Physical Activity on Adolescence 4

A Review of Literature of
Physical Activity on Adolescence through the Theory of Planned Behavior

By
Kayla Williams

For
HLTH 639.101
Dr. Niya Werts
November 3, 2008

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………3
LITERATURE REVIEW…………………………………………………………….4
The Intentions of Exercise……………………………………………………4
Social Influences on Physical Activity.............................................................5
Determinants of Physical Activity………. …………………………………..6
Self Efficacy………………………………………………………………….7
CONCLUSION……………………………………………………………………….8
WORKS CITED………………………………………………………………………..9
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INTRODUCTION
Data from a youth risk behavior survey states that 36% of students reported less than 60 minutes
of (MVPA) Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity per day, with 13% reporting less than 30
minutes (Trost, Saunders and Ward 95). Among adolescents (<18), physical activity is
associated with a number ailments decreased anxiety and depression , improved academic
performance, improved parental relationships, increased self esteem, decreased anger, decreased
psychological stress, lower levels of mental health issues, reduced drug use and decreasing the
risk of cardiovascular disease, and coronary heart disease (Valois, Umstattd and Zullig 322).
Coronary Artery disease is one of the primary causes of premature death in modern society
(Rivis and Sheeran 567). Lack of physical activity is linked to obesity, cigarette smoking, and
effects in cholesterol levels. Habits in physical activity when a person is young may continue
into adult life. The normal behavior of most children is that they are more physically active than
adults. Even with this being said there has been a great reduction in physical activity among
adolescence. This may be due to the lack of safe and secure areas for children to play or the lack
of importance on physical and nutritional education. Engaging in regular physical activity may
help to control body weight, develop a healthy cardiovascular system, and improve
psychological well-being (White and Hamilton 56). The Theory of Planned Behavior provides
an efficient way of predicting behaviors such as class attendance, exercise behavior, fitness
development, and physical activity. The TPB also looks into the intention and attitudes towards
physical activity (Kodish, Kulinna and Martin 390-391).
The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of what is known about physical activity among
adolescence, their behaviors, and possible social influences. There will be an examination of
prototypes and descriptive norms in predicting exercise. A study was used to determine if Theory
of Planned Behavior predictsintentions to be active. Subjective norms, and perceived behavior
control are also discussed using the Theory of Planned Behavior. The following five literature
reviews will attempt to demonstrate the behaviors and reactions of adolescence toward physical
activity through the Theory of Planned Behavior Model.
LITERATURE REVIEW
The Intentions of Exercise
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In a research article by Rivis and Sheeran (2003), two questionnaires were given to evaluate the
First, an assessment of variables and descriptive norms of “exercising (20 minutes of moderate to
vigorous exercise) at least six times in the next two weeks” and second, to measure the attitudes
towards the intention to do the exercise. Rivis and Sheeran hypothesize that intentions relating to
a health promoting behavior will be strongest among adolescence that has a lot of friends who
engage in that same health promoting behavior. The sample size was 303 high school students
that volunteered to take part, but, after the two weeks when the second questionnaire was
completed only 225 participated.
The results in this study did not support the hypothesis that there is a direct connection between
intention and perceived behavior control. A regression analysis was used to predict behavior on
the descriptive norms, attitudes, and intentions on the Theory of Planned Behavior Model.
Although, participants attitudes towards exercise were positive and believed they that the
exercise was under their control. The kind of person that exercises three times a week and were
considered physically fit reflected 88.6% of the cases (Rivis and Sheeran 574). These adolescents
were considered to be motivated and healthy. Intentions had significant relationship to exercise
behavior at (r = 0.57, p<0.001) (Rivis and Sheeran 575).
Even though the hypothesis was not supported, there was good presence of intention towards
exercise behavior. The findings suggested that adolescents’ behavior toward exercise is
motivated through the gain of approval or disapproval of friends and also their friends showing
them what is a typical or normal thing to do as far as exercise. My suggestion for this study
would be to simply find out the type of person who exercises versus the type of person who does
not exercise. The increase of knowledge on what is efficient exercise is a good start as a new
intervention and then to test the motivation towards completing a specific task afterwards.
Social Influences on Behavior
Although the previous article touched on this topic a little, the next research article by Hamilton
and White (2008) went more in depth. They focused on self and social Influences in predicting
moderate to vigorous physical activity. This included group norms, social support, and that there
are various social influences that effect adolescent physical activity. There are two hypotheses in
this study. The first was from the Theory of Planned Behavior, they predicted that attitude,
subjective norm, and perceived behavior control would predict adolescents’ intention to engage
in physical activity and performance of the behavior. They also predicted, similarly to the
previous study, that family and or friends’ support would also be predictors of adolescents’
intentions to engage in physical activity. The sample size in this study included 423 ninth grade
students, 251 were female and 172 were male. The age range was from ages 12 to 16. 91%
reported not having any disability that would prevent any physical activity (White and Hamilton
61). The participants of the main questionnaire which occurred a week later included only 395
out of the 423 students from ten different schools. The main questionnaire assessed the Theory of
Planned Behavior’s main elements which were the predictors of physical activity.
Again a regression analysis was used to test the predictors of intention to perform physical
activity but, this time the hypothesis was supported. Attitude, subjective norm, family and
friends’ support showed a significant relationship of 37% (White and Hamilton 67) and intention
remained a significant predictor of behavior. The results for the study showed support for the
Theory of Planned Behavior in predicting the attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioral control
and the intentions to engage in physical activity. The two hypotheses confirmed that if
