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Purpose: The theory of planned behavior (TPB) has been criticized for not including interactions between the variables assumed to predict behavior. This study sought to test how TPB variables interact to predict physical activity (PA) in children. Method: Four hundred thirty-eight children (M[subscript age] = 8.6 years, SD = 1.6 years) completed a TPB questionnaire and a PA questionnaire at Time 1. The PA measure was repeated 2 months later. Path analyses were performed to test the hypothesized model including interaction terms between TPB variables. Simple slopes analyses were also carried out to examine the statistically significant interaction terms. Results: Path analyses confirmed the classical hypotheses of TPB (R[superscript 2] for intentions = 0.39, R[superscript 2] for PA = 0.12) and also demonstrated only statistically significant Attitudes × Perceived Behavioral Control and Subjective Norms × Attitudes interactions (R[superscript 2] change for intentions = 0.01, p = 0.009). Simple slopes analyses revealed that the strength of the association between perceived behavioral control and intentions was only statistically significantly higher (t = 2.18, p = 0.05, d = 0.34, 95% CI [0.03, 0.65]) when attitudes were high compared with when attitudes were low. The link between attitudes and intentions was only statistically significant at a low level of subjective norms but not at a high level. Conclusion: The integration of interaction effects between TPB variables did not increase for the variance of PA explained by the model. More research appears to be necessary to explore how the TPB could be augmented to better predict PA in children.

Objective: The “Great Live and Move Challenge” (GLMC) is an intervention designed to promote physical activity (PA) in schools and the community among 6- to 11-year-old schoolchildren and their families.Method: This project, implemented in the Montpellier and Pays Coeur d’Hérault regions since 2013, encourages children to quantify their daily PA level by illustrating each 15 minutes of exercise by an “energy cube”. Based on collaboration between pilots, teachers and policymakers, this project is implemented over a 6-week period in schools, municipalities and recreation centres. “Great Challenge” events are organized to promote PA. The GLMC is also a theory-based intervention based on the tenets of the planned behaviour theory.Results: Since the 2014-2015 edition, 2,243 children have taken part in the GLMC and have accumulated 391,102 “energy cubes”. In addition, more than 30 “Great Challenge” events have been organized. Since its launch during the 2012-2013 school year, the numbers of children who have taken part in the GLMC have been multiplied by 5.58. The mean number of daily “energy cubes” accumulated by children has increased from 4.04 in the first year to 6.22 in 2014-2015.Conclusion: The “energy cube” can provide a measure of the commitment of children and their surrounding community in a comprehensive approach to PA promotion.