Gender differences in the psychosocial and cognitive correlates of physical activity among Taiwanese adolescents: a structural equation modeling approach.

Full Abstract

This study examined gender differences in the factors related to physical activity in 832 Taiwanese adolescents. Differences in psychosocial and cognitive correlates were noted by gender group. Taiwanese adolescent girls reported lower physical activity self-efficacy and less perceived benefits and more perceived barriers to being active than boys. Girls compared to boys reported significantly more positive social support, modeling, and norms from parents to be active but significantly less social support and norms from their peers. Structural equation modeling was used to test the direct and indirect paths of a model of proposed correlates and physical activity. The results indicated that peer influences had both direct and indirect paths to physical activity for both genders. Among all examined variables, perceived self-efficacy was the strongest correlate of physical activity for these adolescents. The findings of this study provide information relevant to designing physical activity interventions targeted to Taiwanese adolescents.

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Author information

Author/s: Wu, Su-Yin (SY); Pender, Nola (N); Noureddine, Samar (S);

Affiliation: Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA, tywu@umich.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: International journal of behavioral medicine (Int J Behav Med), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-; vol 10 (issue 2) : pp 93-105

Dates: Created 2003/05/23; Completed 2003/07/24; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 12763704, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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