SELECTED PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL VARIABLES BY STAGES OF CHANGE AND SELF-REPORT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS

Abstract

997 The Stage of Change (SOC) discerns individual intentions toward exercise, and thus, is useful for devising appropriate exercise interventions. However, the ability of the model's stages to discriminate psychological and physiological parameters has not been established. The intent of this study was to examine selected physiological and psychological variables by SOC and by Self-Reported Physical Activity (SRPA) levels. Female (n=362) and male (n=294) subjects (mean age 21.5 yrs.) completed the SOC and SRPA Questionnaires. In addition, measures of body composition (skinfolds), height, weight, and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) were obtained. Subjects also completed the self-motivation inventory (SMI). The SOC included contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance (precontemplation was not used due to a small sample size, n=17). The SRPA levels were grouped as non-exercisers, modest exercisers, and heavy exercisers. Eight variables were entered into a MANOVA with effects for SOC, SRPA group, and SOC covaried with SRPA group. The analysis revealed that body composition, SMI, and VO2max were significantly related with SOC. The analysis with effect for SRPA indicated that body composition, SMI, and VO2max were significantly related with the SRPA groupings. However, when SRPA group was used as a covariant with SOC, none of the variables were significantly related with SOC. In conclusion, the stages of the model do not provide independent psychological and physiological profiles. Rather our selected psychological and physiological variables are related to current physical activity levels and not classification by intention to exercise.