Stages of Exercise Behavior Change in a Digital Wellness Program for Aged People : Relationship With Self-Efficacy for Exercise

Abstract

Sustained physical activity and exercise are central to healthy ageing. Yet, the majority of aged people are insufficiently physically active. Digital wellness technologies are potential in promoting exercise behaviors among aged people, but more detailed research on their potential to promote behavior change is limited. To address this gap, the purpose is to investigate how partaking in a digital wellness program influences the stage of exercise behavior change among aged people and to test whether self-efficacy for exercise can differentiate the program participants in terms of the stages of change. The investigation builds on the stages of exercise behavior change derived from the transtheoretical model of behavior change and on self-efficacy for exercise. The results suggest that partaking in a digital wellness program can be effective in promoting exercise behavior change among aged people and show that self-efficacy for exercise may differentiate aged people at different stages of exercise behavior change.