Based on the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) as a good resource to explain and predict a series of health-linked behaviors, it tried to investigate the people's intention, including people that had already suffered from a heart attack, in they practice walking, at least three times a week. For this, it was built, applied and validated an instrument composed of 22 items, in an amount of 302 people of the population in general to verify the intention of they exercise such behavior. The results demonstrated that the TRA Model is able to predict the quoted behavior. A Multiple Regression analyses explained 42% of the variance obtained from behavior intention, through general normative beliefs, attitude and general behavior beliefs, as decisive for the behavior of walking, at least three times a week. The variables of normative nature were the responsible for most of the explained variance, presenting, thus, its importance for interventions, seeking the adoption of the investigated behavior.
Physical exercise; Prevention; Psychosocial; Health
