Chapter 2: Theoretical models for understanding physical activity behavior among children and adolescents - Social cognitive theory and self-determination theory

This chapter described the primary tenets of social cognitive theory and selfdetermination theory for understanding behavior, and the empirical extension of the theories into the study of physical activity behavior in children and adolescents. The concluding point of this chapter is that generating a better understanding of theory will ultimately yield better-informed cross-sectional, prospective, and experimental examinations of variables that influence physical activity behavior in children, and adolescents (Baranowski et al., 1998; Lewis et al., 2002; Salus et al., 2000). This will be necessary as we begin to focus on strategies for blunting the ever-increasing rates of inactivity and sedentarism. among youth (Caspersen et al, 2000; Grunbaum et al., 2002; Kimm et al., 2002) and the likely associated relative risks of preventable diseases.