Ethnicity as a Moderator of the Theory of Planned Behavior and Physical Activity in College Students

Most college students do not meet physical activity (PA) guidelines, and ethnic disparities exist. The present study examined the utility of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in explaining PA intentions and behavior in black and white college students and whether any TPB relationships were moderated by ethnicity. Black (n = 170) and white (n = 180) students completed a baseline TPB questionnaire and PA assessment 2 weeks later. Hierarchical latent variable regression analyses showed that affective attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control (PBC) were significant predictors of intention for both ethnic groups, whereas the PBC-intention relationship was significantly stronger for white students. Intention significantly predicted PA for both ethnic groups. Furthermore, common and ethnic-specific beliefs were identified.     

The mediating role of intention and stages of change in physical activity among adults with physical disabilities: an integrative framework

The study's purpose was to identify the mediating role of intention and the stages of change (SOC) in physical activity (PA) over a 6-month period using two models (theory of planned behavior [TPB] and TPB/SOC). Participants were 143 adults with physical disabilities (70.68% response rate; M age = 46.03). The TPB constructs, SOC (time 1), and PA (time 2) were assessed using standardized self-report questionnaires. Based on path analyses, attitude had the highest effect on intention and SOC followed by perceived behavioral control within both well-fit models. The variance in PA explained by the first (TPB) and second (TPB/SOC) models was 16% and 28% respectively. In the just identified model of TPB/SOC, the direct effect of SOC on physical activity remained strong (gamma(soc.pa) = .45) and SOC approached full mediation through attitude. Health promotion interventions need to include both intention and behavior elements (SOC) reinforcing increased PA value and barrier elimination.     

习惯行为、执行意向与青少年身体活动意向与行为:基于计划行为理论的扩展模型

在计划行为理论(TPB)的基础上,引入身体活动习惯行为与执行意向,构建扩展TPB(METPB)模型,检验该模型对9~19岁青少年群体的中高强度身体活动(MVPA)的适用性,探讨该模型对小学、初中及高中阶段青少年MVPA影响的差异。结果显示:假设模型的拟合度可以接受,纳入习惯行为与执行意向后,METPB显著地提高了其对身体活动行为的解释力。态度和感知行为控制对MVPA行为意向有显著性影响,解释了31.4%的行为意向方差;行为意向和习惯行为对MVPA行为有显著性影响,解释了18.7%的行为方差;执行意向加强了行为意向朝实际行为的转换。METPB模型对于不同学习阶段青少年MVPA意向及行为的影响有显著性差异。其中:主观规范对小学生与初中生MVPA意向产生了显著性影响,而对高中生的MVPA意向并无显著性影响;感知行为控制对3个阶段学生的MVPA意向产生的影响随着学习阶段的上升不断增强。建议:在对于青少年身体活动的干预中,政府、家庭、学校应重视培养学生对于身体活动参与的正确态度,提高其参与身体活动的意愿,培养其参与身体活动的行为习惯,且在对青少年身体活动干预时考虑学习阶段的差异。     

Parent Support for Children’s Physical Activity: A Qualitative Investigation of Barriers and Strategies

Purpose: Parents play an important role in supporting children’s physical activity (PA) behavior. Parent PA support is a behavior unto itself that has been examined within the framework of an adapted theory of planned behavior (TPB). The primary purpose of this research was to identify key barriers to parent PA support to understand perceptions of control in relation to parent PA support. The second purpose of this research was to identify potential strategies to enhance parent PA support via enhanced perceived behavioral control. Method: Focus groups were conducted with parents (N = 21) of children aged 5 to 11 years old. A deductive content analysis was employed to analyze the data guided by an adapted TPB. Results: Themes related to barriers included parents’ motivation, affective experiences in providing PA support, and control factors (e.g., cost, time, safety concerns, screen). Themes related to potential strategies included opportunities for participation and improved affective experiences for parents, community parenting, and self-regulatory strategies. Conclusion: The identification of specific barriers to parent PA support can guide the development of interventions to facilitate parent PA support. Informational, programming, and self-regulatory training interventions may be useful in enhancing parent support.     

