Relation of the stages of change for exercise behaviors, self-efficacy, decisional-balance, and diet-related psycho-behavioral factors in young Japanese women.
BACKGROUND
A large proportion of young Japanese women is inactive. Exercise has important health benefits, however, abnormal weight/eating concerns and excessive dieting practices among physically active young women also have been reported in many cross-sectional studies. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between stages of change for exercise behaviors and exercise/dieting related psycho-behavioral factors using the Transtheoretical Model of behavior change as a theoretical framework.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study included 450 young Japanese women aged 18 to 21 (18.4+/-0.67 years). Subjects in precontemplation (n=111, 24.7%), contemplation (n=120, 26.7%), preparation (n=177, 39.3%), action (n=17, 3.8%), and maintenance (n=25, 5.6%) were compared on physique, body composition, current exercise practices, exercise self-efficacy, decisional balance (benefits and costs exercise), as well as dieting behaviors and weight/eating concerns.


RESULTS
Stages of change for exercise behaviors were significantly related to exercise self-efficacy and perceived benefits as well as to dieting behaviors and weight/eating concerns. Subjects in the higher stages had higher self-efficacy, perceived benefits of exercise, and healthy dieting behaviors; however, some of them also had unhealthier dietary practices, higher phobia of obesity and obsession with eating than those in lower stages.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings provide support for applying the transtheoretical model of exercise behavioral change to Japanese young women. Additionally, it is also important to pay attention to stage specific psycho-behavioral factors related to their dieting.
Wakui
S
S
Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan. s-wakui@met.biglobe.ne.jp
Shimomitsu
T
T
Odagiri
Y
Y
Inoue
S
S
Takamiya
T
T
Ohya
Y
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001823:Body Composition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008960:Models, Psychological; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires