POPULATION PREVALENCE AND CORRELATES OF STAGES OF CHANGE IN PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY

Stages of change for exercise, sociodemographic variables, and beliefs about the health benefits of exercise were obtained for a representat ive sample of Australian adults (N = 4404). Logistic regression analys is was used to examine the relationship between exercise stage of chan ge and sociodemographic variables and beliefs about the benefits of ex ercise. Thirteen percent of respondents stated that they did not exerc ise and did not intend to start; 10% stated that they did not exercise but were thinking of starting; 16% stated that they exercise occasion ally and were not thinking of doing more; 23% stated that they exercis ed occasionally and were thinking of doing more; and 38% stated that t hey exercised regularly and intended to continue. Intention to do more exercise generally decreased with increasing age, but increased with level of education. An increased frequency of exercise and an intentio n to do more exercise was associated with the belief that exercise wou ld help to prevent heart disease and with a higher level of education. The results provide a useful profile of the exercise habits (and inte ntion to change those habits) of population subgroups. Public communic ation campaigns on the benefits of physical activity should focus part icularly on those who do not intend to exercise, older adults, and the less well educated.