THIS PROJECT SOUGHT TO DETERMINE--(1) THE ATTITUDES TOWARD, AND THE NATURE AND DEGREE OF INVOLVEMENT IN, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OF URBAN SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AS A FUNCTION OF COUNTRY, SEX, AND LEVEL OF EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, AND (2) THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CERTAIN BEHAVIORAL, DISPOSITIONAL, AND SITUATIONAL VARIABLES IN EXPLAINING ATTITUDES TOWARD, AND INVOLVEMENT IN, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. ABOUT 4,000 STUDENTS FROM CANADA, AUSTRALIA, ENGLAND, AND THE UNITED STATES WERE ADMINISTERED THREE INVENTORIES AND CERTAIN DISPOSITIONAL AND SITUATIONAL MEASURES. THE DATA WERE SUBJECTED TO A NUMBER OF ANALYSES AND LEAD TO THE FOLLOWING CONCLUSIONS--(1) ATTITUDE TOWARD PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IS A FUNCTION OF THE PERCEIVED INSTRUMENTAL VALUE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACTIVITY TOWARD WHICH THE ATTITUDE IS EXPRESSED, AND IS A FUNCTION OF OTHER ACQUIRED BEHAVIORAL DISPOSITIONS, (2) THE RELATIVE POSITIONS OF EACH OF THE SEVEN DIMENSIONS OF ATTITUDE ARE CONSISTENT ACROSS THE FOUR COUNTRIES, AND (3) OLDER STUDENTS ARE MORE DISPOSED TOWARD PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AS AN ASCETIC EXPERIENCE AND AS CATHARSIS THAN ARE THE YOUNGER ONES. (AUTHOR/RD)