Predicting Intention to be Physically Active among Volunteer Firefighters

ABSTRACT

Background: Over half of all firefighter deaths are due to heart attacks. Physical activity (PA) is a protective factor against cardiovascular disease, but most firefighters do not meet recommended PA levels. Volunteer firefighters (VFFs), particularly in rural areas, may have unique reasons for not meeting recommendations. Purpose: To examine VFFs’ PA intention and factors that might influence it, using the Theory of Planned Behavior. Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, we surveyed 123 North Carolina VFFs. Results: Most VFFs were overweight (35.9%) or obese (44.4%), and many did not participate in any moderate-intensity cardiovascular (14.4%), vigorous-intensity cardiovascular (40.8%), or strength training (45.2%) exercise in the prior 7 days. On average, participants did not perceive themselves at high risk for heart disease. Regression analyses found that attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and past PA behavior accounted for 57.9% of the variance in PA intention (p = .031). Discussion: Many firefighters in this study were not meeting recommended PA guidelines and did not perceive themselves at high risk for heart disease. Relationships among variables should be explored more fully by quantitative and qualitative methods. Translation to Health Education Practice: Findings from this study have implications for future PA intervention development aimed at VFF populations.

Authors’ contributions

Dr. Amodeo was responsible for the conception of the study; data collection, analysis, and interpretation; and manuscript development. Dr. Nickelson assisted in designing study methods, interpreting data, and manuscript editing. Both authors are responsible for the final approval of the version to be published and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Institution and ethics approval and informed consent

This study was conducted at The University of Alabama. The study protocol was approved by The University of Alabama Institutional Review Board.

Notes

1. BMI is an indicator of weight status based on an individual’s height and weight. Overweight is defined as 25.0–29.9 on the BMI scale, while obesity is defined as a BMI of 30.0+.⁷³

Additional information

Funding

The authors report that there was no funding source for the work that resulted in the article or the preparation of the article.