Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

12-1985

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Major Professor

Bill C. Wallace

Committee Members

B. Don Franks, Charles Hamilton, Charles Thompson

Abstract

It is generally accepted that regular physical activity plays an important role in maintaining optimal health. Lifestyles of today are not conducive to obtaining levels of activity great enough to produce desired physiological changes. Therefore, leisure time exercise programs must be adopted, at a sufficient intensity, duration and frequency to achieve beneficial results. A change from a relatively sedentary existence to a physically active one is a major behavioral adaptation for most individuals. The challenge for health and physical educators is to develop and utilize strategies that are effective in influencing individuals to incorporate and maintain physical activity into their daily routine.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of two programs, that is, health instruction and counseling, on adherence of women to an exercise program. Sixty-eight women enrolled in various exercise classes at local Y.M.C.A.'s were divided into the following groups: (1) dance instruction, (2) dance counseling, (3) fitness instruction, (4) fitness counseling, (5) control dance, and (6) control fitness. The treatment sessions were conducted at the end of exercise class. The health instruction program consisted of minilectures on topics relating to physiology of exercise, beneficial effects of regular activity, advice on practical aspects of exercise, and related health issues. The counseling program involved learning behavior change techniques by targeting a behavior, exploring and implementing ways of changing the target behavior, developing a long range exercise program and committing to its adoption. Data were obtained using a questionnaire at pre-treatment collection and follow-up contact by phone at 6 and 10 months post-treatment.

Level of leisure time physical activity was determined by calculating the caloric expenditure for all activities reported. Comparisons were made between all groups on activity levels, frequency, duration, intensity, as well as other influential factors and demographic variables, at three data collection points using one-way Analysis of Variance and Chi-square to test for significant differences. It was found that the dance counseling group expended significantly more calories and exercised at greater intensity than fitness control group at 6 months post-treatment, and dance control and fitness control at 10 months post-treatment. These differences in activity level could not be explained by differences found on any other variable.

It was concluded that based on the groups used in this study, the health instruction program utilized had no influence on adherence. A behavior-influencing program may be helpful in affecting adherence, although other factors must be considered, such as, the type of exercise chosen.

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