title: Using Theory of Planned Behavior to Predict the Physical Activity of Children: Probing Gender Differences.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The primary objective of this study was to use the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to examine the association between TPB variables and the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) of children in Shanghai, China. Gender differences were also explored.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants were 353 children (180 boys and 173 girls) aged 9 to 13 years from three primary schools in Shanghai. Accelerometers were used to measure the MVPA duration of the children. Questionnaires that focused on attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control (PBC) related to MVPA engagement were completed by the participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regression analyses revealed that intention, and not PBC, accounted for 9% of the variance in MVPA. Meanwhile, attitude and PBC explained 33% of the variance in intentions to engage in MVPA. In terms of gender differences, TPB performed better in the physical activity (PA) domain for boys than for girls. Furthermore, attitude and PBC were significantly associated with intention among boys, whereas only PBC was significantly related to intention among girls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Practitioners should consider tailoring intervention to address gender differences to increase leisure-time PA participation of children.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200441, China.
authors.forename: Lijuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200441, China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires