title: Reduced barriers mediated physical activity maintenance among breast cancer survivors.
abstract: To better understand mechanisms of physical activity (PA) behavior change in breast cancer survivors, we examined mediation of a successful PA behavior change intervention by social cognitive theory (SCT) constructs. Our exploratory study randomized 41 breast cancer survivors to receive the 3-month intervention (INT) or usual care (UC). We used the Freedman and Schatzkin approach to examine mediation of intervention effect on PA 3 months postintervention by changes in SCT constructs from baseline to immediately postintervention. Compared with UC, the INT group reported lower barriers interference (mean difference = -7.8, 95% CI [-15.1, -0.4], d = -0.67, p = .04) and greater PA enjoyment (mean difference = 0.7, 95% CI [0, 1.5], d = 0.61, p = .06). Barriers interference mediated 39% (p = .004) of the intervention effect on PA 3 months postintervention. PA enjoyment was not a significant mediator. Reducing barriers to PA partially explained our intervention effect.
authors.affiliation: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine-Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Laura Q
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Markwell
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hopkins-Price
authors.forename: Sandy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vicari
authors.forename: Kerry S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Courneya
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoelzer
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verhulst
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009043:Motor Activity; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D020377:Self Efficacy; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*