title: Family support for physical activity in girls from 8th to 12th grade in South Carolina.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relationship between perceived family support and other selected correlates of physical activity (PA) with changes in PA over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 421 girls in South Carolina completed questionnaires at 8th, 9th and 12th grades (1998-2003). Family support for PA, PA self-efficacy, perceived behavioral control, attitudes, availability of equipment, and PA were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Growth curve analysis showed that family support, perceived behavioral control, and self-efficacy were independently related to age-related changes in PA as reflected by total METs. Girls who reported lower family support at the 8th grade measure had more rapid declines in PA, and a unit change in family support was related to approximately 1/3 of a standard deviation change in total METs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maintenance of support from family members may reduce the decline in PA independent of girls' self-efficacy and perceived behavioral control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, 921 Assembly Street, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA. mdowda@gwm.sc.edu
authors.forename: Marsha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dowda
authors.forename: Rod K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Dishman
authors.forename: Karin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
authors.forename: Russell R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Pate
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000367:Age Factors; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity; D010465:Perception; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D013022:South Carolina; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires