Jennifer M Murray1, Sarah F Brennan1, David P French2, Christopher C Patterson1, Frank Kee1, Ruth F Hunter1. 1. Centre for Public Health Research/UKCRC Centre of Excellence for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Block B, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK. 2. Department for Health Psychology, Manchester Centre of Health Psychology, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Abstract
Background: Regular physical activity is important for maintaining physical and mental health. Benefits are optimized when physical activity is maintained. Understanding causal mechanisms is important to inform future interventions. Purpose: To investigate mediators of physical activity maintenance. Methods: Six databases were searched (Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Web of Science). Eligibility criteria included adult nonclinical populations, validated measure of physical activity behavior at baseline and at least 6 months postbaseline, control/comparison group(s), and reported mediators of physical activity behavior change. Mediators were examined according to (i) formal mediation tests, (ii) mediator association with physical activity outcome, and (iii) intervention effects on mediators. Results: There were few formal mediation tests conducted (n = 12/39 included studies), and various other methodological limitations were identified. There was some evidence that effective mediators in formal mediation tests at 6 months and later included the "behavioral processes of change" (n = 5/6). Many of the included interventions were not effective for changing targeted mediators (only 34% of 413 tests of mediator changes were significant). Conclusions: There were a number of methodological and statistical limitations in the evidence base. In future, prespecified formal mediation tests should be carried out and could be aided by a formal framework. Social and environmental variables should be considered in addition to intrapersonal variables. Improving knowledge of how to change hypothesized mediators, based on theory and evidence, will reveal how physical activity behavior change maintenance can be achieved. Maintenance research would be enhanced by establishing a formal definition of behavior change "maintenance." PROSPERO registration: PROSPERO 2015:CRD- 42015025462.
Background: Regular physical activity is important for maintaining physical and mental health. Benefits are optimized when physical activity is maintained. Understanding causal mechanisms is important to inform future interventions. Purpose: To investigate mediators of physical activity maintenance. Methods: Six databases were searched (Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Web of Science). Eligibility criteria included adult nonclinical populations, validated measure of physical activity behavior at baseline and at least 6 months postbaseline, control/comparison group(s), and reported mediators of physical activity behavior change. Mediators were examined according to (i) formal mediation tests, (ii) mediator association with physical activity outcome, and (iii) intervention effects on mediators. Results: There were few formal mediation tests conducted (n = 12/39 included studies), and various other methodological limitations were identified. There was some evidence that effective mediators in formal mediation tests at 6 months and later included the "behavioral processes of change" (n = 5/6). Many of the included interventions were not effective for changing targeted mediators (only 34% of 413 tests of mediator changes were significant). Conclusions: There were a number of methodological and statistical limitations in the evidence base. In future, prespecified formal mediation tests should be carried out and could be aided by a formal framework. Social and environmental variables should be considered in addition to intrapersonal variables. Improving knowledge of how to change hypothesized mediators, based on theory and evidence, will reveal how physical activity behavior change maintenance can be achieved. Maintenance research would be enhanced by establishing a formal definition of behavior change "maintenance." PROSPERO registration: PROSPERO 2015:CRD- 42015025462.
Authors: Britta Larsen; Shira I Dunsiger; Dori Pekmezi; Sarah Linke; Sheri J Hartman; Bess H Marcus Journal: Health Psychol Date: 2020-11-23 Impact factor: 4.267
Authors: Ruth F Hunter; Jennifer M Murray; Aisling Gough; Jianjun Tang; Christopher C Patterson; David P French; Emma McIntosh; Yiqiao Xin; Frank Kee Journal: Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act Date: 2018-12-12 Impact factor: 6.457
Authors: Camille E Short; Ann DeSmet; Catherine Woods; Susan L Williams; Carol Maher; Anouk Middelweerd; Andre Matthias Müller; Petra A Wark; Corneel Vandelanotte; Louise Poppe; Melanie D Hingle; Rik Crutzen Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2018-11-16 Impact factor: 5.428
Authors: Jezdancher Watti; Máté Millner; Kata Siklósi; Hedvig Kiss; Oguz Kelemen; Dávid Pócs Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-08-12 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Juliano Schwartz; Paul Oh; Shannon S D Bredin; Ryan E Rhodes; Maira B Perotto; Alejandro Gaytán-González; Darren E R Warburton Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2022-10-08 Impact factor: 4.964
Authors: Sergio Calonge-Pascual; Francisco Fuentes-Jiménez; José A Casajús Mallén; Marcela González-Gross Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-09-11 Impact factor: 3.390