THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOR VS ETHNICITY AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY?

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. In critiquing the research agenda associated with increasing physical activity levels among Americans, Baranowski et al. (1998) state that it is crucial to demonstrate that a particular theory / construct accounts for significant variance (i.e., ¿ 30%) in a target behavior (e.g., moderate-intensity physical activity) before theoretically-based interventions can be successfully developed. Furthermore, Baranowski et al. (1998) and Healthy People 2010 suggest that the moderating impact of ethnicity on the theory / target behavior relationship is an important issue to consider, particularly in post-secondary institutions. African-Americans are more sedentary compared to Caucasians, which places them at greater risk for developing various chronic diseases. The purpose of the proposed studies is to use the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to identify key global determinants (i.e., attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control) and accessible beliefs (i.e., behavioral, normative, control) in college-aged African-Americans and Caucasians. These findings will allow future researchers to focus on developing ethnically relevant physical activity interventions. Four studies will be conducted to achieve this goal. First, a pilot study will be conducted to generate the accessible beliefs proposed by the TPB. These beliefs will be put into questionnaire format and tested in a second study for comprehension and readability. Next, the test-retest reliability of the modified questionnaire from study two will be examined in study three. Finally, the fourth study will administer the TPB questionnaire to 416 African-Americans and 416 Caucasians who will be followed up at three and six months. This research plan will allow us to assess which determinants and beliefs are associated with moderate-intensity physical activity levels in both groups.