Long-term effects of two psychological interventions on physical exercise and self-regulation following coronary rehabilitation.
In cardiac rehabilitation programs, patients learn how to adopt a healthier lifestyle, including regular, strenuous physical activity. Long-term success is only modest despite good intentions. To improve exercise adherence, a 3-group experiment was designed that included innovative psychological interventions. All 3 groups underwent a standard care rehabilitation program. Patients in the 2 treatment groups were instructed not only to produce detailed action plans but also to develop barrier-focused mental strategies. On top of this, in 1 of these groups a weekly diary was kept for 6 weeks to increase a sense of action control. At the end of a standard cardiac rehabilitation program, 240 patients were randomly assigned to these treatment groups plus a standard care control group. Treatments resulted in more physical activity at follow-up and better adherence to recommended levels of exercise intensity. Moreover, self-regulatory skills such as planning and action control were improved by the treatments. Follow-up analyses demonstrated the mediating mechanisms of self-regulatory skills in the process of physical exercise maintenance. Findings imply that interventions targeting self-regulatory skills can enable post-rehabilitation patients to reduce behavioral risk factors and facilitate intended lifestyle changes.
Sniehotta
Falko F
FF
School of Psychology, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Aberdeen, King's College, William Guild Building, Aberdeen AB24 2UB, Scotland, UK. f.sniehotta@abdn.ac.uk
Scholz
Urte
U
Schwarzer
Ralf
R
Fuhrmann
Bärbel
B
Kiwus
Ulrich
U
Völler
Heinz
H
D000368:Aged; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003625:Data Collection; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012307:Risk Factors; D020377:Self Efficacy; D016896:Treatment Outcome