Comparison of social variables for understanding physical activity in adolescent girls.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate social support and theory of planned behavior (TPB) constructs in explaining physical activity in adolescent girls.


METHODS
One thousand seven hundred ninety-seven 8th-grade girls completed a survey measuring social provisions, family support, TPB constructs, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and team sport involvement (TSI).


RESULTS
Structural equation modeling (SEM) indicated statistically significant direct effects from TPB constructs and social provisions to intention; social provisions, family support, and intention to MVPA; and social provisions and family support to TSI.


CONCLUSIONS
Social variables play a greater role in explaining TSI than in explaining MVPA in this sample.
Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. rsaunders@sc.edu
Ruth P
RP
Saunders
Robert W
RW
Motl
Marsha
M
Dowda
Rod K
RK
Dishman
Russell R
RR
Pate
D000293:Adolescent; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D009043:Motor Activity; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012919:Social Behavior; D012944:Social Support; D013177:Sports; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires