Shanying Xiong,¹ M.Ed; Xianxiong Li,² Ph.D; Kun Tao,³ Ph.D; Nan Zeng,⁴ MEd; Mohammad Ayyub⁴; Qingwen Peng,³ PhD; Xiaoni Yan,³ PhD; Junli Wang,³ PhD; Yizhong Wu³; & Mingzhi Lei³

• ¹. Shenzhen Polytechnic University, Department of Physical Education, Shenzhen, China
• ². Hunan Normal University, School of Physical Education, Changsha, China
• ³. Huaihua University, School of Physical Education, Huaihua, China
• ⁴ University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Abstract

Guided by the Transtheoretical Model (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1982), this study investigated the differences of physical activity levels and correlates (i.e., self-efficacy, decisional balance, process of change) across different stages of change levels among Chinese college students. The relationships between students’ physical activity correlates and physical activity behavior was also examined. The participants were 887 college students (365 males; Mage = 20.51, SD = ± 1.67) recruited from four universities in south and south-canter China. Participants completed a battery of established questionnaires assessing their physical activity correlates (self-efficacy, decisional balance, process of change) and 1-week physical activity levels. Results suggested that Chinese college students in the high stage of change group reported significantly higher physical activity levels and correlates than those in the low stage of change group. Pearson correlation analyses suggested that students’ self-efficacy was moderately related to other correlates and physical activity behavior. Yet, decisional balance and process of change were only modestly associated with physical activity levels for both groups. Regression analyses further revealed students’ self-efficacy emerged as the only significant contributor of their daily PA levels across the two groups. However, decision balance and process of change failed to predict physical activity levels. The implications for practice and direction of future research were discussed.

Keywords:Decisional balance, Physical activity levels, Process of change, Self-efficacy

Category: Interdisciplinary P.E.

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