The value of sedentary alternatives influences child physical activity choice

Abstract

The choice to be physically active or sedentary depends in part on the value of the alternatives that are available. The shift from sedentary to active alternatives may be a function of the value of the sedentary alternatives. To evaluate the influence of the value of the sedentary alternatives on the choice to be physically active or sedentary, 30 nonobese 8-12-year-old youth were randomized in groups that provided a choice between 4 active alternatives or 4 sedentary alternatives (Group 1), their least valued sedentary activity (Group 2), or their most valued sedentary activity (Group 3), on computerized and questionnaire versions of a behavioral choice task. The computer task required participants to work for access to the alternatives. The work required to obtain access to the active alternatives remained constant for all choices, while the work required to gain access to the sedentary alternatives progressively increased. Compared to Groups 1 and 3, participants in Group 2 chose to be sedentary less often as they had to make a choice between being physically active or sedentary on the computerized (p < .005) and the questionnaire version (p < .05) of the behavioral choice task, which correlated r = .54, p < .01. These results suggest interventions designed to increase physical activity by reducing access to sedentary behaviors may need to consider the value of the targeted sedentary behavior and the extent to which the sedentary behaviors compete with physical activity.

Novel Approaches to Obesity Prevention: Effects of Game Enjoyment and Game Type on Energy Expenditure in Active Video Games

“…This difference is concerning, as behavioral choice theory states that an alternative behavior must be as reinforcing as or more reinforcing than the less healthy behavior to be chosen in its stead. 8 Games that simulate "working out" for the purpose of fitness/health/appearance may be less likely to produce intrinsic motivation for play than games that use motion as a novel form of game input intended to increase enjoyment of play. Thus exercisethemed active games may be less attractive alternatives to sedentary games than game-themed active games.…”

“…[5][6][7] According to behavioral choice theory, substituting one behavior for another works best if the alternative behavior is as enjoyable or more enjoyable than the original. 8 Additionally, self-determination theory suggests that intrinsic motivation, or the desire to engage in a behavior for its own sake, is a more powerful predictor of behavior than extrinsic motivation, which occurs in the context of receiving external rewards for a behavior. 9 Enjoyment is a powerful predictor of physical activity and video game play over time.…”

Association of liking and reinforcing value with children's physical activity

“…This questionnaire has been validated against a computer controlled laboratory concurrent schedules choice task in which children responded for access to sedentary or active alternatives on progressive ratio schedules of reinforcement [27]. The physical and sedentary activities presented to the children were those that they could perform in the laboratory by themselves.…”

Themed Review: Clinical Interventions to Promote Physical Activity in Youth

“…81,97,98 One additional primary care-based pilot study focused on reducing TV viewing among school-aged children and their families. 101 The majority of published studies targeted weight loss for schoolaged children, [102][103][104][105][106][107][108][109][110][111][112] adolescents, 113,114 or both [115][116][117][118][119][120][121] who were overweight (BMI > 95%) or at risk for overweight (BMI > 85%). One aimed to reduce diabetes risk for overweight school-aged children and adolescents.…”