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Theoretically grounded research on the determinants of Mexican American children's physical activity and related psychosocial variables is scarce. Thus, the purpose of our investigation was to evaluate the ability of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to predict Mexican American children's self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Children (N = 475, ages 9-12) completed questionnaires assessing the TPB constructs and MVPA. Multiple regression analyses provided moderate support for the ability of the TPB variables to predict MVPA as we accounted for between 8-9% of the variance in MVPA. Attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control accounted for 45% of the variance in intention. Descriptive results were encouraging because mean values indicated that most children had positive attitudes, moderately strong intentions, felt in control, and perceived support from significant others (i.e., physical education teachers) for their physical activity engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study examining children's attitudes towards play and how participation in organized youth sports affects attitudes toward play. The article recommends further research looking at the social context in the development of attitudes toward play. The article discusses the importance of winning in organized sports and differences between priorities in play in the neighborhood and the schoolyard.

The article focuses on the study which aims to understand the treatment preferences of overweight children and their parents using a grounded theory perspective framed within an ecological model. It is stated that 20 families were recruited, and separate interviews were conducted for each child and at least one of her or his parents. It is revealed that parents and their children mentioned that social relationships increase physical activity, and medical professionals were perceived to be apathetic to the weight status and health of the children.

Limited research has examined the effect of perceived parental encouragement on youth physical activity (PA) and psychosocial determinants. The study purpose was to longitudinally examine the mediating influence of adolescent PA on the association between parental encouragement for PA at time 1 (M age = 15 years) and adolescent body satisfaction at time 2 (M age = 16 years) with BMI as a covariate. We hypothesized that perceived fathers' and mothers' encouragement for PA would be significantly associated with adolescents' PA and body satisfaction, and that adolescent PA would explain the association between parental encouragement for PA and adolescent body satisfaction. Adolescents (n = 397) completed self-reported measures of leisure-time PA, height and weight, body satisfaction, and perceived parental encouragement for PA during their health and PE classes. Fathers' encouragement for PA, but not mothers', and adolescent PA were significantly associated with adolescent body satisfaction scores 1 year later. Thus, the hierarchical regression analysis predicting adolescent body satisfaction was conducted with only perceived fathers' encouragement for PA. We found that adolescents reporting higher encouragement for PA from fathers (r = .11) and more PA (r = .14) had higher body satisfaction scores. A 4-step regression analysis to test mediation (Baron & Kenney, 1986) revealed that adolescent PA (β = .14) significantly mediated the association between perceived fathers' encouragement for PA and adolescent body satisfaction, when controlling for BMI (z = 2.02, p < .05). These preliminary findings reveal that, regardless of BMI, fathers' encouragement for PA predicted body satisfaction 1 year later, but only resulting from the influence on PA behavior. Interestingly, this model is in contrast to previous research supporting the influence of mothers as the primary encouragers for PA. Future research is needed to test the assumption that fathers' encouragement for PA during adolescence may play a significant role in positively influencing PA behavior and body satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to integrate and test the utility of two models for explaining and predicting physical activity intentions and behavior--the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and self-efficacy theory. A total of 645 (male = 347) New Zealand children between the ages of 11 and 13 completed demographic information and measures corresponding to the integrated model. One week later, children completed a self-report questionnaire in which they were asked about their physical activity behaviors in the previous week. Two hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to predict goal intention and physical activity behavior, respectively. Results showed that the constructs of the TPB (attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control [PBC]) significantly predicted goal intention (p < .001) in Step 1, explaining 57.3% of the variance. Task and barrier efficacy also contributed significantly to the prediction (R² = .01, p < .001) when entered in Step 2. When all variables were considered together--attitude, β = .15, p < .001; subjective norm, β = .29, p < .001; PBC, β = .37, p < .001; task efficacy, β = .12, p < .01; and barrier efficacy, β = .02, p > .05--only barrier efficacy did not predict goal intention. With regard to physical activity behavior, goal intention was entered in Step 1 and was a significant predictor (p < .001), accounting for 13.5% of the variance. Step 2 revealed that PBC contributed significantly to the prediction of behavior (R² = .01, p < .01), and the inclusion of task and barrier efficacy in Step 3 also resulted in a significant increase in the amount of explained variance (R² = .16, p < .001). When all variables were considered together--goal intention, β = .12, p < .05; PBC, β = .03, p > .05; task efficacy, β = .16, p < .01; and barrier efficacy, β = .35, p < .001--task and barrier efficacy emerged as the two strongest predictors of physical activity behavior. Future research should examine the utility of task and barrier efficacy in predicting objectively measured physical activity behaviors in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents an abstract of the study 'Psychological Correlates of Physical Fitness in Greek Children,' by K. Karteroliotis, G. Georgiadis and Z. Leroutsou, presented at the 2001 conference of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA).

Highlights a study by J.C .Kimiecik and T.S Horn in volume 69 of `Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport,' which assessed the influence of parents on their children's physical activity. Parents' perception of children's competency and participation in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA); Differences in beliefs between fathers and mothers; Reasons for MVPA participation.

The article presents a summary of the study "Use of the Borg Scale in exercise prescription for overweight youth," by D. S. Ward and O. Bar-Or, originally published in the "Canadian Journal of Sport Sciences." The study found that the children overestimated their exertion for the lightest exercise test and underestimated their exertion for the most intense task.

The article presents a study which aims to investigate how the demands of mother's jobs have predicted their physical activity levels and the physical activity levels and health of their children. It states that the higher time-based and strain-based job demands encountered by mother would lessen the physical activity levels of mothers. It also mentions that mother with more role ambiguity in their jobs had lower levels of physical activity.

The article focuses on a study which examines the impact of a 5-week school-based intervention on the physical activities of pupils. The study employed a cluster randomized design to 215 pupils from 10 schools. It found that an autonomy-supportive approach is linked with pupil reports of stronger intentions to exercise, and more frequent participation in leisure-time activities.

The article focuses on the study which examines the transference of physical education that is linked to leisure physical activity in a sample of middle-school children. The study collected data twice, one year apart from 344 children and analyzed using structural equation modeling. The result of the study suggests that self-determined motivation in physical education is important to children's perceptions of enjoyment and to their levels of moderate to-vigorous activity in class.

The article focuses on the study which examines the relationship between the social context and physical activity intensity among children. The study was participated by a total of eight overweight and 12 normal weight boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 14. It is revealed that overweight children spent more time alone, but more intense activity when in the presence of peers and friends than did normal weight children.

Background and purpose: In older adults, there are correlations between cognitive test scores and physical fitness indicators such as VO2max and grip strength. Recent findings have indicated that physical activity is related to improved cognitive performance in children but do not provide any information about whether physical fitness is a significant predictor of cognitive functioning and whether its influence differs for single-component processing resources and multiple-component higher-order cognitive functions. Subjects: 203 students (102 boys, 101 girls), aged 8 to 16 years, in randomly selected classes from elementary (grades 3, 4) and middle schools (grades 7, 8) throughout Giessen, Germany, participated in the study. Method: Physical fitness was assessed with the 6-min run, a 20-m sprint, a coordination task, the one-leg standing test, a medicine ball throw, push-ups, and the sit-and-reach test. Furthermore, we assessed attention, working memory, and speed (Stroop color-word test, digit span, digit symbol test) and executive functions (trail making test). Results: A MANOVA with the factors physical fitness, age group, and sex on each outcome measure revealed a significant main effect of age group (p < .001) and fitness (p < .001), indicating an increase in cognitive functioning with higher age and better fitness. Univariate tests indicated a significant influence of fitness only in executive functioning and speed, but not in working memory and attention. Conclusions: In the light of previous research findings that executive functions play a dominant role in writing development, the results are promising and suggest that physical fitness may lead to general improvements in academic achievement but highlight the need to examine the influence of physical fitness on academic achievement with a longitudinal approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a summary of the study "Fitness-focused phys ed reaps benefits," by L. Schnirring, published in "The Physician and Sportsmedicine" journal. The study focused on overweight middle school children, who were randomly assigned to either a typical physical education class or a lifestyle fitness-focused class. The fitness-focused class worked on activities such as cycling or walking and provided nutritional information. After nine months the students in the fitness-focused classes demonstrated higher improvement of fasting insulin levels, body fat, and cardiovascular fitness then those in the typical physical education class.

The article presents a summary of the article "Aerobic fitness and neurocognitive function in healthy preadolescent children," by C. H. Hillman, D. M. Castelli, and S. M. Buck, published in the "Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise" journal. The study, which used amplitude and latency of the P300 component of the Event-Related Potential waveform, found that physical fitness has a positive effect on the cognitive function and academic performance in children. The article also discusses how exercise and physical fitness can decrease the risk of dementia and age-related decline in cognition.

The article presents a summary of the article "Preliminary study of the ability of reasoned action model in predicting exercise behavior of young children," by Y. Theodorakis, D. Doganis, K. Bagiatis, and M. Gouthas, published in the journal "Perceptual and Motor Skills." The article looks at children's attitudes toward exercise and physical fitness activities.

The article presents a summary of a study by M. J. Stewart and C. B. Corbin, entitled "Self-confidence of young girls in physical activity and sport," originally published in the Spring 1989 issue of "The Physical Educator" magazine. The study provides strategies to increase self-confidence in girls.