Relationship of Proxy Efficacy and Reliance to Home-Based Physical Activity After Cardiac Rehabilitation

Objective: To examine cardiac rehabilitation program (CRP) participants' beliefs about their interventionists (proxy efficacy and reliance), self-efficacy, and exercise behavior during transition to home-based exercise. Participants and Design: Participants were 44 (16 women and 28 men) CRP outpatients (Mage = 59.43 ± 13.53 years). The design was prospective, with proxy efficacy and reliance as well as self-efficacy being used to predict two outcomes: self-regulatory self-efficacy and home-based exercise. Results: After self-regulatory efficacy reported earlier in the program was controlled for, proxy reliance predicted later program self-regulatory efficacy for home-based exercise (adjusted R2 = .10, p = .02). Proxy efficacy for self-regulation predicted home-based exercise frequency (adjusted R2 = .18, p = .01). Greater proxy efficacy for self-regulation was associated with higher exercise frequency. Conclusion: CRP participants' beliefs in the capabilities of their exercise consultants to help them develop self-regulatory skills play a role in how much exercise they do after supervised rehabilitation. Yet, individuals who strongly rely on their interventionists to assist them in exercising report weaker self-efficacy for exercising on their own.