Maintenance of physical activity following an individualized motivationally tailored intervention

This study examined predictors of exercise maintenance following completion of a physical activity intervention. Sedentary adults recruited through ne wspaper advertisements were randomly assigned to receive either (a) a motiv ation-matched intervention with feedback reports that were individually tai lored (IT) to psychological variables from social cognitive theory and the Transtheoretical Model via computer expert system, or (b) a standard, print -based intervention (ST). The intervention phase of the study included mail ed assessments and intervention materials at baseline. 1, 3, and 6 months. An assessment-only follow-up was conducted 6 months after the end of the in tervention (Month 12). Participants were assessed for current physical acti vity participation, motivational readiness for physical activity, a number of psychological constructs posited to influence participation in physical activity (e.g., self-efficacy), and current affect. Significantly, more par ticipants in the IT condition met or exceeded exercise participation goals at the end of the intervention period and maintained this level of physical activity through the Month 12 follow-up compared to ST participants. Prosp ective analyses revealed significant differences in several psychological c onstructs both at program entry (baseline) and the end of the intervention period between individuals who maintained their physical activity participa tion through Month 12 and those who did not. Results suggest that the maint enance of physical activity following the end of an active intervention pro gram may be influenced by attitudes and behaviors acquired along with incre ased participation in physical activity as well as by preexisting character istics that individuals bring into treatment.