TY - JOUR
T1 - Contribution of Athletic Identity to Child and Adolescent Physical Activity
AU - Anderson, Cheryl B.
AU - Mâsse, Louise C.
AU - Zhang, Hong
AU - Coleman, Karen J.
AU - Chang, Shine
N1 - Funding Information:
This research and the preparation of this article were supported by grants from the Cancer Research Foundation of America (now known as the Prevent Cancer Foundation); American Cancer Society (IRG-9303406); Curtis Hankamer Basic Research Fund at Baylor College of Medicine; the National Cancer Institute (R03-CA90185 and R01-CA98662); and the American Heart Association (Patient Care & Outcomes Research Award 9970182N). The preparation of this article was also supported in part by federal funds to the Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)/ARS under Cooperative Agreement No. 6250-51000-047. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the USDA, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government.
PY - 2009/9
Y1 - 2009/9
N2 - Background: Identity theorists maintain that domain-specific self-concepts help explain the differential investment of people's time and effort in various activities. Purpose: This study examined the contribution of athletic identity and three key demographic variables to physical activity and sports team participation. Methods: Students in Grades 4-5 (n=391, mean age 9.9 years, range 8-13 years, collected in 2003) and Grades 7-8 (n=948, mean age 13.6 years, range 11-15 years, collected in 2002 and 2006) completed the 40-item Athletic Identity Questionnaire, which measures self-perceptions of athletic appearance; competence; importance of physical activity and sports; and encouragement for activity from parents, teachers, and friends. Hierarchic multiple regression analyses in 2008 assessed the effects of athletic identity, race/ethnicity group, gender, and overweight status on 7-day moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and organized sport team participation in each age group. Results: In children and adolescents, the global score of athletic identity was independently, positively related to MVPA (p<0.0001, p<0.0001, respectively) and team participation (p<0.0001, p<0.0001, respectively), after controlling for demographic variables. More variance in MVPA was explained in children (23%) than in adolescents (5%), in contrast to team sports (5% in children, 15% in adolescents). In the subscale analyses, positive relationships for appearance, competence, importance, and parental encouragement persisted independent of demographic factors. Conclusions: Results support the role of athletic self-concept in promoting physical activity and organized sport participation in children and adolescents.
AB - Background: Identity theorists maintain that domain-specific self-concepts help explain the differential investment of people's time and effort in various activities. Purpose: This study examined the contribution of athletic identity and three key demographic variables to physical activity and sports team participation. Methods: Students in Grades 4-5 (n=391, mean age 9.9 years, range 8-13 years, collected in 2003) and Grades 7-8 (n=948, mean age 13.6 years, range 11-15 years, collected in 2002 and 2006) completed the 40-item Athletic Identity Questionnaire, which measures self-perceptions of athletic appearance; competence; importance of physical activity and sports; and encouragement for activity from parents, teachers, and friends. Hierarchic multiple regression analyses in 2008 assessed the effects of athletic identity, race/ethnicity group, gender, and overweight status on 7-day moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and organized sport team participation in each age group. Results: In children and adolescents, the global score of athletic identity was independently, positively related to MVPA (p<0.0001, p<0.0001, respectively) and team participation (p<0.0001, p<0.0001, respectively), after controlling for demographic variables. More variance in MVPA was explained in children (23%) than in adolescents (5%), in contrast to team sports (5% in children, 15% in adolescents). In the subscale analyses, positive relationships for appearance, competence, importance, and parental encouragement persisted independent of demographic factors. Conclusions: Results support the role of athletic self-concept in promoting physical activity and organized sport participation in children and adolescents.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=68149148935&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=68149148935&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.amepre.2009.05.017
DO - 10.1016/j.amepre.2009.05.017
M3 - Article
C2 - 19595559
AN - SCOPUS:68149148935
SN - 0749-3797
VL - 37
SP - 220
EP - 226
JO - American Journal of Preventive Medicine
JF - American Journal of Preventive Medicine
IS - 3
ER -