Table 1 Secondary and exploratory outcomes

Self-Compassion Scale (26 items [45])

Measured at all time points to determine self-compassion levels.

Self-kindness vs. self-judgement, common humanity vs. isolation, and mindfulness vs. over-identification

A total score of self-compassion was determined by adding the means of all six sub-scales together and dividing by six [45]. Scores from this scale have good test-retest reliability (r = .80–.93) with high internal consistency (α = .92 [45]). A sample item includes “When things are going badly for me, I see the difficulties as part of life that everyone goes through”.

Baseline (α = .86), post (α = .95), 6 weeks (α = .93), 12 weeks (α = .92)

Daily Minutes of MVPA^a (ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer [46])

Measured at all time points to determine an objective assessment of daily minutes of MVPA was measured using a hip-worn ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer [46] during waking hours for 8 days; also used to determine eligibility.

Freedson cut-points were used [47], and 8 days of accelerometer wear time was chosen as it allowed for a 1-day “wash out” period to account for accelerometer reactivity (i.e. the first day was not used [48]). The ActiGraph GT3X+ specifically measured the participants’ volume and intensity of physical activity [49] and accelerations in a standing, lying, or sitting position [46].

n/a

Short-form IPAQ^b (4 items [50])

Measured at all time points to determine participants’ self-report physical activity behaviours (i.e. walking, moderate- and vigorous-intensity activities over the last 7 days); also used to determine eligibility.

Participants reported the number of days they engaged in each intensity and the average duration of each session. This scale has shown evidence of validity with moderate to high reliability (0.71–0.89 [51]). The total scores were created for each intensity separately (i.e. multiplying each intensity by its respective MET value; a total score was then calculated by summing all METs from each intensity. A sample item includes “During the last 7 days, how many days of 10 min or more did you complete of vigorous physical activities like heavy lifting, digging, aerobics, or fast bicycling?”

n/a

Negative Affect Scale (20 items each [52])

Measured at all time points to determine participants’ emotions relative to their (i) T2D^c risk and (ii) physical activity engagement.

Sadness, anger, embarrassment, anxiety, and incompetence

A total score was created for each subscale. Versions of this scale demonstrate acceptable reliability (α = .75 [52]). A sample item includes “After hearing about your type 2 diabetes risk/when thinking about my engagement in physical activity, to what degree do you feel sad?”

Baseline (α = .82–.95), post (α = .92–.96), 6 weeks (α = .75–.96), 12 weeks (α = .64–.95)

Exercise Barrier Scale (14 items [53])

To determine the extent to which participants relate to barriers to exercise at baseline and intervention-end.

A total score was created; a higher score indicates greater barriers to exercise [53]. Scores from this scale are reliable and valid with Cronbach’s alpha of α = .87 [54]. A sample item includes “Exercising takes too much of my time”.

Baseline (α = .84), post (α = .88)

Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (36 items [55])

Measured at all time points to determine the extent to which participants used certain cognitive-emotional regulation strategies.

Self-blame, other-blame, rumination, catastrophizing, putting into perspective, positive refocusing, positive reappraisal, acceptance, and planning

Individual subscale scores were summed; a higher subscale score indicates greater use of that coping strategy [55]. Scores from the total scale exhibited good internal consistency (α = 0.92 [55]). A sample item includes “I think that I cannot change anything about it.”

Baseline (α = .31–.93), post (α = .61–.95), 6 weeks (α = .64–.95), 12 weeks (α = .63–.95)

Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (52 items [56])

Measured at all time points to determine the extent participants engage in health-promoting behaviours.

Spiritual growth, interpersonal relations, nutrition, physical activity, health responsibility, and stress management

The mean score was calculated for each subscale. This scale has demonstrated high internal consistency (α = .94) with alpha coefficients for the subscales ranging from .79 to .87 [56]. Participants were asked to respond to the frequency they engage in different behaviours such as “Discuss my problems and concerns with people close to me”.

Baseline (α = .75–.94), post (α = .68–.87), 6 weeks (α = .78–.89), 12 weeks (α = .73–.94)

Additional items

Three additional items created for the present study were included to identify what helped participants increase their physical activity, cope with their prediabetes, and whether they were receiving other information beyond the current intervention. These items were measured at intervention-end.

Items: (i) “What part of the intervention helped you the most when trying to increase your physical activity?”, (ii) “What part of the intervention helped you the most when trying to cope with your prediabetes diagnosis?” and (iii) “At any point throughout this intervention, did you enrol in any education programmes, other than this one, to help you become more physically active or to address your prediabetes?” If they respond yes, they will be asked to please specify.

n/a