Understanding Physical Inactivity: Prediction of Four Sedentary Leisure Behaviors

Abstract

An understanding of the motives underlying sedentary leisure behavior may guide interventions to decrease these behaviors. The purpose of this study was to apply the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to understand the motives underlying four common sedentary leisure activities: television viewing, computer use, reading/music, and socializing. A cross-sectional community sample of 206 adults and 174 undergraduate students completed measures of the TPB of these four leisure behaviors and self-reported behavior. Results using ordinary least squares regression provided evidence that sedentary behaviors may be intentional and planned with a primary attitude base but not related to perceived behavioral control. The findings provide information about sedentary behavior motivation and support the validity of the TPB for the prediction of these behaviors.

Keywords:

• computer-use
• physical activity
• television viewing
• theory of planned behavior

Acknowledgments

RER is supported by a scholar award from the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research and a New Investigator Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research with additional funds from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Canadian Diabetes Association, and the Human Early Learning Partnership. RND is supported by a Doctoral Scholarship from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research – Institute of Aging. We would also like to thank the Associate Editor and two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments and suggested revisions to the manuscript.

Notes

∗ = p < .01. Coefficients not in parentheses = community sample; coefficients in parentheses = undergraduate sample.