Does barrier efficacy mediate the gender-exercise adherence relationship during phase II cardiac rehabilitation?

Objective: To determine whether barrier efficacy (i.e., confidence in one's ability to perform an elemental task under challenging conditions) mediated the gender-exercise adherence relationship in Phase II cardiac rehabilitation. Study Design and Participants: A questionnaire concerning 9 exercise barriers was administered to 98 Phase II cardiac rehabilitation patients (50 male and 48 female). Results: Men had significantly higher exercise adherence rates, F(1, 96) = 7.22, p = .01, effect size = .53, and barrier efficacy, F(1, 95) = 17.50, p < .001, effect size = .79. Partial correlations demonstrated that barrier efficacy mediated the gender-exercise adherence relationship during Phase II rehabilitation. Specifically, men had significantly higher barrier efficacy overall and efficacy for overcoming (a) fear of having a cardiac event, (b) back pain, (c) medication side effects, (d) lack of time, (e) angina, and (f) the expense to exercise, which in turn was associated with higher exercise adherence during Phase II cardiac rehabilitation compared with women. Conclusion: Interventions should focus on building women's self-efficacy for overcoming specific exercise barriers during Phase II cardiac rehabilitation.