Andrea L Dunn

This study, conducted between 1998 and 2001 and analyzed in 2002 and 2003, was designed to test (1) whether exercise is an efficacious treatment for mild to moderate major depressive disorder (MDD), and (2) the dose-response relation of exercise and reduction in depressive symptoms. The study was a randomized 2x2 factorial design, plus placebo cont...

Even though the strong association between physical inactivity and ill health is well documented, 60% of the population is inadequately active or completely inactive. Traditional methods of prescribing exercise have not proven effective for increasing and maintaining a program of regular physical activity. To compare the 24-month intervention effec...

Lifestyle interventions have evolved from proof of concept pilot studies to efficacy and effectiveness studies and have now moved toward translation and dissemination studies because of their demonstrated ability to improve cardiovascular diseases (CVD) outcomes including blood pressure. When combined with diet, they also have demonstrated the abil...

Including exercise for the prevention and treatment of mental disorders is a promising area of research for exercise scientists since data indicate that many of these disorders are not treated at all, and there is a significant delay in treatment. This review provides an appraisal of the recent use of exercise to prevent and treat specific mental d...

BACKGROUND: There is a scarcity of research studies that have examined academic-commercial partnerships to disseminate evidence-based physical activity programs. Understanding this approach to dissemination is essential because academic-commercial partnerships are increasingly common. Private companies have used dissemination channels and strategie...

Physical activity (PA) counseling is under-utilized in primary care for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), despite improving important health outcomes, including physical function. We adapted evidence-based PA counseling programs to primary care patients, staff, and leader’s needs, resulting in “Be ACTIVE” comprised of shared PA tracker...

Background: Physical activity (PA) improves important health outcomes for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), including physical function. We iteratively adapted the implementation strategies of pragmatic and evidence-based PA counseling programs to meet primary care stakeholders’ needs, resulting in the “Be ACTIVE” program. In a pilot ra...

Objective: The authors examined the prospective relationship between physical activity and incident depression and explored potential moderators. Method: Prospective cohort studies evaluating incident depression were searched from database inception through Oct. 18, 2017, on PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, and SPORTDiscus. Demographic and clinical data,...

Although regular physical activity (PA) is a cornerstone of treatment for type 2 diabetes (T2D), most adults with T2D are sedentary. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have proven the effectiveness of PA behavioral interventions for adults with T2D but have rarely been conducted in healthcare settings. We sought to identify PA interventions that a...

Objectives: Heart rate variability (HRV) reflects the integration of the parasympathetic nervous system with the rest of the body. Studies on the effects of yoga and exercise on HRV have been mixed but suggest that exercise increases HRV. We conducted a secondary analysis of the effect of yoga and exercise on HRV based on a randomized clinical tri...

Objective: Research has suggested that the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is involved in the experience of vasomotor symptoms (VMS) during menopause. We examined the relationship of VMS intensity and heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of ANS function. Methods: Women (n = 282) were recruited from three American states for a clinical trial of...

Physical activity disparities among African American (AA) women may be related to sociocultural barriers, including difficulties with restyling hair after exercise. We sought to identify physical activity barriers and facilitators in AA women with a focus on sociocultural factors related to hairstyle maintenance. Participants (n = 51) were AA women...

We examined the predictive relationship between pre-competition state anxiety and subsequent race performance among male and female professional athletes participating in the Tour de France and Tour de France Feminin bicycle races. Our results differed for men and women. Male cyclists reporting high self-confidence and low state anxiety performed b...

Determine efficacy of three non-hormonal therapies for improving menopause-related quality of life (QOL) in women with vasomotor symptoms (VMS). 12-week 3x2 randomized, controlled, factorial design trial. Peri- and postmenopausal women, ages 40-62 years, were randomized to yoga (n=107), exercise (n=106), or usual activity (n=142), and also randomiz...

Adult survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are at increased cardiovascular risk. Studies of factors including treatment exposures that may modify risk of low cardiorespiratory fitness in this population have been limited. To assess cardiorespiratory fitness, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) was measured in 115 ALL survivors (medi...

This study aims to determine the efficacy of exercise training for alleviating vasomotor and other menopausal symptoms. Late perimenopausal and postmenopausal sedentary women with frequent vasomotor symptoms (VMS) participated in a randomized controlled trial conducted in three sites: 106 women randomized to exercise and 142 women randomized to usu...

Background: Behavioral strategies are recommended for menopausal symptoms, but little evidence exists regarding efficacy. Purpose: Describe design and methodology of a randomized controlled 3 by 2 factorial trial of yoga, exercise and omega-3 fatty acids. Methods: Women from three geographic areas with a weekly average of ≥14 hot flashes/night...

