Abstract
The purpose of this pilot study was to examine changes in participants’ efficacy beliefs following a two-week exercise intervention, as well as the extent to which these beliefs differed across exercise prescriptions. Namely, continuous moderate intensity exercise (CMI) and high-intensity training (HIT). Individuals with prediabetes were randomly assigned to HIT (N = 10) or CMI (N = 6) conditions (Mage = 45.25, SD = 9.34). Participants completed 7 days of supervised training and 3 home sessions over two weeks. Measures of participants’ confidence to perform the exercise (task self-efficacy); monitor and schedule their prescribed exercise after the study concludes (self-regulatory efficacy); and estimation of their trainers’ confidence in his/her abilities to self-regulate exercise (relation-inferred self-efficacy; RISE) were taken at the beginning, end, and 2 days post-intervention. There was a significant main effect for time in task self-efficacy, (p = 0.04), self-regulatory efficacy (p < 0.001), and RISE perceptions (p < 0.001). There were no significant condition by time interactions: (Task self-efficacy, p = .35; self-regulatory efficacy, p = .08; RISE p = .73). However, the p-value for self-regulatory efficacy is noteworthy given the small sample size. This pilot study suggests that a two-week exercise intervention can substantially increase personal and relational efficacy beliefs in individuals with prediabetes regardless of exercise intensity prescription. These findings have practical implications for the estimated 5 million Canadians living with prediabetes, as it suggests that a brief intervention utilizing positive encouragement from a trainer can bolster efficacy beliefs in a short period of time.
