The Influence of Spousal Approval and Patient Perception of Spousal Approval On Cardiac Patient Participation in Exercise Programs

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Abstract
The aim of this study was to understand how spousal approval and perceived spousal approval influenced cardiac patient intentions and actual participation in supervised exercise programs. One hundred thirty-two couples participated in this study. At baseline, spouse-reported approval for patient participation in an exercise program, the cardiac patient's perception of spousal approval, and his intention to participate in the program were evaluated. Attendance at the exercise programs was recorded for 3 months. The results showed that the patient's perception of spousal approval was a significant predictor of his intention to exercise (P < 0.05) whereas spouse-reported approval played a more important role in explaining exercise behavior (P < 0.05). Patient underestimation of spousal approval at program inception was associated with poorer subsequent attendance. It is suggested that spousal approval for exercise is important, but plays a more important part in long term exercise maintenance than early formulations of patient intention to exercise.

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