Objectives: For the first time the German version of the key construct "processes of change" for exercise behaviour is presented. Specific aims were to find out whether 10 different processes of change can be ascertained and whether the processes of change are also organised into a higher level of order.
Methods: The data are part of a cross-sectional study. The participants were 1208 women of the fun run in Graz in 2000. Exploratory factor analysis and structural equation models were conducted to reconstruct the German version of the processes of change.
Results: 822 women (68%) returned the questionnaire. The variance, limited to a 10-factor-solution, was 67.6%. In comparison to the construct derived from the theory, subscales show a change of items. The fit-indices of the two hierarchical-factor model (NNFI = 0.92, CFI = 0.94) and of the three hierarchical-factor model (NNFI = 0.91, CFI = 0.94) show better overall fit than the one hierarchical-factor model (NNFI = 0.86, CFI = 0.89).
Conclusions: According to the change of items between the subscales in comparison to the theory it is recommended to test the German version again in a population-based sample. The overall fit indices support the assumption that the 10 processes of change follow an hierarchical order.