Application of the Transtheoretical Model to Identify Physical Activity-Related Psychological Variables in Disabled Adults

OBJECTIVES The current study aimed at identifying the theoretical relation of the transtheoretical model (TTM) to explain physical activity in Korean adults with physical disabilities. METHODS A total of 194 participants ( Age Mean = 48.65 years) were voluntarily recruited for this study. Dissemination sources for participant recruitment included: (a) a press release issued through the authors’ university; (b) recruitment flyers posted on various websites (e.g., Independent Living Centers, Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers, Veteran’s Administration Hospitals); and (c) announcements made through and in conjunction with the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Health and Wellness consortium members. Through these procedures, 194 adults (80.83%) completed the survey form; there were 113 males (58.3%) and 81 females (41.7%). The remaining 46 (19.17%) were excluded because they did not complete the survey form or return. RESULTS Results indicated that the TTM constructs assessed were significantly (P < 0.001) associated with the stages of change for physical activity. The largest portion of variance was derived from the behavioral processes of change (ƞ² = .40), followed by self-efficacy (ƞ² = .30), the pros for exercise (ƞ² = .19), the cognitive processes of change and the cons for exercise (ƞ2 = .16, respectively). Moreover, four discriminant functions (i.e., composite scores of the predictors) were produced in the first DDF analysis. These accounted for 71.0% (Wilks’ Λ = .31, χ² [56] = 368.04, P < .001), 20.9% (Wilks’ Λ = .66, χ² [39] = 129.91, P < 0.001), 6.3% (Wilks’ Λ = .88, χ² [24] = 39.39, P < 0.05), and 1.8% (Wilks’ Λ = .97, χ² [11] = 9.04, P = .62), respectively, of the betweengroup (stage of change) variability. CONCLUSIONS The results provide further cross-sectional support for the internal validity of the transtheoretical model, as the processes of change, self-efficacy, and decisional balance were important variables of a stage of change for physical activity, Additionally, the study is in general agreement with existing evidence among nondisabled populations and, therefore, it supports the external validation of TTM to a unique and understudied population segment.