A THEORY-BASED INVESTIGATION OF LEISURE TIME PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS

This study examined the leisure time physical activity behavior of college students using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and two constructs, descriptive norm and self-efficacy, from the Integrated Behavioral Model (IBM). A sample of college students (n = 621) from a large, public university in the southeastern United States participated. Data were collected via a self-report class-room based assessment battery. The assessment battery contained questions related to leisure time physical activity, TPB constructs descriptive norm and self-efficacy and demographic information. In general, the results of this research indicate the utility of the TPB in examining leisure time physical activity among college students. In addition, this study supports the inclusion of the IBM constructs descriptive norm and self-efficacy in examining leisure time physical activity. The TPB constructs; attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control were positively associated with intention to engage in leisure time physical activity among this sample of college students. The results of the final hierarchical regression model indicated that subjective norm was negatively associated with leisure time physical activity and intention wa