Integrating self-determination theory with the social ecological model to understand students' physical activity behaviors

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

In light of the well-documented health benefits of engaging in regular physical activity, much concern has been voiced about inadequate participation in physical activity among school-aged students in recent years. To promote school-aged students' physical activity participation and to achieve public health goals, there is an emerging trend to investigate multilevel theory-based correlates of physical activity to complement the conventional research paradigm of individual-centered influences on physical activity. The primary purpose of this article is to review the self-determination theory and social ecological model, and to provide a rationale for integrating these two frameworks. This approach has the potential to provide a clearer understanding of the decisions school-aged students make regarding being physically active. It can ultimately offer significant and promising insights regarding physical activity intervention strategies for promoting school-aged students' physical activity participation when their lifelong physical activity habits are being developed.