Mental, emotional, and behavior disorders, including depression, often begin in childhood and are the result of multiple etiologies (National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, 2009). Depression affects millions of people worldwide, and the identification and delivery of effective treatments is an ongoing challenge. An estimated 1 % of adu...

During the postpartum period, ethnic minority women have higher rates of inactivity/under-activity than white women. The Nā Mikimiki ("the active ones") Project is designed to increase moderate-to-vigorous physical activity over 18 months among multiethnic women with infants 2-12 months old. The study was designed to test, via a randomized controll...

Most patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) require second-step treatments to achieve remission. The Treatment with Exercise Augmentation for Depression (TREAD) study was designed to test the efficacy of aerobic exercise as an augmentation treatment for MDD patients who had not remitted with antidepressant treatment. Eligible participants in...

Based on a socioecological model, the present study examined multilevel barriers and facilitators related to physical activity engagement during pregnancy in women of low socioeconomic status. Individual and paired interviews were conducted with 25 pregnant women (aged 18-46 years, 17-40 weeks' gestation) to ask about motivational factors and to co...

The freedom and self-sufficiency experienced by young adults as they transition to independent college living can create unhealthy behaviors. Live Fit on Campus (LFOC) is a web intervention to help college freshmen, who may be regulating their diets for the first time, to increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables and their minutes of mode...

Improved understanding of the mediators of physical activity (PA) interventions could lead to improvements in theory and programs. To examine the 24-month mediating effects of psychosocial variables on PA and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) outcomes in 878 initially sedentary adults aged 35-75 participating in the Activity Counseling Trial. Partici...

Many adolescents do not meet public health recommendations for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). In studies of variables influencing adolescent MVPA, one that has been understudied is the affective response to exercise. We hypothesized that adolescents with a more positive affective response to acute exercise would be more active. Adol...

To determine whether season of infant birth or amount of daylight at time and location of birth is a risk factor for self-reported postpartum depression (PPD). The primary hypothesis was that the prevalence of PPD will peak during the darkest winter months. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring Syst...

National social marketing campaigns encourage Americans to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day to promote health and reduce chronic disease. Despite widespread promotion, consumption remains below recommended levels. The Internet and interactive games may prove to be novel campaign strategies. In this project, three interac...

To determine the prevalence of insulin resistance and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in young adult survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In this cross-sectional evaluation of 118 survivors of childhood ALL (median age, 23.0 years; range, 18 to 37 years), insulin resistance was estimated using the homeostas...

The factorial validity and measurement equivalence/invariance of scales used to measure social-cognitive correlates of physical activity among adolescent girls were examined. Confirmatory factor analysis was applied to questionnaire responses obtained from a multi-ethnic sample (N = 4885) of middle-school girls from six regions of the United States...

The study examined social-cognitive correlates of physical activity in a multi-ethnic cohort of girls from six regions of the United States who participated in the Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls during their 6th and 8th grade school years. Girls completed validated questionnaires and wore accelerometers that measured weekly physical activit...

The National Institute of Mental Health convened a meeting in October 2005 to review the literature on obesity, nutrition, and physical activity among those with mental disorders. The findings of this meeting and subsequent update of the literature review are summarized here. Levels of obesity are higher in those with schizophrenia and depression,...

Targeting of evidence-based programs can be improved by knowing who benefits least and most. We examined pretest predictors of increased physical activity among participants enrolled in Active for Life. Participants (N = 1,963) from 9 community-based organizations took part in a 6-month telephone-based or a 20-week group-based behavioral physical a...

Introduction: Targeting of evidence-based programs can be improved by knowing who benefits least and most. We examined pretest predictors of increased physical activity among participants enrolled in Active for Life. Methods: Participants (N = 1,963) from 9 community-based organizations took part in a 6-month telephone-based or a 20-week group-b...

Most evidence-based programs are never translated into community settings and thus never make a public health impact. Active for Life (AFL) was a 4-year translational initiative using a pre-post, quasi-experimental design. Data were collected from 2003 to 2007. Analyses were conducted in 2005 and 2008. Nine lead organizations at 12 sites participat...

Despite a dramatic increase in the number of treatment studies for adolescent major depressive disorder in the past 15 years, the majority being clinical trials of medications and cognitive behavioral therapy, response rates have been modest and remission rates low. Moreover, most positive responders posttreatment have many residual symptoms, signi...

Despite the fact that the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists recommends that pregnant women who are free of obstetrical complications engage in regular leisure physical activity (RLPA), pregnant women engage in less RLPA than their nonpregnant counterparts. Given the low rates of RLPA among pregnant women, coupled with the many matern...

To evaluate the relationship between depressive symptoms and physical activity in a geographically and ethnically diverse sample of sixth-grade adolescent girls. The Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls (TAAG) baseline measurement included a random sample (N = 1721) of sixth-grade girls in 36 schools at six field sites. Measurements were accelero...

Survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) become obese, and are at increased risk for morbidity and mortality post therapy. We determined the association of cranial radiotherapy (CRT) and/or sex with levels of total, regional, and ectopic fat storage, metabolic risk, IGF-I, and leptin in adult ALL survivors. A cross-sectional analys...

Prostate cancer patients on hormonal therapy experience significant treatment-related physical and psychological sequelae. We examined moderator variables to determine whether certain participants demonstrated quality of life (QOL) benefits from a group-based lifestyle physical activity program compared to a group-based educational support program...

Theoretically based behavioral interventions havedemonstrated effectiveness in stopping smoking,increasing physical activity and improving nutritionin order to prevent major chronic diseases such ascardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes [1–7].Despite the development of effective behaviorchange programs, the magnitude of change in thesebehavior...

Studies suggest that enjoyment, perceived benefits and perceived barriers may be important mediators of physical activity. However, the psychometric properties of these scales have not been assessed using Rasch modeling. The purpose of this study was to use Rasch modeling to evaluate the properties of three scales commonly used in physical activity...

Given the low rates of physical activity participation, innovative intervention approaches are needed to make a public health impact. The study was conducted at the Miriam Hospital/Brown Medical School in Providence, RI, and in communities of Southeastern Massachusetts from 2002 to 2005. Previously sedentary women (n = 280; mean age = 47.1; 94.6% C...

Active for Life After Cancer is a randomized trial evaluating the efficacy of a 6-month group-based lifestyle physical activity program (Lifestyle) for prostate cancer patients to improve quality of life (QOL) including physical and emotional functioning compared to a group-based Educational Support Program and a Standard Care Program (no group). A...

Translating efficacious interventions into practice within community settings is a major public health challenge. We evaluated the effects of 2 evidence-based physical activity interventions on self-reported physical activity and related outcomes in midlife and older adults. Four community-based organizations implemented Active Choices, a 6-month,...

An assumption of theory-based physical activity interventions is that active participation positively affects the theoretical constructs upon which the intervention is based. This assumption is rarely tested. This study assessed whether participation, defined as completion of homework, in a lifestyle physical activity intervention was associated wi...

The authors used recursive partitioning methods to identify combinations of baseline characteristics that predict 2-year physical activity success in each of 3 physical activity interventions delivered in the multisite Activity Counseling Trial. The sample consisted of 874 initially sedentary primary care patients, ages 35-75 years, who were at ris...

The Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study (ACLS) provides the opportunity to evaluate associations between measures of physical activity and mental health in a large and well-characterized population of men and women. Participants were 5451 men and 1277 women (20-88 yr) who completed a maximal fitness treadmill test and self-report measures of habitua...

Self-efficacy theory proposes that girls who have confidence in their capability to be physically active will perceive fewer barriers to physical activity or be less influenced by them, be more likely to pursue perceived benefits of being physically active, and be more likely to enjoy physical activity. Self-efficacy is theorized also to influence...

Prostate cancer patients receiving androgen ablation therapy experience significant physical and psychological sequelae associated with their disease and treatment. Because physical activity improves physical and psychological well-being, a lifestyle physical activity intervention may help slow or reverse the associated decline in quality of life (...

Physical inactivity in postmenopausal women contributes to a rise in atherogenic risk factors associated with the metabolic syndrome. Although regular physical activity positively contributes to health, inactivity progressively increases with age. The Dose Response to Exercise in Women aged 45-75 yr (DREW) study is designed to investigate the effec...

Background Interventions that teach strategies for integrating physical activity into a person’s daily routine are becoming more common. These interventions have been found to increase physical activity behavior, although the increases have not been large. The small to moderate changes in physical activity can result from participants having insuff...

This study examined whether adherence to a lifestyle physical activity intervention predicted weekly participation in at least 150 min of moderate to vigorous physical activity among 244 sedentary healthy adults. Structural equation modeling was used to assess the association between adherence and physical activity. Markers of adherence were attend...

The Depression Outcomes Study of Exercise (DOSE) was a randomized clinical trial to determine whether exercise is an efficacious treatment for mild to moderate major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults ages 20 to 45 years. The specific hypotheses under investigation were (1) active exercise is an efficacious monotherapy for mild to moderate levels...

Researchers examining theory-based, physical activity (PA) interventions postulate that interventions are effective by changing theoretical constructs hypothesized to mediate the relationship between the intervention and PA behavior. Research indicates that PA interventions are effective for increasing PA behavior. However, whether effective interv...

Research on physical activity and the physical environment is at the correlates stage, so it is premature to attribute causal effects. This paper provides a conceptual approach to understanding how the physical design of neighborhoods may influence behavior by disentangling the potential effects of income, university education, poverty, and degree...