Attitudes, Beliefs, Behavioral Intentions, and Behaviors of Women and Men toward Regular Jogging

Abstract Fishbein's Behavioral Intention Model was examined in a study of the beliefs, attitudes, and behavioral intentions of women and men toward regular jogging. Data were collected from 296 female and male joggers and nonexercisers who were 30 years of age and older using a mail questionnaire which was constructed according to Fishbein's specifications. Significant and meaningful differences were found between joggers' and nonexercisers' beliefs. Nonexercisers thought jogging would require too much discipline, take too much time, and make them too tired. Joggers were more likely than nonexercisers to believe that regular jogging would have positive effects, and joggers evaluated being in good physical and mental condition more positively than nonexercisers. Nonexercisers indicated it was unlikely their referents (particularly physicians) thought they should jog regularly. The results supported the theory upon which the model was based: the relationship between the intention to jog and jogging behavior was high (r = .82) and behavioral intention was predicted from an attitudinal and a normative component alone (R = .742). The results of the study suggest that educators can develop behavior change strategies by focusing on change of beliefs and attitudes identifiable through the model.