Understanding parental physical activity behaviours in parents of children with disabilities: An expanded theory of planned behaviour approach.

Background: The purpose of the current study was to examine association between physical activity (PA) of parents of children with developmental disabilities and theory of planned behaviour-related variables.

Methods: A total of 95 participants completed questionnaires that measured the following variables: PA behaviours, action planning, intention, affective attitude, instrumental attitude. A path analysis was used to examine the associations between the variables.

Results: Among participants, 40% did not meet the PA guideline. PA affective attitude was positively associated with PA intention ( = 0.30,  = .009) and PA action planning ( = .22,  = .03). In turn, both PA intention and PA action planning were associated with moderate-to-vigorous PA in parents of children with developmental disabilities ( = 0.23,  = .008;  = 0.52,  < .001, respectively).

Conclusion: Physical activity in parents of children with developmental disabilities were appropriately explained by theory of planned behaviour-related variables.