Int J Sports Med 2003; 24(5): 363-365
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-40706
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Validation of the Stages of Change with Mild, Moderate, and Strenuous Physical Activity Behavior, Intentions, and Self-efficacy

A.  Schumann1 , P. A.  Estabrooks2 , C. R.  Nigg3 , J.  Hill2
  • 1Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, EMAU Greifswald, Germany
  • 2Office of Community Health and Department of Kinesiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
  • 3Department of Public Health Sciences, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
Further Information

Publication History

Accepted after revision: January 30, 2003

Publication Date:
17 July 2003 (online)

Abstract

The stages of change construct of the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) has been proposed for examining exercise adoption. Studies investigating the construct validity of the stages of change for exercise have used physical activity of moderate or higher intensity as operationalization criterion. Since it has been shown that physical activity of lower intensity also provides health benefits, we investigated whether the stages of change appropriately address lower intensity physical activity. Data with respect to the stages of change as well as behavior, intention and self-efficacy associated with mild, moderate, and strenuous exercise were collected in a sample of 467 males and females aged 20 - 85. Results show that the stages of change can be distinguished by moderate and strenuous but are not consistent with mild exercise. Implications for future research utilizing the stage of change conceptualization are discussed and development of new stage assessment instruments for mild exercise is recommended.

References

  • 1 Ajzen I, Fishbein M. Understanding attitudes and predicting social behavior. Englewood Cliffs, NJ; Prentice-Hall 1980
  • 2 American College of Sports Medicine Position Stand .The recommended quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, and flexibility in healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1998 30: 975-991
  • 3 Bandura A. Social Foundations of Thought and Action. Englewood Cliffs, NJ; Prentice-Hall 1986
  • 4 Courneya K S. Understanding readiness for regular physical activity in older individuals: An application of the theory of planned behavior.  Health Psychol. 1995;  14 80-87
  • 5 Courneya K S, Nigg C R, Estabrooks P A. Relationships among the theory of planned behavior, stages of change, and exercise behavior in older persons over a three year period.  Psychol Health. 1998;  13 355-367
  • 6 Godin G, Shephard R J. A simple method to assess exercise behavior in the community.  Can J Appl Sport Sci. 1985;  10 141-146
  • 7 Jacobs D R, Ainsworth B E, Hartman T J, Leon A S. A simultaneous evaluation of 10 commonly used physical activity questionnaires.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1993;  25 81-91
  • 8 Lee R E, Nigg C R, DiClemente C C, Courneya K S. Validating motivational readiness for exercise behavior with adolescents.  Res Q Exerc Sport. 2001;  72 401-410
  • 9 Marcus B H, Selby V C, Niaura R S, Rossi J S. Self-efficacy and the stages of exercise behavior change.  Res Q Exerc Sport. 1992;  63 60-66
  • 10 McAuley E, Mihalko S L. Measuring exercise-related self-efficacy. In: Duda JL, ed. Advances in Sport and Exercise Psychology Measurement Morgantown, WV; Fitness Information Technology 1998: 371-390
  • 11 Nigg C R. The exercise staging measure: which one to choose.  Ann Behav Med. 2000;  22 S81
  • 12 Pate R R, Pratt M, Blair S N, Haskell W L, Macera C A, Bouchard C, Buchner D, Ettinger W, Heath G W, King A C, Kriska A, Leon A S, Marcus B H, Morris J, Paffenbarger R S, Patrick K, Pollock M L, Rippe J M, Sallis J F, Wilmore J H. Physical activity and public health. A recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine.  JAMA. 1995;  273 402-407
  • 13 Prochaska J O, Marcus B H. The transtheoretical model: applications to exercise. In: Dishman RK, ed. Advances in exercise adherence Champaign, IL; Human Kinetics 1994: 161-180
  • 14 Prochaska J O, Velicer W F. The transtheoretical model of health behavior change.  Am J Health Promot. 1997;  12 38-48
  • 15 Reed G R, Velicer W F, Prochaska J O, Rossi J S, Marcus B H. What makes a good staging algorithm: examples from regular exercise.  Am J Health Promot. 1997;  12 57-66
  • 16 Schumann A, Nigg C R, Rossi J S, Jordan P J, Norman G J, Garber C E, Riebe D, Benisovich S V. Construct validity of the stages of change of exercise adoption for different intensities of physical activity in four samples of differing age groups.  Am J Health Promot. 2002;  16 280-287

A. Schumann, Dipl.-Psych.

Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald · Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine

Walther-Rathenau-Str. 48 · 17487 Greifswald · Germany ·

Phone: +49-3834-86 77 20

Fax: +49-3834-86 77 01

Email: schumann@uni-greifswald.de

    >