Temporal Relationships Between Depression, Self-Efficacy, and Physical Activity in Individuals With Stroke

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Psychology

Background:

• Stroke survivors often experience depressive symptoms, reduced physical activity, and lower self-efficacy.
• These factors are interconnected and significantly impact recovery and quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the temporal relationships between depressive symptoms, physical activity, and self-efficacy in individuals following a stroke.
• To understand how these factors influence each other over time to inform rehabilitation strategies.

Main Methods:

• A six-month prospective observational cohort study involving 73 stroke survivors.
• Lagged linear mixed-effects models analyzed monthly data on physical activity (steps/day), depressive symptoms, and self-efficacy.
• Covariates included demographics and stroke characteristics.

Main Results:

• Higher self-efficacy positively influenced subsequent physical activity, but only when depressive symptoms were low.
• Depressive symptoms did not predict prior month's self-efficacy or physical activity, suggesting a unidirectional relationship.
• Depressive symptoms were associated with lower self-efficacy in the subsequent month.

Conclusions:

• Mitigating depressive symptoms and promoting self-efficacy are crucial for improving physical activity in stroke survivors.
• Prioritizing depression treatment may lead to better outcomes for mood, self-efficacy, and physical activity.
• These findings highlight the complex interplay between mood, self-efficacy, and mobility in post-stroke recovery.