title: Exercise motivation and adherence in cancer survivors after participation in a randomized controlled trial: an attribution theory perspective.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine postprogram exercise motivation and adherence in cancer survivors who participated in the Group Psychotherapy and Home-Based Physical Exercise (GROUP-HOPE; Courneya, Friedenreich, Sela, Quinney, & Rhodes, 2002) trial. At the completion of the GROUP-HOPE trial, 46 of 51 (90%) participants in the exercise group completed measures of attribution theory constructs. A 5-week follow-up self-report of exercise was then completed by 30 (65%) participants. Correlational analyses indicated that program exercise, perceived success, expected success, and affective reactions were strong predictors of postprogram exercise. In multivariate stepwise regression analyses, program exercise and perceived success were the strongest predictors of postprogram exercise. Additionally, perceived success was more important than objective success in understanding the attribution process, and it interacted with personal control to influence expected success and negative affect. Finally, postprogram quality of life and changes in physical fitness were correlates of perceived success. We concluded that attribution theory may have utility for understanding postprogram exercise motivation and adherence in cancer survivors.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Education, University of Alberta, E-424 Van Vliet Center, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2H9. kerry.courneya@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: Kerry S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Courneya
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Friedenreich
authors.forename: Rami A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sela
authors.forename: H Arthur
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Quinney
authors.forename: Ryan E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.forename: Lee W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010555:Personality Inventory; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*