Relationships between self management training, psychosocial factors and uptake of exercise

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a training program in goal setting and self-monitoring would increase the uptake of exercise behaviors and controlled caloric intake leading to reduced total body weight and body mass index (BMI). Model of self-regulation, stages of change, and self-efficacy provide the conceptual framework for this study. Fifty-seven participants enrolled in the study, and twenty six completed it. Training in goal setting and self-monitoring were manipulated in a 2 x 2 design. Thus, participants were randomly selected into four groups: (a) receiving goal setting and self monitoring training (four training sessions); (b) goal setting only (2 training sessions); self-monitoring only (2 training sessions); no training (no training sessions). Pre, post and follow-up survey questionnaires measured depression (BDI), anxiety (STAI I & II), and exercise efficacy beliefs (ESSES) and total body weight and body mass index (BMI). Results failed to provide consistent evidence regarding the effects of goal setting and monitoring training on the key outcome variables of the study. Results suggested that goal setting training led to a decrease in BMI across the duration of the study but did not produce the same change in weight loss or stage of change. Results suggest that monitoring training was not effective. Informal analyses of commitment and motivation suggest that these are important variables to consider in future study. Health care providers can use this study to avoid the pitfalls of working with groups and develop effective strategies for helping people reduce the intensity of their chronic medical condition.