Psychosocial correlates of physical activity in healthy children
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Understanding the determinants of physical activity in children is critical for the treatment and prevention of childhood obesity. Social-cognitive theory has been used to understand behavioral patterns in children. OBJECTIVES: To explore the relationship between health beliefs, self-efficacy, social support, and sedentary activities and physical activity levels in children and to examine the relationship between physical activity and children's self-esteem. METHODS: Ninety-two children aged 10 to 16 years completed the study. Physical activity was monitored for 1 week with a motion detector (Actitrac; IM Systems, Baltimore, Md). Moderate-level activity and high-level activity were defined based on the results of treadmill testing. Health beliefs, self-efficacy, social influences, and time spent in sedentary behaviors were determined through questionnaires. Self-esteem was measured using the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale. Chronic anxiety was measured with the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale. RESULTS: There was a significant decline in physical activity levels between ages 10 and 16 years, particularly in girls. Preteen girls spent approximately 35% more time in low- and high-level activity than did teenage girls (P<.001). Overall, children spent 75.5% of the day inactive, with a mean +/- SD of 5.2 +/- 1.8 hours watching television, sitting at the computer, and doing homework. In contrast, only 1.4% of the day (12.6 +/- 12.2 minutes) was spent in vigorous activity. Time spent in sedentary behaviors was inversely correlated with the amount of moderate-level activity (P<.001) but not high-level activity. In contrast, time spent in high-level activity correlated with self-efficacy scores (P<.001) and social influences scores (P<.005). High-level physical activity was also associated with improved self-esteem (P<.05). Higher health beliefs scores were not correlated with physical activity levels. CONCLUSIONS: Children and adolescents are largely sedentary. Correlates of high- and low-level physical activity are different. Time spent on sedentary activities is inversely correlated with moderate-level activity, while self-efficacy and social influences are positively correlated with more intense physical activity. In addition, increased high-level physical activity is an important component in the development of self-esteem in children.
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China's work group developed a national surveillance protocol to collect nationally representative data for its 2018 Report Card.
“China's Report Card work group developed a national surveillance protocol to collect nationally representative data for China's 2018 Report Card.51”
From Global Matrix 3.0 Physical Activity Report Card Grades for Children and Youth: Results and Analysis From 49 Countries (2018) · cites this paper as [51]
In China, 13.1% of 9- to 17-year-olds met physical activity guidelines and 7.1% met sedentary behavior guidelines.
“The small proportions of 9-to 17-year-old children in China meeting the physical activity guidelines (13.1%) or the sedentary behavior guidelines (7.1%) are alarming.51”
From Global Matrix 3.0 Physical Activity Report Card Grades for Children and Youth: Results and Analysis From 49 Countries (2018) · cites this paper as [51]
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- Authors
- Strauss, R. S., Rodzilsky, D., Burack, G., & Colin, M.
- Affiliations
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
- Corresponding author
- Strauss, Richard S.
- ORCID
- Strauss, Richard S.
- Venue
- Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
- Publisher
- American Medical Association (AMA)
- Published
- 2001-08-01
- Volume
- 155
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 897
- ISSN
- 1072-4710 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2053008718
- Cited by
- 551
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 42 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 40 · 2012: 36
- FWCI
- 6.78
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Social Sciences › Life-span and Life-course Studies › Sports and Physical Education Studies
- Keywords
- physical activity, children, adolescents, sedentary behavior, self-efficacy, social support, health beliefs, self-esteem, social cognitive theory, childhood obesity prevention, television viewing, sex differences, age differences
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Analysis of Variance, Anxiety, Attitude to Health, Child, Female, Humans, Life Style, Male, New Jersey, Probability, Psychology, Surveys and Questionnaires, Reference Values, Regression Analysis, Sampling Studies, Self Concept, Exercise, Age Distribution, Sex Distribution, Risk Assessment
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