Adolescents’ Physical Activity and Depressive Symptoms: A Psychosocial Mechanism

Liang Shen, Xiangli Gu, Tao Zhang and Joonyoung Lee
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Liang Shen: School of Physical Education, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
Xiangli Gu: Department of Kinesiology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
Tao Zhang: Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA
Joonyoung Lee: Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 3, 1-9

Abstract: Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB; Ajzen, 1991), this study aimed to test a hypothesized path model of TPB variables (i.e., attitude toward behavior, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and intention) with physical activity (PA) and depressive symptoms. A total of 792 Chinese adolescents ( M age = 16.9; SD = 0.82; 54.5% females) completed previously validated questionnaires assessing their TPB variables, PA, and depressive symptoms. Correlation analysis revealed TPB variables were positively associated with PA ( p < 0.01), and negatively correlated to depressive symptoms ( p < 0.01). The path analyses indicated that the hypothesized model produces a goodness of fit (χ 2 /df = 16.14/5, CFI = 0.99, RMSEA = 0.06). The findings support the theoretical tenets of TPB and provide empirical evidence of the psychosocial mechanism of PA and depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents. It suggests that building PA intervention strategies while considering the TPB framework may promote adolescents’ physical and mental health.

Keywords: adolescents; physical activity; depression; theory of planned behavior (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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