Active With Whom? Examining the Social Context of Physical Activity in Individuals After Stroke and Their Partners.

Theresa Pauly,Maureen C Ashe,Denis Gerstorf,Wolfgang Linden,Rachel Murphy,Kenneth M Madden,Christiane A Hoppmann

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2021.754046

Abstract

Engaging in regular moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) is crucial to reduce future health risk for individuals living with the effects of a stroke and their partners. Although numerous studies point to the importance of social factors in physical activity engagement, little is known about with whom individuals after stroke and their partners engage in physical activity with and whether different physical activity companions are uniquely associated with MVPA. Eighty-nine community-dwelling individuals after stroke (Mage = 68.64, SD = 10.44; 74% male) and 83 partners (Mage = 66.04, SD = 9.91; 24% male) completed 14 consecutive days of daily life assessments that included wearing physical activity monitors (accelerometers) and self-reporting physical activity companions (n = 1,961 days). Results show that average levels of MVPA were correlated between partners (r = 0.38), as were day-to-day MVPA fluctuations (r = 0.34). Importantly, for individuals after stroke, being active with their partner, but not with any other physical activity companion, was linked with elevated daily MVPA. In contrast, for partners of individuals after stroke, engaging in physical activity with a variety of different companions (partner, other family member, friend, colleague) was each associated with higher MVPA in daily life. For both individuals after stroke and their partners being active by oneself (without a companion) on a given day was not associated with elevated MVPA. Findings suggest that interventions that promote physical activity engagement should consider the role of meaningful others, with the partner being particularly key for individuals living with chronic health conditions.

Highlights

Stroke is a major cause of morbidity and mortality [1, 2]
Our objective was to examine with whom individuals after stroke and their partners engage in physical activity and whether day-to-day variation in moderateto-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) differs by type of physical activity companion
Individuals after stroke engaged in an average of 14.76 min of MVPA/day1, which was significantly less than their partners (M = 21.94 min/day, range: 0.60-63.40, SD = 17.96; t(81) = −3.01, p = 0.003)

Summary

Introduction

Stroke is a major cause of morbidity and mortality [1, 2] It profoundly alters the life of the survivor and their close others, and results in costly health care utilization [3,4,5]. Current guidelines recommend at least 150-300 min of moderate or 75-150 min of vigorous physical activity per week to achieve substantial health benefits [8]. Given that only about 20% of adults worldwide meet physical activity guidelines [8, 9], it is pivotal to address psycho-social predictors of this key health behavior. Life partners influence each other’s health behaviors [10, 11], and other companions may play a role in shaping physical activity levels. Our objective was to examine with whom individuals after stroke and their partners engage in physical activity and whether day-to-day variation in moderateto-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) differs by type of physical activity companion

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion