BACKGROUND: Perceptions of personal efficacy have been consistently identified as being determinants of exercise adherence in asymptomatic, rehabilitative, younger, and older populations. The present study incorporated a randomized control design in an effort to examine the effects of an efficacy-based intervention in enhancing exercise adherence in a large sample (N = 114) of formerly sedentary middle-aged males and females. METHODS: Subjects randomly assigned to an exercise plus intervention group or an exercise plus attentional control group participated in a 5-month long walking program led by trained personnel. Exercise behavior (frequency, miles walked, duration) were assessed on a continuous basis and self-efficacy was measured at 1, 2, and 4 months. RESULTS: Repeated measures multivariate analyses revealed a significant treatment effect with subjects in the intervention group exercising more frequently, for longer duration, and walking greater distances over the course of the program. Path analysis indicated that the effect of the treatment on adherence was direct rather than through self-efficacy as hypothesized. Self-efficacy was, however, a significant predictor of exercise behavior in the early and middle stages of the exercise program but not during the last month. CONCLUSIONS: An intervention program designed to maximize information pertaining to participants' capabilities appears to have had a reasonable effect on reducing attrition in middle-aged males and females and self-efficacy was a significant predictor of exercise frequency over time. Further research efforts are required to tease out those cognitive factors that might underlie any effects of interventions in exercise adherence.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Perceptions of personal efficacy have been consistently identified as being determinants of exercise adherence in asymptomatic, rehabilitative, younger, and older populations. The present study incorporated a randomized control design in an effort to examine the effects of an efficacy-based intervention in enhancing exercise adherence in a large sample (N = 114) of formerly sedentary middle-aged males and females. METHODS: Subjects randomly assigned to an exercise plus intervention group or an exercise plus attentional control group participated in a 5-month long walking program led by trained personnel. Exercise behavior (frequency, miles walked, duration) were assessed on a continuous basis and self-efficacy was measured at 1, 2, and 4 months. RESULTS: Repeated measures multivariate analyses revealed a significant treatment effect with subjects in the intervention group exercising more frequently, for longer duration, and walking greater distances over the course of the program. Path analysis indicated that the effect of the treatment on adherence was direct rather than through self-efficacy as hypothesized. Self-efficacy was, however, a significant predictor of exercise behavior in the early and middle stages of the exercise program but not during the last month. CONCLUSIONS: An intervention program designed to maximize information pertaining to participants' capabilities appears to have had a reasonable effect on reducing attrition in middle-aged males and females and self-efficacy was a significant predictor of exercise frequency over time. Further research efforts are required to tease out those cognitive factors that might underlie any effects of interventions in exercise adherence.
Authors: Ngaire Kerse; Karen J Hayman; Simon A Moyes; Kathy Peri; Elizabeth Robinson; Anthony Dowell; Gregory S Kolt; C Raina Elley; Simon Hatcher; Liz Kiata; Janine Wiles; Sally Keeling; John Parsons; Bruce Arroll Journal: Ann Fam Med Date: 2010 May-Jun Impact factor: 5.166
Authors: Rebecca A Seguin; Christina D Economos; Ruth Palombo; Raymond Hyatt; Julia Kuder; Miriam E Nelson Journal: J Aging Phys Act Date: 2010-04 Impact factor: 1.961
Authors: Edward McAuley; Emily L Mailey; Sean P Mullen; Amanda N Szabo; Thomas R Wójcicki; Siobhan M White; Neha Gothe; Erin A Olson; Arthur F Kramer Journal: Health Psychol Date: 2011-01 Impact factor: 4.267