Walk to Health

This study examined the differences between the levels of exercise among university graduate and undergraduate students. A convenience sample of 137 students were assigned to two groups. Group A received instructions about the program with a pedometer and log sheet and told to focus on an exercise goal. Group B received the same material but without a goal. The two groups were compared on the transtheoretical model's five stages of change. Exercises for strenuous, moderate, and mild activity were compared with the pretest and posttest from the Godden-Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire. Analyses indicated that a walking program inspired graduate and undergraduate students to self-monitor their progress. At pretest, there was no distribution of performance toward increasing exercise across the five stages of change for students. However, at posttest, students in Group A with a goal were more likely to engage in mild (p<0.05) and moderate (p<0.05) exercise. Differences in strenuous physical activity were unsupported.