Psychiatric Patients' Participation in a 3-Month Jogging Program
Slate, Frederick
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/68759
Description
Title
Psychiatric Patients' Participation in a 3-Month Jogging Program
Author(s)
Slate, Frederick
Issue Date
1981
Department of Study
Education
Discipline
Education
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Educat.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Psychology, Clinical
Abstract
Fifteen psychiatric inpatients participated in, and nine completed, a 3-month jogging program designed to improve cardiovascular fitness. Subjects ranged in age from 21 to 38 and were medically approved prior to entering the program. Different races and sexes were represented. All of the subjects had extensive histories of psychiatric illness and institutionalization, and all but two were taking therapeutic doses of various psychotropic medications. The experimenter was a co-participant in the program with the subjects.
The purpose of the research was to assess on an individual and personal basis the impact of such a program on the attitudes and behavior of the subjects, particularly as they related to the self-efficacy construct. A case study approach was taken to the analysis of the data. Areas of measurement focused on were changes in running endurance, self-efficacy, lifestyle, interpersonal relationships, daily social behaviors, and the influence of the experimenter. These variables were measured through monthly semi-structured interviews and behavioral ratings, review of case record progress notes, and recording of data at each individual jogging session.
All of the subjects who completed the program improved in running endurance and the general sense of well-being. They reported feeling healthier and more energetic. All but one of the program completers improved in daily behavioral functioning with the exception of one subject who initially scored very high on this measure. Improvements in social relationships were noted for at least half of the program completers, but lifestyle variables did not always change in the expected directions--several subjects increased in weight and cigarette smoking.
Five of the nine program completers improved on self-efficacy variables. They became more specific and realistic in their future planning and more goal-directed and purposeful in their behaviors. The other four subjects did not show a clear pattern of improvement in self-efficacy areas, the reason being increased psychopathology or the inability of the jogging program to overcome the institutionalization syndrome. Those subjects whose primary psychiatric symptoms had abated and were in the process of rehabilitation and those subjects for whom the exercise of jogging had special appeal made the most gains in self-efficacy areas.
The primary benefits of the program came from a combination of the improvements in physical condition and the involvement of the patients in a structured and goal-oriented activity. The influence of the experimenter, while important and in some cases judged to be personal and therapeutic in nature, was not considered to be a primary factor in the improvements attained.
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