Abstract
This study examined hypothesized predictors of exercise and sport behavior for both men
and women over a 2-year and 6-year timespan. In 2002, in K city of H prefecture, 7,473 men
and women aged 20 years or older were randomly selected through gender-stratified sampling
to receive mailed questionnaires. A total of 1,239 men and women agreed to participate in the
longitudinal study and respond to a follow-up survey either two or six years after the mailing of
the original questionnaire. Excluding non-responses, data from 415 participants (responding to the
2004 follow-up survey) and 240 participants (responding to the 2008 follow-up survey) were used
for analysis. Predictive variables (data gathered in the 2002 questionnaire) were measurements of
intentions, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control regarding exercise and
sport, all selected based on concepts from the theory of planned behavior. Dependent variables
were chosen to be frequency of exercise and sport behavior, measured in the 2004 and 2008
follow-up surveys. Data were separated by gender and analyzed using covariance structure
analysis. Results of the study suggested that the ability of such factors as intention and perceived
behavioral control regarding exercise and sport to predict the frequency of exercise and sport
activity after intervals of two and six years differed depending on both the interval length and
gender.
