Leisure time exercise behavior and motives of university administrators in China

Background: University administrator physical activity (PA) attitudes and actions may play an important role in student fitness promotion on campus but have been given little attention. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study explored the relationships of factors that influence Chinese university administrator PA behaviors. Methods: A survey was designed to collect information regarding participants’ PA behaviors, intentions, perceived health, body mass index (BMI) and common demographic factors. A total of 474 Chinese university administrators participated in this study with 443 completed surveys. Path analysis was used to test the predictive and mediational role of the aforementioned variables on total PA. Results: Results revealed a good model fit. Attitudes mediated the effects of BMI and perceived health on total PA; subjective norms and self-efficacy had significant direct effects and mediated the effects of satisfaction and attitudes on total PA. The effects of intentions on total PA were not significant. Conclusions: Chinese university administrator PA behaviors were significantly influenced by attitudes, subjective norms, self-efficacy, BMI, perceived health and satisfaction with exercise facilities. The non-significant effects of intention on PA participation were not expected. More studies on university administrator’s PA are needed in the future.