Quantity,Type, and Correlates of Physical Activity Among American Middle Eastern University Students

The prevalence of hypokinetic disease among persons of Middle Eastern heritage is higher than whites and research on American young adults of this population is limited. Therefore 214 tertiary students of Middle Eastern descent self-reported their physical activity (PA) over a 1-week monitoring period using pedometers and daily activity logs. Daily step count averaged 9,256 (SD = 3,084) steps, while daily energy expenditure averaged 6.26 kcal/kg (SD = 4.92). Most participants reported no weekly engagement in sport (69.2%) and walk/run (52.8%) activities, and at least once-weekly engagement in conditioning (68.7%) activities. Moderately religious and highly acculturated men, and Muslims, and moderately/highly acculturated persons were more likely to average ≥ = 10,000 steps/day and engage in at least one sport activity per week, respectively. These findings may be related to religious and cultural issues unique to Middle Eastern American college students whose collectivist social affiliations with family and community members may facilitate or inhibit various aspects of PA behavior.     

Predicting Physical Activity Among Children: Investigating Interaction Effects in the Theory of Planned Behavior

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The theory of planned behavior (TPB) has been criticized for not including interactions between the variables assumed to predict behavior. This study sought to test how TPB variables interact to predict physical activity (PA) in children. Method: Four hundred thirty-eight children (M_age = 8.6 years, SD = 1.6 years) completed a TPB questionnaire and a PA questionnaire at Time 1. The PA measure was repeated 2 months later. Path analyses were performed to test the hypothesized model including interaction terms between TPB variables. Simple slopes analyses were also carried out to examine the statistically significant interaction terms. Results: Path analyses confirmed the classical hypotheses of TPB (R² for intentions = .39, R² for PA = .12) and also demonstrated only statistically significant Attitudes × Perceived Behavioral Control and Subjective Norms × Attitudes interactions (R² change for intentions = .01, p = .009). Simple slopes analyses revealed that the strength of the association between perceived behavioral control and intentions was only statistically significantly higher (t = 2.18, p = .05, d = 0.34, 95% CI [0.03, 0.65]) when attitudes were high compared with when attitudes were low. The link between attitudes and intentions was only statistically significant at a low level of subjective norms but not at a high level. Conclusion: The integration of interaction effects between TPB variables did not increase for the variance of PA explained by the model. More research appears to be necessary to explore how the TPB could be augmented to better predict PA in children.     

Cardiovascular Fitness and Maximal Heart Rate Differences among Three Ethnic Groups

Abstract

The current study examines maximal heart rate and maximal treadmill time differences among three ethnic groups. In 1985, 1,047 city employees (572 male, 475 female) participated in a comprehensive health promotion program. Data were collected from a self-administered health and lifestyle questionnaire, maximal treadmill exercise stress test, and other clinical measures. The participants were divided into white male (n = 368), black male (n = 159), Mexican-American male (n = 45), white female (n = 256), black female (n = 189), and Mexican-American female (n = 30) subgroups based on self-reported ethnic identity. Univariate analyses revealed no significant differences in age-adjusted maximal heart rate or maximal treadmill time for males. Mean age-adjusted treadmill time for black females (478.0 ± 228.2 s) was significantly lower than for white (652.5 ± 227.7 s) and Mexican-American (594.5 ± 226.7 s) females (p <. 05). Mean age-adjusted maximal heart rate for black females (174.4 ± 12.4 beats/min) was significantly lower than for white (179.3 ± 13.4 beats/min) and Mexican-American (182.0 ± 13.5 beats/min) females (p < .05). Following adjustment for cardiovascular fitness level, that is, treadmill time, as well as age, these differences were no longer apparent. We concluded that the comparatively low maximal heart rate of black females may be partially explained by a significantly lower cardiovascular fitness level relative to white and Mexican-American females.     

