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Predicting the Physical Activity Intention–Behavior Profiles of Adopters and Maintainers Using Three Social Cognition Models

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background

Most of the population have positive intentions to engage in physical activity (PA) but fail to act; thus, the need to understand successful translation of intention into behavior is warranted in order to focus intervention efforts.

Purpose

The objective of the study is to examine constructs of the transtheoretical model, theory of planned behavior, and protection motivation theory as predictors of physical activity intention–behavior profiles across 6 months in a Canadian workplace sample.

Methods

Employees from three large organizations in the province of Alberta (n = 887) completed a baseline survey relating to their demographic and medical background, PA, and social–cognitive constructs. A total of 611 participants completed a second assessment 6 months later.

Results

Participants were grouped by five profiles: nonintenders, unsuccessful adopters, successful adopters, unsuccessful maintainers, and successful maintainers. Perceived importance and concern for PA (cognitive processes, instrumental attitude, perceived severity) distinguished nonintenders from the other four profiles, self-management and self-regulation of the behavior (behavioral processes, self-efficacy) distinguished successful adopters from unsuccessful adopters, while control over constraints (cons, perceived control, self-efficacy) were the key discriminators of successful maintainers from unsuccessful maintainers.

Conclusion

The results provide useful information for intervention campaigns and demonstrate a need to consider adoption and maintenance profiles.

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Acknowledgement

RER is supported by a new investigator award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and with funds from the British Columbia Ministry of Children and Family Development (Human Early Learning Partnership), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Diabetes Association. RCP is supported from Salary Awards from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Applied Public Health Chair Program), and the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research. KSC is supported by the Canada Research Chairs Program and a Research Team Grant from the National Cancer Institute of Canada with funds from the Canadian Cancer Society and the NCIC/CCS Sociobehavioral Cancer Research Network.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada

    Ryan E. Rhodes Ph.D.

  2. University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Ronald C. Plotnikoff Ph.D. & Kerry S. Courneya Ph.D.

  3. Behavioural Medicine Laboratory, Faculty of Education, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 3010 STN CSC, Victoria, BC, V8W 3N4, Canada

    Ryan E. Rhodes Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Ryan E. Rhodes Ph.D.
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  2. Ronald C. Plotnikoff Ph.D.
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  3. Kerry S. Courneya Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Ryan E. Rhodes Ph.D..

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Rhodes, R.E., Plotnikoff, R.C. & Courneya, K.S. Predicting the Physical Activity Intention–Behavior Profiles of Adopters and Maintainers Using Three Social Cognition Models. ann. behav. med. 36, 244–252 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-008-9071-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-008-9071-6

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