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Conference Agenda

Overview and details of the sessions of this conference. Please select a date or location to show only sessions at that day or location. Please select a single session for detailed view (with abstracts and downloads if available).

Daily Overview

Session

WR1_2_1: Abstract presentations: Physical Activity in Health and Rehabilitation: From Prescription to Practice
Location: White room 1
Session Chair: Alexis Lion

Presentation 5

10:35am - 10:38am

Engaging in physical activity during stress-related exhaustion: experiences to inform rehabilitation

Jenny Kling¹, Susanne Andermo^1,2, Robert Persson Asplund^1,3, Victoria Blom¹

1: Department of Health Sciences, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden; 2: Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden; 3: Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden

Background

Prolonged psychosocial stress is associated with mental ill health and functional impairment and is accompanied by lower levels of physical activity. Individuals with stress-related exhaustion often experience difficulties engaging in everyday activities during recovery, although physical activity is commonly recommended in rehabilitation. Empirical knowledge is limited regarding factors influencing engagement and how activity is managed in the context of symptoms and recovery. Understanding these experiences is therefore important for informing rehabilitation and clinical recommendations. This study aimed to explore experiences and perceptions of physical activity among individuals with stress-related exhaustion, including factors influencing engagement and how these are managed during recovery.

Methods
In this qualitative study, 12 adults with stress-related exhaustion (9 women, 3 men) participated in individual semi-structured online interviews. Participants were recruited through social media and a university webpage. Interviews explored experiences of engaging in physical activity, perceived barriers and facilitators, and strategies used during recovery. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Data is analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results and discussion
Interviews have been completed, and analysis is ongoing. Results will be presented at the conference, highlighting implications for rehabilitation practice, particularly regarding how individuals manage physical activity in the context of symptoms and recovery, and how these insights informed the development of a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)-based physical activity intervention integrated into treatment as usual. The findings are expected to contribute to knowledge about factors influencing engagement in physical activity during recovery from stress-related exhaustion, thereby supporting the development of tailored interventions and clinical decision-making.