The nature of the relationship between multiple control beliefs and exercise behavior: Considering the role of socioeconomic status

Two studies served as the basis of this dissertation project which examined the role of socioeconomic status (SES) and multiple kinds of control on exercise in two samples: a community sample (Study 1) and a sample of patients attending cardiac rehabilitation (Study 2). Study 1 examined whether three different types of control, namely perceived mastery, self-efficacy (SE) and perceived behavioral control (PBC), were distinct from each other. Study 1 also examined whether any of the control beliefs served as a mediator between SES and exercise intentions, and SES and moderate effort exercise. Results of an exploratory factor analysis showed that mastery, SE and PBC all formed separate latent construct, suggesting that the beliefs could be distinguished. Results of meditation analyses demonstrated that mastery beliefs and SE appeared to mediate the relationship between SES (income, education, social status, and occupation) and exercise. For exercise intentions, SE and PBC appeared to act as partial mediators. These results suggest that for moderate effort exercise, generalized control beliefs, particularly beliefs surrounding personal constraints in one's life, appear to play role. However, for intentions, behavioral specific control beliefs seem to be particularly important.;Study 2 examined the role of SES and control beliefs on frequency of moderate effort exercise during and one month after cardiac rehabilitation (CR). For this study control beliefs reflected perceptions of control surrounding patient's heart problem, SE for exercise and PBC. Results showed positive associations among the control beliefs, intentions and behavior. SES was not related to exercise during CR, but income and social status were related to exercise after CR. Exercise frequency during CR was most strongly associated with SE, although only perceived control over the heart problem emerged as significant in the regression analyses. For exercise frequency after CR scheduling SE emerging as the key correlate from the regression analyses. The findings from this study highlights the potential importance of assessing multiple types of exercise SE in CR patients, and suggest an important avenue for future research may be to work with scheduling SE in CR patients.