Construct validity of the stages of change of exercise adoption for different intensities of physical activity in four samples of differing age groups.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether the stages of change of exercise adoption appropriately address strenuous, moderate, and mild intensities of physical activity.


METHODS
Secondary analysis of four data sets investigating transtheoretical model (TTM) constructs for exercise adoption.


METHODS
Four samples of differing age groups (adolescents, n = 400; college students, n = 240; adults, n = 346; seniors, n = 504).


METHODS
Stage of change algorithm for exercise adoption and self-reported physical activity.


RESULTS
Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) results showed that stages of change were distinguished by strenuous and moderate but not mild exercise in the adolescent, college student, and adult sample. In the senior sample, stage differences were found in the frequency of exercising (equivalent for moderate to strenuous exercise) and the frequency of walking (equivalent for mild exercise). Bivariate correlation coefficients as well as sensitivity, specificity, and related quality indices decreased respectively from strenuous to moderate to mild exercise and from exercising to walking.


CONCLUSIONS
Results provide additional support for the construct validity of the stages of change for strenuous and moderate intensities of physical activity. Development of a new stage assessment instrument for mild intensities of physical activity is recommended. Limitations include use of a different validation measure of exercise behavior in the senior sample.
Schumann
Anja
A
Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald, Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Walther-Rathenau-Strasse 48, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany.
Nigg
Claudio R
CR
Rossi
Joseph S
JS
Jordan
Patricia J
PJ
Norman
Gregory J
GJ
Garber
Carol Ewing
CE
Riebe
Deborah
D
Benisovich
Sonya V
SV
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002170:Canada; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009511:New England; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012237:Rhode Island; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires