Purpose/objective

Anxiety is prevalent and poorly managed among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Physical activity (PA) may reduce anxiety, yet little is known about PA and its theory-based correlates in persons with MS who report elevated anxiety. Such research is important for the design and delivery of behavioral interventions targeting PA for the treatment of anxiety in MS. This study examined PA and social cognitive theory (SCT) variables (i.e., self-efficacy, barriers, outcome expectations, goal-setting/planning, social support, and functional limitations) in persons with MS who report elevated anxiety.

Research method/design

324 participants with MS (aged 48.5[9.5] years) completed SCT, anxiety, and PA measures, and wore accelerometers for 7 days as a device-measure of PA. The sample was categorized into subsamples with non-elevated (n = 218) and elevated anxiety (n = 106) based on the cut-off score of 8 for the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale Anxiety subscale. We examined levels of PA and SCT variables between the two subsamples.

Results

There were no differences in PA levels between the subsamples when controlling for group differences in age, education, and disease duration. Social support was lower and perceived functional limitations were higher in those with elevated anxiety and were significantly associated with PA. Regression analyses identified planning, social support, and perceived functional limitations as correlates of PA in those with elevated anxiety.

Conclusions/Implications

This study may guide research on SCT-based behavioral interventions for increasing PA as an approach for reduced anxiety among persons with MS and elevated anxiety by targeting exercise planning, social support, and perception of functional limitations.

中文翻译：

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多发性硬化症和焦虑加剧患者的体力活动和社会认知理论变量

目的/目标

多发性硬化症 (MS) 患者普遍存在焦虑情绪，且管理不善。体力活动 (PA) 可以减轻焦虑，但对于自称焦虑加剧的多发性硬化症患者的体力活动及其基于理论的相关性知之甚少。此类研究对于设计和实施针对 PA 治疗多发性硬化症焦虑的行为干预措施非常重要。本研究考察了焦虑加剧的多发性硬化症患者的 PA 和社会认知理论 (SCT) 变量（即自我效能、障碍、结果预期、目标设定/计划、社会支持和功能限制）。

研究方法/设计

324 名 MS 参与者（年龄 48.5[9.5] 岁）完成了 SCT、焦虑和 PA 测量，并佩戴加速度计 7 天作为 PA 的设备测量。根据医院焦虑抑郁量表焦虑子量表的截止分数 8，将样本分为焦虑不升高 (n = 218) 和焦虑升高 (n = 106) 的子样本。我们检查了两个子样本之间的 PA 和 SCT 变量水平。

结果

当控制年龄、教育程度和病程的群体差异时，子样本之间的 PA 水平没有差异。焦虑程度较高的人的社会支持较低，感知到的功能限制较高，并且与 PA 显着相关。回归分析发现，计划、社会支持和感知功能限制与焦虑程度较高的人的 PA 相关。

结论/启示

这项研究可以指导基于 SCT 的行为干预研究，以增加 PA，作为减少多发性硬化症患者焦虑的方法，并通过针对运动计划、社会支持和功能限制的感知来降低焦虑水平。