| Recent studies indicate that a significant proportion of adolescents in the U.S. are not getting enough physical activity, which puts them at risk for a variety of current and future health problems. Before inadequate physical activity among adolescents can be properly addressed, a better understanding of the factors that influence physical activity is needed. Self-Determination Theory (SDT) offers a theoretical framework for understanding engagement in and persistence at a variety of behaviors. This study examined the utility of SDT for explaining physical activity outcomes in adolescence, including self-reported physical activity and school sports participation, and objectively determined physical activity (recorded with an accelerometer) and aerobic fitness (VO2peak; cycle ergometer).;Participants in this study were 149 healthy adolescents (M age=14.8 years; 56.8% male; 61.8% Caucasian). All participants provided baseline data, and a subsample of study participants (n=71) were followed up one year later. Cross-sectional analyses of baseline data indicated that intrinsic motivation was associated with physical activity. Perceived competence at physical activity was associated with most physical activity outcomes, with the exception of moderate intensity physical activity. Relatedness in the context of physical activity was generally not associated with physical activity, although an association did emerge between relatedness and school sports participation. Physical activity autonomy was not associated with adolescents' physical activity. Associations between competence and physical activity were not mediated by intrinsic motivation; however, there was evidence that intrinsic motivation partially mediated the association between relatedness and school sports participation. In the longitudinal analyses, one significant result emerged, indicating that perceived competence at physical activity predicted participation in school sports.;Results of this study provided partial support for SDT in the physical activity domain. Future research should investigate factors that may moderate associations between SDT variables and physical activity, such as type and intensity of physical activity, and features of the physical activity context (e.g., presence of peers, environmental barriers to physical activity). Future research should continue to investigate the nature of the association between SDT constructs and physical activity among adolescents, using longitudinal designs with the capability of modeling reciprocal associations. |
