Is diabetes associated with poorer self-efficacy and motivation for physical activity in older adults with arthritis?

The primary aim was to explore whether arthritis is associated with poorer self-efficacy and motivation for, and participation in, two specific types of physical activity (PA): endurance training (ET) and strength training (ST). A further objective was to determine whether the added burden of diabetes contributes to a further reduction in these PA determinants and types.

Self-efficacy and motivation for exercise and minutes per week of ET and ST were measured in 347 older veterans enrolled in a home-based PA counselling intervention. Regression analyses were used to compare high versus low self-efficacy and motivation and PA minutes in persons without arthritis, with arthritis alone, and with arthritis plus diabetes.

Persons with arthritis alone reported lower self-efficacy for ET and ST than those without arthritis [odds ratio (OR)ET 0.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.39–1.20; ORST 0.69, 95% CI 0.39–1.20]. A further reduction in self-efficacy for these two types of PA was observed for those with both arthritis and diabetes (ORET 0.65, 95% CI 0.44–0.92; ORST 0.64, 95% CI 0.44–0.93; trend p < 0.001). There was no trend towards a reduction in motivation for PA in those with arthritis alone or with arthritis and diabetes. Persons with arthritis exhibited higher motivation for ET than those without arthritis (ORET 1.85, 95% CI 1.12–3.33). There were no significant differences between the three groups in minutes of ET (p = 0.93), but persons with arthritis plus diabetes reported significantly less ST compared to individuals with arthritis only (p = 0.03).

Despite reduced self-efficacy for ET and ST and less ST in older persons with arthritis, motivation for both PA types remains high, even in the presence of diabetes.