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Correlates of adherence and contamination in a randomized controlled trial of exercise in cancer survivors: An application of the theory of planned behavior and the five factor model of personality

  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

In this study, we examined correlates of adherence and contamination in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of exercise in cancer survivors using the theory of planned behavior and the Five Factor Model of personality (FFM). We randomly assigned cancer survivors in group psychotherapy classes to either a waiting-list control group (n = 45) or a home-based, moderate intensity exercise program (n = 51). At baseline, participants completed measures of the theory of planned behavior, the FFM, past exercise, physical fitness, medical variables, and demographics. We then monitored exercise over a 10-week period by weekly self-reports. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that the independent predictors of overall RCT exercise across both conditions were past exercise (β = .36, p > .001), assignment to experimental condition (β = .34, p > .001), sex (β = .30, p > .001), and intention (β = .14, p > .10). For exercise adherence in the exercise condition, the independent predictors were sex (β = .38, p > .01), extraversion (β = .30, p > .05), normative beliefs (β = -.27, p > .05), and perceived behavioral control (β = .23, p > .10). Finally, the independent predictors of exercise contamination in the control condition were past exercise (β = .70, p > .001), sex (β = .20, p > .05), and intention (β = .17, p > .10). We conclude that the correlates of exercise adherence and contamination differ in kind as well as in degree. Explanations for these findings and practical implications for conducting exercise RCTs in this population are offered.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Alberta, E-424 Van Vliet Center, T6G 2H9, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    Kerry S. Courneya Ph.D. (Faculty of Physical Education), Rami A. Sela Ph.D. & H. Arthur Quinney Ph.D.

  2. Alberta Cancer Board, Canada

    Christine M. Friedenreich Ph.D.

  3. University of Victoria, Canada

    Ryan E. Rhodes Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Kerry S. Courneya Ph.D.
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  2. Christine M. Friedenreich Ph.D.
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  3. Rami A. Sela Ph.D.
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  4. H. Arthur Quinney Ph.D.
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  5. Ryan E. Rhodes Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kerry S. Courneya Ph.D..

Additional information

This study was funded by Grant R01 CA79460 from the National Institutes of Health. Kerry S. Courneya, Ph.D. is supported by an Investigator Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and a Research Team Grant from the National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC) with funds from the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) and the CCS/NCIC Sociobehavioral Cancer Research Network. Christine M. Friedenreich is supported by a New Investigator Award from CIHR.

We gratefully acknowledge Lee W. Jones, MS for his assistance in recruitment and data collection.

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Courneya, K.S., Friedenreich, C.M., Sela, R.A. et al. Correlates of adherence and contamination in a randomized controlled trial of exercise in cancer survivors: An application of the theory of planned behavior and the five factor model of personality. ann. behav. med. 24, 257–268 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1207/S15324796ABM2404_02

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/S15324796ABM2404_02

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