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Updated: Jun 24, 2026
Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
Physical activity behaviors and motivations in an adult First Nation population: a pilot study
James D Coble1, Ryan E Rhodes, Joan Wharf Higgins
1University of Victoria, School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Objectives:
To explore the potential utility of the theory of planned behavior in predicting physical activity behaviors and intentions in a sample of First Nation adults and to determine the behaviors and salient beliefs of First Nation adults as they relate to engaging in physical activity.
Design:
35 women and 18 men from the Westbank First Nation community completed a mail-out questionnaire based on the theory of planned behavior. Follow-up focus groups were used to elicit accessible beliefs and to determine actual behaviors (N = 12).
Results:
Intention significantly explained 16% of the variance in behavior. Only affective attitude and perceived behavioral control predicted intention but explained 50% of the variance. Qualitative analyses revealed that despite similarities, First Nation adults may engage in culturally specific activities and may have unique salient beliefs compared with the general population.
Conclusion:
To increase intentions, interventions should focus on the affective benefits of being physically active and promote activities perceived as easy to do with facilities that are accessible.
