Exercise Locus of Control, Behavior, and Intention Among Mexican American Youth

Abstract

Mexican American youth have higher physical inactivity rates than their Black or non-Hispanic White counterparts. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among exercise locus of control, age, present exercise level, weight status, and gender with intention to exercise in a sample of Mexican American youth. The study sample consisted of 216 boys and 185 girls ranging in age from 10 to 15 years, and data were collected through a self-report survey instrument and height and weight measures to calculate body mass index. Structural equation modeling was employed to test for variable associations. Results suggested that for boys and girls, current exercise involvement had the greatest influence on intent to be physically active, and age had a mediating effect because of the increased importance of the powerful others’ exercise locus of control belief as one grew older.