A prospective evaluation of the Transtheoretical Model of Change applied to exercise in young people

ObjectivesTo investigate the utility of the Transtheoretical Model of Change in predicting exercise in young people.DesignA prospective study: assessments were done at baseline and follow-up 6 months later.MethodUsing stratified random sampling 1055 Chinese high school pupils living in Hong Kong, 533 of who were followed up at 6 months, completed measures of stage of change (SCQ), self-efficacy (SEQ), perceptions of the pros and cons of exercising (DBQ) and processes of change (PCQ). Data were analysed using one-way ANOVA, repeated measures ANOVA and independent sample t tests.ResultsThe utility of the TTM to predict exercise in this population is not strong; increases in self-efficacy and decisional balance discriminated between those remaining active at baseline and follow-up, but not in changing from an inactive (e.g., Precontemplation or Contemplation) to an active state (e.g., Maintenance) as one would anticipate given the staging algorithm of the TTM.ConclusionThe TTM is a modest predictor of future stage of change for exercise in young Chinese people. Where there is evidence that TTM variables may shape movement over time, self-efficacy, pros and behavioural processes of change appear to be the strongest predictors.