Heon Jin Kang
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Title: The role of perceived exercise barriers in predicting exercise behaviour in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Biography
Biography: Heon Jin Kang
Abstract
Objective
Understanding the major determinants of exercise behaviour in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) may help promote exercise within this population. The present study examined the role of personality traits and perceived barriers to exercise in predicting exercise behaviour in patients with T2DM. The role of self-determined motivation was also examined.
Research design
Cross-sectional, questionnaire study
Methods
154 patients with T2DM (mean-aged 55.2 years) were recruited from the Diabetes and Endocrine Centre at a general hospital in Singapore. Participants completed questionnaires to assess three personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion and conscientiousness), ten exercise barriers (willpower, dislike, misconception, support, knowledge, health, environment, tiredness, time, and finance), self-determined motivation, and exercise behaviour. The relationship of personality traits, barriers to exercise and self-determined motivation with exercise behaviour were analysed by Pearson correlation and hierarchical multiple regression analysis.
Results
Personality traits (extraversion and conscientiousness) accounted for 6% of the variance in exercise, R2 = .06, F (2, 150) = 4.38, p < .05. The addition of perceived exercise barriers to the model predicted an additional 35% of the variance in exercise behaviour, ΔR2 = .35, ΔF (9, 141) = 8.65, p < .001. The inclusion of self-determined motivation into the model provided no additional prediction to exercise behaviour, ΔR2 = .00, ΔF (1, 140) = .02, p = .876.
Conclusions
Perceived barriers to exercise are a strong determinant of exercise behaviour in patients with T2DM whereas personality traits predict only a small proportion of exercise behaviour. Self-determined motivation was not a determinant of exercise behaviour in these patients. Health was identified as the most powerful predictor of exercise behaviour in patients with T2DM which may suggest that the co-morbidities associated with the disease impact exercise participation in these patients.