EXCUSES, EXCUSES, EXCUSES - A COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL APPROACH TO EXERCISE IMPLEMENTATION

Three studies investigated the reliability and construct validity of t he Exercise Thoughts Questionnaire (ETQ), an instrument developed to a ssess the frequency with which individuals have thoughts involving rea sons or excuses for not exercising at the present time. Such cognition s are hypothesized to interfere with exercise behavior. Study 1 involv ed 164 college women; Study 2, 209 undergraduates; and Study 3, 196 un dergraduates. Analyses revealed that the ETQ has good internal consist ency and test-retest reliability. ETQ scores related in theoretically meaningful ways to exercise intentions, previous exercise experience, the number of days participants considered exercising but did not actu ally exercise, and both concurrent and prospective self-reports of exe rcise behavior. Exploratory analyses revealed that women reported a hi gher frequency of thoughts involving reasons or excuses for not exerci sing than men and that students who participated in collegiate, intram ural, or club sports having required practices reported a lower freque ncy of such thoughts.