BACKGROUND:This study examined whether changes in self-efficacy explain the effects of a mailed print intervention on long-term dietary practices of breast and prostate cancer survivors.
The relationship between change in self-efficacy and long-term physical activity (PA) also was examined.
METHODS: Breast and prostate cancer survivors (N = 543) from 39 US states and two Canadian provinces participated in the FRESH START intervention trial. Participants were randomly assigned to receive a 10-month program of mailed print materials on diet and PA available in the public domain or a 10-month program of tailored materials designed to increase fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake, decrease fat intake, and/or increase PA. Changes in self-efficacy for F&V intake and fat restriction were analyzed as potential mediators of the intervention's effects on diet at 2-year follow-up. Because we previously found that change in self-efficacy for PA did not vary by group assignment, the relationship between change in self-efficacy and PA at 2-year follow-up was examined across study conditions.
RESULTS: Results suggest that change in self-efficacy for fat restriction partially explained the intervention's effect on fat intake (mean indirect effect = -0.28), and change in self-efficacy for F&V consumption partially explained the intervention's effect on daily F&V intake (mean indirect effect = .11). Change in self-efficacy for fat restriction partially accounted for the intervention's impact on overall diet quality among men only (mean indirect effect = 0.60). Finally, change in self-efficacy for PA predicted PA at 2-year follow-up.
CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that self-efficacy may influence long-term maintenance of healthy lifestyle practices among cancer survivors.
Written by:
Mosher CE, Lipkus I, Sloane R, Snyder DC, Lobach DF, Demark-Wahnefried W. Are you the author?
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Reference: Psychooncology. 2012 Apr 30. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1002/pon.3089
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 22544562
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