Supervised Physical Activity Is Important To Counteract Negative Impacts Of Cancer On Physical Activity Behavior

Abstract

PURPOSE: The theory of planned behavior (TPB) is used to document children’s psychological parameters linked to their physical activity practice to better understand their physical activity behavior. The TPB model evaluates the informational and motivational parameters that contribute to the practice of physical activity. This study aimed to assess the evolution of children’s physical activity levels (MVLPA) during the first months of their cancer, in addition to document the evolution of TPB measures, self-reported fitness and self-esteem in the physical domain to better understand children’s physical activity behavior. METHODS: A total of 16 children (8 boys and 8 girls) with cancer were recruited in the context of the VIE (Valorization, Implication and Education) study. Patients answered psychosocial questionnaires at their diagnosis of cancer (time 1), six to eight weeks following their diagnosis (time 2) and six weeks after the physical activity program (time 3). The physical activity program was composed of two physical activity sessions (≃45min) per week for six weeks at moderate intensity. The integration of the family in the physical activity process was taken into consideration. RESULTS: A significant decrease of 41.2min/day of daily MVLPA was observed between the time at cancer diagnosis (50.5±32.8min/day) and six to eight weeks after the first interview (9.3±9.1min/day). After the physical activity program (23.1±10.8min/day), we observed a significant increase of 13.8 min/day of daily MVLPA. We found that time after the diagnosis of cancer negatively impacted children’s TPB measures (mean in attitude, injunctive norms, identity, facilitating factors, self-confidence and intention) and MVLPA levels, while that the time after the physical activity program positively impacted children’s TPB measures (mean in attitude, injunctive norms, identity, facilitating factors, self-confidence and intention) and MVLPA levels. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the need to provide children with physical activity support as soon as the cancer is diagnosed and shows the importance of familial support by injunctive norms to improve children’s physical activity behavior. These findings help to better understand the effect of cancer diagnosis on children’s physical activity behavior