Reinforcing value of physical activity as a determinant of child activity level. |
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Authors: | L H Epstein C K Kilanowski A R Consalvi R A Paluch |
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Affiliation: | Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, 14260, USA. lhenet@acsu.buffalo.edu |
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Abstract: | This study examined whether the relative reinforcing value of physical activity (RRVPA) measured in the laboratory predicted physical activity measured in the natural environment in 32 6-11-year-old children. RRVPA correlated with physical activity level (r = .42, p < .05), and contributed to the prediction of physical activity level along with child obesity. RRVPA was related to the number of moderate to vigorous physical activity exercise bouts (r = .35, p < .05), not to the duration of those bouts. These results suggest that RRVPA is a determinant of child physical activity level, and that it may be naturally more reinforcing for children to engage in multiple, short exercise bouts than fewer, more extended bouts. |
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