What are the phases of change in exercise behaviors (EB), and factors affecting exercise behaviors (EB) of male workers in a workplace setting?

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the phases of change of exercise among male workers and to analyze the factors affecting their EB using Information-Motivation-Behavioral skill-Revealed Related Variables (IMBR) model. The study included 163 male workers from a major Hyundai Transys company, Seosan city. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and hierarchical regression etc. Regarding the phases of change in exercise, 135 individuals (82.8%) were classified into phase 3 (preparation phase), phase 4 (action phase), and phase 5 (maintenance phase). In the first step, factors such as health status (β = 0.26 , p < 0.001), smoking (β = 0.16, p= 0.005), number of exercises per week (β = 0.35, p < 0.001), times of each exercise (β = 0.17, p = 0.005), and phases of change in exercise (β = 0.17, p = 0.014) were identified as significant factors affecting EB. In the second step, health status (β = 0.19, p = 0.001), smoking (β = −0.13, p = 0.019), number of exercises per week (β = 0.31, p < 0.001), phases of change in exercise (β = 0.13, p = 0.034), and sport commitment (β = 0.16, p = 0.019) were identified as significant factors. In the third step, health status (β = 0.27, p < 0.001), number of exercises per week (β = 0.14, p = 0.005), and exercise self-efficacy (β = 0.39, p < 0.001) were identified as significant factors, explaining 68.3% of the variance in EB. To promote EB, it’s important to assess the phases of change in exercise and consider factors such as health status, smoking, the number of exercises per week and the duration of each exercise. Interventions that enhance sport commitment and exercise self-efficacy should be considered. It’s recommended to apply IMBR model in exercise studies for workers.