Thomas M. DiLorenzo’s research while affiliated with University of Delaware and other places

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Publications (31)


Intervention-related cognitive versus social mediators of exercise adherence in the elderly
  • Article

September 2002

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99 Reads

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254 Citations

American Journal of Preventive Medicine

Glenn S Brassington

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Ruben E Perczek

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[...]

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Abby C King

Participation in regular physical activity is recognized as one of the most important health behaviors associated with the prevention of chronic disease and the promotion of health and well-being among the elderly. Although a number of cross-sectional studies have reported predictors of physical activity participation, few studies have assessed changes in intervention-related mediators associated with physical activity adherence in the elderly. The purpose of this study was to compare the relative abilities of cognitive mediating variables (i.e., self-efficacy beliefs and outcome expectancies/realizations) versus a social mediating variable (i.e., exercise-related social support) to examine mediators of a telephone-based, exercise-counseling intervention on exercise adherence during months 7 to 12 of an exercise intervention. Participants were 103 community-dwelling, healthy, sedentary, older adults (67 women and 36 men). Self-efficacy for exercise, outcome expectancies/realizations, and social support for exercise were assessed at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Participants received telephone-based exercise counseling to promote exercise adherence during the course of two 12-month exercise programs (i.e., aerobic/strength or flexibility exercises). Changes in cognitive mediators (i.e., self-efficacy and fitness outcome realizations) were associated with 7- to 12-month exercise adherence while exercise-related social support was not. Attention should be given to increasing confidence in the elderly to overcome barriers to exercise and achieve relevant fitness outcomes in exercise programs.


Long-Term Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Psychological Outcomes

February 1999

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568 Reads

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375 Citations

Preventive Medicine

Although the literature on increased physical fitness and psychological outcomes has grown large, a number of methodological limitations remain unaddressed. The present study was designed to address a number of these limitations while examining the short- and long-term psychological effects following completion of a 12-week aerobic fitness program using bicycle ergometry (and confirmed increases in fitness). Following completion of a 12-week aerobic fitness program (and through 12 months of follow-up), 82 adult participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory, Profile of Mood States, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale. Physiological measures used to assess changes in aerobic fitness were maximal work load, submaximal heart rate at a standard work load, predicted maximum oxygen uptake, and resting heart rate. Exercise participants experienced a positive fitness change and psychological improvement over the initial 12-week program compared to a control group. At 1 year follow-up, physiological and psychological benefits remained significantly improved from baseline. Overall, results indicate that exercise-induced increases in aerobic fitness have beneficial short-term and long-term effects on psychological outcomes. We postulate that participants in the exercise group did not increase the amount of weekly exercise they performed over the 12-month follow-up period and thus the maintenance of the psychological improvements occurred concurrent with equal or lesser amounts of exercise.


Determinants of Exercise among Children. II. A Longitudinal Analysis

May 1998

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138 Reads

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333 Citations

Preventive Medicine

Research has demonstrated that physical activity serves an important preventive function against the development of cardiovascular disease. The recognition that U.S. children are often sedentary, coupled with the observation that physical activity habits tend to persist into adulthood, has prompted the investigation of exercise determinants consistent with social learning theory. The purposes of the present study were to identify social learning variables relevant to children's exercise and to explore the longitudinal predictive value of the determinants. Data were collected from 111 families (N = 54 girls, N = 57 boys) who were interviewed in both Phase 1 (fifth and sixth grades) and Phase 2 (eight and ninth grades) of this study. Data from mothers (N = 111) were collected during both phases; data from 80 fathers were collected at Phase 2 only. The results of simultaneous stepwise regression analyses indicated that child's enjoyment of physical activity was the only consistent predictor of physical activity during Phase 1. At Phase 2, child's exercise knowledge, mother's physical activity, and child's and mother's friend modeling/support emerged as predictors for girls. For boys, child's self-efficacy for physical activity, exercise knowledge, parental modeling, and interest in sports media were important. Longitudinally, mother's self-efficacy, barriers to exercise, enjoyment of physical activity, and child's self-efficacy for physical activity were important for girls. Only child's exercise knowledge predicted boys' physical activity. The addition of information from fathers nearly doubled the explanatory power of the predictors for both genders. Socialization in the family unit exerts a tremendous influence on health-related behaviors such as exercise. The relative importance of determinants seems to differ for girls and boys and the pattern of these determinants appears to change over time.



