Motivations for physical activity in youth with type 1 diabetes participating in the ActivPals project : a qualitative study

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Wilkie, Louise and Mitchell, Fiona and Robertson, Kenneth and Kirk, Alison (2017) Motivations for physical activity in youth with type 1 diabetes participating in the ActivPals project : a qualitative study. Practical Diabetes, 34 (5). pp. 151-155. ISSN 2047-2897

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Abstract

Background: Around two thirds of 5-18 year olds fail to meet physical activity (PA) recommendations. Children with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) tend to be less active and more sedentary than non-diabetic peers. Research into motivations for PA in this population is lacking. Objective: To investigate motivating factors for PA in youth with T1D participating in a 4 week PA intervention (ActivPals study), to inform the practice of health care professionals promoting PA. Methods: Semi-structured interviews with participants and their parent (n=16) were carried out between May and July 2016. Following completion of the ActivPals intervention, participants who agreed to interview were recruited to this study. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Results: Factors contributing to motivation to participate in PA are presented as 6 key themes and 9 sub-themes. The 6 themes were: ‘motivators related to health’, ‘enjoyment’, ‘self-efficacy’, ‘family and friends participating’, ‘contribution of 3rd parties’ and ‘good weather’. Conclusion: Enjoyment was key to participation in PA and could be increased by goal setting and the involvement of friends and family. Education and support to manage diabetes for PA is crucial in developing self-efficacy to enable sustained behaviour change and HCPs play a key role in providing this support, as well as having the potential to be a motivating role model. Subjective improvement in blood glucose readings and psychological benefits were also acknowledged to provide motivation for further PA. These motivating factors should be applied in supporting children with T1D to engage in PA.

ORCID iDs

Wilkie, Louise, Mitchell, Fiona ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2683-0523, Robertson, Kenneth and Kirk, Alison ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6534-3763;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)