“Exercising like my sporty idol”: sporty prototype perceptions associated with adolescents’ physical activity in an integrative behavioral prediction model

Lack of physical activity (PA) has become an increasingly worrying public health issue among Chinese adolescents. Drawing upon an integrative model of behavioral prediction, this study investigated how adolescents’ favorability and identification of their sporty prototypes were associated with their PA behavior. A sample of 640 Chinese adolescents aged 11–15 years old participated in the survey. The results showed that adolescents’ prototype evaluation and prototype similarity were linked to their PA behavior through injunctive norms, perceived behavioral control, and PA intentions. Moreover, prototype evaluation, but not prototype similarity, was directly linked to PA behavior. These results were similar among boys and girls. The findings highlight the importance of emphasizing health images to campaigns aimed at promoting adolescents’ PA behavior.