Theory of planned behavior: Implications for an email-based physical activity intervention

Abstract Objectives A 3-week study was conducted to determine the effect of persuasive messages sent via email on psychological constructs associated with Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and exercise behavior in sedentary college students ( N =170). Methods Participants (105 M; 65 F; 94% Caucasian; 20.2±.9 years) completed the Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ) and self-report measures of the TPB. Participants received persuasive messages every other day for 2 weeks. One randomly assigned group received positively framed messages (PFM; n =57); the other received negatively framed messages (NFM, n =57); and the control group (CG; n =56) received none. Participants completed the GLTEQ and TPB questionnaires following the 2-week treatment phase and again 1 week later. Results ANCOVA results revealed that PFM reported higher exercise behavior levels than both NFM and CG at follow-up ( p p p p p p p p p NFM, NFM>CG, PFM>CG). Conclusions Only positively framed persuasive messages sent via email improved exercise behavior. Both types of messages affected attitude, and intention in sedentary young adults. This research provides useful information for creating interventions to enhance exercise adherence.

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