The Role of an Academic Department in Promoting Faculty Development: Recognizing Diversity and Leading to Excellence

May 1994

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45 Reads

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28 Citations

Journal of counseling and development: JCD

The authors discuss the role of an academic department in promoting faculty development. Specifically, the authors (a) define faculty development from a departmental perspective, (b) discuss stages and seasons in academic careers, and (c) delineate specific faculty development goals and programs within the department.


Determinants of Exercise in Children

December 1993

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63 Reads

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280 Citations

Preventive Medicine

The recognition that children are surprisingly inactive and that lifetime health beliefs and behavior patterns are formed in childhood has emphasized the need to examine the acquisition of exercise behavior in children. Although research has shown social learning theory variables to be relevant to the study of exercise determinants in an adult population, there has been little study done with child populations. The purpose of the present study was to explore the factors that may influence a child's level of physical activity. Two hundred forty-two 5th- and 6th-grade children and their mothers were interviewed. It was hypothesized that several social learning variables would exert a particularly strong influence on level of physical activity of children. Regression analysis results indicated that salient predictor variables for boys included enjoyment of physical activity, friend and family support for physical activity, mother's perceived barriers to exercise, and mother's perceived family support for exercise. For girls, the salient predictor variables included enjoyment of physical activity, number of exercise-related items at home, mother's perceived family support for physical activity, mother's perceived barriers to exercise, and direct parental modeling of physical activity. It appears that social learning variables may be important correlates of physical activity in children.


An evaluation of a tobacco use education-prevention program: A pilot study

February 1993

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11 Reads

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18 Citations

Journal of Substance Abuse

This study was designed to implement a psychosocial approach to primary prevention of cigarette and smokeless tobacco use among seventh-grade students. The prevention program was presented by peer leaders who were older high school students. Program intervention addressed parental, peer, and media influences on tobacco use, and taught refusal skills for resisting social pressures to smoke or chew tobacco. Program effectiveness was examined in terms of three variables: knowledge (basic knowledge about tobacco facts), refusal skills (degree of self-reported assertiveness in refusing to use tobacco), and attitude (positive and negative attitudes toward tobacco). These variables were assessed at pre- and posttests, and 1-month follow-up to program termination. It was found that students who received the intervention reported increased knowledge and improved resistance skills regarding the use of tobacco, as compared to a control group. Attitudes toward tobacco were initially negative and did not change over the course of the intervention in either group. In addition, 1-year follow-up was conducted on the intervention group, indicating that treatment gains were maintained.


Aerobic Exercise and Mood: A Brief Review, 1985-1990

April 1992

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67 Reads

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64 Citations

Sports Medicine

The major reviews of research on aerobic exercise and mood published in the past 10 years and the well-controlled empirical studies in the last 5 years yield a number of consistent conclusions. First, researchers unanimously concluded that aerobic exercise and depression and anxiety are related in a inverse and consistent manner. Yet they consistently refrained from suggesting that this relationship involves causality. Second, studies consistently reported that aerobic exercise is effective in the treatment of mild to moderate forms of depression and anxiety. In fact, it was the conclusion of several researchers that aerobic exercise was as effective as more traditional methods of psychotherapy. Third, it consistently was reported that the increased benefits were greatest in those who were more depressed and more anxious. Fourth, it was reported consistently that an increase in cardiovascular fitness was not necessary for mood enhancement. Finally, because the few existing longitudinal studies predominantly involve pre-experimental and quasi-experimental designs, the hypothesis that exercise leads to mood changes cannot be accepted nor refuted at this time.