The Effects of a Group Contingency Strategy on Behaviorally Disordered Students in Physical Education

Abstract

An A-B-A-B time-series design was used to determine the effectiveness of a group contingency strategy in modifying on-task behavior of behaviorally disordered students in a physical education setting. A younger group (n = 12) with a mean age of 7.8 years, and an older group (n = 11) with a mean age of 11.2 years, participated in a study in which activity reinforcement for each group was contingent upon correct observation of the rules established for class. The group contingency strategy was significantly effective in increasing the percentage of on-task behavior of both groups of students. In addition, there was no significant difference in the response to treatment between younger and older students, and there were no individuals within either group who did not respond favorably to treatment.     

Promoting physical activity using a wearable activity tracker in college students: A cluster randomized controlled trial

This study examined the effects of utilizing a wearable activity tracker in a credit-based physical activity instructional program (PAIP) for promoting physical activity (PA) in college students. Fourteen PAIP courses in a large public university were randomly assigned into intervention (k = 7; n = 101) and control (k = 7; n = 86) groups. All courses focused on a core curriculum that covers basic exercise and behavioral science contents through lectures and activity sessions. A Misfit Flash activity tracker was provided to students in the intervention group. Objective PA assessments occurred at baseline, mid-, and end-of-semester during a 15-week academic semester. The control group showed a significant reduction in moderate- and vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA) minutes from baseline to the end-of-semester (P <.05), whereas the intervention group showed no changes in MVPA minutes over time. However, the intervention group also showed increased sedentary time and decreased time spent in light-intensity PA during the intervention period. Taken together, the present study found null effects of utilizing the wearable activity tracker in promoting PA in college students suggesting that intervention of primary using the wearable activity tracker as a behavior change strategy may not be effective to increase in PA in this setting.     

不同学段体育课中教师因素对学生身体活动水平的影响

探讨教师因素对体育课中小学和初中学生身体活动水平影响的差异。以上海市284节体育课中小学和初中学生身体活动水平及其任课教师为调查对象,通过测量法、观察法和调查法等分析不同学段体育课中学生身体活动水平、教师教学行为现状及教师因素(包括性别、教龄和教学行为)与体育课中学生身体活动水平的关系。结果显示:小学和初中学生体育课中MVPA时间百分比均未达到50%的课堂时间标准,且两者间无显著差异;小学和初中体育课中教师在教学指导和课堂管理行为上的用时均为最高,小学教师的课堂管理行为和动作示范行为用时显著高于初中教师,而初中教师的教学指导行为和观察行为用时显著高于小学教师;小学和初中体育课中男教师执教班级的MVPA时间百分比均高于女教师,而教龄仅与小学生体育课MVPA时间百分比有显著负相关关系。教师的促进健康行为对小学和初中体育课MVPA时间百分比均有显著正向影响,而观察行为仅对初中生体育课中MVPA时间百分比有显著正向影响。研究表明:教师因素对小学和初中体育课学生身体活动水平影响存在较大差异,今后应针对不同学段学生采取有针对性的干预措施。     

Cross-cultural generalizability of the theory of planned behavior among young people in a physical activity context

The present study tested the cross-cultural generalizability of the measurement and structural parameters of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) among youth in a physical activity context. Pupils from five cultural groups completed measures of attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control (PBC), and intentions for physical activity. Five weeks later, participants completed self-report measures of physical activity behavior. Confirmatory factor analyses and multisample structural equation models revealed well-fitting models within each sample with minimal variations in the measurement parameters across cultures. There were a few significant cross-cultural differences in the structural relations among the TPB constructs. Attitudes predicted intentions in all samples (beta range = .300 to .550), whereas the effect of the subjective norms on intention was nonsignificant in all but the Hungarian sample (beta = .243). Conversely, the effect of PBC on intentions was significant (beta range = .302 to .573) in all but the Hungarian sample. Findings support the generalizability of the measures and pattern of effects for the TPB among young people in a physical activity context.     

Domain-specific physical activity and health-related quality of life in university students

Abstract

Information on the relationship between domain-specific physical activity (PA) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in the general population and specific groups is still scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between PA in work, transport, domestic and leisure-time domains and HRQoL among university students. PA and HRQoL were assessed in a random stratified sample of 1750 university students using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire – long form and 12-item Short Form Health Survey, respectively. The Spearman's rank correlations, adjusted for age, community size, personal monthly budget, body mass index, smoking habits and alcohol intake ranged from ?0.11 to 0.18 in female students and ?0.29 to 0.19 in male students. Leisure-time, domestic, transport-related PA and total PA were positively related to HRQoL. Inverse correlations with HRQoL were only found for work-related PA in male students. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that only leisure-time PA was related to the Physical Summary Component score (β = 0.08 for females and β = 0.10 for males, P < 0.05). Domain-specific PA levels were not significantly related to the Mental Component Summary score. To get a more comprehensive insight in the relationship between PA and HRQoL, future studies should not only analyse total PA levels but also domain-specific PA levels. The evidence on the positive relationship of leisure-time, transport and domestic PA with HRQoL can potentially be used to support evidence-based promotion of PA in a university setting, and as a hypothesis for future longitudinal studies on such potential causal relationships.     

Comparison of Physical Fitness Scores of White and Black Seventh Grade Boys of Similar Socioeconomic Level

Abstract

Boys (N = 115) in the seventh grade of a junior high school were tested for physical fitness by the AAHPER Youth Fitness Test. In addition, data were collected for age, height, weight, and socioeconomic level of each boy. Two racial groups were formed consisting of 30 white and 30 black students who were matched on age and socioeconomic level. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the physical fitness of white and black students of equal socioeconomic level was significantly different. There were no significant differences between the groups in age, height, weight, and socioeconomic level. The black students exceeded the white students significantly on the shuttle run, 50-yd. dash, 600-yd. run and composite fitness score. It was concluded that black male students of similar socioeconomic level to white students in the seventh grade, have a higher level of physical fitness.     

青少年体育锻炼行为的影响因素

以毛荣建（2003）所提出假设（在TPB理论基础上做出改进,将行为习惯、目标态度、情感体验3个变量融入了计划行为理论模型中,用来测量青少年体育锻炼态度。）为研究理论依托,进一步验证体育锻炼态度及其影响因素与体育锻炼行为之间的关系,通过《锻炼态度》与《体育锻炼行为》问卷对在校大学生分层随机调查,运用方差分析、相关分析、回归分析与路径分析等方法分析数据,结果表明：锻炼者与非锻炼者在体育锻炼态度各维度上呈现显著性差异;性别因素不能影响锻炼人群在体育锻炼态度的各项维度得分的差异性的结果,非锻炼人群也是如此;体育锻炼活动中,决定行为意向的关键变量因素是态度;具有高情感体验、或高认知的大学生,并不一定是锻炼者。路径分析说明,行为习惯、情感体验、行为认知、目标态度、主观标准一方面通过行为态度间接作用体育行为,另一方面,行为习惯、目标态度、主观标准对体育行为还具有直接的预测作用。     

Cross-cultural comparison of American and Finnish college students' exercise behavior using transtheoretical model constructs

Although the benefits of exercise are well documented, an international problem of physical inactivity exists. More research, especially theory based, has been recommended. One promising approach for studying exercise behavior is that proposed in the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) of behavior change. This model, however, has received minimal cross-cultural attention and, relative to the current study, measurement instruments have only recently been translated into the Finnish language. The purpose of this study was to assess American and Finnish college students' exercise behaviors on the basis of TTM. Participants were American (n = 169) and Finnish (n = 168) college students who completed language-specific measures of exercise behavior, stage of change, processes of change, decisional balance, self-efficacy, and temptation. The only cultural difference observed was that the American participants rated themselves higher on barrier self-efficacy relative to the Finnish participants. Regardless of nationality orgender, participants classified by their stage of change differed on all the core constructs assessed. These results generally support the utility of TTM for understanding American and Finnish college students' exercise behavior.     

