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2011 Research Consortium Graduate Student Award Winner

Although significant physical and psychological health benefits of regular physical activity participation are well documented, nearly one third of American youth are not vigorously active on a regular basis. Additionally, their physical activity participation decreases as they age (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2007; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [USDHHS], 2008). The majority of adolescents do not meet national guidelines for physical activity, and the prevalence of obesity has been steadily increasing in this group (CDC, 2007). Efforts to increase students’ physical activity participation, with the goal of improving their health, needs to be guided by research-based evidence. School physical education and physical activity programs are ideal contexts to investigate factors that have a positive influence on physical activity behaviors and psychosocial health status, and that is the focus of this study. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) reflects an individual’s perceived sense of physical and mental well being over time within the physical and social environment (CDC, 2007). It is an important aspect of assessing health benefits of various interventions, as it addresses physical, emotional, social, and school functioning (Varni, Seid, & Kurtin, 2001). Seid, Varni, Segall, and Kurtin (2004) suggested HRQOL is not only predictive of future health status but it can also monitor dimensions of children’s health that are at risk or need support at an early stage. Research on HRQOL and physical activity has predominantly focused on elderly populations with chronic conditions and general adult populations without health impairments (Bize, Johnson, & Plotnikoff, 2007; Chyun et al., 2006; Penedo & Dahn, 1999). Physical activity has been positively associated with physical and psychosocial functions, and research suggests that physical activity of at least moderate intensity may benefit HRQOL. Little is known, however, about the relationship between HRQOL and physical activity among school-aged children. Examining Students’ Motivation, Physical Activity, and HealthRelated Quality of Life