Treatment of smokeless tobacco use through a formalized cessation program

December 1991

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10 Reads

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18 Citations

Behavior Therapy

The present study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of a cessation program developed specifically for smokeless tobacco use. The treatment consisted of eight one-hour sessions over a period of six weeks and included cue extinction, target date quitting, a buddy system, and relapse prevention. A multiple baseline design across treatment groups was employed to assess effectiveness of the intervention. Eight male smokeless tobacco users participated in the study. Of the seven participants who actually completed the cessation program, six quit using smokeless tobacco and remained abstinent for nine months after treatment ended. These results were confirmed by collateral sources. The success of the treatment package in the reduction of smokeless tobacco use in an adult population, and the need for further study of the comparisons between smokeless tobacco cessation and smoking cessation are discussed.


Underestimates of student substance use by school personnel: A cause for concern?

September 1991

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7 Reads

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5 Citations

Journal of Behavioral Medicine

The present study was designed to compare school personnel's (i.e., principals, counselors, teachers) estimates of student substance use with student self-reported data. Comparisons were made in 78 schools between 5431 student self-reports of tobacco, alcohol, and drug use and 170 school personnel's estimates of student substance use. The results indicated that a significant number of school personnel were unable to estimate student substance use. Personnel who did provide estimates typically underestimated the degree of substance use, in comparison to student self-reported substance use. School personnel did not significantly overestimate use in comparison to student self-reported substance use for any substance in any grade or geographic area. It is suggested that school personnel may resist the adoption of prevention programs because of a perceived lack of need due to underestimation of the substance use problem.


Citations (18)


... However, conversations with mental health professionals indicated that they preferred to use the principles of operant conditioning such as positive or negative reinforcement. 67 The intervention is usually conducted in a group setting which promises a safe and natural environment for open discussions of the problems faced and the possible solutions. 68 Parents were trained in reinforcement schedules for effective implementation of the intervention. ...

Reference:

“Trying to Bring a Solution Out of the Problem”— Therapeutic Approaches of Indian Mental Health Professionals for Children with Parental Schizophrenia
Operant and Classical Conditioning
  • Citing Chapter
  • January 1988

... Leisure assessments range from formal, standardized assessments to more informal assessments. These assessments may be categorized into one of the following types: interest checklists, history taking, activity patterns, and subjective assessments of leisure attitudes (DiLorenzo, Prue, & Scott, 1987;Matsutsuyu, 1967). A critical problem currently facing many disciplines, including occupational therapy, is the lack of functional and standardized assessments of leisure (Fisher & Short-DeGraff, 1993;Mann & Talty, 1991;Soderback & Hammarlund, 1993). ...

A conceptual critique of leisure assessment and therapy: an added dimension to behavioral medicine and substance abuse treatment
  • Citing Article
  • December 1987

Clinical Psychology Review

... Results of the intervention indicated beneficial effects of the group contingency on behavior. Similar group-contingent reward programs have been effective in improving rule following in the cafeteria (Samuels, Swerdlik, & Margolis, 1980) and reducing cafeteria noise levels (LaRowe, Tucker, & McGuire, 1980;Michelson, DiLorenzo, Calpin, & Williamson, 1981). ...

Modifying Excessive Lunchroom NoiseOmission Training with Audio Feedback and Group Contingent Reinforcement
  • Citing Article
  • October 1981

