Physical Activity Stage of Change and Its Related Factors in Secondary School Students of Sarableh City: A Perspective from Iran

BACKGROUND: Physical activity is highly beneficial to health. These benefits are so important and indispensable for adolescents. AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the Physical activity stage of change and its related factors in the male secondary School students of Sarableh city. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 261 male secondary School students possessing the eligibility criteria were selected using the simple random sampling technique. After giving their informed consent, the students filled the stage of change questionnaire and the structures of the transtheoretical model in a self-reporting manner. Using SPSS.21, the data were analysed through One-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation test with a 0.05 level of significance. RESULTS: The mean age of the students was 16.16±0.89 years. According to the stage of change, 26.8 per cent (n = 70) were in preaction stages (precontemplation, contemplation, and preparation) and 73.2 per cent (n = 191) were in action and maintenance stages. The one-way ANOVA revealed that awareness is raising, self-reevaluation, counter conditioning and reinforcing management differed significantly across stages (P < 0.05). However, this difference is not significant for other cognitive and behavioural processes (P > 0.05). According to the findings, increase in the self-efficacy, pros and decrease in cons was found by students’ progress in the Physical activity stage of change (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Self-efficacy and processes of change are warranted when designing Physical activity stage interventions in the adolescents.