Abstract
Background: Low levels of physical activity and obesity have been identified as priority areas for primary prevention of cancer in New Zealand and internationally. Future success in encouraging active lifestyles depends on our depth of understanding of factors that influence physical activity participation. An important area of influence to be considered is the attitudes and beliefs held about increased participation in physical activity. One approach suggests relevant beliefs should be considered in terms of the potential benefits (pros) and costs (cons) perceived to be associated with increasing physical activity, with people being unlikely to increase their participation in physical activity if the cons outweigh the pros.
Aims: The aims of this study were to document perceptions of the pros and cons of increasing physical activity among a cohort of young New Zealand adults and examine differences in those perceptions according to recent vigorous physical activity participation and current physical health status.
Methods: The sample were 980 members of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study cohort who were assessed at age 26 years (1998-99). Measures were obtained of participation in physical activity during the past 4 weeks, perceptions of pros and cons regarding increased participation in physical activity (combined to give a 'decisional balance' score), body weight and shape (BMI and waist-hip ratio), disability and cardio-respiratory fitness (predicted V02max).
Results: Three quarters of study members reported that they would be healthier if they increased their participation in physical activity, and two thirds reported they would feel better about themselves. The most commonly reported barrier to increasing physical activity was the perception that it would result in less time being spent with family and friends. While two thirds of study members had participated in vigorous physical activity over the past four weeks, this participation was not associated with the decisional balance score. Being female, obese and having a mid-range cardiovascular fitness level were associated with perceptions of greater pros than cons with respect to increased physical activity.
Conclusions and implications for health promotion: The majority of the young adults in this sample agreed that there are benefits for health and self-regard from increasing participation in physical activity. The findings, however, suggest that the influences on participation in vigorous physical activity are broader than the selection of pros and cons identified in this study. Further work is needed to identify attitudinal, behavioural and environmental factors that are associated with participation in vigorous physical activity to inform interventions for increasing physical activity participation.