Motives for physical activity were compared between adults who either successfully or unsuccessfully maintained regular physical activity over the last 10 years. Adults age 28–45 (N=721) completed an online survey, reporting their current physical activity levels and self-determination theory (SDT) motives, as well as their physical activity levels at least 10 years prior. With participants’ current and retrospective reports of their physical activity, four sample subgroups were created, including maintainers, improvers, decliners, and sedentary. ANOVA analyses were used to examine differences in motives between physical activity maintenance groups. Those who successfully maintained regular physical activity (maintainers) reported higher intrinsic and extrinsic motives compared to those who were not regularly active (P<0.05). Interestingly, maintainers reported similar physical activity motives compared to those who reported increased physical activity over time. Among the current sample and consistent with theory, motives for physical activity significantly influenced participants’ long-term maintenance of regular physical activity. Future interventions should consider these constructs to promote sustained physical activity.

The credibility of health-related information sources may influence parental decisions regarding childhood vaccinations. This study examined whether the type of health information source used by parents (verified vs. unverified) was associated with their child's vaccination outcomes. A national sample of 887 parents (55.1% male; mean age = 36.42 years, standard deviation = 12.29) completed an anonymous online survey. Participants reported demographic characteristics, primary health information sources, and whether their child received 12 vaccine recommendations by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Health information sources were categorized as primarily from verified (healthcare providers, scientific journals) or unverified (family/friends, social media, opinion blogs). Compared to those using unverified sources, verified source users had significantly higher odds of vaccinating their child across most vaccines, including DTaP, Hib, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, influenza, MMR, MCV4, pneumonia, IPV, and RV (all ps < 0.01). Verified source users also reported significantly higher overall vaccination rates (p < 0.001). These associations remained significant after adjusting for key demographic covariates (e.g., age, household size, number of children). No significant differences were found for the chickenpox or COVID-19 vaccines. Results underscore the importance of health information credibility in promoting vaccine adherence and suggest that targeted efforts to improve access to verified health information may help address childhood vaccination gaps.

After-school garden programs may be an effective setting to reach school-age children to promote nutritious diets and physical activity, while reducing sedentary behavior. The current analyses drew data from Project PLANTS (i.e., promoting lifelong activity and nutrition through schools), an after-school randomized controlled trial focusing on the prevention of obesity among children through garden clubs. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of a scale measuring children’s self-efficacy and proxy efficacy within the after-school, gardening context. In addition to children’s garden self-efficacy, measurement scales for gardening, physical activity, and fruit and vegetable proxy efficacy were also examined. Proxy efficacy was defined as children’s confidence that they have the skills and abilities to get their parent to provide behavior-specific opportunities. Participants ( N = 969) were fourth grade students ( n = 611; age 9.4 years, sd = 0.6; 63% white, 50% female) and fifth grade students ( n = 358; age 10.4 years, sd = 0.6; 57% white, 54% female) attending eight elementary schools. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) ( n = 484), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) ( n = 485), multigroup invariance, and tests to examine the sensitivity in detecting expected mean differences determined scale construct and criterion validity. The measurement model included five constructs: garden self-efficacy (seven items), garden barrier self-efficacy (four items), parent-directed proxy efficacy for physical activity opportunities (six items), fruit and vegetable availability (seven items), and opportunities to garden (four items). The five-factor model fit the data well [comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.958], demonstrating factor determinacy coefficients ≥0.940. Tests of invariance (equal form, factor loadings, and indicator intercepts) were acceptable between genders [change in CFI (ΔCFI) = 0.000], fourth and fifth graders (ΔCFI = 0.000), and normal and overweight/obese weight status children (ΔCFI = 0.000). Females had greater garden self-efficacy, garden barrier self-efficacy, garden proxy efficacy, and fruit and vegetable proxy efficacy. The current measurement model demonstrated good factorial validity, confirming the unbiased generalizability across gender, grade level, and body mass index subgroups. Further validation is suggested in additional populations and across time points.

This cross-sectional study of 504 community-dwelling Australian adults (328 females, 176 males, mean age 50.8 ± 13.0 years) sought to examine the reliability and validity of measurement scales for physical activity (PA) self-efficacy and outcome expectations. Participants completed demographic and anthropometric measurements, and a 23-item psychosocial questionnaire pertinent to an intervention target of 10,000 steps per day. Exploratory (n = 252) and confirmatory (n = 252) factor analyses were conducted to determine psychometric properties of the measures. Based on theory and goodness-of-fit indices, six factors were extracted from the questionnaire: PA self-efficacy; PA barriers self-efficacy (including general, personal, and conflict); and physical and mental outcome expectations. From confirmatory factor analysis, the model demonstrated good data fit in four out of five indices: CFI = 0.99; TLI = 0.99; SRMR = 0.03; RMSEA = 0.03, 90%CI = 0.01–0.05, χ² = 113.14 (88), p = 0.04; including good fit by sex, age, weight status, education, and birth country. PA interventions can employ our psychometrically sound social cognitive measures.

This study examined associations between motives, self-regulation, and health behaviors and tested the factor structure of a healthy eating motives scale adapted from the Motives for Physical Activity Measure–Revised. Participants ( N = 187) were primarily female (67%) and Caucasian, non-Hispanic (94%), with a mean age of 20.39 years (standard deviation (SD) = 1.58). Participants completed an online survey assessing physical activity, sedentary behavior, fruit and vegetable intake, and motivational constructs based on Self-Determination Theory (SDT). Exploratory factor analysis supported a four-factor structure for healthy eating motives (health, appearance, social, interest) with strong internal consistency. Multiple regression results showed intrinsic motives and autonomous regulation were positively associated with physical activity and vegetable intake and negatively associated with sedentary time. Cross-behavioral effects were limited, though autonomous regulation demonstrated consistent benefits across domains. Outcomes reinforce the importance of autonomous motivation in promoting health behaviors and provide psychometric support for an SDT-based measure of dietary motives.