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Validation of a Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Outdoor Play Behavioral Intention and Perceived Behavioral Control Tool for Early Childhood Educators

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Abstract

Early childhood educators (ECEs) are highly influential role models in the childcare setting with respect to encouraging physical activity and outdoor play, and minimizing sedentary behavior among children in childcare. Measuring ECEs’ behavioral intention (BI) and perceived behavioral control (PBC) is one way to monitor their determination and ability to support these health behaviors. The ECE Movement Behavioral Intention and Perceived Control (ECE-MBIPC) questionnaire (56 items) was developed via expert consensus to fill the noted gap in tools used to measure these constructs among ECEs. A test–retest approach, via an online survey administered twice (1-week apart) was adopted to evaluate the reliability and factorial validity of the questionnaire with ECEs in Canada (n = 165). Cronbach’s alpha and test–retest statistics were used to assess reliability, while exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to examine factorial validity. The ECE-MBIPC questionnaire demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.85 across subscales) and acceptable temporal stability (> 0.70). A seven-factor solution was proposed by the EFA, with each of the seven behaviors loading onto their own factor; this solution explained 71% of the variability in the data. As the first reliable and valid tool to measure ECEs’ BI and PBC to promote physical activity and outdoor play and to minimize sedentary behavior in childcare, the ECE-MBIPC questionnaire will help to standardize the manner in which these psychosocial variables are measured in early years research.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the ECEs who participated in this research.

Funding

This work was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC; ref #: 435-2019-1008). BAB was funded by a SSHRC Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship, PT and SMB were funded by Western University’s Faculty Scholar Award, and PT was funded by an Early Researcher Award from the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada

    Brianne A. Bruijns

  2. School of Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada

    Andrew M. Johnson & Shauna M. Burke

  3. Children’s Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada

    Shauna M. Burke & Patricia Tucker

  4. School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, 1201 Western Road, Elborn College, Room 2547, London, ON, N6G 1H1, Canada

    Patricia Tucker

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  1. Brianne A. Bruijns
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  2. Andrew M. Johnson
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  3. Shauna M. Burke
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  4. Patricia Tucker
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Correspondence to Patricia Tucker.

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Bruijns, B.A., Johnson, A.M., Burke, S.M. et al. Validation of a Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Outdoor Play Behavioral Intention and Perceived Behavioral Control Tool for Early Childhood Educators. Early Childhood Educ J 51, 559–567 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-022-01314-5

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