title: Coping with barriers to vigorous physical activity during transition to university.
abstract: This study examined barriers to vigorous physical activity (VPA) among 132 students transitioning from high school to the first year of a university. An ecological framework was used to classify barriers, and coping self-efficacy (CSE) and task self-efficacy (TSE) were investigated as predictors of VPA. Consistent with population data, 47% of the sample failed to meet national recommendations for VPA. Participants most often cited institutional, intrapersonal, and interpersonal barriers. CSE predicted TSE, which predicted VPA. A greater understanding of ecologically categorized barriers and the relationship of self-efficacy to VPA may aid health care practitioners in the design of targeted interventions to facilitate VPA and health among freshmen students.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Research, Kansas State University, 1A Natatorium, Manhattan, KS 66506-0302, USA. gyurcsik@ksu.edu
authors.forename: Nancy C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Gyurcsik
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Bray
authors.forename: Danielle R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Brittain
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D016134:Organizational Policy; D011640:Public Policy; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012931:Social Environment; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D016526:Workload