Exploring the reasons for wanting a peer partner to be physically active among women living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis: A content analysis

Abstract

Background: Initiating and maintaining exercise is challenging for women during and post-cancer treatment. Adopting a peer partner model to provide social support to be active may contribute to lasting behaviour change of both partners. Despite this, finding a ‘like peer’ can be challenging. Purpose: To explore women’s reasons for seeking an online exercise partner following a diagnosis with cancer (through www.activematch.ca). We also examined women’s potential socio-demographic and cancer-related differences by reported reasons for wanting an exercise partner. Methods: Individuals creating an Active Match profile completed demographic and physical activity questions (N=199, Mage(SD)=51.9(10.8) years), including an open-ended question regarding their ‘reason for wanting an exercise partner’. An inductive content analysis was completed focusing on the participants’ peer exercise partner preferences. Additional chi-square tests were run to assess whether participants differed based on sociodemographic and cancer-related characteristics and their motivations to be active by category of ‘reason for wanting an exercise partner’ endorsed in the open-ended question. Results: The participants’ reasons for wanting an exercise partner were coded into seven categories, with most participants highlighting the reasons of: motivation (52.3%), social support (48.7%), and accountability and adherence (26.6%). Women <50 years of age were more likely to report accountability and adherence related preferences for a partner. Those reporting endorsing weight loss as their primary reason for becoming active were more likely to be categorized as wanting a peer partner for motivation. Conclusions: While finding a peer partner can be challenging, matching women living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis based on their reason for wanting an exercise partner, as well as their reasons for wanting to be active, may be important to build successful peer exercise partnerships.