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Stages of change towards physical activity in a nationally representative sample in the European Union

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

John M Kearney ,
Cees de Graaf ,
Soren Damkjaer  and
Lars Magnus Engstrom
John M Kearney
Affiliation:
Institute of European Food StudiesTrinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
Cees de Graaf
Affiliation:
Division of Human Nutrition and Epidemiology, Wageningen Agricultural University, PO Box 8129/6700 EV Wageningen, the Netherlands
Soren Damkjaer
Affiliation:
Centre of Sport Science, University of Copenhagen, Jagtvej 155 B, DK-2200 Kobenhavn N, Denmark
Lars Magnus Engstrom
Affiliation:
Stockholm Institute of Education, Department of Educational Research, PO Box 34103, S-10026 Stockholm, Sweden
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Abstract

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Objective

To examine the distribution of the stages of change towards physical activity across Europe and the influence of sociodemographic variables on this distribution.

Design

A cross-sectional study in which quota-controlled, nationally representative samples of approximately 1000 adults from each country completed a face-to-face interview-assisted questionnaire.

Setting

The survey was conducted in the 15 member states of the European Union between March and April 1997.

Subjects

The questionnaire was completed by 15 239 subjects (aged 15 years upwards). Data were weighted by population size for each country and by sex, age and regional distribution within each member state.

Results

Twenty-nine per cent of subjects were in the precontemplation stage, while a similar proportion (30%) were in the maintenance stage. Ten per cent had been physically active but had relapsed recently. Considerable intercountry variation existed with Scandinavian countries tending to be lower in the precontemplation stage and southern countries tending to be higher (particularly Greece and Portugal). Men and younger subjects with a higher education level were more likely to be in the maintenance stage. Overweight and obese subjects were more likely to be in the precontemplation stage than normal-weight subjects. In terms of barriers to participating in physical activity ‘not being the sporty type’ was more important for those in precontemplation stages, while ‘work/study commitments’ was more important for those people in the maintenance stage.

Conclusions

The model of the stages of behavioural change towards physical activity was able to distinguish people according to their level and attitude to physical activity. The considerable intercountry and sociodemographic variation in the distribution of stages of change suggest that targeted programmes aimed at specific subgroups in the population identified using the model may be more effective in promoting physical activity.

Keywords

Stages of changePhysical activityAttitudesEuropean Union
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 2 , Supplement 1a , January 1999 , pp. 115 - 124
Copyright
Copyright © CABI Publishing 1999

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