A delivery model for overcoming psycho-behavioral barriers to exercise

ObjectiveTo examine the effects of a values-based wellness intervention on physical fitness and perceived barriers to exercise.DesignStudy was a one-group pre-test–post-test design. Participants were 58 university faculty and staff who volunteered to participate in a 10-week campus wellness program, based on the Disconnected Values Model (DVM), for improving exercise habits.MethodParticipants completed pre- and post-intervention measures of fitness (percent body fat, cardiovascular fitness, and upper- and lower-body muscular strength), disconnected values (job, health, happiness, family, work/life balance), and a variety of perceived internal and external barriers to exercise.ResultsParticipants showed significantly improved fitness scores at post-test (p < .001). In addition, the values of health and happiness, which were misaligned prior to the program intervention, were significantly reduced at post-test (p < .05). Finally, several perceived exercise barriers, as well as the total number of barriers endorsed, showed significant decreases at post-test (p < .05).ConclusionA values-based intervention increased participants’ exercise behaviors and reduced their perceived exercise barriers. Implications of the results supporting the DVM are presented.