No abstract

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 (β range = .300 to .550), whereas the effect of the subjective norms on intention was nonsignificant in all but the Hungarian sample (β = .243). Conversely, the effect of PBC on intentions was significant (β 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.

Although MVPA in PE was relatively low and SED high, PE significantly increased daily MVPA and reduced SED, confirming the important role of PE in supporting the healthy development of children.

The aim of this study was to assess a modified version of the trans-contextual model (Hagger, Chatzisarantis, Culverhouse, & Biddle, 2003) based on self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985) and the theory of planned behaviour (Ajzen, 1985). The modified version included two additional components: use of learning strategies and positive general feedback. It was hypothesized that students' perceptions of how they use learning strategies taught by their physical education (PE) teachers and perceived positive general feedback would influence students' intrinsic motivation, intentions, and physical activity behaviour in a leisure-time context through intrinsic motivation in PE. A structural equation model supported the hypotheses and demonstrated that the use of learning strategies and perceived positive general feedback in PE indirectly influenced intrinsic motivation in leisure time through the effect of intrinsic motivation in PE. There was a direct effect of perceived positive general feedback on physical activity behaviour as well as an indirect effect through the motivational sequence.

This study aimed to investigate the role of self-identity, defined as salient and enduring aspects of one’s self-perception (Sparks, 2000), in relation to adolescent physical activity (PA) intentions within the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). School students aged 12 to 18 from two cultural groups (Estonia and Spain) completed measures of attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, self-identity, and intentions for PA. Four weeks later participants completed self-reported measures of PA. A structural equation model showed that self-identity had a direct effect on PA intention (β = .33, p < .01) and PA behaviour (β = .31, p < .01). The model accounted for 45% of the variance of PA behaviour from which 4% can be attributed to self-identity. The effect of self-identity on PA was also partially mediated via intention. The multi-group comparison between two cultural groups indicated that no invariances existed between the models of the observed samples.