Emotional Distress and Physical Activity Engagement in U.S. Veterans With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Qualitative Study.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Physical activity is recommended as part of guideline-based care for managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at all stages of the disease. However, physical activity interventions are less effective in individuals with co-occurring emotional distress (i.e., depression and/or anxiety symptoms). Interventions that dually promote improved physical and mental health in COPD are needed. The first step for intervention development is understanding individuals' experience of these factors. PURPOSE: To understand the experience of emotional distress in U.S. Veterans diagnosed with COPD and to explore how emotional distress impacts physical activity engagement. METHODS: Structured interviews informed by the cognitive and behavioral models of psychopathology were conducted with 29 United States Veterans with COPD (89.66% male, age 67.72 ± 6.55 years, 93.10% White) at the VA Boston Healthcare System. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and underwent thematic analysis. RESULTS: Three major themes encapsulating 17 codes emerged through thematic analysis: (i) the experience of emotional distress in Veterans with COPD; (ii) the complex relationship between emotional distress, physical activity engagement, and COPD; (iii) contextual and personal factors. CONCLUSIONS: Veterans' interpretation of their COPD symptoms as unpredictable and uncontrollable and COPD-related physical limitations influenced their experience of emotional distress, while the experience of emotional distress both promoted and deterred physical activity engagement. Veterans were motivated to engage in physical activity despite experiencing emotional distress when they faced a responsibility in daily life. They identified motivational strategies and self-regulation techniques to manage emotional distress and to foster physical activity.

Promoting physical activity is important for maintaining functioning in persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but physical activity interventions do not help all individuals. One reason may be the presence of co-occurring clinically significant depression and/or anxiety symptoms (i.e., emotional distress). Behavioral interventions that can address both physical activity and emotional distress at the same time are needed and may translate to improved outcomes. To inform intervention development, the current qualitative study explored the relationship between emotional distress and physical activity engagement, as well as contextual influencers (i.e., social support) in 29 U.S. Veterans with COPD and emotional distress. Participants completed a structured interview guided by the cognitive behavioral model of psychopathology. Three major themes encapsulating 17 codes emerged through thematic analysis: (i) the experience of emotional distress in Veterans with COPD; (ii) the complex relationship between emotional distress, physical activity engagement, and COPD; (iii) contextual and personal factors. The experience of emotional distress both promoted and deterred physical activity. Family, friends, and environmental factors (i.e., seasonal changes) impacted the experience of emotional distress and physical activity engagement. The findings inform intervention development that is patient-centered and dually address physical activity and emotional distress.