Identifying Key Processes of Exercise Behaviour Change Associated with Movement through the Stages of Exercise Behaviour Change

Abstract

This longitudinal study identified processes of exercise behaviour change (POC) associated with movement between the stages of exercise behaviour change (SOC). Participants' (N = 312) physical activity, SOC and POC were recorded at baseline, one, three, six and 12 months post-test. Following baseline, participants received one of three physical activity interventions. The process of self-liberation was important at each stage movement. The process of stimulus control appeared important when progressing from contemplation to preparation. Progression from action into maintenance was associated with increased use of social liberation and helping relationships. The study indicated the transtheoretical model is applicable to a British population.

Initial development and validity evidence for the processes of change in Psychological Skills Training Questionnaire

“…These results are also consistent with past TTM research in the exercise domain, as the use of the behavioral processes of change have generally been shown to increase through the action stage before leveling off at the maintenance stage (Fallon, Hausenblas, & Nigg, 2005;Marshall & Biddle, 2001;Marcus et al, 1992). Furthermore, Lowther et al (2007) conducted a longitudinal study of process of change use and reported the transition from contemplation to preparation was predicted by increased use in processes of change, whereas moving into behavioral action was predicted by increased use in self-liberation. As such, prior to the implementation of PST interventions, sport psychology professionals should consider the commitment level of the athlete as it relates to their mental training, as well as athletes' confidence in their ability to adhere to a PST routine.…”

“…To determine statistical significance an alpha level of .05 was used. Based on the literature examining exercise behavior change (e.g., Lowther et al, 2007;Marcus et al, 1992;Marshall & Biddle, 2001) a series of one-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were conducted with Sheff e post hoc comparisons to examine the following hypotheses: (1) the use of the processes of change will be significantly less in precontemplation than in any other stage of change; (2) the use of the behavioral processes of change will be significantly greater in action and maintenance than in pre-action stages of change (i.e., precontemplation, contemplation); (3) the use of the experiential processes of change will be significantly less in maintenance than in action; and (4) the use of the experiential processes of change will peak in the action stage.…”

“…Given an over reliance on cross-sectional studies included in the Marshall and Biddle meta-analysis, Lowther, Mutrie, and Scott (2007) conducted a longitudinal analysis examining use of processes of change across stage transition in the exercise domain. These authors reported: (a) the use of the behavioral processes were most predictive of stage transition from contemplation to preparation; (b) both behavioral and experiential processes were predictive of transition from contemplation to action; (c) the transition from preparation to action was mediated by an increase in self-liberation; (d) the transition from action to maintenance was mediated by an increase in social liberation, counter-conditioning, helping relationships, and self-liberation; and (e) regression from maintenance was predicted by decreased use in the behavioral processes.…”

The Role of University Students’ General Self-Efficacy, Depression and Psychological Well-being in Predicting Their Exercise Behavior

“…For example, according to a study conducted in England, 72% of English, 69% of Irish, and 69% of Scottish people are not physically active. Similarly, according to statistics from health scans conducted in Canada, 47.8% of the population is identified as inactive during leisure time (Lowther, Mutrie & Scott, 2007). An extensive study with the participation of 23 countries by Haase, Steptoe, Sallis and Wardle (2004) revealed that college students do not engage in physical activities at recommended levels.…”

Behavioral regulations and dispositional flow in exercise among American college students relative to stages of change and gender

“…Introjected regulation 1 underlies behavior for those feeling compelled to take in physical activity to avoid aversive 2 feeling states (e.g., guilt over skipping a workout) or to experience ego-affirming states (e.g., 3 pride in fitness). The behavior of exercisers who participate in activity for benefits of 4 exercise, and assign personal importance to engagement of regular physical activity, is said to 5 be governed by identified regulations.…”