title: Physical activity, self-efficacy, and perceived exertion among adolescents.
abstract: The relationship of self-efficacy, a sense of confidence in personal physical activity (PA) skills, to perceived exertion during activity was explored among 168 African American and European American boys and girls between 9 and 17 years of age. Participants walked/ran on a treadmill at a speed equivalent to 60% of their peak VO2 for 20 minutes and provided ratings of exertion every 4 minutes. Pre-activity self-efficacy predicted perceived exertion for boys only. Girls were lower than boys in pre-activity self-efficacy and subsequently reported greater perceived exertion. For both genders, lower perceived exertion during PA resulted in higher post-activity self-efficacy. Uncomfortable perceptions of exertion during initial efforts to increase PA are likely to discourage future activity. Interventions that can lower perceptions of exertion may enhance self-efficacy and promote a sense of competence in PA skills.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Michigan, 400 North Ingalls, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Lorraine B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Robbins
authors.forename: Nola J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Pender
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Ronis
authors.forename: Anamaria S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Kazanis
authors.forename: Monika B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Pis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000523:psychology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D020377:Self Efficacy; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology