RELATIONSHIPS AMONG CHILDRENS BELIEFS, PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR PARENTS BELIEFS, AND THEIR MODERATE-TO-VIGOROUS PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY

The purposes of this study were to (a) examine the relationship betwee n children's beliefs (value, competence, and goal orientations) pertai ning to fitness-oriented activities and their participation in moderat e-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), (b) determine whether children 's own beliefs are related to their perceptions of their parents' beli efs about them (value, competence, goal orientations, expectancies), a nd (c) examine the relationship between children's perceptions of thei r parents' beliefs and their MVPA. Self-report questionnaires and stru ctured interviews were administered to children (N = 81, ages 11-15) i n a one-on-one situation in their homes to tap their own beliefs, thei r perceptions of their parents' beliefs, and to assess children's leve l of MVPA through the use of two-day recall and peer comparison measur es. Multivariate multiple-regression analyses revealed that children's beliefs about their MVPA could predict a significant amount of the va riance in their self-reported MVPA and that children's perceptions of their parents' beliefs were unrelated to their MVPA. Follow-up canonic al correlation analyses showed that the most significant and positive predictors of MVPA were children's perceptions of competence and the d egree to which they endorse a task and ego orientation. A second multi variate multiple-regression analysis revealed that children's percepti ons of their parents' beliefs about them and their own beliefs about M VPA were significantly related These findings are discussed within the framework of a Family Influence Model for understanding children's MV PA participation.