title: Social desirability is associated with some physical activity, psychosocial variables and sedentary behavior but not self-reported physical activity among adolescent males.
abstract: This study examined whether controlling for social desirability improved the association between self-reported and objectively measured physical activity among adolescent males and the extent that psychosocial variables predict physical activity after controlling for social desirability. Participants (n=447) were 10- to 14-year old Houston Boy Scouts. Participants completed self-reports of physical activity, sedentary behavior, preferences, self-efficacy and social desirability and wore an MTI accelerometer for 3 days. Correlations were conducted among variables. Regression models were performed to examine the relationships between objectively measured (accelerometer) and self-reported physical activity, objectively measured physical activity and psychosocial variables and self-reports of physical activity and psychosocial variables. All models controlled for social desirability. There were weak associations between self-reported and objectively measured physical activity measures that were slightly improved after controlling for social desirability. Psychosocial variables were strongly associated with self-reports of physical activity, but weakly associated with accelerometer physical activity. Social desirability was positively associated with physical activity preferences (r=0.169) and self-efficacy (r=0.118) and negatively associated (r=-0.158) with self-reported sedentary behavior. Differences in the strength of relationships between self-reported and objectively measured physical activity and psychosocial variables were not a function of social desirability.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Exercise and Health Sciences, Centre for Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TP, UK. russ.jago@bris.ac.uk
authors.forename: Russell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jago
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baranowski
authors.forename: Janice C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Baranowski
authors.forename: Karen W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Cullen
authors.forename: Debbe I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D035841:Behavioral Research; D002648:Child; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation; D009043:Motor Activity; D009939:Organizations, Nonprofit; D011594:Psychometrics; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012650:Self Disclosure; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012928:Social Desirability; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas; D013997:Time Factors; D014504:Urban Health