Attributions and self-efficacy for physical activity in multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Self-efficacy is an important predictor of health-related physical activity in multiple sclerosis (MS). While past experiences are believed to influence efficacy beliefs, the explanations individuals provide for these experiences also may be critical. Our objective was to test the hypothesis that perceived success or failure to accumulate 150 min of physical activity in the previous week would moderate the relationship between the attributional dimension of stability and self-efficacy to exercise in the future. Forty-two adults with MS participated in this cross-sectional descriptive study. Participants completed questions assessing physical activity, perceived outcome for meeting the recommended level of endurance activity, attributions for the outcome, and exercise self-efficacy. Results from hierarchical multiple regression revealed a significant main effect for perceived outcome predicting self-efficacy that was qualified by a significant interaction. The final model, which included perceived outcome, stability, and the interaction term, predicted 37% of the variance in exercise self-efficacy, F (3, 38) = 7.27, p = .001. Our findings suggest that the best prediction of self-efficacy in the MS population may include the interaction of specific attributional dimensions with success/failure at meeting the recommended physical activity dose. Attributions may be another target for interventions aimed at increasing the physical activity in MS.

Adherence to Physiotherapy-Guided Web-Based Exercise for Persons with Moderate-to-Severe Multiple Sclerosis

“…We did not collect pre-randomization exercise baseline behavior through diaries or other data potentially predictive of future exercise behaviour that could be used to better characterize our study sample (i.e., cognitive function, MS course, attributions and self-efficacy for exercise 27 and, caregiver support 28 ). Larger scale, powered studies are required to improve our understanding of the potential benefits of web-based exercise interventions and the predictors for adherence with web-based platforms.…”

The Relationships between Physical Activity, Self-Efficacy, and Quality of Life in People with Multiple Sclerosis

“…The statistical analysis highlighted that self-efficacy in goal setting mediated the relationship between PA and mental health better than exercise self-efficacy. Our findings suggest that self-efficacy in goal setting can contribute to the adoption and maintenance of regular physical activity for long-lasting times, supporting and increasing the mental quality of life of people suffering from MS.Self-efficacy has been proven to be a key determinant related to adoption and maintenance of physical activity in people with chronic diseases, such as cancer, stroke, spinal cord injury, diabetes, and heart diseases [14][15][16][17][18][19][20].Exercise self-efficacy refers to the confidence people have in their ability to be physically active, such as, for example, their beliefs about achieving 30-150 min of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week [21,22].This aspect was repeatedly investigated in people with MS by Motl et al [23][24][25][26][27][28][29], who found (a) a positive relationship between exercise self-efficacy and physical activity; (b) a moderate inverse relationship between MS symptoms and exercise self-efficacy.The management of MS-related symptoms (e.g., muscle spasms, balance disorders, thermoregulatory difficulties and muscle weakness) has been also invoked to predict both directly, and indirectly through self-efficacy, the adoption and maintenance of PA in individuals with MS [30].The relevance of symptom's management in people with MS was also stressed by Bonino et al [31], who developed a new scale to measure self-efficacy in dealing with physical and psychological problems caused by MS. The management of symptoms (e.g., fatigue or negative emotions) allows the patients to experiment a satisfactory quality of life, which is often reduced in people with MS, even when compared with people suffering from other debilitating conditions [32][33][34].The goal setting, coupled with self-efficacy, has assumed a pivotal role in intervention studies aiming to enhance physical activity and to improve HRQoL in persons with MS [35].…”

“…Exercise self-efficacy refers to the confidence people have in their ability to be physically active, such as, for example, their beliefs about achieving 30-150 min of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week [21,22].…”

High Self-efficacy Predicts Adherence to Surveillance Colonoscopy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

“…In other non-IBD studies, perceived SE has been shown to affect physical, psychological, and social functioning in patients with cancer, multiple sclerosis, and diabetes. [20][21][22] High SE has been linked to success in health screening for breast cancer, 23 decreasing fear of childbirth and decreasing preference for cesarean section, 24 smoking cessation, 25 and prevention of eating disorders in adolescents. 26 Because the first study to develop an SE scale specifically targeted towards patients with IBD who require surveillance colonoscopies, the strengths of our study are the high number of patients enrolled, the high response rates to the questionnaires, and the extensive analysis of all the interrelated questions and responses.…”