Correlates of physical activity among individuals with multiple sclerosis.
BACKGROUND
There is accumulating evidence that individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) are less physically active than nondiseased populations. One method for increasing the level of participation in physical activity among MS patients involves the identification of factors that correlate with physical activity and that are modifiable by a well-designed intervention.


OBJECTIVE
This study adopts a social cognitive perspective and examines self-efficacy, enjoyment, social support, and disability as correlates of participation in physical activity among individuals with MS.


METHODS
We recruited 196 individuals with a diagnosis of MS from the Midwest region of the United States. The participants completed a battery of questionnaires and then wore a belt with an accelerometer for a 7-day period. The data were analyzed using covariance modeling.


RESULTS
Enjoyment (gamma=.38, p<.001), social support (gamma=.15, p<.05), and disability (gamma=.18, p<.01) had statistically significant direct relations with self-efficacy, and self-efficacy (beta=.29, p<.001) and enjoyment (gamma=.28, p<.001) had statistically significant direct relations with physical activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Future researchers should consider examining self-efficacy and enjoyment as possible components of an intervention that is designed to increase physical activity participation in MS patients.
Motl
Robert W
RW
Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 61801, USA. robmotl@uiuc.edu
Snook
Erin M
EM
McAuley
Edward
E
Scott
Jennifer A
JA
Douglass
Martha L
ML
D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires