Transtheoretical Model
Introduction
The relationship between exercise and mental health: reducing stress
College students are among a significant population who experience extremely high levels of stress. According to the CDC one out of five college students have reported being stressed (CDC, 2012). The pressures of being a successful student and maintaining good grades along with juggling work, extracurricular activities, and a social life, are all factors that cause increased levels of stress and anxiety among college students.
Research shows that people who undergo chronic stress have higher risks of developing major mental health implications such as higher levels of anxiety and depression to the extent where it can significantly damage their daily-life …show more content…
Also known as the stages of change model, the main theme of this model suggests that a change in behavior is not understood as a single event, but as a process and that when a person attempts to make a behavior change, they will go through multiple stages (Rimer, Glanz, & NCI, 2005). The five stages of change include: pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance. The stages of change model is like a cycle, not a linear model, in which people may start the process of change at any given stage and then may take a step back to a previous stage (relapse) and have to start over. This theory informs our hypothesis that increased levels of physical activity will reduce levels of stress because previous research has proven that the transtheoretical model, which has been applied to numerous health behaviors such as diet, weight control and exercise, is successfully effective in increasing levels of physical activity (Jackson, Asimakopoulou, & Scammell, 2007). Since previous studies show a positive association between physical activity and overall better mental health, this theory can be used to support efforts (such as coming up with strategies for interventions) in order to increase the amount of physical activity college students engage in, with the aim of ultimately improving their mood and stress levels. We are testing this theory with our hypothesis by examining …show more content…
We will be conducting a survey by having students at Cal State Fullerton from the classes Dr. Espinoza conducts as well as colleagues from other classes answer a survey questionnaire. Being that one out of five college students have reported feeling stressed (CDC, 2012) we will make a detailed survey that will help us determine the underlying factors and main stressors that increase the average college students stress level. Our survey will take approximately five to ten minutes to complete and will be anonymous. However, we will ask students to write their class status on the survey which will help us to determine if stress levels overall increase, decrease or remain the same the longer the participants have been enrolled in
The relationship between exercise and mental health: reducing stress
College students are among a significant population who experience extremely high levels of stress. According to the CDC one out of five college students have reported being stressed (CDC, 2012). The pressures of being a successful student and maintaining good grades along with juggling work, extracurricular activities, and a social life, are all factors that cause increased levels of stress and anxiety among college students.
Research shows that people who undergo chronic stress have higher risks of developing major mental health implications such as higher levels of anxiety and depression to the extent where it can significantly damage their daily-life …show more content…
Also known as the stages of change model, the main theme of this model suggests that a change in behavior is not understood as a single event, but as a process and that when a person attempts to make a behavior change, they will go through multiple stages (Rimer, Glanz, & NCI, 2005). The five stages of change include: pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance. The stages of change model is like a cycle, not a linear model, in which people may start the process of change at any given stage and then may take a step back to a previous stage (relapse) and have to start over. This theory informs our hypothesis that increased levels of physical activity will reduce levels of stress because previous research has proven that the transtheoretical model, which has been applied to numerous health behaviors such as diet, weight control and exercise, is successfully effective in increasing levels of physical activity (Jackson, Asimakopoulou, & Scammell, 2007). Since previous studies show a positive association between physical activity and overall better mental health, this theory can be used to support efforts (such as coming up with strategies for interventions) in order to increase the amount of physical activity college students engage in, with the aim of ultimately improving their mood and stress levels. We are testing this theory with our hypothesis by examining …show more content…
We will be conducting a survey by having students at Cal State Fullerton from the classes Dr. Espinoza conducts as well as colleagues from other classes answer a survey questionnaire. Being that one out of five college students have reported feeling stressed (CDC, 2012) we will make a detailed survey that will help us determine the underlying factors and main stressors that increase the average college students stress level. Our survey will take approximately five to ten minutes to complete and will be anonymous. However, we will ask students to write their class status on the survey which will help us to determine if stress levels overall increase, decrease or remain the same the longer the participants have been enrolled in