Depressive symptoms interfere with post-rehabilitation exercise: Outcome expectancies and experience as mediators

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between depressive symptoms and physical exercise by unveiling how outcome expectancies regarding exercise and positive exercise experience could mediate between depressive symptoms and exercise. A longitudinal study included 178 cardiac and orthopedic rehabilitation patients in Germany. Patients responded to psychometric scales at two points in time with a six-week interval, assessing depressive symptoms (Time 1), outcome expectancies regarding exercise (Time 1), exercise experiences (Time 2), and exercise behavior (Times 1 and 2). Depressive symptoms were negatively related to physical exercise (r =− 0.18), to positive outcome expectancies (r =− 0.23), and to positive exercise experiences (r =− 0.26). In a multiple-step mediation model, expectancies and experiences mediated between depressive symptoms and exercise. In total, 15% of the exercise variance was accounted for. Outcome expectancies and a lack of positive experience seem to partly explain why depressed individuals are less likely to exercise.

Keywords:

• promotion of exercise
• depression; health behavior
• medical rehabilitation
• health psychology

Acknowledgements

This work has been funded by the Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund (DRV; German Pension Insurance) within the project FABA (Project ID 8011-106-31/31.91). The authors thank the rehabilitation clinics and its patients for participating in this study. We especially appreciate the support by Mrs. Pimmer, Dr Kiwus, Dr Glatz, Dr Milse, and Dr Johnigk.