Momentary intentions and perceived behavioral control are within-person predictors of sedentary leisure time: preliminary findings from an ecological momentary assessment study in adolescents

Previous studies among adolescents conceptualize behavioral cognitions [e.g., intentions and perceived behavioral control (PBC)] as stable trait-like factors despite evidence suggesting they vary momentarily. We examined whether intentions and PBC momentarily relate to subsequent sedentary time during non-school periods. Healthy adolescents (N = 15, ages 11–15) reported their intentions and PBC regarding sedentary leisure behaviors via ecological momentary assessment (EMA) up to seven times/day for 14 days. Sedentary time in the two hours following each EMA prompt was measured by ActivPAL accelerometers. When participants reported greater sedentary intentions (within-person β = 1.1, 95% CI 0.2, 2.1, p = 0.0213) and sedentary PBC (within-person β = 1.7, 95% CI 0.6, 2.8, p = 0.0029), they accumulated greater sedentary time. This demonstrates that sedentary intentions and PBC are acutely associated with sedentary time among adolescents. Our findings highlight the potential for implementing just-in-time activity interventions among adolescents during at-risk periods within the day, characterized by deviations from one’s usual intentions and PBC levels.