Mediators of physical activity behavior change: A multivariate approach.
- 1 January 2008
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Psychological Association (APA) in Health Psychology
- Vol. 27 (4), 409-418
- https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.27.4.409
Abstract
Using a multivariate extension of the Baron and Kenny (1986) mediation framework, we examined the simultaneous effect of variables hypothesized to mediate the relationship between a motivationally tailored physical activity intervention, and 6-month physical activity behavior in 239 healthy, underactive adults (M age = 47.5; 82% women). Participants were randomly assigned to (a) print-based feedback; (b) telephone-based feedback; or (c) contact control. Psychosocial variables, including self-efficacy, decisional balance, and processes of change. All mediation criteria were satisfied for both intervention arms. A moderate indirect effect of print (0.39, 95% CI = 0.21, 0.57) was found due to increases in behavioral processes (0.54, 95% CI = 0.29, 0.80) being attenuated by decreases due to cognitive processes (-0.17, 95%CI = 0.31,-.03). A moderate indirect effect was observed for telephone (0.47, 95% CI = 0.28, 0.66), with increases due to behavioral processes (0.61, 95% CI = 0.34, 0.87) attenuated by decreases due to cognitive processes (0.15, 95% CI = -0.27, -0.02); self-efficacy and decisional balance mediational paths did not attain statistical significance. These findings highlight the importance of studies that deconstruct the theoretical components of interventions to determine which combination produces the greatest behavior changes at the lowest cost.Keywords
Funding Information
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (HL64342)
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