The Relevance of Competences for a Healthy, Physically Active Lifestyle in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis: a Path Analytical Approach

Abstract

To promote health and counteract the decline associated with the disease, persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) are advised to lead healthy, physically active lifestyles. The physical activity-related health competence (PAHCO) model posits that individuals must meet three integrated, person-related requirements for the adoption of such a lifestyle: movement competence, control competence, and self-regulation competence. To gain insights into the needs and challenges of pwMS, the goal of the present study was to empirically examine the roles of these competences within this target group. A total of 475 pwMS underwent a multidimensional, online-based assessment of PAHCO. These participants self-reported their amount of physical activity (PA), health status, disease-related, and sociodemographic information. We used a series of path analyses to investigate the relevance of the three competence areas for each individual’s PA level and subjective health. Stepwise multivariate analyses revealed that self-regulation competence was significantly associated with overall PA volume. In contrast, movement competence did not contribute to this prediction. Control competence was also not related to PA level. However, in accordance with the PAHCO model, this factor exerted an independent, qualitative effect on participant health. In summary, self-regulation competence appears to play a crucial role with regard to PA volume. Specifically, control competence appears to be key for the qualitative aspect of PA promotion, characterizing the individual’s application of an appropriate stimulus for the achievement of health. Integrating the promotion of self-regulation and control competences into rehabilitation practices can help to foster healthy, physically active lifestyles in pwMS.

Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/08964289.2021.1935437 .

Keywords:

• behavior change
• chronic disease
• health literacy
• physical activity
• physical literacy

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank all participants in the present study for their time, effort, and voluntary provision of data. Furthermore, we wish to thank the administrators of the presently utilized multiple sclerosis social networks, especially the German Multiple Sclerosis Society (DMSG), for their readiness to promote the dissemination of the present survey.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all research participants.

Notes

1 www.sport.fau.eu/das-institut/forschung/bewegung-und-gesundheit/forschungsprojekte/bgk/bgk-erstellung-eines-assessmentinstruments/

Additional information

Funding

The current analysis was carried out within the overarching MS bewegt project, which was supported by Techniker Krankenkasse Baden-Württemberg and approved by the Baden-Württemberg Federal Chamber of Physicians (Sign F-2018-059).