The impact of physical fitness evaluation on behavioural intentions towards regular exercise

The Fishbein model was used to assess the impact of physical fitness evaluation with subsequent counselling by professional staff on individual intentions to exercise regularly. The subjects for this study were 172 self-selected adults seeking an evaluation of their current physical fitness. Experimental subjects were given a sequence of fitness testing and counselling; however, this did not significantly change the intention to exercise relative to control subjects. The only significant differences in intentions to exercise regularly were found (i) between subjects differing in fitness level (p less than .002), and (ii) between subjects differing in current exercise behaviour (p less than .001). Thirty-five percent (35%) of the variance in intentions to exercise were explained by a combination of (i) the two components of the Fishbein model (attitude and social norm) and (ii) an index of current physical activity. Since most of our subjects reported a positive intention to exercise, the most appropriate tactic for an increase of community activity may be to initiate policy changes facilitating behaviour in accordance with existing attitudes.