TY - JOUR
T1 - Physical activity, well-being and needs satisfaction in eight and nine-year-old children from areas of socio-economic disadvantage
AU - Breslin, Gavin
AU - Shannon, Stephen
AU - Fitzpatrick, Ben
AU - Hanna, Donncha
AU - Belton, Sarahjane
AU - Brennan, Deirdre
PY - 2017/7/3
Y1 - 2017/7/3
N2 - Need-supportive environments have been shown to predict children’s physical activity levels, and in a few cases to well-being. Grounded in self-determination theory (SDT), this cross-sectional study aimed to determine the influence of psychological need (competence and social relatedness) satisfaction on physical activity levels and well-being in children from areas of social and economic disadvantage. A total of 211 children aged eight and nine years from areas of low socio-economic status wore an accelerometer for one week, and completed a questionnaire assessing psychological need satisfaction and well-being. Confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis were conducted to assess the factor structure of the measures, and to test for theoretical relationships between psychological needs, physical activity and well-being. The factor structure of the instruments was supported, and a significant positive relationship was found between athletic competence and physical activity (β = 0.19). Athletic competence (β = 0.19), along with parental relatedness (β = 0.32), positively predicted children’s well-being. Physical activity alone did not predict well-being. Based on these findings, practitioners may consider components of SDT, reflective of need-supportive environments, when designing physical activity interventions. Interventions aimed at supporting children’s perceptions of competence, and the involvement of parents, may offer the opportunity to increase well-being.
AB - Need-supportive environments have been shown to predict children’s physical activity levels, and in a few cases to well-being. Grounded in self-determination theory (SDT), this cross-sectional study aimed to determine the influence of psychological need (competence and social relatedness) satisfaction on physical activity levels and well-being in children from areas of social and economic disadvantage. A total of 211 children aged eight and nine years from areas of low socio-economic status wore an accelerometer for one week, and completed a questionnaire assessing psychological need satisfaction and well-being. Confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis were conducted to assess the factor structure of the measures, and to test for theoretical relationships between psychological needs, physical activity and well-being. The factor structure of the instruments was supported, and a significant positive relationship was found between athletic competence and physical activity (β = 0.19). Athletic competence (β = 0.19), along with parental relatedness (β = 0.32), positively predicted children’s well-being. Physical activity alone did not predict well-being. Based on these findings, practitioners may consider components of SDT, reflective of need-supportive environments, when designing physical activity interventions. Interventions aimed at supporting children’s perceptions of competence, and the involvement of parents, may offer the opportunity to increase well-being.
KW - Physical Activity
KW - well-being
UR - https://doi.org/10.1080/13575279.2017.1299108
U2 - 10.1080/13575279.2017.1299108
DO - 10.1080/13575279.2017.1299108
M3 - Article
VL - 23
SP - 275
EP - 291
JO - Child Care in Practice
JF - Child Care in Practice
SN - 1357-5279
IS - 3
ER -