Elin, Abdelmalek (2011) A Comprehensive Examination of the Transtheoretical Model Constructs: Self-Efficacy, Decisional Balance and the Stages of Change for Exercise in Australian University Students. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
The present study investigated the Transtheoretical model of behavior change (TTM) in relation to exercise acquisition. The aims of this study was to examine the relationship between the stages of exercise change (SOC), and the constructs decisional balance; benefits (pros) and costs (cons) of exercising, and exercise selfefficacy. A total of 153 Australian university students from the University of Southern Queensland successfully completed the exercise behavior questionnaire. The sample was predominantly white Anglo-Australian (72%), females (77%) with a mean age of 34 years. Of those 58 % were married or in a de-facto relationship and 82% had completed tertiary education. Previously validated measures of SOC, decisional balance and self efficacy were administered as well as a general demographic information questionnaire. The data was analysed using Discriminant Function Analyses, which revealed that the predictor variable of pros, cons of decisional balance and self-efficacy were reliable predictors of the five different stages of change (SOC); Self-efficacy being the most predictive and the pros the least predictive of SOC. In particular, there was a significant increase in the scores of pros and self-efficacy with progression through SOC for exercise. Conversely there was a significant decrease in con scores across the stages from precontemplation to maintenance. With the exception of the inconsistencies in the relative importance of the pros and the cons, these findings complement the existing body of research concerning the TTM and support its application to Australian university students. The main limitation of this study was the low reliability of the decisional balance measure, improvement on the psychometric measures for the TTM should improve consistency in results. Future research should aim to replicate this study on first year Australian university students a group that is at high risk of a sedentary lifestyle. For those who are active, possible involvement in competitive sports may have different implications for the TTM variables.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Psychology (Up to 30 Jun 2013) |
| Supervisors: | Coates, Des |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Psychology) |
| Date Deposited: | 08 Jan 2026 05:10 |
| Last Modified: | 08 Jan 2026 05:10 |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52529 |
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