Social cognitive constructs and the promotion of physical activity in patients with peripheral artery disease

The purpose of this study was to provide measures and accompanying psychometric support for key constructs from social cognitive theory relevant to the promotion of physical activity in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Patients (n = 205) were identified from 2 ongoing studies involving PAD, who completed the Geriatric Depression Scale, a 6-minute walk, and the social cognitive measures of interest: pain acceptance, self-efficacy, desire for physical competence, perceived control for walking, and satisfaction with function. Psychometric support for each measure included factor analyses, test-retest reliability, and an evaluation of construct validity by investigating how each measure was related to depression and performance on the 6-minute walk test.

The measures of interest had good structural integrity, were reliable, and shared expected variance with depressed affect; most had significant linear trends with the 6-minute walk test, suggesting that compromised psychological status is related to poorer mobility.

Constructs from social cognitive theory are clearly relevant to the promotion of physical activity in PAD patients. To this end, this study offers measures of relevant constructs that can now be implemented into intervention research.