Psychosocial Correlates of Physical Activity in Children-A Study of Relationships When Children Have Similar Opportunities to Be Active

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Abstract
Children's daily physical activity patterns are influenced by many factors outside of their immediate control (e.g., school, parents' availability, time allowed outdoors). Because all children do not have an equal opportunity to participate in physical activity, investigating the relationship of psychosocial variables and actual voluntary activity has been problematic. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the relationships among psychosocial correlates and physical activity levels when children have an equal and optimal opportunity to be active. Participants were 25 children (ages 10-12) who participated in a summer fitness camp. The structured and repeated nature of the camp provided a unique opportunity to study variability in children's activity patterns over an extended period of time. Participants completed Harter's Perceived Athletic Competence Scale, the Children's Attraction to Physical Activity Scale, and the Children and Youth Physical Self-Perception Profile during the first 2 ...