Does knowledge of physical activity recommendations increase physical activity among Chinese college students? Empirical investigations based on the transtheoretical model

Abstract

BackgroundBased on the transtheoretical model, the current study investigated whether awareness of physical activity (PA) recommendations had an impact on the stages of PA behavior change and levels of PA among Chinese college students.MethodsIn Study 1, with a cross-sectional study design, 9826 students were recruited, and their knowledge of international PA recommendations, PA stage distribution, and self-reported PA level were surveyed. Pearson's χ2 test was used to test whether those participants who were aware and not aware of PA guidelines were equally distributed across the stages of PA behavior, and independent t test was conducted to test the group difference in the actual levels of PA. In Study 2, 279 students who were not aware of the PA recommendations were randomly allocated to either an intervention group or a control group, and only those in the intervention group were presented with international PA guidelines. In both groups, students' PA stages and PA level were examined before the test and then 4 months post-test. McNemar's test for correlated proportions and repeated-measures analysis of variance were conducted to examine the changes in PA stage membership and PA level after the intervention.ResultsStudy 1 results revealed that only 4.4% of the surveyed students had correct knowledge of PA recommendations. Those who were aware of the recommendations were in later stages of PA behavior (χ2(4) = 167.19, p < 0.001). They were also significantly more physically active than those who were not aware of the recommendations (t(443.71) = 9.00, p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.53). Study 2 results demonstrated that the intervention group participants who were at the precontemplation and contemplation stages at the pre-test each progressed further in the PA stages in the post-test (χ2(1) = 112.06, p < 0.001; χ2(1) = 118.76, p = 0.03, respectively), although no significant change in PA level was observed (t(139) < 1, p = 0.89).ConclusionThe results showed that awareness of the PA recommendations was associated with higher stages and levels of PA behavior, and a brief educational exposure to PA recommendations led to improved stages of PA behavior but no change in the levels of PA among Chinese college students. More effective public health campaign strategies are needed to promote the dissemination of the PA recommendations and to raise the awareness of the Chinese student population.

Understanding Contemplators’ Knowledge and Awareness of the Physical Activity Guidelines

“…Prior research has shown that individuals meeting the physical activity recommendations are more likely to be knowledgeable about them. 15,20 This study focused only on contemplators-as those who reported getting regular physical activity were excluded, the focus was on those that would potentially benefit most from targeted messages that support and encourage them to meet the guidelines. Only 12% of participants had a high score for knowledge of physical activity and dosage recommendations, quantified as correctly answering 5 to 7 questions.…”

“…One contributing factor is knowledge or awareness of the benefits of regular physical activity. 15,20 Individuals of racial/ ethnic minorities, individuals with less than a high school education, those with a lower household income, and those with a disability had lower overall knowledge of physical activity and dosage recommendations than white respondents, individuals with 4 years of college or more, those with a household income over $150,000, and those without a disability, respectively. The same pattern was true for awareness of the guidelines-individuals with less than a high school education, those with a lower household income, and those with a disability were less likely to be aware of the guidelines than individuals with 4 years of college or more, those with a household income over $150,000, and those without a disability, respectively.…”

Strategizing for social change in nonprofit contexts: A typology of communication approaches in public communication campaigns

“…Similarly, Abula et al () show in a recent health campaign study that educating people results in a stronger intention to pursue an active lifestyle (p. 81). However, their findings also indicate that educational communication approaches help people in the earlier stages to progress “but not those in preparation, action, or maintenance stages” (Abula et al, , p. 81).…”

“…In an encompassing review of public communication campaigns, Bess, Neville, Forsyth, Cavill, and Fridinger (1998) find evidence that educational communication approaches successfully improved attitudes towards physical activity (p. 373). Similarly, Abula et al (2018) show in a recent health campaign study that educating people results in a stronger intention to pursue an active lifestyle (p. 81). However, their findings also indicate that educational communication approaches help people in the earlier stages to progress "but not those in preparation, action, or maintenance stages" (Abula et al, 2018, p. 81).…”

“…Accordingly, public communication campaigns are required to build awareness and a basic knowledge of a social problem. This also means to recall and understand the underlying causes, the resulting (personal) implications as well as the promoted “solutions” to it (Abula, Gröpel, Chen, & Beckmann, , p. 78; Bauman, Smith, Maibach, & Reger‐Nash, , p. 312; Potter, , p. 283; Slater, , p. 351).…”