中学生体育锻炼行为的阶段变化与心理因素分析

目的　了解中学生体育锻炼现状及影响因素,为进一步完善健康教育和健康促进措施提供科学依据。方法　采用多阶段随机抽样方法利用心理测定量表调查3个城市3600名中学生体育锻炼行为,采用t检验、X²检验分析中学生体育锻炼频率、体育锻炼行为变化阶段相关性,对体育锻炼行为的心理因素采用单因素方差分析。结果　中学生每周锻炼时间为（2．66±1．801）d,81．4％的学生锻炼时间<4 d。5个行为阶段中37．3％的学生处于体育锻炼行为的前意向阶段,23．6％的学生处于意向阶段,20．5％的学生处于准备阶段,仅有18．6％的学生处于行动阶段和维持阶段,并随着变化阶段的提高学生体育锻炼时间有所增加;5个行为阶段间的改变策略（F=77．442,P<0．001）、决策平衡正向效应（F=29．498,P<0．001）、负向效应（F=14．784,P<0．001）和自我效能（F=135．544,P<0．001）得分的差异均有统计学意义;从前意向阶段到维持阶段改变策略、决策平衡正向效应、自我效能得分随着变化阶段的提高而增加,而决策平衡负向效应随着变化阶段的提高而减少。结论　中学生每周体育锻炼时间不足,其锻炼行为存在阶段性差异,但大多数学生处于初级阶段;心理因素在不同变化阶段发挥作用不同,提示对不同体育锻炼阶段的学生采取不同的健康教育和心理干预措施,以提高健康促进效果。     

运用跨理论模型分析青少年蔬果摄入行为

目的 了解青少年蔬果摄入行为现状及影响因素,探讨相关健康教育措施.方法 采用多阶段抽样法在杭州城区抽取1677名中小学生,采用美国在运动及营养评价和咨询项目中制定的青少年蔬菜水果摄入行为量表(中文版),进行有关蔬果摄入行为调查,运用跨理论模型对中小学生的蔬果摄入量、蔬果摄入行为阶段、行为过程、决策平衡、自我效能现状进行分析.结果 青少年平均蔬果摄入量为(3.21±1.50)份/d("1份的量"指100 g经烹饪的蔬菜或100 g水果).蔬果摄入行为处于意向阶段的人数最多,占36.91%(619/1677).蔬果摄入行为变化过程、决策平衡(正面因素)、自我效能均与行为阶段发展存在正相关[r_(过程)=0.38、r_(决策(正))=0.26、r_(效能)=0.33,t值依次为16.78、11.02、14.31,P值均<0.05],青少年蔬果摄入量与行为变化阶段、自我效能存在正相关(β_(阶段)=0.665,t=35.07,P<0.05;β_(效能)=0.050,t=2.63,P<0.05)与决策平衡(负面因素)存在着负相关[β_(决策(负))=-0.051,t=-2.84,P<0.05].结论 青少年蔬果摄入量偏少,随着行为阶段的发展及自我效能的改善,蔬果摄入量也相应增加.对青少年蔬果摄入行为干预时应使其认识到达到推荐摄入最的益处、增强其信心.     

应用健康信念模式探讨超重、肥胖人群运动锻炼行为及其影响因素

目的探讨超重肥胖者运动锻炼情况及其影响因素,为今后实施健康促进干预和政策制定提供参考。方法以2489名超重肥胖者作为研究对象,男性1182人,女性1307人,平均年龄（45．3±14．2）岁。研究内容包括问卷调查和体格检查（身高、体重和腰围）,问卷基于健康信念模式设计,信效度良好。通过单因素分析,比较不同人口统计学特征运动锻炼量的差异,通过相关分析发现运动锻炼信念与运动锻炼量的关系,最后建立结构方程模型,探究超重肥胖群体运动锻炼行为的影响因素和间接效应。结果研究对象每天运动锻炼量的中位数为4．0千步当量,上下四分位数为（0．5,10．0）,22．9％的居民从不进行任何形式的运动锻炼,女性、高中及同等学历和家庭月收入在5000～10000元之间的调查对象运动锻炼最多。感知到运动的益处、感知到不运动的危害的严重性、自我效能与运动锻炼量正相关,主观障碍、客观障碍与运动锻炼量负相关。结构方程模型显示主观障碍、客观障碍和自我效能对运动锻炼的影响显著,其标准化的总效应分别为-0．085（P=0．020）、-0．242（P〈0．001）和0．184（P〈0．001）;自我效能越高,运动锻炼量越多;主观障碍和客观障碍越多,运动锻炼量越少。结构方程模型中影响运动锻炼量的路径存在广泛的中介效应,其中自我效能是所有显著的影响因素的中介变量。结论超重肥胖人群的运动锻炼量严重不足,需要进行一些有针对性地干预,重点是提高该类群体的自我效能感,降低运动锻炼的客观障碍。     

