The Association Between Exercise Behavior Regulation and Exergaming in Adolescents
in Journal of Physical Activity and HealthClick name to view affiliation
Background:
It is not known if or how exercise behavior regulations (EBRs) relate to exergaming in adolescents. The study objectives were 1) to determine if EBRs differ between adolescents who do and do not exergame; and 2) among exergamers, to describe the associations between EBRs and exergame duration, intensity, and achieving physical activity (PA) guidelines.
Methods:
This study was a cross-sectional analysis of data collected in mailed self-report questionnaires completed by 1243 students (mean ± SDage = 16.8 ± 0.5 years; 43% boys).
Results:
In girls, those who exergamed scored higher than nonexergamers on introjected (mean ± SD = 1.9 ± 1.0 vs.1.6 ± 0.9; P = .001) and identified (mean ± SD = 3.1 ± .0 vs.2.9 ± 0.9; P = .049) regulation. Exergame intensity was associated with identified regulation [OR (95% CI) = 2.2 (1.0, 4.5)], minutes exergaming per week was associated with amotivation [β (95% CI) = 0.4 (−0.0, 0.8)], and achieving guidelines was associated with external [OR (95% CI) = 3.7 (1.0, 13.4)] and identified [OR (95% CI) = 5.6 (2.0, 16.0)] regulations. In boys who exergamed, intrinsic regulation was associated with exergame duration [β (95% CI) = −0.3 (−0.6, 0.0)].
Conclusions:
Girls who exergame may have partially internalized exergaming as a PA behavior. Boys may prefer other types of PA such as team sports or other more traditional videogames over exergaming or they may not view exergaming as PA.
EK O’Loughlin, Dugas, and JL O’Loughlin (jennifer.oloughlin@umontreal.ca) are with the Centre de recherche du centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada. EK O’Loughlin is also with the Dept of Exercise Science, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Sabiston is with the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. JL O’Loughlin is also with the Dept of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; and the Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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