ERIC Number: EJ813156
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Oct
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0361-476X
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Urban Adolescents' Exercise Intentions and Behaviors: An Exploratory Study of a Trans-Contextual Model
Shen, Bo; McCaughtry, Nate; Martin, Jeffrey
Contemporary Educational Psychology, v33 n4 p841-858 Oct 2008
Using a multi-theory approach, the current study was designed to identify gender differences in the psychological mechanisms by which urban adolescents' motivation in physical education transfers into their leisure-time activities. The theoretical frameworks of Self-Determination Theory and the Theory of Planned Behavior were integrated to generate a trans-contextual model. Urban adolescents (N = 837, ages 11-15) completed questionnaires assessing relevant psychological constructs as well as their levels of physical activity during leisure time. Path analysis was used to test the direct and indirect paths of the model. Results support the model tenability and demonstrate its invariance across gender. Although there were several gender-specialized characteristics, perceived competence in physical education was the strongest predictor of leisure-time physical activity for both male and female urban adolescents. The finding suggests that nurturing urban adolescents' autonomy and competence in physical education is important for enhancing leisure-time physical activity intentions and behaviors. (Contains 2 tables and 3 figures.)
Descriptors: Physical Education, Physical Activities, Leisure Time, Questionnaires, Adolescents, Path Analysis, Educational Psychology, Gender Differences, Student Motivation, Urban Youth, Urban Schools, Models, Predictor Variables, Self Efficacy, Personal Autonomy, Construct Validity, Test Construction, Student Behavior
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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