The role of irrational beliefs in the sport behavior of female student in different stages of exercise behavior change

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between irrational beliefs and sport behavior and also prediction of the stage of behavior of individuals based on constructs of irrational belief.

Number of 190 students of Damghan University were selected with random clustering method. Research instruments include the Ahvaz Irrational Beliefs )2005) questionnaire, Stages of Exercise Behavior Change Scale )Cardinal, 1997) and Shephard´s method )for assess sport behavior). Multiple linear regression and diagnostic regression analysis were used to predict the sport behavior and behavioral stage of the individuals based on the constructs of irrational belief, respectively.

The results showed significant negative correlation between irrational beliefs and sport behavior )r= -0.398, p= 0.001). The predictive model of constructs of irrational belief based on sport behavior was significant )F= 3.97, p= 0.004). Helplessness against change and avoidance of the problem could predict changes of the sport behavior. The diagnostic function categorized 45.3% of participants in the stages of behavior change correctly.

The results of this research clearly showed that irrational beliefs are related to inactivity; and its structures )helplessness against change and avoidance of the problem) play a major role in classifying people in different stages of behavior change.