OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate whether a motivational-volitional intervention program offered in addition to an existing sport program during stationary treatment is capable of establishing a post-stationary increase in physical activity in persons with mental illness. METHODS: n = 112 in-patients were initially randomly assigned to the control group (CG; standard rehabilitation) or intervention group (IG; standard rehabilitation plus intervention). Assessments were conducted at four measurement points. RESULTS: At 6 months follow up, the level of exercise in the IG was 95min/week higher than in the CG (p = 0.02). The participants of the IG were able to increase their level of goal intention until 6 months follow up (t2 p = 0.03; t4 p = 0.005); levels of self-efficacy of the IG increased during intervention (t2 p = 0.001). Changes in volitional aspects were significant over time (t1 to t3), but not specifically for the IG. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention was effective at increasing the level of physical activity in patients with mental illness who were initially minimally active. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Our results suggest that it could be of great use to place the emphasis of a physical activity-enhancing intervention on its motivational effect since volitional aspects are already taken into sufficient account in standard rehabilitation.
With permission from Excerpta Medica Inc.

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