Determinants of physical activity among Taiwanese adolescents: An application of the health promotion model.

Abstract

Physical activity has various psychological and physical benefits. Despite increased emphasis on the importance of physical activity, many Taiwanese people still lead sedentary lifestyles. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between interpersonal influences (i.e., social support, norms, modeling), behavior-specific cognitions (i.e., self-efficacy, perceived benefits/barriers), competing demands, and physical activity among Taiwanese adolescents. A convenience sample of 969 Taiwanese eighth graders from the Taipei School District completed a series of questionnaires to assess these constructs. The present study established the reliability and validity of the measurement instruments in Taiwanese adolescents. The results from Structural Equation Modeling indicated that perceived self-efficacy was the most important predictor of physical activity. The data confirmed that Taiwanese adolescents who had greater interpersonal influences (i.e., norms, modeling, and social support) to perform physical activity were likely to report more daily physical activity. When the sources of social support, norms, and modeling were further analyzed, it was found that peers (friends and classmates) were more significant influences than parents. Norms from parents and physical education instructors to expect performance of physical activity also were found to be related to increased level of physical activity among Taiwanese adolescents. In addition, significant differences in physical activity were found between adolescents with more positive perceived self-efficacy, perceived benefits, and perceived barriers than those with less positive cognitions. Interpersonal influences, when considered in total, had a weak and non-significant direct effect on physical activity but had indirect effects on physical activity through perceived benefits and perceived self-efficacy. When sources of interpersonal influence were considered separately, parental influences did not have direct effects on physical activity. In contrast, peers did have a significant direct effect on physical activity and also indirect influences on Taiwanese adolescents' physical activity through perceived self-efficacy. All variables accounted for 30% of the variance in physical activity. Results of this study have significant implications for health professionals for promoting physical activity in this population. In school and community settings, clinicians or practitioners can use the tools developed and tested in this study to assess attitudes and beliefs of Taiwanese adolescents as a basis for developing effective counseling strategies to promote physical activity in this population.