Physical activity enjoyment, exercise motivation, and physical activity in patients with heart failure: A mediation analysis

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether physical activity enjoyment mediated the association between motivation and physical activity in patients with heart failure. Design and setting: A cross-sectional study at the cardiology clinic in the university hospital in Valencia, Spain Subjects: A total of 134 patients with heart failure. Main measurements: Physical activity was assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, motivation was assessed with the Exercise Motivation Index and Physical Activity Enjoyment was assessed with the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale. Analysis: Mediation analysis using Hayes’ PROCESS macro (Model 4) for SPSS. Results: The mean age of the sample was 70 ± 14 years, 47 patients were female (35%), and 87 patients were in New York Heart Association I/II (67%). A positive relationship was found between exercise motivation and physical activity (t = 4.57, p