Behavior Modification

... En este sentido, las características de las áreas de residencia están relacionadas con la actividad física que realiza su población (Ball, Bauman, Leslie, y Owen, 2001;Brownson, Baker, Houseman, Brennan y Bacak, 2001;Diez-Roux, Link y Northridge, 2000;Ecob y Macintyre, 2000;Giles-Corti y Donovan, 2002;Parks, Houseman y Brownson, 2003;Takano, Nakamura y Watanabe, 2002). De este modo, algunas investigaciones han mostrado el potencial y la influencia que puede tener en el aumento de la práctica de actividad física, la construcción de instalaciones deportivas en espacios estratégicos (Andrews, Sudwell y Sparkes, 2005;y Bale, 2001), así como relaciones positivas entre los niveles de actividad física y el entorno físico y apoyo social (Di Lorenzo, Stucky-Ropp, Vander Wal, y Gotham, 1998;Sallis, Johnson, Calfas, Caparosa, y Nichols, 1997). Por el contrario, la escasez de zonas verdes e infraestructuras dedicadas al deporte y la recreación muestran elevadas tasas de inactividad física (Diez-Roux et al., 2000;Ecob, y Macintyre, 2000). ...

Determinants of exercise among children
  • Citing Article

... Though opportunities for prevention of chronic diseases can begin as early as the prenatal period, new health-related behaviors can arise in adolescence, making it a critical time point for prevention [15]. Vigorous PA levels decline by as much as 17.8% in boys and 11.0% in girls from middle to high school [16]. Increased knowledge about exercise, self-motivation, peer modeling and support, parental support, and availability of supplies or equipment are all positively associated with PA in adolescents [17,18]. ...

Determinants of exercise among children II. A longitudinal study
  • Citing Article
  • January 1998

Preventive Medicine

... Faculty development can be a difficult proposition for many colleges and universities, as it requires well-established, mature adult learners to think about some activity (teaching) differently. Some have argued that this must take place within a content area, such as an academic department (DiLorenzo & Heppner, 1994), and others have contended that development is cyclical, much like student growth and development (Chan & Burton, 1995). Additionally, adult learning theory that recognizes how adults (college professors) learn and responds to their needs plays an important role (Knowles, Holton, & Swanson, 2005) in helping faculty learn about those to whom they teach. ...

The Role of an Academic Department in Promoting Faculty Development: Recognizing Diversity and Leading to Excellence
  • Citing Article
  • May 1994

Journal of counseling and development: JCD

... The mean weight gain from baseline to the end of the medication phase was 3.7 kg larger for continuously abstinent subjects in the placebo group than continuously abstinent subjects in the bupropion group (4.4 ± 2.4 kg vs. 0.7 ± 1.9 kg, p = 0.03). Weight gain of 3–4 kg after cessation of ST use has been reported in several ST intervention studies (Allen, Hatsukami, Jensen, Grillo, & Bliss, 1995; DiLorenzo, Kern, & Pieper, 1991). The effect of bupropion on weight gain has been reported previously in clinical trials of interventions with cigarette smokers (Hurt et al., 1997; Jorenby et al., 1999). ...

Treatment of smokeless tobacco use through a formalized cessation program
  • Citing Article
  • December 1991

Behavior Therapy

... Results from situational analyses highlight the powerful influence of situational characteristics on assertive responding, thus providing some evidence for the notion of situational assertiveness (see, e.g., Chiauzzi & Heimberg, 1986;Lobel et al., 1987;Michelson et al., 1982;Smolen, 1985). In this view, assertiveness is put forward as an interpersonal skill responsive to environmental contingencies (see Rakos, 1991). ...

Situational determinants of the behavioral assertiveness role-play test for children
  • Citing Article
  • November 1982

Behavior Therapy

... The varying percentage could be due to variation in sampling frame used for the respective study. The exercise was reported to be inversely related to 15,16 anxiety and depression A study done at NIMHANS by Sharma et al 17 reported prevalence of 5.8% risk for exercise addiction. ...

Aerobic Exercise and Mood: A Brief Review, 1985-1990
  • Citing Article
  • April 1992

Sports Medicine

... Modified Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence the (FTND) was used to record smoking and smokeless tobacco habits .The FTND is composed of 6 questions. The five degrees of nicotine dependency according to the test scores include very low dependency (0-2), low dependency (3-4), medium dependency (5), high dependency (6-7), and very high dependency (8)(9)(10) 21 . ...

Patterns of cigarette and smokeless tobacco use among children and adolescents
  • Citing Article
  • April 1990

Preventive Medicine