Adolescent Activity Identity and Activity

Promotion of physical activity for adolescents is a major health priority. Lack of physical activity is related to an increase of obesity in children and the associated risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and others.

In order to develop effective behavioral interventions to promote physical activity for adolescents, an understanding of the factors that encourages physical activity is crucial. Dr. Cheryl Anderson, a scientist at the USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center and her associates, have developed an Athletic Identity Questionnaire (AIQ) based on a theoretical model supported in adults. Generally the term “athletic” includes exercise, sport and physical activity. Dr Anderson states, “Although not everyone is an athlete, everyone has an athletic identity”.

The 40 item questionnaire assesses the adolescent’s perception of his/her personal athletic identity. The questionnaire is divided into 4 dimensions of self knowledge:
athletic appearance, importance of exercise/sport/physical activity, the adolescents’ perceived competence to perform the activities, and the encouragement from others to perform (or not perform). Since family, friends, teachers and other adults all influence adolescents, the encouragement questions were further subdivided. Examples of some of the questions are shown below:

• APPEARANCE
  • “I look like a person who is physically fit.”
• IMPORTANCE
  • “I love to play active sports”.
• COMPETANCE
  • “I have skill in several sports or physical activities.”
• ENCOURAGEMENT
  • Parents/Family: “I have parents/family who give me words of confidence concerning sports or exercise.”
  • Friends: “My best friends are proud of me when I exercise.”
  • Teacher or other adult: “I have a teacher or another adult outside my family who has spent time teaching me how to play a sport or do a physical activity.”

Additional information about the development and validation of the Athletic Identity Questionnaire can be found in the January, 2007 issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, the official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine or on the CNRC website at www.kidsnutrition.org/faculty/anderson.htm