Abstract
Individuals with schizophrenia tend to have high levels of cardiovascular disease and lower physical activity (PA) levels than the general population. Research is urgently required in developing evidence-based behavioral interventions for increasing PA in this population. One model that has been increasingly used to understand the mechanisms underlying PA is the health action process approach (HAPA). The purpose of this study was to adapt and pilot-test a HAPA-based inventory that reliably captures salient, modifiable PA determinants for individuals with schizophrenia. Initially, 12 outpatients with schizophrenia reviewed the inventory and provided verbal feedback regarding comprehension, item relevance, and potential new content. A content analysis framework was used to inform modifications to the inventory. The resultant inventory underwent a quantitative assessment of internal consistency and test–retest reliability. Twenty-five outpatients (Mage = 41.5 ± 13.5 years; 64% male) completed the inventory on two separate occasions, 1 week apart. All but two scales showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.62–0.98) and test–retest correlations (rs = 0.21–0.96). Preliminary assessment of criterion validity of the HAPA inventory showed significant, large-sized correlations between behavioral intentions and both affective outcome expectancies and task self-efficacy, and small to moderate correlations between self-reported minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA and the volitional constructs of the HAPA model. These findings provide preliminary support for the reliability and validity of the first-ever inventory for examining theory-based predictors of moderate-to-vigorous PA intentions and behavior among individuals with schizophrenia. Further validation research with this inventory using an objective measure of PA behavior will provide additional support for its psychometric properties within the schizophrenia population.
Highlights
Good physical health is a realistic goal for people with schizophrenia, and lifestyle programs that consider physical activity (PA) are essential [1]
Given the lack of prospective theory-based PA research in the schizophrenia population, the relative importance of potential PA determinants specific to persons with schizophrenia still needs to be identified [14] – given the central role motivational deficits play in this disorder [15], which may be different to other populations
The present study entails the first phase of a larger research program directed toward testing the utility of the health action process approach (HAPA) framework for predicting objectively measured PA behavior among individuals with schizophrenia
Summary
Good physical health is a realistic goal for people with schizophrenia, and lifestyle programs that consider physical activity (PA) are essential [1]. PA reduces CVD risk, participation levels are significantly lower among people with schizophrenia compared to the general population [5]. Researchers have identified modifiable, theory-based predictors of PA that have formed the basis for interventions aimed at changing PA behavior [7]. A causal relationship indicates that changes in one variable are systematically followed with changes in another variable, which is necessary for identifying the most important PA determinants to target in future interventions [13]. Given the lack of prospective theory-based PA research in the schizophrenia population, the relative importance of potential PA determinants specific to persons with schizophrenia still needs to be identified [14] – given the central role motivational deficits play in this disorder [15], which may be different to other populations
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