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Using Social Cognitive Theory To Predict Physical Activity In Inner-City African American School Children, Jeffrey J. Martin, Nate Mccaughtry

Kinesiology, Health and Sport Studies

Researchers using social cognitive theory and employing built environment constructs to predict physical activity (PA) in inner-city African American children is quite limited. Thus, the purpose of our investigation was to evaluate the ability of important social cognitive variables (e.g., self-efficacy) and built environment constructs (e.g., neighborhood hazards) to predict African American children’s PA. Children (N = 331, ages 10–14) completed questionnaires assessing social cognitive theory constructs and PA. Using multiple regression analyses we were able to account for 19% of the variance in PA. Based on standardized beta weights, the best predictors of PA were time spent outside …

Validating The Food Behavior Questions From The Elementary School Span Questionnaire, Yeon Bai, Krisha Thiagarajah, Alyce D. Fly, Deanna M. Hoelscher, Kaman Lo, Angela Leone, Julie A. Shertzer

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

Background

The School Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) questionnaire were developed as a surveillance instrument to measure physical activity, nutrition attitudes, and dietary and physical activity behaviors in children and adolescents. The SPAN questionnaire has 2 versions.

Objective

This study was conducted to evaluate the validity of food consumption items from the elementary school version of the SPAN questionnaire.

Design

Validity was assessed by comparing food items selected on the questionnaire with food items reported from a single 24-hour recall covering the same reference period.

Setting

5 elementary schools in Indiana.

Participants

Fourth-grade student volunteers (N = 121) from 5 …