The Chain Mediating Role of Patient Activation and Self-Efficacy in the Relationship Between Pain Intensity and Exercise Adherence Among Military Personnel with Meniscus Injury
Qianqian Wang1,2, Qiaoli Zhao2, Shaoyun Hong2, Chao Zhang2 and Yan Hua1*
1Department of Nursing, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China.
2The 32268 Unit of the People’s Liberation Army of China, Dali, Yunnan Province, China
Correspondence to: Yan Hua, Department of Nursing, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China. E-mail: huayan1112@126.com
Received: May 10, 2026; Accepted: July 09, 2026
Citation: Wang Q, Zhao Q, Hong S, Zhang C, Hua Y. The Chain Mediating Role of Patient Activation and Self-Efficacy in the Relationship Between Pain Intensity and Exercise Adherence Among Military Personnel with Meniscus Injury. J Phys Rehabil Med. 2026;4(1):01-11.
Copyright: © Hua Y, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License terms, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To analyze the chain mediating role of patient activation and self-efficacy in the relationship between pain intensity and exercise adherence among military personnel with meniscus injury, thereby providing a theoretical basis for developing targeted rehabilitation programs for this population.
Methods: A convenience sample of 330 military personnel with meniscus injury was recruited from an army unit from September to December 2025. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, the Exercise Adherence Rating Scale (EARS), the Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale, the Patient Activation Measure (PAM-13), and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Correlation analyses and chain mediation analyses were conducted.
Results: The exercise adherence of the study subjects was at a moderate level. Pain intensity was significantly negatively correlated with patient activation, self-efficacy, and exercise adherence (all P < 0.001). Patient activation was significantly positively correlated with self-efficacy and exercise adherence (all P < 0.001). The total indirect effect of patient activation and self-efficacy accounted for 46% of the total effect.
Conclusion: Exercise adherence among military personnel with meniscus injury requires improvement. Pain indirectly influences exercise adherence through the multiple mediating effects of patient activation and self-eff.
Keywords: Meniscus Injury; Exercise Adherence; Patient Activation; Self-Efficacy; Pain Intensity; Military Personnel.
