Adolescents' Physical Activities and Peer Norms: The Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy. Issue 2 (April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lu, Frank J. H.; Hsu, Ya-Wen; Wang, Erica T. W.; Lin, Ju-Han; Chou, Chien-Chih; Yeh, Li-Chin
• Is Part Of: Perceptual and motor skills. Volume 118:Issue 2(2014)
• Page Start: 362
• Page End: 374
• Publication Date: 2014-04
• Subjects: Perception -- Periodicals; Motor ability -- Periodicals; Motor Skills; Perception; Psychology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 152
• DOI: 10.2466/06.30.PMS.118k23w3
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0031-5125

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relations among adolescents' self-efficacy and social norms, and physical activity and whether self-efficacy mediated the relationship between social norms and physical activity. 400 junior high school students (202 boys, 198 girls, 2 not identified; M age=15.3 yr., SD = 0.6) completed a demographic questionnaire, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), the Perceived Self-Efficacy in Physical Activity Scale, and the Physical Activity Social Norms Scale. Regression analyses indicated that both self-efficacy and social norms predicted physical activity. Self-efficacy fully mediated the relationship between peer norms and physical activity for boys but partially mediated the relationship for girls. An application of the results may be to foster self-efficacy and peer norms as a motivational strategy for supporting increased physical activity.