Exercise and Its Relation to Self Efficacy Based on Stages of Change Model in Employees of Yazd in 2008

Background & Aims: Despite advantages of exercise most employees in various countries do not exercise adequately. Transtheoretical model has been identified as a comprehensive model for behavior change and self efficacy is regarded as a fundamental structure of this model. Hence, in this study, the situation of exercise in comployees of Yazd according to the Transtheoretical Model and its relation with self efficacy have been evaluated. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 220 employees of Yazd offices were selected by two-stage cluster sampling. In order to gather information a questionnaire with acceptable validity and reliability consisting of demographic data and constructs of model and self efficacy was used. Data analysis was performed with SPSS. Results: In whole, 152 males and 68 females with mean age of 348.68 years were participated. From 220 cases, 44 ones were in precontemplation stage, 88 ones in contemplation, 30 ones in preparation stage, 16 ones in action stage and 42 ones were in maintenance stage. There were significant differences between self efficacy and variables of stages of change (P=0.0001), sex (P=0.01), and education (P=0.005) Conclusion: According to this study, self efficacy plays an important role in exercise behavior and any improvement of self efficacy level requires support of the related institutions such as the Physical Education Organization and universities.