Factors Influencing a Person to Become More Physically Active

Abstract

In the first phase of the study, 170 introductory psychology students were administered six questionnaires dealing with various beliefs and attributions about general lifestyle patterns and their consequences. Physical activity was generally perceived in a positive way and there were sex differences in the way in which such activities were practiced and the extent to which they provided deflection of stress. In Phase 2, 65 inactive individuals from Phase 1 were exposed to an information-feedback manipulation which was not effective in promoting interest in obtaining reading material on exercise or in encouraging initiation of activity.