Stages of change for physical activity among family caregivers

This paper reports a study exploring the factors that affect stages of change for regular physical activity in family caregivers in Taiwan.

In Chinese society, family caregivers play a significant role in the treatment of mentally ill patients in home care because of Chinese cultural obligations. Prochaska and DiClemente's transtheoretical model suggests that individuals adopting physical activity behaviour move through five stages of change. Discovering the factors that affect the stages of change for physical activity of family caregivers of mentally ill patients could have a significant impact on the health of this population, as well as on the health of the patients for whom they care.

Family caregivers' stages for regular physical activity were assessed using The Stages of Change for Regular Physical Activity Questionnaire. Demographic factors were measured using The Family Caregiver's Demographic Characteristic Questionnaire. Data were collected from 108 primary family caregivers of mentally ill patients receiving home care from a psychiatric hospital in southern Taiwan.

Older caregivers were more likely to be in the action/maintenance stage compared with younger caregivers age [r(s)(108) = 0.24, P < 0.05]. Caregivers' stages of change were significantly associated with caregivers' relationship to the patient [chi(2)(6, n = 108) = 13.68, P = 0.03], and marital status [chi(2)(4, n = 108) =10.56, P = 0.03].

The findings on relationships between stage of change for physical activity, caregivers' age, relationship to the patient, and marital status represent a first step in better understanding those who do and do not intend to engage in a regularly active lifestyle among family caregivers in Taiwan. This study reveals that cultural issues may play a critical role in physical activity behaviour among Taiwanese family caregivers and need to be further investigated.