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The association between exercise behavior regulation and exergaming in adolescents
Erin K O'Loughlin1, Catherine M Sabiston, Erika N Dugas
1Centre de recherche du centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Journal of Physical Activity & Health
|May 16, 2014
Summary
Adolescent girls who engage in exergaming show higher internalized motivation. Exergame engagement and meeting physical activity guidelines are linked to specific exercise behavior regulations in both genders.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Psychology
- Adolescent Health
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- The relationship between exercise behavior regulations (EBRs) and exergaming in adolescents remains understudied.
- Understanding these links is crucial for promoting physical activity (PA) in youth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if EBRs differ between adolescents who do and do not engage in exergaming.
- To examine associations between EBRs and exergame duration, intensity, and adherence to PA guidelines among adolescent exergamers.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of self-report questionnaire data from 1243 adolescents (mean age 16.8 years, 43% boys).
Main Results:
- Adolescent girls who exergamed exhibited higher introjected and identified regulation compared to non-exergamers.
- Exergame intensity correlated with identified regulation; weekly minutes correlated with amotivation.
- Meeting PA guidelines was associated with external and identified regulations. Intrinsic regulation was linked to exergame duration in boys.
Conclusions:
- Exergaming may be partially internalized as a PA behavior by adolescent girls.
- Boys might favor traditional sports or video games, or not perceive exergaming as PA, suggesting different motivational profiles.
