PARENTAL BELIEFS AND CHILDRENS MODERATE-TO-VIGOROUS PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY

The present study was guided by the Family Influence Model to examine the role of parental beliefs in their children's moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). The specific purposes were to (1) examine th e nature of a parental belief system that may be relevant to children' s MVPA participation, (2) determine if parental beliefs regarding thei r children's MVPA are gender related, (3) examine the relationship bet ween parents' exercise behavior and children's MVPA participation and (4) investigate the strength of the relationship between parental beli efs and children's self-reported MVPA. The participants for this study included 81 children (26 girls and 55 boys) between the ages of 11 an d 15 years and their parents (n = 142). Significant findings were: (1) descriptive evidence of a parental belief system for children's MVPA existed, (2) mothers and fathers differed in their MVPA-related belief s for their child, (3) no relationship was found between parents exerc ise behavior and children's MVPA participation, and (4) parental belie fs relating to their children, especially perceptions of competence an d a task orientation, were significantly related to the amount of chil dren's MVPA participation. These findings support the basic tenets of the Family Influence Model and suggest that parental beliefs should be taken into consideration to better understand the psychosocial proces s underlying children's participation in fitness-oriented physical act ivity.