Food & Health Alliance

de Brujin, G.-J.; Kremers, S. P. J.; Lensvelt-Mulders, G.; de Vries, H.; van Mechelen, W. & Brug, J.  Department of Health Education and Health Promotion, Maastricht University; Department of Methodology and Statistics, Utrecht University; Department of Public and Occupational Health and EMGO Institute, VU University Medical Center and Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center.  (2006).

Study that examines a model that attempts to explain the interaction between past physical activity, neighborhood attractiveness, provision of local facilities and current attitudes towards physical activity, within the framework of the TPB.   This research was conducted in the Netherlands.

Method:  Every patient aged over 12 years old registered at one of nine family health practices (approximately 50,00 patients) were asked to complete postal questionnaires at 6 month intervals.  This study only focused on participants between 12 and 18 years old who completed the questionnaire at both time points (n=221, male= 88, female= 133, mean age= 15.1 years old).  Physical activity levels were assessed at Time 1, noting factors such as activity type and frequency.  At Time 2 environmental perceptions, behaviour specific cognitions and demographic statistics were recorded. 

Findings:  Past physical activity was an important, unmediated factor for predicting current physical activity levels, perhaps due to the strength of habit formation.  With adolescents being more likely to act on habits, rather than intentions.  Environmental factors did not add to the model explaining current behaviour, on top of past behaviour, however participants who rated their environment as more attractive had a better attitude towards being physically active along with adolescents who rated having better behavioural control, these two factors were compounded in order to increase physical activity participation. 

Suggestions:  As environmental appearance had an indirect positive influence on physical activity participation interventions should be targeted towards enhancing activity environments.  Future research should take into account behavioural sciences, along with environmental and social-cognitive factors. 

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