Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2007 Nov 8:4:53.
doi: 10.1186/1479-5868-4-53.

A cross-sectional study of awareness of physical activity: associations with personal, behavioral and psychosocial factors

Esther Mf van Sluijs  1 , Simon J Griffin, Mireille Nm van Poppel
Affiliations

A cross-sectional study of awareness of physical activity: associations with personal, behavioral and psychosocial factors

Esther Mf van Sluijs et al. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. .

Abstract

Background: Interventions to promote physical activity frequently target hypothesized mediators of change, but these might be affected by a person's awareness of their own physical activity behavior. The paper aims to characterize a high-risk population by levels of awareness and to study associations between awareness and selected personal, behavioral and psychosocial factors.

Methods: Data were collected on physical activity behavior, physical activity awareness, behavioral and psychosocial factors and anthropometry cross-sectionally at 6-month follow-up in a physical activity promotion trial. Awareness was assessed by comparing dichotomous self-rated physical activity with achieving activity levels according to international guidelines. Four groups were distinguished: 'Realistic Active', 'Realistic Inactive', 'Overestimator', and 'Underestimator'. Data were analyzed with ANCOVA, correcting for previous interventions and current physical activity level.

Results: Of 632 participants (mean age: 56.3 years), 321 were inactive, 61.4% of whom rated themselves as active ('Overestimators'). Compared to 'Realistic Inactives', 'Overestimators' were older, less likely to be smokers or to intend to increase their physical activity level, and had a lower body mass index. Furthermore, 'Overestimators' had similar scores to the 'Realistic Actives' on the psychological factors, but differed significantly from the 'Realistic Inactives'.

Conclusion: People who overestimate their physical activity level appear to be healthier than people who aware of their low activity level. Overestimators also scored more positively on various psychosocial factors and were also less likely to intend to change their physical activity behavior, making awareness a potential barrier in physical activity promotion. Physical activity promotion strategies might include interventions with a focus on increasing awareness in this hard to reach population.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Classification of participants into categories of awareness (N = 632).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Murray CJL, Lopez AD. Book The global burden of disease. City: Harvard School of Public Health; 1996. The global burden of disease.
    1. Blair SN, Brodney S. Effects of physical inactivity and obesity on morbidity and mortality: current evidence and research issues. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999;31:S646–662. doi: 10.1097/00005768-199911001-00025. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Wareham NJ, Wong MY, Day NE. Glucose intolerance and physical inactivity: the relative importance of low habitual energy expenditure and cardiorespiratory fitness. Am J Epidemiol. 2000;152:132–139. doi: 10.1093/aje/152.2.132. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Wannamethee SG, Shaper AG. Physical activity in the prevention of cardiovascular disease: an epidemiological perspective. Sports Med. 2001;31:101–114. doi: 10.2165/00007256-200131020-00003. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Pate RR, Pratt M, Blair SN, Haskell WL, Macera CA, Bouchard C, Buchner D, Ettinger W, Heath GW, King AC, et al. Physical activity and public health. A recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine. Jama. 1995;273:402–407. doi: 10.1001/jama.273.5.402. - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources