Psychological readiness of black college students to be physically active.

Black students' psychological readiness to be physically active was examined in 212 1st-year students (79 men and 133 women) at a historically Black university in the South. The students responded to the Physician-based Assessment and Counseling for Exercise (PACE) survey, which asked students about current physical activity habits. More men (57%) than women (32%) were classified as being in the action stage. Approximately 37% of the men in the sample, compared with 63% of the women, were in the contemplation stage, and 6% of the men and 5% of the women were classified as precontemplators. The findings indicated that health professionals need to provide interventions aimed at increasing the physical activity of Black students, especially women.