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adolescents have positive attitudes, confidence, and stronger intentions towards performing
physical activity, they will have a better chance in performing physical activity on a regular
basis. The prediction results were similar for both females and males. A suggestion for the study
is that effective strategies should be used to combat adolescent inactivity to prevent obesity in
young children.
Determinants of Physical Activity
In this next article by Kodish, Kulinna and Martin (2006), the focus was on inclusive and non
inclusive behaviors toward physical activity. The purpose of the study was to determine again if
the Theory of Planned Behavior predicted intentions of behavior toward physical activty only it
includes individuals with disabilities in elementary school physical education classes taught by
the same teacher. Physical activity is especially important for those with mental, physical, and
developmental disabilities. There were 114 adolescents from 4 fifth and six grade classes, 60
were male and 54 were female, mostly caucasian (74%)(). Each class consisted of 4 autism
children. A questionaire was administered to assess the elements with in the Theory of Planned
Behavior and a pedometer to measure physical activity for one half hour.
Findings show that there were positive attitudes in performing the physical activity (track and
field)and that intentions to be physically active were strong as well. The regression analysis
performed again predicted a correlation in behavioral intention but, this time attitudes, norms,
and behavior control were not a significant predictor towards physical activity. Although, the
previous articles used the Theory of Planned Behavior model to assess attitudes, norms and
behavioral control.A henderence in the study was that the only disability was autism. There
should have been a representation of all disabilities discussed earlier. A suggestion for this study
is that the Theory of planned behavior should have been used to study the attitudes, norms, and
behavior control.
The next article by Trost, Saunders and Ward (2002), also used the Theory of Planned Behavior
and included the Theory of Reasoned Action to predict moderate to vigorous activity in sixth
graders. 198 out of 213 participants of four randomly selected middle schools all age 11, were
given a survey questionaire. The questionaire measured attitudes, norms, behavior control, and
intentions towards performing a physical activity over the next seven days. Some questions
included, “If I were to be physically active it would help me make new friends”; (yes, no, not
sure); “My (friend, mother, father, best friend) thinks I should be physically active (yes, no, not
sure)”; “Likelihood they would be outside of school in the next seven days”. As in the previous
studies that included the Theory of Planned Behavior, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived
behavior control were proven to be significant, 17% for subjective norms and 44% for attitudes
and perceived behavioral control(). The Theory of Reasoned Action was used on the subjective
norms, perceived behavior control, and intention. There was no distinction between the two, both
predicted significance in norms and attitudes toward physical activity just no signficance in
percieved behavioral control to intention to perform a physical activity was found within the
Theory of Reasoned Action. The data presented in the study did not support or reject the
hypothesis due to perceived behavior controls similarity in self efficacy. Self efficacy has
proven to be of importance in influencing physically active behaviors in children.
Self Efficacy
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So finally in this last article review by Valois, Umstattd and Zullig (2008), studies the
relationship between physical activity and emotional self efficacy. This article used the Center
for Disease control’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey for Physical Activity (2003) and a scale for
Emotional Self Efficacy (ESE). 89% of high school students from 39-68 eligible schools
participated in the study() Items on the Youth risk survey were similar to the previously reviewed
article for determinants of physical activity in middle school children. The ESE scale had seven
questions which included items such as “How well do you suceed at cheering yourself up”;
“How well can you prevent from becoming nervous”; “How well can you control your feelings”;
“How well do you suceed at suppressing unpleasant thoughts”. 2,566 valid responses were
observed. A significant relationship was found between not participating in sports teams in the
past 12 months and midrange scores for the ESE scale. As well as a significant relationship
between those not meeting the requirements for moderate physical activity and midrange ESE
scale. For all particpants signicant relationships were found between low self efficacy and the
connection to not meeting the recommendations for vigorous physcial activity in strenghthening
and toning or participation in sport teams. This study suggests that a substantial number of public
high school students are reporting to have low or only modest Emotional Self Efficacy(). The
suggestion for this study only would be to add social support for the low Emotional Self Efficacy
scores and the influence it produces toward increasing physical activity among adolescents.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
The purpose of this paper was to provide a review of what is known about physical activity
among adolescence, their behaviors, and possible social influences. Through the use of the
Theory of Planned Behavior model the prediction of behavior on physical activity was well
represented. As for Regression Analysis it has only produced positive results for intention to
perform a physical activity. The Theory of Reasoned Action was proven to be similar to the
Theory of Planned behavior but, was able to specify behaviors in intention and perceived
behavior control a bit better. I feel that self efficacy is a greater influence on children to
determine their level of physical activity. All articles presented a direct review of the Attitudes,
Subjective Norms, intention, and perceived behavior control in predicting behavior towards
physical activity. Suggestions were made that effective strategies should be used to combat
adolescent inactivity to prevent obesity in young children, to include the Theory of Planned
Behavior in their study, to add social support for the low Emotional Self Efficacy scores and the
influence it produces toward increasing physical activity among adolescents, to simply find out
the type of person who exercises versus the type of person who does not exercise, and to increase
knowledge on what is efficient exercise is a good start as a new intervention and then to test the
motivation towards completing a specific task afterwards.

Works Cited
Kodish, Stephen, et al. "Determinants of Physical Activity in an Inclusive Setting." Adapted
physical Activity Quaterly 23 (2006): 390-409.
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