The Utility of a Protection Motivation Theory Framework for Understanding Sedentary Behaviour

Abstract

This study aimed to 1) examine the factor structure and composition of sedentary-derived Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) constructs and 2) determine the utility of these constructs in predicting general and leisure sedentary goal intention (GI), implementation intention (II), and sedentary behaviour (SB). PMT, GI, II constructs, and a modified SB questionnaire were completed by undergraduate students. After completing socio-demographics and the PMT items (n = 787), participants were randomized to complete general or leisure intention and SB items. Irrespective of model, principal axis factor analysis revealed that the PMT items grouped into eight coherent and interpretable factors. Using linear regression, general and leisure models predicted 5% and 6% of the variance in GI, 12% and 18% of the variance in II, and 6% and 7% of the variance in SB, respectively. Support now exists for the tenability of an eight-factor PMT sedentary model with modest predictability for intentions and behaviour