A Qualitative Descriptive Study of Motivation States for Physical Activity Among Middle-Aged Adults with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

BackgroundAdults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) have barriers to physical activity (PA), including physiological, psychological, emotional, and/or contextual. To complement prior quantitative work, we employed a qualitative study to explore momentary motivational states for movement and rest and to understand how internal and external factors shape these experiences among middle-aged adults with T1DM who had recently completed an exercise-support intervention. MethodsWe interviewed 23 middle-aged adults with T1DM (mean age 48, SD 11 years, 78% female, 91% non-Hispanic white, 35% overweight, and 26% obese), who recently completed an exercise intervention, using semi-structured interviews guided by the Wants and Aversions for Neuromuscular Tasks (WANT) model. This model addresses desires and aversions (i.e., fears) for movement and rest. We utilized directed content analysis to identify common themes, with both deductive and inductive coding. ResultsParticipants exhibited simultaneous desires to move and rest, opting for activities like yoga or outdoor walks for active recovery. Competing motivations also emerged, such as the internal drive to exercise conflicting with physical fatigue or glycemic levels necessitating rest. ConclusionsOur findings align with previous studies using the WANT model, underscoring the dynamic nature of motivation influenced by physiological parameters, aversive states, and recent activities. These insights gained can inform future interventions targeting psychological aspects of physical activity for this unique population.