Examining the Impact of a Self-compassion Intervention on Physical Activity Behaviour Among People With Prediabetes

The primary research objective of this efficacy trial is to determine if a self-compassion intervention can lead to a clinically significant increase in engagement in physical activity as compared to usual care (best behaviour change practice) in individuals with prediabetes. Primary research question: Will a self-compassion intervention that augments usual care lead to greater increases in physical activity over 12 weeks post-intervention follow-up than usual care alone among people with prediabetes? Primary hypothesis: Self-compassion will lead to greater increases in physical activity than usual care at intervention-end and at 6- and 12-weeks. Secondary research question: Will the effects of a self-compassion intervention on physical activity at 6- and 12-weeks post intervention be mediated by (i) negative affect (ii) physical activity self-regulatory skills and (iii) personal growth at baseline and intervention-end? Secondary hypothesis: The effects of self-compassion on physical activity behaviour at 6- and 12-weeks will be mediated by i) affect and ii) self-regulatory skill use assessed at baseline and intervention-end. Tertiary research question: Will a self-compassion intervention that augments usual care lead to greater increases in other health-promoting behaviours (e.g., nutrition, stress management, seeking medical attention)? Tertiary hypothesis: Self-compassion will lead to greater increases in health-promoting behaviours than usual care at intervention end, 6-weeks and 12-weeks post intervention. This efficacy trial is a single centre, randomized, active controlled, eight week intervention with baseline and follow-up assessment at intervention-end, 6- and 12-weeks post-intervention. It follows a quantitative-dominant, mixed-methods design. The investigators will compare the change in physical activity of community-dwelling people with prediabetes randomized to usual care in the form of behaviour change + attention (control condition) to that of participants who receive usual care + self-compassion training (intervention condition). The investigators will also examine potential mediators of the intervention (i.e., negative affect, physical activity self-regulatory skill use). They will supplement this trial with interviews after follow-up testing with a subsample of self-compassion intervention participants. These interviews will provide feasibility information from participants (e.g., receptivity) as well as provide a qualitative assessment of the investigators' outcome measures.