Motivational Profi les and Stages of Exercise Behavior Change

The benefi ts of regular exercise to one’s physical health are widely known. Besides its benefi ts to physical health, exercise is also effective for improvements to both mental health and quality of life [Takenaka, (1998, 1999)]. However, although those benefi ts are recognized, it is not easy to continue regular exercise practices. In Japan, it is less than 30% of the total population those who engage in exercise longer than 30 minutes a day, more than twice a week for one year or longer period of time [Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, Japan, (2002)]. Research has shown that approximately one half of the people who attend an exercise program drop out after several months [Carmody et al., (1980); Dishman, (1981, 1994, 2001); Franklin, (1988); Oldridge, (1979); Ward and Morgan, (1984)]. On the basis of these studies, it is important to obtain the information to support one’s continuous engagement in regular exercise. The theories to alter one’s health behaviors including exercise behaviors in the short term are relatively well known [Bellg, (2003)]. Those theories apply extrinsic reinforcements, such as penalty, compensation, behavioral and social reinforcement, and modeling to behavioral changes. However, it is diffi cult to maintain the long-term behavioral changes based solely on extrinsic reinforcements. Dunn and Rollnick (2003) state that the intrinsic motivation and the autonomous motivation are imperative to maintain preferable health behaviors in the long-term. Therefore, in order to maintain altered health behavior, one’s motivation should be internalized, Motivational Profi les and Stages of Exercise Behavior Change