Changes in Physical Activity Using Motivational Interviewing in Law Enforcement Officers

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects on physical activity with the utilization of motivational interviewing (MI) on sedentary law enforcement officers (LEOs). In addition, this study considered the reasons why LEOs choose to be participate in physical activity or to stay sedentary. The incidence of cardiovascular disease and early mortality are prevalent in LEO, additional behavior change technique research may have a potential impact in their long term health and wellness. METHODS: The LEOs in this study represent veteran officers from the Midwest region of the United States, over the age of 35 years, who were not getting greater than 150 minutes a week of exercise. of the five officers involved in the study received four MI sessions in 6 weeks. Data collection procedures for this included transcripts from MI sessions, pre/post results from the Self-Efficacy for Exercise (SEE) scale (Bandura, 2006), the Stages of Exercise Behavior Change scale (SEBC) (Marcus, 1992), and 6 weeks of accelerometer data. A descriptive case study of five law enforcement officers was presented with examples drawn from data, followed by a cross-case comparison of the five officers. RESULTS: Overall, the number of steps for the participants increased a total of 20.6% from the pre-MI (420,044 steps/week) to the post-MI (506,780 steps/week. The SEE score increased by 18%. Positive movement in the SEBC was seen from pre-MI to post-MI in three out of five of the case study participants. The findings from this study also indicated four major themes regarding why officers make the physical activity choices that they make: (1) their life depends on it, (2) competition is key, (3) I’m too tired, who has energy to exercise, and (4) they choose to fail. CONCLUSIONS: Based on this study, sedentary LEOs can increase physical activity, increase SEE and help individuals to move closer to making behavior changes. Motivational interviewing can used an effective behavior change technique in LEOs. It can also be noted that officers have distinct barriers that keep them from participating in physical activity. Allied health care professionals and worksite wellness could benefit from information gained from this study.