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Abstract This study evaluated the effectiveness of online, stage-based materials on exercise behavior and stage of readiness to change. Participants (n=525) were assigned to a stage-based group, an action-message group, or a control group. Seven-day physical activity, occupational and leisure activity, exercise self-efficacy, and stage of readiness to change were assessed at baseline and 6 weeks. The action-message group demonstrated significant increases in leisure time activity, occupational activity, and daily energy expenditure estimated from a 7-day recall. The stage-based message group demonstrated significant increases in leisure time activity only. All three groups demonstrated small improvements in stage of readiness to change. In a 6-week, online intervention, stage-based messages were less effective than action messages.
Hager et al. (Sun,) studied this question.