TITLE:
Attraction to physical activity of generation Z: A mixed methodological approach
AUTHORS:
David D. Biber, Daniel R. Czech, Brandonn S. Harris, Bridget F. Melton
KEYWORDS:
Generational; Motivation; Physical Activity; Zeds
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Preventive Medicine,
Vol.3 No.3,
June
14,
2013
ABSTRACT:
The
prevalence of obesity in Generation Z, which includes
individuals born after the year 2000, has tripled that of Generation Xers of
1980 [1]. Rising levels of obesity have been associated with increased physical
inactivity (PA) [2]. Attraction to physical activity can be grounded in the
Self-Determination Theory (SDT) [3], which defines intrinsic and extrinsic
motivation and the roles each type of motivation plays in social and cognitive
development. The purpose of the current research was to use a mixed-methodological approach to understand attraction to physical activity of a Generation Z sample via semi-structured
focus groups and the Children’s Attraction to Physical Activity (CAPA) assessment.
Based on these results, the secondary purpose was to determine whether
significant differences exist between attraction to physical activity and
gender within the Generation Z sample. The focus groups revealed two overarching
themes: attraction and aversion to physical activity, each with subthemes. The
CAPA test revealed significant differences between males and females (t =
2.78, df = 63, p =