Abstract
Promoting Health Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) behavior is an important undertaking in Germany as well as in China. In order to create successful interventions in different nations, knowledge about the relevant psychosocial correlates that may encourage successful progression through the behavior change process is necessary. Therefore, the relationships of selected psychosocial correlates of physical activity with stages of change were examined in a German-Chinese sample. In total, 2071 adults (865 Germans, 1206 Chinese) completed a questionnaire. The theoretical framework used was the FIT-model, which consists of the following stages of change: not considering, considering, preparing, exploring, fluctuating and maintaining. All data were analyzed with a two-way ANOVA. Significant main effects for the stages of change on all psychosocial correlates were found. Significant interactions between stages and nations emerged for all correlates except for social support, although these results revealed small effect sizes. To progress within the stages of inactivity, interventions should focus on outcome expectations, barriers, social support and affective attitudes. The successful initiation of physical activity depends on considerations of barriers, maintenance self-efficacy, intrinsic motivation and affective attitudes. These same correlates plus social support are relevant for long-term adherence to physical activity. In Germany, perceived barriers and emotional aspects of physical activity appear to be important for initiating and maintaining regular physical activity. Furthermore, for long-term adherence to physical activity, Germans—in contrast to Chinese adults—may not necessarily benefit from social support; however they could benefit from learning how to strengthen their physical activity outcome expectations.
Highlights
ObjectivesObjectives and Hypotheses of the StudyWhile much research has focused on stage-based interventions in Western countries [18], little is known about the requirements for interventions to promote Health Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) in East Asian countries [28]
This study investigated the relationship of fundamental psychosocial correlates of behaviour change with the stages of change in a German-Chinese sample
Interventions to promote Health Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) should be tailored to the specific needs of the target group
Summary
Objectives and Hypotheses of the StudyWhile much research has focused on stage-based interventions in Western countries [18], little is known about the requirements for interventions to promote HEPA in East Asian countries [28]. The present study examines the relationship of the psychosocial correlates of physical activity with the stages of change according to the FIT-model in an international sample of German and Chinese adults. The research questions are: 1) Can the hypothesized relationship between the selected psychosocial correlates and the stages of change be confirmed?. Keeping consistent with the research and theory outlined above, it was hypothesized that: 1) Outcome expectations would play a major role in forming an intention to perform physical activity (not considering to considering, considering to preparing). 3) Maintenance self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation would be essential for performing physical activity regularly (preparing to exploring, fluctuating to maintaining). 5) The relationship between the selected psychosocial correlates and the stages of change is moderated by the national background of the participants 2) Is this relationship moderated by the participants’ national background? Keeping consistent with the research and theory outlined above, it was hypothesized that: 1) Outcome expectations would play a major role in forming an intention to perform physical activity (not considering to considering, considering to preparing). 2) Barriers and social support would be especially important for initiating the intended behavior (preparing to exploring). 3) Maintenance self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation would be essential for performing physical activity regularly (preparing to exploring, fluctuating to maintaining). 4) Affective attitude would be important as well for forming an intention to perform physical activity as for performing physical activity regularly. 5) The relationship between the selected psychosocial correlates and the stages of change is moderated by the national background of the participants
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