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This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2007.123075v1 98/5/897    most recent Submit a response Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Garber, C. E. Articles by Lapane, K. L. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Garber, C. E. Articles by Lapane, K. L. Related Collections Epidemiology Exercise/Physical Activity Surveillance

Carol Ewing Garber, PhD, Jenifer E. Allsworth, PhD, Bess H. Marcus, PhD, Jana Hesser, PhD and Kate L. Lapane, PhD

At the time of the study, Carol Ewing Garber was with the Department of Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI. Jenifer E. Allsworth and Kate L. Lapane were with the Department of Community Health, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence. Bess H. Marcus was with the Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, Miriam Hospital, Providence, and the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence. Jana Hesser was with the Office of Health Statistics, Rhode Island Department of Health, Providence, and the Department of Community Health, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Carol Ewing Garber, PhD, Teachers College, Columbia University, 525 W 120th St, Box 199, New York, NY 10027 (e-mail: garber{at}tc.columbia.edu).

Objectives. We sought to identify variables associated with being in a particular stage of change for physical activity—a measure of behavioral intention to engage in regular physical activity. Understanding behavioral intentions can be useful in explaining why individuals are physically inactive or active.

Methods. Data from the Rhode Island 2000 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were used to evaluate predictors of stage of change for physical activity. There were 3454 observations in the data set, representing a weighted population of 742636 people. Estimates were obtained from polytomous multiple logistic models.

Results. Being a woman, Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, and older than 55 years of age were associated with being in precontemplation and contemplation stages of change rather than maintenance. Self-perceived health status and rarely feeling healthy or full of energy were strongly predictive of stage of change. Having a health limitation was a dichotomous predictor, predicting being in action and precontemplation stages.

Conclusions. Several sociodemographic and health variables were associated with varying patterns of stages of change for physical activity. The complexity of individual intentions for physical activity provides evidence for the potential existence of mediating, effect-modifying, and confounding variables that differ depending on individual characteristics.