Antecedents and consequences of family social control use following an adolescent physical activity lapse

ObjectivesThis study explored the relationship between social control and behavior by examining both the antecedents of social control use following a physical activity lapse as well as the behavior reaction to the use of social control.DesignAs part of a larger project, high school students (N = 547) were prospectively followed over the course of a year and reported physical activity every two months.MethodsFor this study, 123 adolescents who reported experiencing a physical activity lapse sometime during the year were selected. Family physical activity and adolescent activity prior to the lapse were used to predict family use of social control tactics following the lapse. Use of social control tactics were used to differentiate whether adolescents increased their activity following the lapse or not.ResultsResults revealed that family physical activity predicted use of positive and collaborative social control following an adolescent activity lapse. Adolescent physical activity prior to the lapse also predicted parental use of collaborative social control following the lapse. In terms of the adolescent’s behavior reaction, an increase in collaborative social control following the lapse appeared to differentiate those who reported an increase in activity following the lapse compared with those who reported no increase.ConclusionsThis study provided support for physical activity behavior being both an antecedent and consequence of parental social control.

► More active families may respond to a lapse with positive & collaborative SC.
► When more active adolescents lapse, families may respond with collaborative SC.
► Use of collaborative SC may be associated with increased activity following a lapse.