Decisional balance and self-efficacy of physical activity among the elderly in Rasht in 2013 based on the transtheoretical model

BACKGROUND Regular physical activity has been considered as health promotion, and identifying different effective psycho-social variables on physical has proven to be essential. OBJECTIVE To identify the relationship between decisional balance and self-efficacy in physical activities using the transtheoretical model in the members of a retirement center in Rasht, Guillen. METHODS A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2013 by using convenient sampling on 262 elderly people who are the members of retirement centers in Rasht. Data were collected using Stages of change, Decisional balance, Self-efficacy and Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE). Data was analyzed using SPSS-16 software, descriptive and analytic statistic (Pearson correlation, Spearman, ANOVA, HSD Tukey, linear and ordinal regression). RESULTS The majority of participants were in maintenance stage. Mean and standard deviation physical activity for the elderly was 119.35±51.50. Stages of change and physical activities were significantly associated with decisional balance and self-efficacy (p<0.0001); however, cons had a significant and reverse association. According to linear and ordinal regression the only predicator variable of physical activity behavior was self-efficacy. CONCLUSION By increase in pros and self-efficacy on doing physical activity, it can be benefited in designing appropriate intervention programs.