Demographic, Clinical, and Psychosocial Predictors of Exercise Adherence: The STRRIDE Trials

PurposeThis study aimed to identify baseline demographic, clinical, and psychosocial predictors of exercise intervention adherence in the Studies of Targeted Risk Reduction Intervention through Defined Exercise (STRRIDE) trials.MethodsA total of 947 adults with dyslipidemia or prediabetes were enrolled into an inactive control group or 1 of 10 exercise interventions with doses of 10-23 kcal center dot kg(-1)center dot wk(-1), intensities of 40%-80% of peak oxygen consumption, and training for 6-8 months. Two groups included resistance training. Mean percent aerobic and resistance adherence were calculated as the amount completed divided by the prescribed weekly minutes or total sets of exercise times 100, respectively. Thirty-eight clinical, demographic, and psychosocial measures were considered for three separate models: 1) clinical + demographic factors, 2) psychosocial factors, and 3) all measures. A backward bootstrapped variable selection algorithm and multiple regressions were performed for each model.ResultsIn the clinical and demographic measures model (n = 947), variables explained 16.7% of the variance in adherence (P < 0.001); lesser fasting glucose explained the greatest amount of variance (partial R-2 = 3.2%). In the psychosocial factors model (n = 561), variables explained 19.3% of the variance in adherence (P < 0.001); greater 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) physical component score explained the greatest amount of variance (partial R-2 = 8.7%). In the model with all clinical, demographic, and psychosocial measures (n = 561), variables explained 22.1% of the variance (P < 0.001); greater SF-36 physical component score explained the greatest amount of variance (partial R-2 = 8.9%). SF-36 physical component score was the only variable to account for >5% of the variance in adherence in any of the models.ConclusionsBaseline demographic, clinical, and psychosocial variables explain approximately 22% of the variance in exercise adherence. The limited variance explained suggests that future research should investigate additional measures to better identify participants who are at risk for poor exercise intervention adherence.

Automated summary

The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of exercise intervention adherence based on baseline demographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors. 947 adults with dyslipidemia or prediabetes were enrolled in either a control group or one of 10 exercise interventions. The results showed that baseline demographic, clinical, and psychosocial variables explain approximately 22% of the variance in exercise adherence, suggesting the need for further research to identify additional measures to improve adherence.