title: Predicting physical activity of first-year university students: an application of the theory of planned behavior.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to apply Ajzen's theory of planned behavior (TPB) and a measure of past physical activity behavior to predict first-year students' physical activity intentions and behavior.
  
  
  METHODS
  First-year university students (N = 212) completed measures of TPB variables and past physical activity at the start of the 2006 fall semester and a measure of physical activity 8 weeks later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The TPB variables explained 37% of the variance in intentions, increasing to 39% with the addition of past behavior. Logistic regression showed that past behavior predicted whether students met Health Canada standards for being physically active (4 > or =sessions of moderate/vigorous physical activity per week).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings are consistent with other research showing that the TPB offers a good prediction of physical activity intentions but falls short of predicting behavior.
authors: McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. matty.kwan@utoronto.ca
authors: Matthew Yiu
authors: MY
authors: Wing Kwan
authors: Steven Russell
authors: SR
authors: Bray
authors: Kathleen Anne
authors: KA
authors: Martin Ginis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002170:Canada; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009043:Motor Activity; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D011594:Psychometrics; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities