Identifying Theoretical Predictors of Chinese International Students' Physical Activity Behavior

Thursday, April 25, 2013
Exhibit Hall Poster Area 2 (Convention Center)
Zi Yan, Bradley J. Cardinal and Alan C. Acock, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

Background/Purpose This study tested the utility of the Youth Physical Activity Promotion (YPAP) model for predicting whether Chinese international students met the physical activity recommendation (MPAR; i.e., achieving > 150 minutes of physical activity per week).

Method Chinese international students (> 18 years) enrolled in American colleges and universities were recruited through Chinese Student Associations (N=649, females=320, males=329). Participants completed an online survey consisting of 53 questions aligned with the YPAP model. Structure equation modeling (SEM), logistic nested-regression model analysis, and mediation effect analysis were performed.

Analysis/Results 346 (53.31%) participants met the physical activity recommendation. The model fit of the original YPAP model to our data was poor, χ2 (19)=178, p<.01. CFI=.871, TLI=.728, RMSEA=.117, with “Able” being the most proximal and strongest predictor of MPAR (B=.28, OR=1.35, p<.05). The originally proposed YPAP model was rejected for this sample. Using logistic nested-regression analysis we identified the factors that predicted the odds of MPAR. In this model being male and one standard deviation higher in BMI, competency, self-efficacy, attitude, and enjoyment significantly increased the odds of MPAR, all p<.001. Mediation analysis identified that all of the enabling and reinforcing factors predicted MPAR indirectly through “able” and “worth” (p<.001), except the language barrier (p>.05).

Conclusions Colleges and universities ought to provide physical activity resources, as well as social resources to increase the perceived, competence, self-efficacy, positive attitude, and enjoyment of physical activity among Chinese international students, which is a large and fast-growing student population in the American higher education system.