Does Stage of Exercise Behavior Predict College Students’ Perceptions of Framed Persuasive Messages about Exercise?  
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  4. 2020 - Kent State University Undergraduate Symposium on Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity
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  6. Does Stage of Exercise Behavior Predict College Students’ Perceptions of Framed Persuasive Messages about Exercise?  
Author(s)
Abstract
Purpose: Interventions tailored to a person’s stage of change (SOC) tend to more effectively promote behavior change by considering individuals’ readiness to perform a particular health behavior. The present study tested whether college students’ perceptions of persuasive messages depended on their stage of exercise behavior. Procedure: After reporting their stage of exercise behavior, participants (n=225) were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 conditions in which they read a short message describing either short-term affective (STAM) or long-term cognitive (LTCM) benefits of regular exercise. The STAM listed mental health benefits that could be gained immediately during or following exercise (e.g., fewer depression symptoms). The LTCM listed physical health benefits that may occur years in the future (e.g., lower disease risk). Results: A series of 3x2 (SOC x Message) ANOVAs were conducted. Contrary to hypotheses, there were no significant (i.e., p<.05) interaction effects for message effectiveness, F(2, 225)=1.43, p=.243, message relevance, F(2, 225)=.076, p=.927, or perceived argument strength, F(2, 225)=1.51, p=.224, and no significant main effects of Message. In contrast to the null effects, a main effect of SOC indicated that participants who were currently exercising rated both messages as stronger than those in non-exercising stages, F(2, 225)=4.63, p=.011, with no significant effects on any other DVs. Conclusions: College students rated messages emphasizing cognitive or affective benefits of exercise as equally relevant and effective, with no differences based on previous exercise behavior. Future research should continue to explore how best to tailor exercise recommendations.
Format
Conference Proceeding
Contributor(s)
Faculty Mentor
Jennifer Taber
Modified Abstract

Purpose: The present study aimed to examine whether college students’ perceptions of messages describing cognitive versus affective benefits of regular exercise depends on their stage of exercise behavior. Procedure: After completing a measure of stage of exercise behavior, participants (n=225) were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 conditions in which they read a short message describing either short-term affective (STAM; e.g., fewer depression symptoms) or long-term cognitive (LTCM; e.g., lower disease risk) benefits of regular exercise. Results: Contrary to our hypotheses, neither SOC, Message, or their interaction had significant effects on message effectiveness, relevance, or perceived argument strength. Conclusions: Future research should continue to explore how best to tailor exercise recommendations.
Permalink https://oaks.kent.edu/ugresearch/2020/psychology/does-stage-exercise-behavior-predict-college-students-perceptions-framed
Neville, S. (n.d.). Does Stage of Exercise Behavior Predict College Students’ Perceptions of Framed Persuasive Messages about Exercise?   (1–). https://oaks.kent.edu/node/10230
Neville, Steven. n.d. “Does Stage of Exercise Behavior Predict College Students’ Perceptions of Framed Persuasive Messages about Exercise?  ”. https://oaks.kent.edu/node/10230.
Neville, Steven. Does Stage of Exercise Behavior Predict College Students’ Perceptions of Framed Persuasive Messages about Exercise?  . https://oaks.kent.edu/node/10230.