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Health Beliefs, Will to Live, Hope, and Social Support in a Pedometer-Based Exercise Intervention among Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients

Anderson, Derek Ryan
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4152-1833
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1434901973

Abstract Details

2015, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Psychology.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States. One of the primary modifiable and preventable risks for CVD is physical inactivity. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) was developed to slow or reverse CVD progression via increased physical activity, but 30-50% of those who enroll in CR will dropout prematurely. Among those who complete CR, 50-70% discontinue regular physical activity following CR. This dissertation incorporated two related studies examining exercise adherence and maintenance among CR patients. The first study evaluated the degree to which specific health-related beliefs and attitudes (i.e., irrational health beliefs, health-related social support, hope, will to live) predict adherence to a CR exercise-based program. The second study evaluated the effect of pedometer tracking on exercise adherence among post-CR patients in a randomized study with control participants engaging in usual care. This study also investigated the moderating influence of health-related beliefs and attitudes on exercise and exercise-related outcomes (e.g., number of steps, 6-minute walk, blood pressure, body mass index) in the pedometer intervention. The current study included 60 CR patients (56.7% Caucasian, 65.1% male, mean age = 57.0 + 10.8) who participated in a 12-week CR program. Thirty-eight participants completed CR and were randomized to a 3-month pedometer tracking intervention (n = 18) or usual care control group (n = 20). Results revealed that the 12-week CR program was associated with improved health outcomes (i.e., blood pressure, V02max, 6-minute walk distance, self-reported lipid consumption), regardless of positive psychological variables. CR adherence was associated with older age, male gender, higher income and higher educational attainment. Irrational health beliefs were not related to CR exercise adherence, but were associated with increased BMI during CR. Will to live was associated with CR exercise adherence and moderated the relationship between irrational health beliefs and exercise adherence. Baseline hope and health-related social support were not related to CR adherence, but were associated with greater reductions in anxiety during CR. Results of Phase II revealed that pedometer tracking was effective in improving functioning and health following CR completion, and improvements were moderated by post-CR distress levels. Although anxiety did not change significantly within each group alone, there was a trend toward a time X group interaction. Among the intervention group only, anxiety and depression were related to increased physical activity (i.e., steps) during following CR completion. This study indicates that CR is effective in improving health outcomes, reducing anxiety, and improving hope. Additionally, demographic factors (i.e., age, gender, income, and education) and selected psychological variables (irrational health beliefs, anxiety, will to live) are related to CR adherence, but further research is needed to investigate interventions addressing these factors. This study suggests that pedometer tracking may provide both physical and psychological benefits for patients after CR completion, and that reduced distress may enhance the health benefits provided by pedometer tracking.
Charles Emery (Advisor)
Jennifer Cheavens (Committee Member)
Ruchika Prakash (Committee Member)
153 p.
Psychology

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Anderson, D. R. (2015). Health Beliefs, Will to Live, Hope, and Social Support in a Pedometer-Based Exercise Intervention among Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1434901973

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Anderson, Derek. Health Beliefs, Will to Live, Hope, and Social Support in a Pedometer-Based Exercise Intervention among Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients. 2015. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1434901973.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Anderson, Derek. "Health Beliefs, Will to Live, Hope, and Social Support in a Pedometer-Based Exercise Intervention among Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1434901973

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1434901973
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.