This research explores how fears about exercise impact physical activity in people with anxiety disorders. Anxiety sensitivity (AS) is when people with anxiety disorders misinterpret exercise-related sensations (e.g., sweating and elevated heartbeat) as signs that something is seriously wrong in their body. Although exercise has been shown to effectively lower AS, high-AS individuals often avoid it. Yet their in-the-moment thoughts remain unstudied. This cross-sectional, mixed-methods study will explore the relationships between thoughts and experiences during exercise. Patient engagement is essential for the methodological rigor and the potential for impact of our project. People with lived or living experience (PWLLE) will first help to identify the best methods for collecting physical activity in a manner that is least burdensome to the participants. Second, they will share with us their experiences with physical activity and help us in devising our interview material and determine what areas of catastrophic cognition require more attention. Lastly, they will collaborate with us in interpreting and contextualizing the results of the study and disseminating the results to the community.
Eligibility
Eligible people with lived or living experience should live in New Brunswick and have a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder and endorse anxiety sensitivity symptoms. Interested individuals will complete a brief (~5-minute) online screening survey to confirm fit before joining the committee.
Time Commitment
People with lived or living experience will help us in the formulation of our interview questions and least burdensome methods of data collection by sharing with us their experiences with exercise. Moreover, they will help us with data analysis, interpretation, and knowledge translation. Patient partners will be most active at the start and end of the project (approximately 2 hours biweekly). During the data collection phase, their engagement will decrease to about 1 hour per month. The project will begin once the advisory committee is assembled and is expected to run for approximately two years. This is a hybrid opportunity.
Compensation
Compensation will be offered.