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An examination of psychosocial correlates of exercise tolerance in cardiac rehabilitation participants

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Abstract

This study explored the influence of psychosocial factors on an important prognostic indictor among heart patients, exercise tolerance (ET). Prior to attending cardiac rehabilitation (CR), 100 men and 24 women completed a survey assessing social support and self-efficacy for exercise in CR followed by an ET test (ETT) measured in metabolic equivalents (METS) 1 month later. Regression analyses showed that age was the strongest predictor of METS, but that income and the psychosocial variables also significantly impacted on METS. Overall, 50% of the variance in METS was explained by the predictor variables. These results show that psychosocial factors affect the ET of heart patients. Future research should examine the prognostic role of these psychosocial factors as they affect ET as well as their influence on behavioral mechanisms such as exercise.

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Acknowledgments

Shawn N. Fraser was supported by a Doctoral dissertation fellowship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. This research was supported by a grant awarded to Dr. Rodgers from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The authors thank Bill Daub, Northern Alberta Cardiac Rehabilitation Program for assistance on this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Nursing and Health Studies, Athabasca University, Athabasca, T9S3A3, Alberta, Canada

    Shawn N. Fraser

  2. Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    Wendy M. Rodgers

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  1. Shawn N. Fraser
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  2. Wendy M. Rodgers
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Correspondence to Shawn N. Fraser.

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Fraser, S.N., Rodgers, W.M. An examination of psychosocial correlates of exercise tolerance in cardiac rehabilitation participants. J Behav Med 33, 159–167 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-009-9240-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-009-9240-5

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