Factors associated with self-reported walking and sedentary behaviours in a study sample of individuals with severe mental illness

Abstract

Walking is an effective way to initiate physical activity among individuals with severe mental illness. However, factors related to walking and sedentary behaviours are not well-known in this population. The objective of the present cross-sectional study was to analyze the potential (non)modifiable sociodemographic, anthropometric and sociocognitive factors associated to walking and sedentary behaviours in individuals with severe mental illness. Participants were recruited by psychiatrists in a psychiatric unit. Nonmodifiable (e.g., age, gender) and modifiable factors (e.g., self-schema, stages of change) were measured with questionnaires. Time spent walking and sedentary time were evaluated using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Pearson’s correlation, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple regression were run to analyze the collected data. Ninety-one individuals (50 males, mean age: 31.5 ± 9.9 years old) reported walking a mean of 379.8 ± 433.7 min per week while the mean daily sedentary time was 346.9 ± 206.9 min. Walking was correlated with self-schema of physical activity status (r = 0.29; p = 0.005). Participants in the last two stages of change (action, maintenance) had a more physically active self-schema than those in the first three stages (p < 0.0001). No relationship was found between sedentary time and socioeconomic or anthropometric factors. Individuals with severe mental illness’s self-schema and stages of change related to physical activity were found to be related to walking behaviour. Given this association, self-schema should be considered when proposing a physical activity plan.