Determinants of physical activity in low-income, overweight African American girls.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between puberty, sedentary behaviors, and psychosocial influences with intention for physical activity (PA) and PA.


METHODS
Low-income, overweight African American girls (n=72) completed 5 questionnaires that assessed PA, sedentary behaviors, and psychosocial influences. Puberty was assessed using Tanner stages. Multiple linear regression was used to examine the relationships between these measures and intention for PA.


RESULTS
Puberty was significantly associated with lower intention for PA, whereas health beliefs such as "staying in shape" and social support were significantly associated with greater intention for PA.


CONCLUSIONS
Puberty, health beliefs for PA, and social support from parents and peers were significant predictors of intention for PA in low-income, overweight African American girls.
Lown
Debbie A
DA
Department of Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612-7250, USA.
Braunschweig
Carol L
CL
D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American; D002641:Chicago; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D050177:Overweight; D011204:Poverty Areas; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires