Changes in Short-Term Attitudes Toward Physical Activity and Exercise of University Personal Wellness Students.

This study examined the attitudes toward physical activity and exercise of university students enrolled in Personal Wellness classes. 1, 625 undergraduate students completed the Attitudes Toward Exercise and Physical Activity (ATEPA) inventory on the first and last day of the class. Paired-samples t test results comparing the mean pretest ATEPA score to the mean posttest score revealed a significant improvement, ([bar.t](1624) = 2.91, [bar.p] ********** Physical inactivity is a major health concern in the United States. While nearly 70% of 12-year olds reported engaging in vigorous physical activity on a regular basis, only 35% of 21-year olds maintained this level (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2000). Research examining this phenomenon has identified several contributing factors. One of the key determinants is attitude (Dzewaltowski, 1994; Noland & Feldman, 1984). Studies have shown that persons with positive attitudes toward physical activity generally exercise more frequently and more intensely than individuals with less positive attitudes (Ennis, 1996; McPherson et al., 1967; Portman, 1995). Though the development of attitudes begins at an early age, many adult behaviors are established during late adolescence (Dishman & Dunn, 1988). Furthermore, because attitudes are not a fixed attribute, they can be changed (Silverman & Subramaniam, 1999). For example, a prolonged positive experience may move the individual toward a more positive attitude. This belief has led many universities to include a physical education or personal wellness requirement with the goal of developing skills and attitudes necessary for implementing positive health-related decisions. However, the effectiveness of these programs to exhibit changes in short-term attitudes has not been sufficiently demonstrated. Mowatt, DePauw, and Hulac (1988) examined the attitudes of 564 students enrolled in elective activity courses. Pre and post tests were administered to experimental classes receiving mini-lecture materials and to control groups. Few significant differences were found on any of the questions. Matthys and Lantz (1998) assessed the pre and post attitudes of 156 university students enrolled in a required eight week activity class. No significant differences were found. In a study of 89 Brazilian college females, Nahas (1992) randomly assigned low-fit subjects to two experimental groups and a control group. Post test scores found significant differences in attitude toward physical activity between the experimental group receiving six 50-minute lectures and the control group. Finally, Twellman, Biggs, and Lantz (2000) investigated 103 students' attitudes before and after completion of a semester long health education course consisting of two days of lecture and three days of activity per week. Results revealed significant improvements in attitude toward exercise. In summary, it appears that research examining short-term attitudes has been inconclusive. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to further investigate the short-term attitudes toward physical activity and exercise of students enrolled in university-required personal wellness courses. Methods Participants 1,995 undergraduate students enrolled in university-required personal wellness courses volunteered for this study. Due to incomplete data, the number of students who dropped the course after the first week, being absent the first or last day of class, or providing incorrect ID numbers; 1,625 participants (81. …