Abstract
Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) represents a clear form of what is known as proxy-agency where patients receive assistance to help them successfully self-regulate lifestyle change. In situations of proxy-agency it has been suggested that in addition to self-efficacy, relational perceptions such as proxy-efficacy, and relation-inferred self-efficacy (RISE) beliefs may be important correlates of participants' social-cognitions. However, only recently has research begun to emerge highlighting the importance of these relational perceptions in exercise. Indeed, work within CR as well as healthy populations has supported the relationships of proxy-efficacy with both adaptive (e.g., intentions) and maladaptive (e.g., reliance) social cognitions. Despite their potential importance, RISE beliefs have gone largely unexamined within an exercise rehabilitation context. The current presentation draws evidence from two prospective studies to highlight the importance of understanding the interrelationships between relational and self-perceptions (e.g., self-regulatory efficacy) in cardiac rehabilitation, with a specific focus on RISE beliefs. Results suggest that RISE beliefs are related to both relational perceptions and social cognitions relevant to self-regulation. These findings are discussed in relation to the possible implications for practitioners with respect to the delivery of exercise-based CR.Acknowledgments: SSHRC grant 41020060927