Predicting Physical Activity for People With Multiple Sclerosis: The Role of Exercise-Related Cognitive Errors.

UNITED States; CANADA

Purpose: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease that is chronic, progressive characterized by symptoms of relapsing fatigue and pain. Despite evidence supporting the use of physical activity (PA) for MS symptom management, low rates of PA participation are observed. Previous research suggests exercise-related cognitive errors (ECEs) can deter and decrease PA participation. The purpose of this study was to examine whether ECEs and self-regulatory efficacy for MS symptom control predict important behavior-related outcomes for MS self-management (dependent variables: PA, maladaptive behavioral responses to illness, and perceived walking impairment). Method: Adults with MS (N = 110; aged 18 and over, with a patient-determined disease steps score of six or less) completed the following validated questionnaires: ECEs, MS symptom control self-efficacy, self-report moderate to vigorous physical activity, behavioral responses to illness, and perceived walking impairment. Results: ECEs significantly predicted behavioral responses to illness (β =.459, p <.01) and perceived walking impairment (β =.279, p <.01). The interaction between ECEs and self-regulatory efficacy significantly predicted all three dependent variables (βs ranged from.155 to.263, ps <.05). Conclusion: This is the first study to demonstrate associations between ECEs and different illness- and mobility-related perceptions for persons with MS. Findings suggested that self-regulatory efficacy to manage MS symptoms varied based on low, moderate, or high levels of ECEs. Disability status is not easily modifiable; targeting social cognitions, like self-regulatory efficacy or ECEs, may be a promising way to promote PA for MS self-management. Impact and Implications: This study demonstrated that exercise-related cognitive errors (ECEs) predicted and interacted with symptom control self-regulatory efficacy to predict activity-related cognitions important for successful symptom management for individuals with multiple sclerosis. The biased lens associated with ECEs may make it more difficult to regulate physical activity (PA) and individuals who make cognitive errors might need high confidence to manage their symptoms. Modifying social cognitions, like self-regulatory efficacy or cognitive errors, may be one way to promote PA for symptom self-management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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