A model of motivation for physical activity in individuals diagnosed with multiple sclerosis

Purpose: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an incurable chronic degenerative autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that presents with limited physical and/or cognitive functioning. Physical activity has been shown effective to aid in symptom management resulting in increased overall quality of life (QoL), yet this population is highly inactive. Understanding motivation for physical activity in individuals diagnosed with MS is the first step in developing an effective, sustainable, and physical activity intervention for disease management. Therefore, the aim of this study was to model the relationship among motivation for physical activity, physical activity participation, and QoL in individuals diagnosed with MS. Methods: Using Path analysis, this study explored potential predictors of motivation for physical activity in 215 individuals diagnosed with MS; examining self-determined motivation, in conjunction with self-efficacy, as predictors of physical activity participation, and self-efficacy and physical activity participation as predictors of QoL. Results: In the model, self-efficacy and identified regulation predicted physical activity participation, and physical activity participation predicted QoL, χ(1) = 0.02, p = 0.867; RMSEA = 0.00; CFI = 1.0; SRMR = 0.002. Conclusions: The findings and resulting model may be used to develop more effective interventions to promote physical activity participation in individuals diagnosed with MS and consequently enhance long-term QoL. Implications for Rehabilitation Regular physical activity aids in symptom management and disease control in individuals diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, yet this population is consistently highly physically inactive. The complexity of the psychological factors influencing physical activity participation in individuals diagnosed with MS needs to be considered when developing physical activity interventions. Interventions that focus on increasing self-efficacy and identified regulation during physical activity are a means to increase long-term physical activity participation in individuals diagnosed with MS. Long-term increases in physical activity levels may directly contribute to increases in overall quality of life and should, therefore, be a priority for health care professionals when developing overall disease management protocols.