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Does Stage of Exercise Behavior Predict College Students' Perceptions of Framed Persuasive Messages about Exercise?

Neville, Steven P
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2749-3055
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1586780323700907

Abstract Details

2020, BA, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychological Sciences.
Interventions tailored to a person's stage of change (SOC) tend to more effectively promote behavior change by considering individual's readiness to perform a particular health behavior. The present study tested whether college students' perceptions of persuasive messages depended on their stage of exercise behavior. After reporting their stage of exercise behavior, participants (n=225) were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 conditions in which they read a short message describing either short-term affective (STAM) or long-term cognitive (LTCM) benefits of regular exercise. The STAM listed mental health benefits that could be gained immediately during or following exercise (e.g., fewer depression symptoms). The LTCM listed physical health benefits that may occur years in the future (e.g., lower disease risk). A series of 3x2 (SOC x Message) ANOVAs were conducted. Contrary to hypotheses, there were no significant (i.e.,'p<.05) interaction effects for message effectiveness, F(2, 225)=1.43, p=.243, message relevance, F(2, 225)=.076, p=.927, or perceived argument strength, F(2, 225)=1.51, p=.224, and no significant main effects of Message. In contrast to the null effects, a main effect of SOC indicated that participants who were currently exercising rated both messages as stronger than those in non-exercising stages, F(2, 225)=4.63, p=.011, with no significant effects on any other DVs. College students rated messages emphasizing cognitive or affective benefits of exercise as equally relevant and effective, with no differences based on previous exercise behavior. Future research should continue to explore how best to tailor exercise recommendations.
Jennifer Taber, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Amy Sato, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Elizabeth Howard, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Nichole Egbert, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
39 p.
Psychology
health psychology; exercise; transtheoretical model; message framing; stages of change

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Neville, S. P. (2020). Does Stage of Exercise Behavior Predict College Students' Perceptions of Framed Persuasive Messages about Exercise? [Undergraduate thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1586780323700907

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Neville, Steven. Does Stage of Exercise Behavior Predict College Students' Perceptions of Framed Persuasive Messages about Exercise? . 2020. Kent State University, Undergraduate thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1586780323700907.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Neville, Steven. "Does Stage of Exercise Behavior Predict College Students' Perceptions of Framed Persuasive Messages about Exercise? ." Undergraduate thesis, Kent State University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1586780323700907

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ksuhonors1586780323700907
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This open access ETD is published by Kent State University Honors College and OhioLINK.