Testing multi-theory model (MTM) in predicting initiation andsustenance of physical activity behavior among college students

Vinayak K. Nahar ¹ * , Manoj Sharma ², Hannah Priest Catalano ³, Melinda J. Ickes ⁴, Paul Johnson ⁵, M. Allison Ford ⁶

Cited by CrossRef: 41

1- Sharma A, Jain M, Nahar V, Sharma M. Predictors of behaviour change for unhealthy sleep patterns among Indian dental students. 2021;33(5) [Crossref]

2- Sharma M, Asare M, Lakhan R, Kanekar A, Nahar V, Moonie S. Can the Multi-Theory Model (MTM) of Health Behavior Change Explain the Intent for People to Practice Meditation?. J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2021;26 [Crossref]

3- Sharma M, Anyimukwu C, Kim R, Nahar V, Ford M. Predictors of Responsible Drinking or Abstinence Among College Students Who Binge Drink: A Multitheory Model Approach. 2018;118(8):519 [Crossref]

4- Kim R, Stephens P, Nahar V, Sharma M. Influencing Health Behavior Change Related to Musculoskeletal Conditions. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2018;97(12):933 [Crossref]

5- Qin X, Zhao Y, Yin Q, Liu M, Zhang L, Chen S. The effects of multi-theory model–based exercise intervention on the duration of and willingness to perform physical activity in postoperative colorectal cancer patients: a quasi-experimental study. Support Care Cancer. 2025;33(7) [Crossref]

6- Jung S, Shin Y, Dougherty R. A Multi Theory–Based Investigation of College Students’ Underlying Beliefs About Local Food Consumption. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 2020;52(10):907 [Crossref]

7- Xu H, Tsai S. Empirical Study on Theories and Techniques of Adolescent Physical Health Promotion under the Background of Big Data. Mobile Information Systems. 2021;2021:1 [Crossref]

8- Wells J, Watson K, Sharma M, Davis R, Gruszynski K, Robertson S, Nahar V. Application of the multi‐theory model to explain veterinarians’ intentions to use telehealth/telemedicine. Veterinary Record. 2023;192(4) [Crossref]

9- Fudolig M, Davis R, Batra K, Sharma M. Profile Analysis of Handwashing Behavior Among a Sample of College Students in the Multi-Theory Model Framework. Hygiene. 2025;5(1):7 [Crossref]

10- Fernández-Ozcorta E, Ferriz R, Arbinaga F, García-Martínez J. Physically active undergraduates: Motivational and emotional profiles. Journal of American College Health. 2019;67(7):706 [Crossref]

11- Nahar V, Wilkerson A, Stephens P, Kim R, Sharma M. Using the Multitheory Model to Predict Initiation and Sustenance of Physical Activity Behavior Among Osteopathic Medical Students. 2019;119(8):479 [Crossref]

12- Sharma M, Stephens P, Nahar V, Catalano H, Lingam V, Ford M. Using a Multitheory Model to Predict Initiation and Sustenance of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among College Students. 2018;118(8):507 [Crossref]

13- Sharma M. Applications of the fourth-generation multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change toobesogenic behaviors in college students. AOWMC. 2020;10(3):65 [Crossref]

14- Olatunde O, Richards D, Dobbs P, Nahar V, Sharma M, Davis R. Psychological Help-Seeking Among College Students: Applying the Multi-Theory Model of Health Behavior Change in Assessing Telehealth Use for Psychological Help-Seeking. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. 2025;19(3):450 [Crossref]

15- Moore L, Wilkerson A, Nahar V. Research Highlights. 2019;11(4):181 [Crossref]

16- Sharma M, Batra K, Davis R, Wilkerson A. Explaining Handwashing Behavior in a Sample of College Students during COVID-19 Pandemic Using the Multi-Theory Model (MTM) of Health Behavior Change: A Single Institutional Cross-Sectional Survey. Healthcare. 2021;9(1):55 [Crossref]

17- Jin Y, Zhang W, Zhang L, Zhang X, Shen Y, Liu N, Feng S. Enhancing physical activity during pregnancy using a multi-theory model: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial in China. BMJ Open. 2025;15(1):e085910 [Crossref]

18- K. Nahar V, K. Wells J, E. Davis R, C. Johnson E, W. Johnson J, Sharma M. Factors Associated with Initiation and Sustenance of Stress Management Behaviors in Veterinary Students: Testing of Multi-Theory Model (MTM). IJERPH. 2020;17(2):631 [Crossref]

19- Sharma M, Khubchandani J, Nahar V. Applying a new theory to smoking cessation: case of multi-theory model (MTM) for health behavior change. Health Promot Perspect. 2017;7(2):102 [Crossref]

20- Sharma A, Jain M, Nahar V, Sharma M. Determining predictors of change in sugar sweetened beverage consumption behaviour among university students in India. 2022;34(1) [Crossref]

21- Zhang W, Jin Y, Liu N, Xiang Z, Wang X, Xu P, Guo P, Mao M, Feng S. Predicting Physical Activity in Chinese Pregnant Women Using Multi-Theory Model: A Cross-Sectional Study. IJERPH. 2022;19(20):13383 [Crossref]

22- Bennett B, Sharma M, Bennett R, Mawson A, Buxbaum S, Sung J. Using Social Cognitive Theory to Predict Medication Compliance Behavior in Patients with Depression in Southern United States in 2016 in a Cross-Sectional Study. J Caring Sci. 2018;7(1):1 [Crossref]

23- Claros E, Nahar V, Mafi M, Eliadi C, Abu-Moustafa S, Sharma M. Using the multi-theory model of health behavior change to identify correlates of change in substance use behavior in a mental health clinic-based sample. Journal of Substance Use. 2020;25(5):555 [Crossref]

24- Wilkerson A, Sharma M, Samuel K, Chandra A, Nair V, Quadri S, Mann J, Nahar V, Davis R. Testing of a multi-theory model (MTM) to determine factors associated with the initiation and maintenance of adequate sleep behaviour among students from a Southeastern US medical school. bmjph. 2025;3(1):e001244 [Crossref]

25- Asare M, Agyei-Baffour P, Lanning B, Barimah Owusu A, Commeh M, Boozer K, Koranteng A, Spies L, Montealegre J, Paskett E. Multi-Theory Model and Predictors of Likelihood of Accepting the Series of HPV Vaccination: A Cross-Sectional Study among Ghanaian Adolescents. IJERPH. 2020;17(2):571 [Crossref]

26- Bashir M, Shokravi F, Kazemnejad A. Applying multi-theory model to determine intentions to smoking cessation among male health worker smokers in Kabul, Afghanistan. Front Public Health. 2025;12 [Crossref]

27- Joveini H, Sharifi N, Meymary B, Mehri A, Shahrabadi R, Rahmanian V, Hashemian M. The effect of empowerment program to reduce Sugar Consumption based on the Multi-Theory Model on Body Mass Index and abdominal obesity in Iranian women. BMC Women's Health. 2023;23(1) [Crossref]

28- Yoshany N, Sharma M, Bahri N, Jambarsang S, Morowatisharifabad M. Predictors in Initiating and Maintaining Nutritional Behaviors to Deal With Menopausal Symptoms Based on Multi-Theory Model. Community Health Equity Research & Policy. 2022;42(3):273 [Crossref]

29- Kapukotuwa S, Nerida T, Batra K, Sharma M. Utilization of the multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change to explain health behaviors: A systematic review. Health Promot Perspect. 2024;14(2):121 [Crossref]

30- Sharma M, Kanekar A, Batra K, Hayes T, Lakhan R. Introspective Meditation before Seeking Pleasurable Activities as a Stress Reduction Tool among College Students: A Multi-Theory Model-Based Pilot Study. Healthcare. 2022;10(4):614 [Crossref]

31- Awan A, Grigsby T, Johansen C, Dai C, Sharma M. Explaining the Correlates of the Multi-Theory Model (MTM) of Health Behavior Change in Visual (Structural) Colorectal Cancer Screening Examinations. IJERPH. 2025;22(1):98 [Crossref]

32- Sharma M, Largo-Wight E, Kanekar A, Kusumoto H, Hooper S, Nahar V. Using the Multi-Theory Model (MTM) of Health Behavior Change to Explain Intentional Outdoor Nature Contact Behavior among College Students. IJERPH. 2020;17(17):6104 [Crossref]

33- Dai C, Chen C, Sharma M. Exploring Yoga Behaviors among College Students Based on the Multi-Theory Model (MTM) of Health Behavior Change. IJERPH. 2023;20(14):6395 [Crossref]

34- Dokun-Mowete C, Sharma M, Beatty F. Using Multitheory Model to Predict Low-Salt Intake Among Nigerian Adults Living With Hypertension. Int Q Community Health Educ. 2019;39(4):245 [Crossref]

35- Bashirian S, Barati M, Ahmadi F, Abasi H, Sharma M. Male students’ experiences on predictors of waterpipe smoking reduction: A qualitative study in Iran. Tob Prev Cessation. 2019;5(September) [Crossref]

36- Nahar V, Wilkerson A, Patel F, Kim R, Stephens P, Sharma M. Utilizing Multi-Theory Model in Determining Intentions to Smoking Cessation Among Smokers. Tob Use Insights. 2019;12 [Crossref]

37- Ge L, De Castro Molina J, Foo H, Chua R, Ong C. Exploring the associations between health confidence, self-efficacy, health activation and healthy behaviours in primary school children. Discov Public Health. 2024;21(1) [Crossref]

38- Brown L, Sharma M, Leggett S, Sung J, Bennett R, Azevedo M. Efficacy testing of the SAVOR (Sisters Adding Fruits and Vegetables for Optimal Results) intervention among African American women: A randomized controlled trial. Health Promot Perspect. 2020;10(3):270 [Crossref]

39- Sharma M, Batra K, Flatt J. Testing the Multi-Theory Model (MTM) to Predict the Use of New Technology for Social Connectedness in the COVID-19 Pandemic. Healthcare. 2021;9(7):838 [Crossref]

40- Kim R, Patterson G, Nahar V, Sharma M. Toward an evidence-based approach to stress management for veterinarians and veterinary students. javma. 2017;251(9):1002 [Crossref]

41- Sharma M, Davis R, Wilkerson A. COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance among College Students: A Theory-Based Analysis. IJERPH. 2021;18(9):4617 [Crossref]

42- Wilkerson A, Davis R, Sharma M, Harmon M, McCowan H, Mockbee C, Ford M, Nahar V. Use of the multi-theory model (MTM) in explaining initiation and sustenance of indoor tanning cessation among college students. Arch Dermatol Res. 2022;315(2):191 [Crossref]

43- Sharma M, Batra K, Chen C, Dai C, Batra R, Cappelli D. Predicting Flossing through the Application of the Multi-Theory Model (MTM) of Health Behavior Change among Minority Adolescents in the United States. IJERPH. 2022;19(22):15106 [Crossref]

44- Sharma M, Catalano H, Nahar V, Lingam V, Johnson P, Ford M. Using multi-theory model to predict initiation and sustenance of small portion size consumption among college students. Health Promot Perspect. 2016;6(3):137 [Crossref]

45- Sharma M. Developing Multipronged Intervention Protocols for Childhood Obesity Prevention Based on Multi-Theory Model (MTM) of Health Behavior Change: A Mini Review. AOWMC. 2017;6(4) [Crossref]