[Relationship between perceived benefits/barriers and decisional balance with stages of change for physical activity among high school students in Bandar Abbas]

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to assess relationship between perceived benefits/barriers and decisional balance with stages of change for physical activity among high school students in Bandar Abbas, Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted in high schools of Bandar Abbas, in the south of Iran. A total of 422 high school students were selected. Twenty two participants did not fill out questionnaires completely. A total of 400 questionnaires were analyzed [response rate=94.8%]. The perceived benefits/ barriers to exercise and decisional balance were assessed using the Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale; and stages of change were assessed using the Physical Activity staging. Data were analyzed in the SPSS v.16. The mean age of the participants was 15.9 [SD=1.1] ranging from 14 to 18 years. More than half of the participants [51.8%] were male and 48.2% were female. About half of the participants [49.2%] were engaged in regular physical activities. Fifteen per cent of the participants in the precontemplation stage, 15.8% in the contemplation stage, 20% in preparation stage, 15.8% in action stage, and 33.4% in maintenance stage for physical activity. From precontemplation stage to maintenance stage, the perceived benefits and decisional balance were increased and the perceived barriers was decreased. The results of this study are in line with the Transtheoretical model. This model can be used as a framework to design interventions for improving physical activity in population