Children’s exercise behavior: The moderating role of habit processes within the theory of planned behavior

Abstract

Purpose: The moderating effect of exercise habit strength and specific habit processes within the theory of planned behavior (TPB) was tested in children. Methods: Participants were primary school students (N = 380, mean age = 10.46 ± .52). The data were collected using self-report measures followed by one-mile run test performance. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results: The findings revealed that 34, 57, and 9% of students could be classified as low, moderate, and high in PA, respectively. Path analysis for the overall model revealed significant path loadings (p = < .05), except for the attitude–intention path. Moderating effects results revealed that strong habit strength extinguished the effects of intention on PA. Conclusion: Habit strength has the potential to minimize the deliberate processes associated with intention to exercise, thereby increasing the probability of intention–behavior translation. For specific habit processes, only negative affect appears to moderate the relationships between the TPB variables.

Keywords:

• exercise habit
• exercise motivation
• pediatric exercise

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme, Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (203/PPSP/6171123).