Conceptual Models Guiding our Work

Work in the lab is guided by a number of conceptual and theoretical models. The information below provides details about two key overarching models developed by and used within our lab.

Youth Physical Activity Promotion (YPAM) Model

The Youth Physical Activity Promotion Model was developed to facilitate understanding of the various factors influencing youth physical activity behavior. The model was described in a 1999 paper in Quest and has continued to be used in our lab to guide theoretical work as well as practical applications in youth activity promotion. The model has been adopted and used by a number of other research groups.

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Behavioral Epidemiology Framework

The behavioral epidemiology framework diagrammed below depicts how different types of physical activity research intersect and relate. The model effectively captures the diverse range of work on physical activity epidemiology conducted in our lab.A key priority is improving the assessment of physical activity (captured in the central box) since accurate measures are needed to answer research questions in each of the other areas.