EVIDENCE FOR THE VALIDITY AND UTILITY OF THE STAGES OF EXERCISE BEHAVIOR-CHANGE SCALE IN YOUNG-ADULTS

This study examined the validity and utility of the Stages of Exercise Behaviour Change (SEBC) scale in 244 young British adults. One-way AN OVA revealed significant differences (F > 7.34, P < 0.01) between the Exercise Behaviour Change Categories of Precontemplation/Contemplation (n = 49), Preparation (n = 87) and Action/Maintenance (n = 108) in se lf-report levels of exercise behaviour. Significant differences (F > 3 .14, P < 0.05) were also revealed in exercise self-efficacy, physical self-perception sub-domains and global self-esteem scores. Subsequent step-wise discriminant analyses revealed that discrimination between t he Categories of Exercise Behaviour Change was possible on the basis o f selected behavioural and psychological parameters (Canonical r = 0.7 6-0.82, Wilks' lambda = 0.30-0.33, chi(2) = 60.3-94.6, d.f. = 14, P < 0.0001). In both males and females, the most dominant discriminatory v ariables in the first Function were revealed to be perceived physical conditioning and 'strenuous' exercise behaviour. For males, the second Function comprised exercise self-efficacy and perceived bodily attrac tiveness, whilst for females it comprised perceived bodily attractiven ess, perceived sports competence and perceived physical strength. Subs equent cross-validation analysis, using a randomly selected 40% sub-sa mple, revealed that 67.8-70.7% of subjects were assigned to the correc t Category. These results appear to confirm the concurrent validity of the SEBC scale in terms of self-report of exercise behaviour. Further more, the utility of the SEBC scale was demonstrated via the ability t o predict membership of specific Categories of Exercise Behaviour Chan ge using a selection of behavioural and psychological parameters.