Development of the child/adolescent activity log: a comprehensive and feasible measure of leisure-time physical activity.

The purpose of this study was to test the utility of a new instrument, the Child/Adolescent Activity Log (CAAL), designed to measure children's physical activities in a school setting efficiently, yet comprehensively. At baseline, 459 participants (mean age 12 + 1.4, 59% White, 34% African American, 7% other) were recruited to participate in a 2-year study focusing on patterns and predictions of physical activity at critical school transition points. The CAAL was administered daily for a 1-week period on 6 occasions to this cohort. From the CAAL, information about the pattern of specific activities chosen, average daily duration of activity, and average daily expenditure per kg body weight was obtained. The validity of the log was supported by its (1) correlation with Caltrac readings, (2) relation in the predicted direction with a single-item measure of typical level of physical activity and fitness indices, and (3) expected changes in exercise patterns over time and by gender. If future studies corroborate the psychometric properties and ease of administration of the CAAL, its utility in community-based studies is promising.

Gender and developmental differences in exercise beliefs among youth and prediction of their exercise behavior.

This study examined gender and developmental differences in exercise-related beliefs and exercise behaviors of 286 racially diverse youth and explored factors predictive of exercise. Compared to males, females reported less prior and current exercise, lower self-esteem, poorer health status, and lower exercise self-schema. Adolescents, in contrast to pre-adolescents, reported less social support for exercise and fewer exercise role models. In a path model, gender, the benefits/barriers differential, and access to exercise facilities and programs directly predicted exercise. Effects of grade, perceived health status, exercise self-efficacy, social support for exercise, and social norms for exercise on exercise behavior, were mediated through the benefits/barriers differential. Effect of race on exercise was mediated by access to exercise facilities and programs. Continued exploration of gender and developmental differences in variables influencing physical activity can yield valuable information for tailoring exercise promotion interventions to the unique needs of youth.