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Background Sedentary time (SED) is associated with many detrimental health outcomes, yet little is known about what factors influence one’s ability to reduce SED. Even less is known about these factors in specific patient populations for whom high levels of SED may influence symptoms, such as those with chronic low back pain (cLBP). The purpose of this study was to qualitatively explore participants’ perceptions of factors that influenced their ability to reduce SED across an 8-week intervention to reduce SED in adults with cLBP and elevated depressive symptoms. Methods Three months after a theory-based intervention to break up and reduce sitting, semi-structured interviews explored factors that influenced reducing SED. Three researchers independently coded each conversation. Codes were charted and mapped with participants reviewing their own transcripts and the merged codes. The research team then defined key themes. Factors that were perceived to either facilitate behavior change or acted as barriers were identified and thematized as positive or negative determinants. Results Common barriers for reducing SED included environmental constraints, opposing social norms, and productivity; these barriers were frequently encountered in the workplace. Common facilitators for reducing SED included habit development, self-monitoring tools, restructuring the physical environment, and social accountability. Notably, back pain was not a frequently reported barrier or facilitator for reducing SED. Conclusion This sample of patients with cLBP and elevated depressive symptoms had similar determinants for reducing SED as previously reported in non-patient populations and did not appear to need strategies specific to dealing with chronic pain. Since work-related social norms and environmental factors were perceived as significant barriers to sitting less, workplace interventions that provide standing desks, offer standing meetings rooms, and/or institution-wide standing breaks may help reduce SED at work. The use of an activity monitor with sitting reminders and education regarding how to use the reminders as external cues to develop new sitting habits may also aid in adoption and adherence to this behavior change across settings. Developing coping plans and restructuring physical environments were perceived as successful strategies for overcoming social and environmental barriers. Future interventions targeting SED reductions may benefit from incorporating these strategies.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of current physical activity on the affective and mood state response to acute moderate exercise in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD). Twenty-nine individuals with MDD performed a moderate-intensity exercise bout for 30 minutes and rated their affective valence and depressive mood states at six time points: PRE-, MID-, POST-exercise as well as at 25-, 50-, and 75-minutes post-exercise. The affective valence was measured with the Feeling Scale (FS) while the depressive mood states were measured with the Profile of Mood States Depression subscale (POMS-D). Participants were divided into Low and High physical activity (PA) based on their average steps per day. There was no significant influence of PA level on the affective valence response to a moderate-intensity exercise session (p = .26) nor a group main effect (p = .96). There was also no significant difference in the MID-PRE change score between individuals in Low PA and those in High PA (p = .42), nor in the POST-PRE change score (p = .71). The largest effect size between Low PA and High PA was found at PRE (g = 0.42). There was also no evidence that PA significantly influenced the mood state response to exercise (p = .75) nor a group effect (p =.85). The largest effect size between Low PA and High PA in the POMS-D was at POST (g = 0.28). While affective valence and depressive mood states change during and after an exercise session, regular physical activity levels do not appear to be associated with the variability of this response in adults with MDD. Ultimately, understanding what factors influence how an individual feel during an exercise session should aid adherence to exercise programs, and therefore, the potential success of prescribing exercise as a treatment of MDD.