European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 14, 14 (2021) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2021.008

Motivational physical activity intervention for psychiatric inpatients: A two phased single-cases experimental study

Marit Sørensen1, Marte Bentzen1,2, Anders Farholm1,3
1 Institute of Sport and Social Science of Coaching and Psychology, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences
2 Department of Teacher Education and Outdoor Studies, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences
3 The University College of Østfold

Physical inactivity has been identified among leading risk factors for global mortality as well as an independent risk factor for several somatic diseases. There is consistent evidence that individuals with mental illness engage in little physical activity. Therefore, this study investigated associations between a motivational physical activity intervention in treatment for psychiatric inpatients and change in; 1) physical activity level measured by accelerometer, 2) motivation for physical activity, and 3) affect and perceived functional health status. The design was a longitudinal, two-phased multiple single-cases experiment. Seven individuals completed a baseline period and an eight-week physical activity program. The participants had high autonomous motivation and mostly positive, but mixed profiles of development. Four participants showed favourable development profiles for physical activity, one no change, and two reduced physical activity. For positive and negative affect, five had a favourable development, one no change, and one unfavourable. For health status, six had a favourable development, one no change. The intervention was feasible as part of treatment. The physical activity results reflected different physical activity histories. This highlights the importance of individualising physical activity programs in psychiatric treatment, and the use of person centered research methods that can reveal such differences.

Keywords: Motivation, exercise, self-determination theory, affect

Received: November 2, 2020; Revised: May 26, 2021; Accepted: June 29, 2021; Prepublished online: July 1, 2021; Published: November 22, 2021  Show citation

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Sørensen, M., Bentzen, M., & Farholm, A. (2021). Motivational physical activity intervention for psychiatric inpatients: A two phased single-cases experimental study. European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity, 14(2), 14. doi: 10.5507/euj.2021.008
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