Self-regulation and physical activity behaviour in individuals who are experiencing fatigue symptoms

Physical activity (PA) is known to promote a healthy lifestyle among individuals with chronic diseases with various benefits including health, fitness, and function. Often individuals who experience fatigue symptoms have difficulty balancing their daily activities, which could result in a less physically active lifestyle. Tailored activity pacing is a self-management strategy that can help with regulating physical activity levels and self-regulation is the ability to manage emotions. They are two mechanisms involved in exercise engagement and PA, particularly relevant to persons living with fatigue symptoms. Moreover, exploring activity pacing and self-regulation will help us understand how individuals with fatigue plan their days and identify whether they achieve their goals. Activity pacing will be explored as a possible successful approach to improve the way this population manage their activities and deal with fatigue symptoms. Evidence on activity pacing and self-regulation is expected to be a critical feature in PA promotion aimed at introducing tailored advice to better manage PA and fatigue symptoms in people with different activity pacing behaviours. Positive effects have been found in Multiple Sclerosis populations; however, studies on this approach are currently scarce.
The main purpose of this PhD research is to develop an intervention to promote PA in individuals with fatigue symptoms by providing advice and guidance on activity pacing and self-regulation and by helping them manage fatigue symptoms. The findings of this project will also be disseminated to health professionals (CRESTA Clinic) and academic audience. Best-practice of co-production in research (UBC Canada) will be mastered internationally.