ASPO Abstracts
Motivations for physical activity and the moderating effect of cancer survivorship: a nationally representative cross-sectional study
Category: Lifestyles Behavior, Energy Balance & Chemoprevention, Lifestyles Behavior, Energy Balance & Chemoprevention
Conference Year: 2018
Abstract Body:
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether history of cancer or other chronic disease moderates the relationships between type of motivation for physical activity and physical activity behavior. We conducted secondary data analysis using two waves (2012 and 2014) of the National Cancer Institute’s nationally representative Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS; n=7,307). We investigated the associations between self-reported aerobic moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and 4 potential motivators for physical activity (i.e. “pressure from others”, “concern over the way you look”, “feeling guilty when you skip exercising”, and “getting enjoyment from exercise”); we dichotomized motivations into high vs. low for interpretability. We further evaluated each model by adding an interaction term for the motivator and cancer survivorship status, then similarly explored effect modification by diabetes, hypertension, and arthritis statuses. Compared to low, attributing high motivation to “getting enjoyment from exercise” was associated with 41.8% more MVPA (+74.7 min/week, p< .001). Conversely, citing high motivation due to “concern over the way you look” was associated with 20.4% less MVPA (-52.4 min/week, p=.003), compared to low; a similar marginally significant trend existed for “pressure from others” (-48.9 min/week, p=.065). We identified a significant interaction for “feeling guilty when you skip exercising” and cancer survivorship status (p=.028). In those without a history of cancer, this motivation was associated with 12.9% more MVPA (+27.6 min/week); in cancer survivors it was associated with 23.8% less MVPA (-55.6 min/week). There were no analogous interaction effects for diabetes, hypertension, or arthritis status. In accordance with the literature and consistent with Self-Determination theory, enjoyment was associated with more physical activity; strengthening this motivation may be a useful strategy for increasing adherence to recommended guidelines. Findings suggest that one’s cancer experience may uniquely change the dynamic between guilt, motivation, and physical activity; caution should be taken not to assume that guilt has reparative utility for physical activity promotion in cancer survivors.
Keywords: Physical Activity; Motivation; Long-Term Survivors