Analysis of the Factors Influencing the Stages of Change in Exercise Behaviour Among TARUC Co-Curricular Sport Program Students Based on Transtheoretical Model

Hoe, Teck Seng (2020) Analysis of the Factors Influencing the Stages of Change in Exercise Behaviour Among TARUC Co-Curricular Sport Program Students Based on Transtheoretical Model. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

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Abstract

Regularly exercise or habitual physical activity participation can provide psychological and physical benefits to an individual. Nevertheless, the state of physical activity level among Malaysian youths was found to be low to intermediate (Salamuddin & Harun, 2013). Although the physical activity level among tertiary students has been investigated, factors influencing the stages of exercise change still remain unclear and inconclusive. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship of psychological variables (i.e. decisional-balance, self-efficacy, and processes of change) with respect to different stages of exercise change (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance) and physical activity level among Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TARUC) co-curricular sport program students, based on the transtheoretical model. For further investigation, the psychological variables were compared across different stages of exercise change and physical activity level. A total of 287 students (132 males, 148 females, and aged 18 to 25) were recruited through a stratified sampling method, involving representative sample size from eight sport categories. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaire consisting measurement for: leisure-time exercise, stages of exercise change, self-efficacy, decisional balance and process of change. Data were analysed using SPSS for Windows version 24 for descriptive and inferential statistic, which involve One-way ANOVA and Spearman‟s correlation analysis. The findings revealed that 61.67% of responders are in the active physical activity level group. All the psychological variables have showed significant difference across the different stages of exercise change. Self-efficacy has the strongest correlation with the stages of change in exercise behaviour, followed by decisional-balance and processes of change. The present study supported that Transtheoretical model based co-curricular sport program intervention can be used as guide in promoting physical activity or exercise behaviour. From the findings of the current study, It is recommended that co-curricular sport program facilitators/coaches are to be creative and provide a fun and positive sport learning environment in increasing self-efficacy of students in sports participation. Incorporating exercise health knowledge in the co-curricular programme can enhance perceived pros among students, and build up a cooperative sport learning environment that augment student cognitive and behavioural process of change.