CAUSAL-MODELS OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE PARTICIPATION - TESTING THE PREDICTIVE POWER OF THE CONSTRUCT PRESSURE TO CHANGE

This study examines 2 different causal models to predict physical exer cise motivation and behavior under a longitudinal perspective. The fir st model includes 5 latent variables that were hypothesized to have an impact on exercise intention and behavior: behavior-specific social s upport, exercise self-efficacy, perceived health benefits, perceived b arriers, and subjective vulnerability to cardiovascular disease. The s econd model was based on all variables of the first model, but additio nally included the new variable ''pressure to change.'' Pressure to ch ange was defined as the extent to which a person feels the necessity t hat specific personal life circumstances (e.g., health status, social relations) may not remain as they are and ought to be changed. It was hypothesized that the inclusion of health-related pressure to change w ould result in a better prediction of exercise intention. The proposed causal models were tested separately at the stages of exercise adopti on and maintenance. Covariance structure analyses (LISREL) confirmed t hat pressure to change may be an important factor in the motivational process that leads to the adoption of regular physical exercise. Addin g this latent variable to the basic model improved the amount of expla ined variance in exercise intention by 6%. Furthermore, the results di d not support the assumption that cognitive control is critical especi ally during the acquisition of exercise behaviors, but may be less inf luential once the behavioral routines have been established. Our data rather indicate that regular physical exercise, even if performed on a regular basis for years, always remains a behavior that requires a hi gh level of cognitive guidance.