Angelica Arriola

HLED 242

12/3/15

Transtheoretical Model: Aerobic Physical Activity

The target population for my program component is designed for males and females
between the ages of 25 and 64 years old. All races and ethnicities were included for the target
population. Specifically, we focused on these adults who were in the school and/or business
setting, and our goal was to get them to meet the recommended amount of moderate-intensity
physical activity. According to the CDC, the recommended amount was 150 minutes a week.
This particular group of people needs to be targeted because they have the least time to exercise
since they are very busy with their work lives. Not only are they busy, but they may be
intimidated by the amount of time needed in order to be healthy.

According to the CDC, less than half of adults met the recommended guidelines in the
United States in 2011. It seems that more men than women participate in aerobic physical
activity, as well as non-Hispanic whites more than non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanic adults
(CDC, 2014). Because of these statistics, we chose to concentrate on working adults in the US to
try and help them meet the recommended 150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week.

My group selected the Transtheoretical Model and I am focusing on the stage of

Contemplation. The Transtheoretical Model is most widely used in conjunction to explaining
why people do a certain behavior. It is made up of Stages of Change, which include
Precontemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, and Maintenance. My main focus,
Contemplation, is the stage in which people are thinking of change, but not necessarily in the
near future. It may range anywhere from 1 month to 6 months before they start any type of
change. Recommended strategies for changing this construct to encourage aerobic activity
include Self-Reevaluation and increasing the pros while decreasing the cons. Some other
strategies that might be considered may be Social Liberation, Consciousness Raising,
Environmental Reevaluation, and Dramatic Relief.

Experts recommend that health promotion practitioners modify the Contemplation stage
by making use of Self-reevaluation, which uses assessments of ones self-image doing an
unhealthy habit and not doing an unhealthy diet. The program must help people realize that
changing their behavior is important to their life and overall health. To do this, they may use
imagery, healthier role models to exemplify how to lead healthy lives, and discuss with them
what their personal values are. This whole process is very important in helping a person get to
the next stage of change. According to a study done by Abbasi Shaye, it is important to know
what factors motivate people as it will help in trying to assess the individuals readiness for
change.
 Strategies and activities that could be used to change the minds of those in Contemplation
might include talking to the administrator (or whoever is in charge) at the schools or businesses
and asking to speak to their faculty about our program. We would go to them at their facilities,
and try to speak to them while they are at work, taking 10 minutes of their time to show them
what our program is about. It would be a short incentive to get out of work. The short session
will get them interested in what the program has to offer. Free pedometers would be given out to
help promote fitness and spark interest. The free pedometers would support healthy behavior
change. The short session will touch on Consciousness Raising, as it will bring up facts about
their community that ring true with them. To help make the pros outweigh the cons, the short
session will show a short video (using imagery) that will have a demonstration of teachers and
parents, who are role models to their children and students, leading an unhealthy sedentary life.
The children start to follow their example, which leaves our target population to think about their
life. At the end, the video will show how 150 minutes of exercise each week can help them
become healthier and better role models for their children and students. This will hopefully get
them thinking about how their lifestyle can affect those around them, which taps into
Environmental Reevaluation. If they see they are able to have a positive impact on others by
getting the recommended aerobic physical activity per week, they will be more willing to change
their behaviors.
REFERENCES

http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/gjhs/article/view/46880/25543