Understanding readiness for regular physical activity in older individuals: an application of the theory of planned behavior.

This study examined whether stage of readiness for regular physical activity (i.e., discrete phases from inactive to active) was related to beliefs concerning perceived social pressure, attitude, perceived control, and intention. Data were collected from 288 older people through the mail. Frequency data indicated that over 50% of the sample had been engaging in regular physical activity for longer than 6 months. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) results showed that all selected variables shared significant variance with stage of readiness, and discrimination among the stages by the selected variables was successful. Path analysis indicated that intention, attitude, and perceived control had direct relationships with stage of readiness. Discussion focused on the utility of these variables for understanding individual differences in stage of readiness for regular physical activity.