Learning Objective #1: Discuss the effect of a structured leisure-time walking (LTW) program on walking outcome expectancy perceptions in midlife women, who adopt and maintain LTW behavior

Learning Objective #2: List two limitations of this study

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This study used a self-efficay based intervention that tested the effect of a leisure-time walking (LTW) program on walking outcome expectancy perceptions in healthy midlife women, between the ages of 30-50, who adopted and maintained short-term LTW behavior. The sample consisted of healthy mid-life women (31) adopters , and (19) maintainers, who participated in a leisure-time walking intervention study. Instruments used in this study included the following: (1) Walking outcomes Expectancy Scale (WOES) and (2) the Center for Research in Chronic Disorders (CRCD)Sociodemographic Profile. Comparison of the scores for walking outcome expectancy perceptions at baseline (time 1), post-intervention (time 2) and eight-week post-intervention (time 3) were conducted for women,who adopted and women, who maintaied LTW behavior. Friedman tests resulted in significant differences in walking outcome expectancy between the three time periods for adopters. There were statisticaly significant differences in scores between baseline and post-intervention as well as increases in mean rank scores for eight-week post-intervention. This suggests that walking outcome expectancy scores improved for women who adopted LTW. When comparing walking outcome expectancy scores for women classified as maintainers of LTW, a significant difference was found. Women who maintained leisure-time walking showed significant improvement in walking outcome expectancy scores over time. Wilcoxin tests showed that while scores improved over time, the only statistically significant finding was betweeen post-intervention and eight week post-intervention. There were no statistically significant Wilcoxin test findings between baseline and post-intervention,even though mean ranks showed an increae between time 1 and 2 for women who maintained leisure-time walking behavior.