| RESEARCH INTEREST
Does the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) Mediate the Relationship between Ethnicity and Moderate Physical Activity?
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., less or greater than 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.
Specific aims of the project include 1) developing valid and reliable ethnic-relevant TPB accessible belief-based measures and 2) identifying ethnic-relevant beliefs that can be used to guide theoretically based physical activity interventions.
The first phase of the project involved soliciting the underlying accessible beliefs in Caucasians and African-Americans, to address hypothesis one. Upon recruitment, participants were asked to complete a questionnaire pertaining to beliefs about regularly exercising at a moderate intensity, defined as “accumulating 30 minutes of moderate intensity (i.e., not exhausting, light perspiration) physical activity at least five days per week.” Upon completion of the questionnaire, participants were given an American Cancer Society tee shirt. One week later they returned to complete a follow-up survey and received a $10.00 grocery store certificate for their time. Participants were recruited by contacting professors at Clark Atlanta University and Georgia Tech to arrange access to students in their classes. A pilot study conducted the previous semester led investigators to conclude that participant recruitment via fliers, presentations to first year classes, and mass e-mails resulted in a lower-than-desired rate of completion of the follow-up survey. The pilot project, supported by the American Cancer Society, generated behavioral beliefs which were put into questionnaire format and also resulted in refinement of questionnaire language. The next phase of the project involved refining and administering the questionnaire again with a two-week follow-up. The final phase of the project will include a larger sample and a longer follow-up period.
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