title: Reinforcing value of physical activity as a determinant of child activity level.
abstract: This study examined whether the relative reinforcing value of physical activity (RRVPA) measured in the laboratory predicted physical activity measured in the natural environment in 32 6-11-year-old children. RRVPA correlated with physical activity level (r = .42, p < .05), and contributed to the prediction of physical activity level along with child obesity. RRVPA was related to the number of moderate to vigorous physical activity exercise bouts (r = .35, p < .05), not to the duration of those bouts. These results suggest that RRVPA is a determinant of child physical activity level, and that it may be naturally more reinforcing for children to engage in multiple, short exercise bouts than fewer, more extended bouts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, 14260, USA. lhenet@acsu.buffalo.edu
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Epstein
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Kilanowski
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Consalvi
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Paluch
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D013997:Time Factors