Social Cognitive Correlates of Physical Activity among Chinese University Employees: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Liang Hu,Yaping Xu,Qia Hu

doi:10.3390/ijerph18137116

Abstract

Despite the well-documented benefits of leisure time physical activity, university employees are often reported to be at high risk of physical inactivity and low fitness levels. However, few efforts have been made to identify modifiable correlates of physical activity among this population. From the perspective of Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), the current study aims to examine the relationship between physical activity and a series of demographic variables (e.g., age, gender, income, education), self-reported fitness, and social cognitive variables. Data were collected through mail-based surveys from a convenience sample consisting of 116 Chinese university employees (age = 36.59 ± 8.7 y). An array of SCT variables, namely, exercise self-efficacy (r = 0.55, p < 0.01), barrier self-efficacy (r = 0.35, p < 0.01), exercise social support (r = 0.37, p < 0.01), importance of physical self (r = 0.30, p < 0.01), outcome expectations (r = 0.24, p < 0.05), and satisfaction with health(r = 0.32, p < 0.01) were found to be positively correlated with physical activity in Chinese faculty and staff, and most of the correlations were moderate to large in magnitude. Further regression analyses indicate that exercise self-efficacy (β = 0.29, p < 0.01) and exercise social support from friends (β = 0.70, p < 0.01) emerge as significant predictors of physical activity after controlling for age, gender, occupation (faculty or staff), and self-reported fitness. It is concluded that these SCT variables are important correlates of university employees’ physical activity behavior. Future physical activity promotion interventions in this population should incorporate strategies to improve one’s confidence in maintaining regular physical activity and enhance social support from friends, which are likely to increase the effectiveness of these programs.

Highlights

Regular physical activity has been associated with a number of physical and psychological health benefits [1], lacking sufficient physical activity participation is still increasingly prevalent worldwide [2], and such a trend may be prominent in certain professions
Accumulating evidence suggests that lack of physical activity and low fitness level have become alarming health issues among Chinese university employees in recent decades
Based on a convenience sample of Chinese university employees, the current study identified an array of Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) correlates of physical activity in this group

Summary

Introduction

University employees are often associated with a highly sedentary and stressful working pattern, and represent a population at increased risk of physical inactivity [3,4]. Accumulating evidence suggests that lack of physical activity and low fitness level have become alarming health issues among Chinese university employees in recent decades. Based on a sample of 507 faculty and staff members at a Chinese university, a study indicated that less than 20% of the participants under 50 years engaged in regular physical exercise, which is much lower than the percentage of the general Chinese population in the same age group [5]. The prevalence of physical inactivity has been consistently confirmed by a series of studies targeting Chinese university employees

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion