EXERCISE STAGES OF CHANGE AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TAKING FITNESS AND SPORT SKILLS COURSES

Changes in university students' exercise behavior were investigated based on a model of exercise stages of change. The participants were 221 male students taking 16-wk. physical education courses in fitness (n=115) or sport skills (n=106). On the first and final days of classes, each student completed a questionnaire on exercise stage change, which assessed motivational readiness for exercise. In the posttest, more participants in the fitness course (74%) had stage progression than those in the sport skills course (33%). Many participants in the sport skills course (29%) reported stage stability as did those in the fitness course (25%). Stage regression was reported by 42% of students in the sport skills course and by 5% of students in the fitness course.