maternal reproductive development even after discontinuation of pubertal suppression.]]>
</description>
<dc:creator>
Curtis  S. Davis, Kara  C. Phillips, David  S. Hydock
</dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-06-10</dc:date>
<dc:publisher>Science and Education Publishing</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-06-10</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:number>1</prism:number>
<prism:volume>11</prism:volume>
<prism:startingPage>38</prism:startingPage>
<prism:endingPage>43</prism:endingPage>
<prism:doi>10.12691/jpar-11-1-5</prism:doi>
</item>
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