[...] Outcome expectancies and behavioral experiences in the context of physical activity among cancer patients (2019), Ungar et al

[MSEsperanza]

Ungar, N., Rupprecht, F., Steindorf, K., Wiskemann, J., & Sieverding, M. (2019). Worse or even better than expected?—Outcome expectancies and behavioral experiences in the context of physical activity among cancer patients. Journal of Health Psychology. doi: 10.1177/1359105319832345
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1359105319832345?journalCode=hpqa

Abstract
Expectancies of cancer patients regarding their physical activity before they took part in a behavior change intervention were compared with their experiences during the intervention period. A total of 66 cancer patients completed either a randomly assigned 4-week physical activity or a stress-management counseling intervention.

On average, participants had positive expectancies toward physical activity. Outcome expectancies predicted outcomes (e.g. physical activity) at a 10-week follow-up. Outcome realization (discrepancy between expectancies and experiences) further increased explained variance in self-efficacy and physical activity enjoyment.

In conclusion, not only initial outcome expectancies but also their realizations seem to be important for subsequent behavior and cognitions.

(no free access)

 

[Lisa108]

Sci-Hub link

 

[rvallee]

In conclusion, not only initial outcome expectancies but also their realizations seem to be important for subsequent behavior and cognitions.

So... in conclusion if people do something that they planned to do you can record that they did do the thing that they planned to do and then did?

Clearly money well spent, unless I'm missing something here.

 

[Lisa108]

Patients were eager to participate, but their expectations (of the benefits) were not satisfied:

Specifically, cancer patients reported—on average—to get more tired and weak (due to physical activity) than expected (d = –0.62),
that they could regulate their weight (by physical activity) less than expected (d = –0.47),
and that they felt less active and fit than expected (d = –0.46).

In addition, physical activity helped them less than expected to handle their daily lives (d = –0.43),
and they came in touch with others (through physical activity) less than expected (d = –0.42).

However, the cancer patients also reported to be injured less often than expected (d = 0.41).

 

[Lisa108]

You could have had high expectancies or low expectancies, if your experiences were good, you were be more likely to stick to it.
Quelle surprise!

I would have liked to see a much greater emphasis on how creating a better experience could lead to more patients continuing doing sports after finishing cancer therapy.
Because that is the answer to the overarching research question.
*ETA: would include to find out why physical activity is benefiting some but not all and how to adapt to improve the former non-responders*

Testing a proven theory on another patient cohort. Maybe a bachelor thesis?

 

[Milo]

Note that the Ungar author is not related to the CDC Elizabeth Unger