What Matters When Children Play: Influence of Social Cognitive Theory and Perceived Environment on Levels of Physical Activity Among Elementary-Aged Youth.
OBJECTIVE
Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) has often been used as a guide to predict and modify physical activity (PA) behavior. We assessed the ability of commonly investigated SCT variables and perceived school environment variables to predict PA among elementary students. We also examined differences in influences between Hispanic and non-Hispanic students.


METHODS
This analysis used baseline data collected from eight schools who participated in a four-year study of a combined school-day curriculum and environmental intervention.


METHODS
Data were collected from 393 students. A 3-step linear regression was used to measure associations between PA level, SCT variables (self-efficacy, social support, enjoyment), and perceived environment variables (schoolyard structures, condition, equipment/supervision). Logistic regression assessed associations between variables and whether students met PA recommendations.


RESULTS
School and sex explained 6% of the moderate-to-vigorous PA models' variation. SCT variables explained an additional 15% of the models' variation, with much of the model's predictive ability coming from self-efficacy and social support. Sex was more strongly associated with PA level among Hispanic students, while self-efficacy was more strongly associated among non-Hispanic students. Perceived environment variables contributed little to the models.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings add to the literature on the influences of PA among elementary-aged students. The differences seen in the influence of sex and self-efficacy among non-Hispanic and Hispanic students suggests these are areas where PA interventions could be tailored to improve efficacy. Additional research is needed to understand if different measures of perceived environment or perceptions at different ages may better predict PA.
University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Cancer Epidemiology Program, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA bharmon@cc.hawaii.edu , clong@hawaii.edu.
Brook E
BE
Harmon
University of Hawaii, Office of Public Health Studies, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA cnigg@hawaii.edu , kamato@hawaii.edu , manwar@hawaii.edu.
Claudio R
CR
Nigg
University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Cancer Epidemiology Program, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA bharmon@cc.hawaii.edu , clong@hawaii.edu.
Camonia
C
Long
University of Hawaii, Office of Public Health Studies, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA cnigg@hawaii.edu , kamato@hawaii.edu , manwar@hawaii.edu.
Katie
K
Amato
University of Hawaii, Office of Public Health Studies, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA cnigg@hawaii.edu , kamato@hawaii.edu , manwar@hawaii.edu.
Mahabub-Ul
MU
Anwar
University of Colorado Denver, College of Architecture and Planning, Denver, CO, 80202, USA eve.kutchman@ucdenver.edu , lois.brink@ucdenver.edu.
Eve
E
Kutchman
University of Colorado Denver, Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Denver, CO, 80202, USA peter.anthamatten@ucdenver.edu.
Peter
P
Anthamatten
Colorado State University, College of Health and Human Sciences, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA ray.browning@ColoState.edu.
Raymond C
RC
Browning
University of Colorado Denver, College of Architecture and Planning, Denver, CO, 80202, USA eve.kutchman@ucdenver.edu , lois.brink@ucdenver.edu.
Lois
L
Brink
University of Colorado Denver, School of Medicine, Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA james.hill@ucdenver.edu.
James O
JO
Hill