Predictors of Adherence in the Rehabilitation of Athletic Injuries: An Application of Personal Investment Theory

Examined the relationship between the 3 facets of subjective meaning (i.e., personal incentives, sense of self, and perceived behavioral options) described in M. Maehr and L. Braskamp's (1986) theory of personal investment and adherence behaviors in athletic injury rehabilitation. 40 intercollegiate athletes who had sustained a sport related injury completed a questionnaire that included elements from the Physical Self-Efficacy Scale, an inventory of personal investment, and a self-motivation inventory. Adherence was defined as a composite of attendance at prescribed sessions, degree of completion of prescribed exercise protocol, and athlete's exerted effort. Multiple-regression analyses indicated that each dimension significantly predicted adherence behaviors. Ss who demonstrated greater adherence believed in the efficacy of the treatment, perceived more social support for their rehabilitation, were more goal directed or self-motivated, and placed more emphasis on mastery or task-involved goals in sport.