Levels Of Self-efficacy For Physical Activity Research Articles

Predictors of physical activity among Chinese pregnant women during the first trimester: A cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Physical activity during pregnancy has numerous health benefits for the woman and the foetus. The current study investigated physical activity engagement and its predictors among pregnant Chinese women during the first trimester. A total of 687 pregnant women completed the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyse the data. The current physical activity guidelines were not met by 64.3% of respondents. Women with higher levels of physical activity self-efficacy (aOR = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.92–0.99) and social support (aOR = 0.95; 95% CI: 0.94–0.97) had lower odds of not meeting the current physical activity guidelines. Women who were aged < 35 years (aOR = 1.85; 95% CI: 1.02–3.34), had lower education (aOR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.04–2.55), were primiparous (aOR = 11.03; 95% CI: 6.98–17.44), were unsure of their delivery mode (aOR = 2.32; 95% CI: 1.95–5.64), and those who had higher levels of pregnancy-associated discomfort (aOR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.03–1.19) had higher odds of not meeting the current physical activity guidelines. The current study suggests that healthcare professionals should assess physical activity engagement during routine antenatal care and increase efforts to strengthen pregnant women’s self-efficacy and social support to promote physical activity engagement during the first trimester.

Describing and exploring self-esteem, physical self-perceptions, physical activity and self-efficacy in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors.

(a) Describe levels of physical and global self-esteem and (b) explore the relationships between these types of self-esteem and physical activity (PA) behaviour, self-efficacy for PA and physical self-perceptions among adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors. A total of 87 AYA cancer survivors (Mage =32.90±4.38years), who were on average 2.08±1.37years post-treatment, participated in this cross-sectional observational study. Descriptive statistics, correlations and hierarchical multivariate linear regression analyses were used to analyse the data. Moderate levels of physical and global self-esteem were reported. Both types of self-esteem were significantly related to physical self-perceptions, but not to PA behaviour nor self-efficacy for PA. Self-efficacy for PA moderated the relationship between physical self-perceptions and physical self-esteem, such that the association between physical self-perceptions and physical self-esteem was of stronger magnitude at higher levels of self-efficacy for PA than at lower levels of self-efficacy for PA. This study provides a starting point for describing self-esteem and identifying the circumstances under which self-esteem may be optimised among AYA cancer survivors. Fostering feelings of confidence, competence and control over PA may help to promote psychological well-being among AYA cancer survivors.

Association between Physical Activity Self-efficacy and Physical Activity Engagement in Chinese College Students

Physical activity self-efficacy has been considered as an important correlate of physical activity behaviors. However, evidence on association between physical activity-related self-efficacy with different domains and physical activity engagement is still limited. PURPOSE: To investigate the association between physical activity self-efficacy for learning efficiency, physical fitness, psychological functioning, and overall health status and physical activity engagement in college students. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was comprised of 1,836 college students (1,138 males, 698 females) in China. Physical activity engagement and physical activity self-efficacy were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. For physical activity engagement assessment, the duration of physical activity in each physical activity participation was divided into four categories as follows: <20, 20-40, 40–60, and >60 minutes; and the frequency of physical activity was divided into six categories as follows: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and >5 times/week. Furthermore, physical activity self-efficacy for learning efficiency, physical fitness, psychological functioning, and overall health status was evaluated by five scales (1-5) from “not effective” to “effective”. Higher scores indicate higher levels of physical activity self-efficacy. The association between physical activity self-efficacy and physical activity engagement was examined using chi-squared test. RESULTS: In male students, participants with higher physical activity self-efficacy for learning efficiency (P for trend = 0.006), physical fitness (P for trend = 0.006), psychological functioning (P for trend < 0.001), and overall health status (P for trend = 0.023) tended to have higher frequency of physical activity engagement. These findings were also observed in association between physical activity self-efficacy and duration of physical activity engagement (P for trend < 0.05 for all). Similarly, physical activity self-efficacy was also significantly associated with physical activity engagement in female students. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that higher physical activity self-efficacy is associated with higher physical activity engagement in Chinese college students. Prospective studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Development of new physical activity and sedentary behavior change self-efficacy questionnaires using item response modeling.

BackgroundTheoretically, increased levels of physical activity self-efficacy (PASE) should lead to increased physical activity, but few studies have reported this effect among youth. This failure may be at least partially attributable to measurement limitations. In this study, Item Response Modeling (IRM) was used to develop new physical activity and sedentary behavior change self-efficacy scales. The validity of the new scales was compared with accelerometer assessments of physical activity and sedentary behavior.MethodsNew PASE and sedentary behavior change (TV viewing, computer video game use, and telephone use) self-efficacy items were developed. The scales were completed by 714, 6th grade students in seven US cities. A limited number of participants (83) also wore an accelerometer for five days and provided at least 3 full days of complete data. The new scales were analyzed using Classical Test Theory (CTT) and IRM; a reduced set of items was produced with IRM and correlated with accelerometer counts per minute and minutes of sedentary, light and moderate to vigorous activity per day after school.ResultsThe PASE items discriminated between high and low levels of PASE. Full and reduced scales were weakly correlated (r = 0.18) with accelerometer counts per minute after school for boys, with comparable associations for girls. Weaker correlations were observed between PASE and minutes of moderate to vigorous activity (r = 0.09 – 0.11). The uni-dimensionality of the sedentary scales was established by both exploratory factor analysis and the fit of items to the underlying variable and reliability was assessed across the length of the underlying variable with some limitations. The reduced sedentary behavior scales had poor reliability. The full scales were moderately correlated with light intensity physical activity after school (r = 0.17 to 0.33) and sedentary behavior (r = -0.29 to -0.12) among the boys, but not for girls.ConclusionNew physical activity and sedentary behavior change self-efficacy scales have fewer items than classical test theory derived alternatives and have reasonable validity for boys, but more work is needed to develop comparable scales for girls. Fitting the items to a underlying variable could be useful in tailoring interventions to this scale.

Psychosocial Factors Related to Physical Activity and Weight Loss in Overweight Women

This study examined whether psychosocial factors related to physical activity in overweight, previously sedentary women were affected by a 6-month behavioral weight loss program. In addition, these psychosocial factors were examined across levels of weight loss and self-reported physical activity in response to a weight loss intervention. Data from 165 overweight (body mass index (BMI) = 32.7 +/- 4.2 kg.m(-2)) women (age = 37.6 +/- 5.5 yr) who participated in a comprehensive behavioral weight loss program that included behavioral education, moderate caloric restriction, and progressive home-based exercise were examined. Body weight was assessed at 0 and 6 months. Perceived benefits and barriers, physical activity self-efficacy, and physical activity processes of change were assessed at 0 and 6 months. Physical activity (minutes per week of at least moderate-intensity activity) was assessed using the 7-Day Physical Activity Recall at 0 and 6 months. The intervention resulted in increases in physical activity self-efficacy, behavioral processes of change, and several cognitive processes of change(P < 0.05). There was a reduction in expected barriers for physical activity (P < 0.05). Individuals with > or = 10% weight loss reported higher levels of physical activity self-efficacy, greater use of behavioral strategies to elicit social support, and fewer barriers to physical activity than those with lower levels of physical activity and less weight loss (P < 0.05). Individuals reporting higher levels of exercise also reported higher levels of physical activity self-efficacy, greater use of behavioral strategies, and fewer barriers to physical activity than those individuals with lower levels of physical activity (P < 0.05). Targeting self-efficacy, behavioral strategies, and barriers in weight management programs may improve physical activity, which may result in improved weight loss in overweight adults.