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Examination of the Validity of a Stages of Exercise Change Algorithm
Author(s) -
Hausenblas Heather A.,
Dannecker Erin A.,
Downs Danielle Symons
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of applied social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1559-1816
pISSN - 0021-9029
DOI - 10.1111/j.1559-1816.2003.tb01944.x
Subject(s) - psychology , transtheoretical model , contemplation , stage (stratigraphy) , psychological intervention , body mass index , action (physics) , physical therapy , clinical psychology , medicine , psychiatry , paleontology , philosophy , physics , epistemology , quantum mechanics , biology , pathology
The purpose of this study was to examine the validity of a stages of exercise change questionnaire with self‐reported exercise, age, and body mass index (BMI) in 1,034 male and female community residents. It was found that the maintenance stage participants reported more strenuous exercise than did individuals in the other stages; and participants in the action stage reported more strenuous exercise than did individuals in the preparation and contemplation stages. There were no significant group differences among participants in the preparation, contemplation, and precontemplation stages for strenuous and moderate exercise. The maintenance stage participants engaged in more moderate exercise than did the preparation, contemplation, and precontemplation individuals; and the action stage participants reported more moderate exercise than did individuals in the preparation and precontemplation stages. The participants in the maintenance stage were older than were those in the action stage. No significant stage differences were found for mild exercise or BMI. Knowing an individual's stage of exercise change may provide researchers and practitioners with a mechanism for developing, testing, and delivering stage‐matched exercise interventions.