Factors Associated with Physical Activity Based On the Stages of Change Model among Health Volunteers in Rasht

Despite the many benefits of physical activity, sedentary lifestyle is still a public health problem among women. This study was conducted to identify factors associated with physical activity based on Stages of Change Model as one of the most effective models of behavior study among health volunteers in Rasht in 2014. In this cross-sectional study, all of the active health volunteers in Rasht (N=176) completed the self-administered questionnaire consisting of 3 parts: demographic information, validated questionnaire of stages of change model constructs, and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-long form). Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, Correlation and regression through SPSS 18. Intensity of physical activity among health volunteers was respectively 10.2%, 61.4% and 28.4% in low, moderate and severe level. Among the structures of Stages of Change Model, self-efficacy (β = 0.2) and Cons (β = 0.17), had predictive power on the promotion of physical activity (p <0.05). 17% were in the pre-contemplation stage, 10.3% were in the contemplation stage, 17.6% in the preparation stage, 12.5% were in the action stage, and 42.6% were in the maintenance stage of regular physical activity. Since most of the health volunteers were in the middle-ages, and also the majority of them had moderate physical activity, appropriate for their age, therefore, due to the effective constructs (self-efficacy and Cons), it is necessary that these constructs to be strengthened in order to maintain the moderate level of physical activity in this group.