Stages of change for moderate-intensity physical activity in deprived neighborhoods.
BACKGROUND
This article describes the association of external and psychosocial factors with the stages of change for moderate-intensity physical activity among individuals with generally low socioeconomic positions.


METHODS
A self-administered questionnaire among individuals aged 18-65 years (response rate 60%, n = 2781) in deprived neighborhoods in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, was conducted in September 2000. To identify factors associated with stages of change an ordinal logistic regression model, the "Threshold of Change model (TCM)", was used to analyze the data.


RESULTS
Thirty-six percent of the respondents were in the pre-action stages, 15% was in action and 49% in maintenance. Individuals who were, older, lower educated, had low health locus of control, had less knowledge of physical activity issues, and presented other risky health behaviors, were more likely to be in a lower stage of change category. A positive attitude, high self-efficacy expectations, perceiving the physical activity level of others as high, and much social support were associated with the higher stages of change categories.


CONCLUSIONS
The distribution across the stages of change supports the need to improve physical activity behavior in these deprived neighborhoods. Interventions need to be tailored to the psychosocial, and the external factors that are likely to play a role in the behavioral change process.
Kloek
Gitte C
GC
Erasmus MC, Department of Public Health, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands. g.kloek@erasmusmc.nl
van Lenthe
Frank J
FJ
van Nierop
Peter W M
PW
Schrijvers
Carola T M
CT
Mackenbach
Johan P
JP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009426:Netherlands; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000523:psychology*