Just how special are the physical activity cognitions in diseased populations? Preliminary evidence for integrated content in chronic disease prevention and rehabilitation.
BACKGROUND
The extant literature is building on subdividing physical activity (PA) correlates and interventions by health condition (e.g., diabetes, cancer, etc.).


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare the mean values and correlations of a population sample divided by mutually exclusive health condition status ("nondiseased," cardiovascular disease and risk factors, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis) on theory of planned behavior beliefs and physical activity after adjusting for sociodemographic factors. The relationship between compounding health conditions/comorbidities and these beliefs with PA was also evaluated.


METHODS
Participants were a U.S. sample of 6,739 adults (M age = 49.65, SD = 16.04) who completed relevant social and medical demographics, measures of behavioral, normative, and control beliefs, and self-reported PA.


RESULTS
Mean analyses identified greater health barriers to PA for the arthritis population compared to the other groups (- .025), whereas physician norms and health barriers were higher for compounding health condition populations compared to the nondiseased group (- .025). Belief-behavior correlations, however, were not different across health conditions (- .19), and nondiseased and single disease populations had larger control belief-behavior correlations than those populations with compounding health conditions (- .19).


CONCLUSIONS
These data generally provide preliminary evidence for an integrated approach to PA promotion content in primary prevention and health rehabilitation with some possible tailoring in the areas of health barriers. This area of research will benefit from future studies that build off of these results.
Rhodes
Ryan E
RE
School of Exercise Science, Physical, and Health Education, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. rhodes@uvic.ca
Blanchard
Chris M
CM
D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003071:Cognition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires