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Physical and Sedentary Activity Awareness and Habit Strength of Puerto Rican Adolescents

Torres, Christopher Michael
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3496-9744
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1490539591034386

Abstract Details

2017, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Kinesiology.
Introduction: A lack of physical activity has been linked to increases in negative physiological outcomes such as cardiovascular disease risk, obesity, and all-cause mortality. However, reports on current child and adolescent physical activity trends capture a steady increase in physical activity until the age of 13, where rates of physical activity start to steadily decrease and sedentary activity start to steadily increase. Theoretical framework and purpose: The main purposes of this study were: (a) to determine the extent to which Hispanic youth in Puerto Rico were aware of their physical and sedentary activities and (b) to what extent were these behaviors habitual. An additional purpose situated in the theory of planned behavior (Ajzen, 1985, 1991) was to determine if awareness had moderating effects on attitude, subjective norms, or perceived behavioral control, thus influencing intention to participate in physical or sedentary activities. Participants: Participants were 114 Hispanic youth (females = 63, 55.3% and males = 51, 44.7%) 11 to 16 years of age (M = 13.49, SD = 1.15), currently attending public middle schools in a rural school district of Puerto Rico. Method: The research design was a descriptive cross-sectional survey with direct administration (Fraenkel & Wallen, 1990, 2000). Data collection and analysis: Data were gathered using direct administration of a demographic questionnaire and the following survey instruments: (a) Visual Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall survey, (b) Visual Seven-Day Sedentary Activity Recall survey, (c) Awareness of Physical and Sedentary Activity Behaviors scale, (d) Self-Report Habit Index scale, and (e) Psychosocial Determinants scale. The data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical procedures. Results: Results show that 73% of participants were in the healthy range of BMI (5th percentile to 85th percentile) and 75% of participants participated in 150 minutes or more of PA per week. Results also revealed that nearly half (47%) of participants were aware of their level of PA as compared to their schoolmates and that over one third (36.8%) of participants had high habit strength for PA. In addition, a majority of those in the high habit group (83%) were in the healthy weight BMI group, a majority (59%) were aware of their PA as compared to their peers, and a majority (86%) participated in the highest category of PA (150 minutes or more of PA per week). Furthermore, males participated in slightly more PA during each day of the week, although there was no difference between female and male participation in SA (p > 0.05). Results show that (a) attitude; (b) subjective norms; and (c) behavioral control can predict intention to participate in PA, and that awareness does have a mediating effect over intention to participate in PA. Discussion: Results of this study indicate that three of every four Puerto Rican adolescents surveyed participated in at least 150 minutes of PA per week. Although this meets the CDC/ACSM guidelines for physical activity in adults, it falls short of the adolescent recommendations. Moreover, two out of every three Puerto Rican adolescents surveyed participated in physical activity habitually; and in general, this group exhibited higher participation in PA, lower participation in SA, and lower prevalence of individuals in the obese category. When building an intervention to increase Puerto Rican adolescent PA and decrease SA, researchers and policy makers should take into account the awareness that these adolescents may have of the guidelines of PA as well as an awareness of their peer participation in PA. In addition, future interventions should include programming to increase habituation of adolescent PA, as participants with high PA habit strength had the best health outcomes in terms of BMI, PA participation, and SA reduction.
Samuel Hodge, PhD (Committee Co-Chair)
Brian Focht, PhD (Committee Co-Chair)
Randi Foraker, PhD (Committee Member)
200 p.
Behavioral Sciences; Health; Health Education; Health Sciences; Kinesiology; Public Health; Public Health Education; Recreation
Physical Activity, Sedentary Activity, Awareness, Habit Strength, Adolescents, Puerto Rico, Public Health, Theory of Planned Behavior

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Torres, C. M. (2017). Physical and Sedentary Activity Awareness and Habit Strength of Puerto Rican Adolescents [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1490539591034386

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Torres, Christopher. Physical and Sedentary Activity Awareness and Habit Strength of Puerto Rican Adolescents . 2017. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1490539591034386.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Torres, Christopher. "Physical and Sedentary Activity Awareness and Habit Strength of Puerto Rican Adolescents ." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1490539591034386

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1490539591034386
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.
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