昆明大学生运动行为与相关心理因素分析

目的：探讨影响大学生运动行为的心理因素，为培养其终身锻炼的生活方式提供依据。方法：用体育KAP问卷，对整群随机抽取的1243名大学生（男654、女589人）进行调查。结果：男生不仅在运动的自我效能、态度和行为上得分显著高于女生；体育人口51．22％，也显著高于女生41．77％（P＜0．01）。常参加有氧锻炼者对照组大学生有更高的体育态度和自我效能评分（P＜0．01）。其运动行为与体育态度和自我效能间r值为0．41、0．47（P＜0．01）,体育知识间的相关系数为0．12。结论：大学生中体育人口仅46．74％，女生是锻炼行为的重点干预对象。运动态度及自我效能是影响锻炼行为的重要心理因素。     

青少年生活方式对心理弹性和自我效能的影响

探讨青少年生活方式对心理弹性、自我效能的影响,为后续相关研究提供依据.方法 分层整群抽取郑州市12所中学6401名学生,使用青少年生活方式问卷、儿童青少年心理复原力量表、一般自我效能量表及自制一般情况调查表进行问卷调查.结果 青少年生活方式总分为(160.36±29.80),不同性别、不同学段青少年生活方式得分差异有统计学意义(P值均<0.01).多重线性回归分析结果表明,男生生活方式身份认同、健康意识、社会支持与心理弹性呈正相关,生活方式运动参与、身份认同、压力应对、营养及健康意识与自我效能呈正相关(P值均<0.01).女生生活方式身份认同、健康意识、社会支持、营养与心理弹性呈正相关,安全意识与心理弹性呈负相关;生活方式运动参与、身份认同、压力应对、营养及健康意识与自我效能感呈正相关,安全意识与自我效能感呈负相关(P值均<0.05).结论 青少年生活方式整体良好,但存在学段和性别差异.生活方式对心理弹性和自我效能有预测作用,可通过加强青少年生活方式相关教育提升心理状态水平.     

慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者自我效能与自我管理行为的相关性研究

目的 探讨社区慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者的自我效能、自我管理行为状况及两者之间的关系.方法 采用方便抽样法,在上海某社区5个居委会招募350例社区慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者进行自我效能量表、自我管理行为量表调查.自我效能与自我管理行为间的关系采用Spearman＇s相关性分析.结果 符合入选条件的患者为320例,FEV1/FVC平均值为（57.86±7.06）％.社区慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者的自我效能水平平均得分（74.2±9.5）分,34例（10.6％）表现为低水平自我效能,286例（89.4％）为中度水平.自我管理行为中体能锻炼时间评分（16.2±33.9） min/周、耐力锻炼时间为（109.0 ±49.O） min/周、认知性症状管理实践（0.9±1.0）分、与医生的沟通（0.7±0.8）分.Spearman＇s相关性分析显示,自我效能总分与自我管理行为各维度呈正相关（r=0.522、0.407、0.330、0.044,P＜0.01）.结论 社区慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者的自我效能和自我管理水平有待提高,自我效能与自我管理行为关系密切,在社区干预时应针对提高患者自我效能水平采取相应措施,以帮助促进其自我管理行为.     

社区高血压患者自我管理对自我效能及其血压相关行为危险因素的影响

目的评价自我管理在改变高血压患者自我效能及其血压相关行为危险因素等方面的效果,为高血压的干预提供依据。方法采用实验流行病学中的社区试验方法,将社区中自愿参加自我管理小组的高血压患者以社区为单位随机分为干预组（1410例）和对照组（665例）。干预组采用自我管理,对照组采用高血压规范化管理。干预组和对照组均接受基线和6周之后的2次问卷调查,并对干预组和对照组活动前后的数据进行比较。结果经过6周活动,干预组每日吸烟率与饮酒率分别下降了16．9％和17．9％,而规律运动参与率与心理调节率则分别提高了18．3％和7．9％,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．01）;对照组基本无变化。干预组干预后收缩压和血压控制率有明显改善,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,干预组干预后比干预前症状管理自我效能和疾病共性管理自我效能评分的增加值分别比对照组高0．55分和3．24分;增加值与对照组比较,差异均有统计学意义（t值分别为172．209、166．075,P〈0．01）。结论社区高血压患者通过自我管理措施不仅可以提高其自我效能指标,而且有助于促进管理对象健康行为的形成。     

不同戒烟意向男生自我效能决策平衡与转变方法初探

目的探讨卫校现吸烟男生行为转变阶段分布、不同戒烟意向者的转变方法及其决策平衡、自我效能感发展变化,为现吸烟男生戒烟干预提供依据。方法采用根据跨理论模式设计的调查问卷或量表,对益阳卫校50名现吸烟男生进行访谈调查。结果50名男生中有26名(52%)准备戒烟,13名(26%)为前意向戒烟者,11名(22%)为意向戒烟者。各阶段决策平衡、自我效能感和与认知有关的转变方法均分差异有统计学意义;由前意向期→意向期→准备期,吸烟有害的决定均分和各项认知相关转变方法均分逐步抬高,情境诱惑和吸烟有利决定均分逐渐降低,行为相关转变方法均分保持稳定。结论在行为转变的不同阶段,男生情感、认知等有明显差异。戒烟干预应分阶段采用不同的措施。     

教育实习对高师院校学生专业承诺和职业决策自我效能的影响

目的了解实习对高师院校学生专业承诺和职业决策自我效能感的影响。方法采用《大学生专业承诺量表》和《职业决策自我效能量表》对96名高师院校学生随机分为调查组1（重点中学实习32人）和调查组2（普通中学实习33人）及对照组（未实习31人）。调查组进行教育实习,对照组进行任何实习。对学生在教育实习前后的专业承诺和职业决策自我效能进行测量。结果①教育实习后专业承诺总分、情感承诺、继续承诺、理想承诺以及规范承诺的变化差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;②教育实习对3组间职业决策自我效能总分、自我评价、收集信息、选择目标、制定计划以及问题解决的变化差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;③高师院校学生职业决策自我效能和专业承诺均呈正相关。结论教育实习能够提高高师院校学生的专业承诺水平和职业决策自我效能感;高师院校学生的专业承诺和其职业决策自我效能感有显著相关。     

健康信念模式教育对恢复期精神分裂症患者负性情绪的影响

目的：探讨健康信念模式教育对恢复期精神分裂症患者负性情绪的影响,以提高患者的治疗依从性和自我效能。方法：将符合条件的精神分裂症患者80例按随机数字表法分为试验组和对照组,两组均接受抗精神病药物系统治疗和护理,并进行常规健康教育,试验组在此基础上给予健康信念模式教育8周,教育前和教育后分别采用焦虑自评量表（SAS）、抑郁自评量表（SDS）、一般自我效能感量表（GSES）、自制遵医行为统计表评定评分。结果：教育前遵医行为评定、SDS评分、SAS评分、GSES评分两组间比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;教育后两组SAS、SDS评分都明显降低,GSES和遵医行为评分都明显增高,且试验组变化更明显（P〈0．05）。结论：健康信念模式教育能明显地使患者建立良好的健康意识,去除或减少患者的不良情感,提高自我效能和治疗依从性。     

Korean adolescents'' exercise behavior and its relationship with psychological variables based on stages of change model

PURPOSE: To examine the exercise behavior of Korean adolescents, reveal the differences in self-efficacy and decision balance by the stages of exercise behavior, and identify the relationship between exercise behavior and psychological variables. METHODS: A total of 671 adolescents randomly selected from junior high and high schools in Seoul were surveyed. Three Korean-version questionnaires were used to identify the stage of exercise behavior and psychological attributes of adolescents: Stage of Exercise Behavior Change Questionnaire, Decision Balance Scale for Exercise, and Exercise Self-efficacy Scale. Data were analyzed by frequency analysis, chi(2) test, MANOVA, correlation analysis, and regression analysis. RESULTS: The exercise pattern of Korean adolescents was different by each stage of exercise behavior: precontemplation (17.5%), contemplation (16.6%), preparation (20.4%), action (28.3%), and maintenance (17.2%). Significant differences in exercise behavior distribution emerged as a function of gender and age. In addition, exercise efficacy, exercise benefits and exercise barriers differentiated across the stages of exercise behavior. Furthermore, the findings revealed that adolescents' exercise behavior was significantly correlated with the selected psychological variables, and that psychological variables had a statistically significant impact on the exercise behavior. CONCLUSION: This study provides information about relatively unstudied Korean adolescents and has the potential to influence the development of better exercise interventions and health promotion programs for adolescents.     

Characteristics of exercise behavior among college students: application of social cognitive theory to predicting stage of change

BACKGROUND: Young adulthood is characterized by a steep decline in the level of physical activity, but few theory-based studies have examined characteristics associated with regular exercise in this population. This study applied Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and the Stages of Change Model (SCM) to determine personal, behavioral, and environmental characteristics associated with exercise behavior and intentions among undergraduate university students. METHODS: A random sample of 937 undergraduate students (mean age 22.0 +/- 5.6 years; 84.7% ages 17-24 years) enrolled at a large Midwestern university completed a mailed questionnaire. Valid and reliable instruments were used to measure personal, behavioral, and environmental variables based on the SCT that were hypothesized to influence stage of exercise behavior change. Multivariate discriminant analysis was used to determine associations among these variables with stage of exercise behavior change. RESULTS: Exercise self-efficacy, physical activity history, and nonexercise estimation of aerobic capacity were significant predictors of the stage of exercise behavior change for both males and females. Among females, exercise self-efficacy (P < 0.001) and family social support (P < 0. 001) for physical activity were the best predictors of stage of exercise behavior change. Friend social support (P < 0.001), physical activity history (P < 0.001), and exercise self-efficacy (P < 0.001) were significant predictors of stage of exercise behavior change among males. CONCLUSIONS: The SCT framework predicted stage of exercise behavior change as defined by the SCM. Exercise self-efficacy was associated with exercise stage, but the source of significant social support (family versus friends) was different for males and females.     

Predictors of exercise behaviors among fibromyalgia patients

BACKGROUND: Exercise improves the physical and psychological well being of patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). However, exercise interventions for patients with FMS have suffered from poor adherence. The purpose of this study was to examine predictors of exercise for people with FMS. METHODS: Participants were 444 patients with FMS who were part of a larger study. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses were conducted examining exercise behavior at multiple time points. Discriminant analyses were also used to identify predictor variables. RESULTS: Engaging in regular exercise and having higher exercise self-efficacy significantly predicted continued engagement in exercise behavior in people with FMS. Age, employment status, depression, education level, self-efficacy for managing FMS, and the size of one's social network also demonstrated predictive qualities. CONCLUSION: Exercise self-efficacy and continued participation in regular exercise most strongly predicted present and future exercise behavior in patients with FMS. Interventions designed to train FMS patients in initiating exercise programs while addressing exercise self-efficacy, depression, and social support are warranted.     

Psychological constructs to predicting smoking behavior among Korean secondary school students

BACKGROUND: Current research on cigarette smoking has largely been focused on identifying the relationship between psychological attributes and the onset or initiation of smoking behavior. Few data are available on the psychological predictors of smoking behavior among Korean adolescents. This study examined the prevalence of smoking behavior among Korean adolescents, revealed factors affecting their smoking behavior, and identified the relationship between smoking behavior and psychological variables. METHODS: Four Korean-version questionnaires were used to assess adolescents' smoking behavior and their psychological attributes: Smoking Habit Scale, Multidimensional Health Locus of Scale, Self-efficacy Scale, and Self-esteem Scale. Frequency, Chi-square, ANOVA, correlation, and regression analyses were performed to analyze the data obtained in the study. RESULTS: The results indicate that smoking problem in the Korean adolescents is a crucial factor that might adversely affect their overall health. Forty-three percent of adolescents responded that they had smoked a cigarette in their lifetime and 26% are current smokers. Male adolescents were more likely to smoke in their lifetime and have currently smoked a cigarette than females. The adolescents aged 17-18 years had smoked more cigarette than those in other age groups. Among the five psychological variables, IHLC and self-efficacy significantly differentiated adolescents at different smoking status. Furthermore, IHLC, self-esteem, and self-efficacy were significantly correlated with smoking behavior and those psychological constructs had a significant linear relation to account for smoking behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological variables have a meaningful influence on smoking behavior of adolescents.     

