Abstract

Guided by the expectancy-value model, the purposes of this study were to examine the predictive strength of expectancy-related beliefs and task values toward middle school students’ physical activity and their cardiovascular fitness, and to examine gender differences among these variables. Participants were 182 students enrolled in a suburban public school. Expectancy-related beliefs predicted physical activity and cardiovascular fitness, but task values did not. Boys were more likely to be physically active and performed better on the cardiovascular fitness test than girls, but expectancy-related beliefs and task values did not differ. The findings suggest that fostering expectancy-related beliefs can promote physical activity and fitness levels. Verf.-Referat