The Impact of Girls' Interscholastic Sport Participation on Academic Orientation

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the influence of athletics and other extracurricular activities on the academic orientation of female high school students. Senior girls were categorized into groups—labeled athlete-only (comprising students who participated only in athletics as an extracurricular activity), service-only (students who participated in service activities only), athlete-service (students participating in both) and neither (students whose extracurricular activities included neither athletics nor service activities). Categorizations were based on listings from their high school yearbooks. Those taking the ACT college entrance exam (N = 487) were compared on composite and English scores to the other groups, and to national and state averages. Analyses of covariance, controlling for SES and extent of activity involvement revealed that the athlete-only group recorded the lowest average scores, but these could not be attributed to the participation category to which they belonged. Rather, socioeconomic level and extent of activity involvement were factors contributing to most of the differences between groups in which higher SES levels and higher levels of involvement were predictive of higher ACT scores. Moreover, none of the groups' scores were significantly different from national or slate averages. These results refute the notion that involvement only in athletics is detrimental to educational achievements for females, and lead to certain recommendations for longitudinal, multi-measure investigations of academic orientations.     

Physical activity levels in American and Japanese men from the ERA-JUMP Study and associations with metabolic syndrome

Background:Metabolic syndrome(MetS) is a global health problem.Physical activity(PA) is a known modifiable risk factor for MetS and individual MetS components.However,the role of PA could differ between sub-populations due to differences in the variability of PA and other MetS risk factors.To examine these differences,multi-country studies with standardized outcome measurement methods across cohorts are needed.Methods:Cross-sectional PA levels(total and domain specific) in healthy middle-aged(44-56 years) men in the Risk Factor Assessment among Japanese and U.S.Men in the Post-World War Ⅱ Birth Cohort(ERA-JUMP) Study(n=730;American:n=417;Japanese:n=313;from population-representative samples in Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania,USA,and Kusatsu,Shiga,Japan) were compared.The relationships between PA levels and MetS(overall and specific components) in/across the American and Japanese sub-cohorts(adjusting for age,smoking,and alcohol consumption)were also assessed using the same instruments(pedometer and validated questionnaire) to measure PA in both cohorts.Results:A total of 510 individuals provided complete data on PA(American:n=265;Japanese:n=245).The American cohort had significantly lower mean±SD steps/day(7878±3399 steps/day) vs.the Japanese cohort(9055±3797 steps/day)(p <0.001) but had significantly higher self-reported moderate-vigorous leisure PA(American:15.9(7.4-30.3) metabolic task equivalent hours per week(MET-b/week) vs.Japanese:4.0(0-11.3) METh/week,p <0.0001).In both sub-cohorts,each 1000 steps/day increase was associated with lower odds of having MetS(American:OR=0.90,95%CI:0.83-0.98;Japanese:OR=0.87,95%CI:0.79-0.95) and the individual MetS component of high waist circumference(American:OR=0.86,95%CI:0.79-0.94;Japanese:OR=0.87,95%CI:0.80-0.95).In the American cohort only,higher self-reported leisure PA(Met-b/week) was associated with lower odds of MetS and high waist circumference(OR=0.98,95%CI:0.97-0.99 for MetS and waist circumference,respectively).Conclusion:Higher total step counts/day had an important protective effect on MetS prevalence in both the Japanese and American cohorts,despite differences in PA levels and other MetS risk factors.The effect of steps/day(across all intensity levels) was much greater than domainspecific moderate-vigorous PA captured by questionnaire,suggesting the need for measurement tools that can best capture total movement when examining the effects of PA on MetS development.     

Progressive aerobic cardiovascular endurance run and body mass index among an ethnically diverse sample of 10-15-year-olds

This study examined the cardiovascular fitness (CVF, Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run [PACER], number of laps completed) and the prevalence of at risk of overweight (AR) and overweight (OW) among 10-15-year-olds (48% girls)from the following ethnic backgrounds: African American (n = 2,604), Asian-Pacific Islander (n = 3,888), Hispanic (n = 11,680); and White non-Hispanic (n = 16,352). Hierarchal multiple linear regression analysis, controlling for height and weight, with White non-Hispanics serving as the comparison group, revealed a limited number of significant differences among PACER performances, with no values exceeding +/- 4.43 laps. Odds ratios (OR) for being classified as AR or OW were significantly greater (p < .01) in African American (OR = 1.25, 1.65) and Hispanic (OR = 2.33, 2.28) boys and girls, respectively, and Asian boys (OR = 1.43). The results of this cross-sectional analysis indicated negligible differences in CVF among ethnic groups, while AR and OW were consistent with previous reports for ethnic populations.