Evidence for the validity and utility of the Stages of Exercise Behaviour Change scale in young adults

This study examined the validity and utility of the Stages of Exercise Behaviour Change (SEBC) scale in 244 young British adults. One-way ANOVA revealed significant differences (F > 7.34, P < 0.01) between the Exercise Behaviour Change Categories of Precontemplation/Contemplation (n = 49), Preparation (n = 87) and Action/Maintenance (n = 108) in self-report levels of exercise behaviour. Significant differences (F > 3.14, P < 0.05) were also revealed in exercise self-efficacy, physical self-perception sub-domains and global self-esteem scores. Subsequent step-wise discriminant analyses revealed that discrimination between the Categories of Exercise Behaviour Change was possible on the basis of selected behavioural and psychological parameters (Canonical r = 0.76-0.82, Wilks' lambda = 0.30-0.33, chi 2 = 60.3-94.6, d.f. = 14, P < 0.0001). In both males and females, the most dominant discriminatory variables in the first Function were revealed to be perceived physical conditioning and 'strenuous' exercise behaviour. For males, the second Function comprised exercise self-efficacy and perceived bodily attractiveness, whilst for females it comprised perceived bodily attractiveness, perceived sports competence and perceived physical strength. Subsequent cross-validation analysis, using a randomly selected 40% sub-sample, revealed that 67.8-70.7% of subjects were assigned to the correct Category. These results appear to confirm the concurrent validity of the SEBC scale in terms of self-report of exercise behaviour. Furthermore, the utility of the SEBC scale was demonstrated via the ability to predict membership of specific Categories of Exercise Behaviour Change using a selection of behavioural and psychological parameters.     

Psychological determinants of physical activity in Japanese female employees

To understand how psychological characteristics influence adoption and maintenance of physical activity/exercise, we conducted a cross-sectional study among Japanese employees based upon the idea of stages of behavior modification. The study population consisted of 719 employees (male, 396, female, 323) from five medium-sized manufacturing companies (50-200 employees) in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. The female response rate was 67.5% (n=218), among which 201 eligible female subjects (62.2%) were analyzed. The study questionnaire included demographic characteristics, physical activity/exercise measures, self-efficacy measures, and perceived benefit and barriers scales. Participants were asked to select the items that best described their current physical activity/exercise level from an 8-item questionnaire, and we converted their answers to the 5 stages of change according to a transtheoretical model of behavior change. Perceived benefit and barrier scales were classified into 7 factors (4 benefits and 3 barriers) by factor analyses. The relationship between psychological determinants and the stage of physical activity/exercise was examined by one-way analysis of variance. Only 10% of the subjects had moderate physical activity (in the action and maintenance stages) regularly. We found that self-efficacy, "weight control benefit", "physical barrier" and "time barrier" were psychological determinants of physical activity/exercise stages in female employees, and especially there was a consistent relationship between self-efficacy and the stage of physical activity/exercise. Our data suggest that health education for Japanese female employees requires that health professionals should provide support for strengthening self-efficacy, show practical ways to increase physical activity in daily life, and provide broad and accurate information showing that physical activity/exercise have a good effect on health.     

Consumption of carbonated drinks in adolescents: a transtheoretical analysis

BACKGROUND: Adolescents consume a high level of carbonated drinks and this may have significant adverse effects for their weight and oral health. Therefore, we examined the application of key constructs of the Transtheoretical Model (stages of change, decisional balance and self-efficacy) and health as a value (both general and oral) to adolescent carbonated drink consumption and to identify any gender differences. METHODS: A total of 399 adolescents (mean age 12.57 years, SD=1.54) completed a questionnaire measuring: stage of change, decisional balance, self-efficacy, carbonated drink consumption and attitudes to health and healthy teeth. RESULTS: Over half of the adolescents (55%) were classified into one of the pre-action stages (i.e. precontemplation or contemplation) and males were more likely to be represented in the precontemplation stage than females. Significant associations with stage of change, decisional balance and self-efficacy were found, though there was no association with attitudes to health (general or oral). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the Transtheoretical Model (and its key constructs) may be a useful framework through which more tailored health promotion interventions can be designed.     

Use of the transtheoretical model to predict stages of smoking cessation in Korean adolescents

BACKGROUND: Smoking is popular among Korean male high school adolescents, with the prevalence of 20.7% differing markedly with the type of school, being 16.3% and 27.6% in academic and vocational technical high schools, respectively. The purpose of this study was to identify significant variables that predict stages of smoking cessation among Korean high school students using the transtheoretical model (TTM), in order to provide an empirical basis for developing smoking cessation programs. METHODS: Cross-sectional data were collected in April and May 2004 from 300 male students at 3 vocational technical high schools in Korean metropolitan areas. The survey variables comprised decisional balance, self-efficacy, stages and processes of change, nicotine dependence, and use of smoking cessation aids. RESULTS: Current and former smokers comprised 26.3% and 22.7% of the cohort, respectively, of which 71.4% had experienced smoking cessation at least once and 55.1% utilized smoking cessation aids to help stop smoking. Nicotine-free tobacco and nicotine gum were the most common smoking cessation aids. Decisional balance, use of behavioral processes, and higher self-efficacy were significant in explaining stages of smoking cessation after controlling for nicotine dependence. CONCLUSIONS: The study results suggest that smoking cessation programs developed based on the TTM may help adolescents to progress through stages, with it being important to include information regarding the use of smoking cessation aids.     

Stages of change, decisional balance, and self-efficacy across four health behaviors in a worksite environment

PURPOSE: This study examined differences in decisional balance and self-efficacy scores across the five stages of change and across four health behaviors (exercise, protection from sun exposure, smoking, and dietary fat consumption), and explored the relationship between the frequency of subjects at each stage across four health behaviors. DESIGN: Data for this study were collected as part of a health behavior survey of employees. SETTING: The study was conducted in a municipal government worksite in Arizona. SUBJECTS: A total of 393 employees completed the survey. The sample was predominantly white (84.9%) and male (64.4%), with an average age of 42.2 years and a median annual household income of between $40,000 and $59,999. MEASURES: Previously validated questions to measure stages of change, decisional balance, and self-efficacy were administered, along with questions about demographic variables. RESULTS: Significant differences were found for decisional balance and self-efficacy scores across the five stages of change, but they were not significantly different between the four health behaviors. A minority of subjects (18.6%) were in the same stage of change for all four health behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides preliminary evidence that there is considerable stage specificity across multiple health behaviors. Because employees at each stage of change possess differences in terms of their pros, cons, and self-efficacy, wellness programs need to focus on stage-specific interventions.     

Stages of change for exercise behavior and self-efficacy for exercise among middle-aged adults

The transtheoretical model of behavior change (TTM) has been used to account for how people change their health behavior. It was originally developed to explain or predict change in unhealthy addictive behavior (e.g., smoking), but recently the use of the TTM within the physical activity and exercise behavior domain has been proposed. In the present study, we examined its structure in this regard among middle-aged Japanese adults. In particular, the relationship between the stages of change for exercise behavior and self-efficacy was investigated. Firstly, a scale was developed to assess self-efficacy for exercise. Four hundred and sixty seven middle-aged adults completed questionnaires. As a result of stepwise variable selection procedure in exploratory factor analysis, a scale comprising 1 factor with 5 items was developed. Psychometric analyses revealed that this scale had high reliability and validity. Secondly, a cross-sectional investigation was conducted to examine the relationship between stage of change and self-efficacy among middle-aged adults (n = 808) using a questionnaire approach. Significant associations were found between stage of change for exercise behavior classification and self-efficacy for exercise. Specifically, scores on self-efficacy of the subjects in the present study were less for those in a precontemplation stage and greater for those in maintenance compared to all other stages, and generally followed a linear pattern of change across the stages. Although the use of a cross-sectional research design and nonrandom sampling methods in the present study limit interpretation, the similarity of these results to those in the previous literature suggests that the relationship between stages of change for exercise behavior and self-efficacy for exercise holds across different age groups and cultures. By accurately understanding these relationships, health promotion professionals may be able to improve physical activity and exercise promotion efforts.