title: Comparison of barriers self-efficacy and perceived behavioral control for explaining physical activity across 1 year among adolescent girls.
abstract: The absence of longitudinal data about correlates of physical activity during adolescence has hindered the identification of key mediator variables that can be targeted by interventions. Building on the authors' previous report of a cross-sectional analysis, this study compared barriers self-efficacy and perceived behavioral control as predictors of change in 2 levels of physical activity across a 1-year period among a sample of Black and White adolescent girls (N=1,038). Self-efficacy did not predict change in either moderate or vigorous physical activity. In contrast, perceived behavioral control exhibited a longitudinal, independent relationship with change in vigorous physical activity. The authors concluded that perceived behavioral control is an independent predictor of change in vigorous physical activity levels across a 1-year period among a sample of Black and White adolescent girls and warrants study as a potential mediator variable in interventions designed to increase or maintain physical activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-6554, USA.
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Motl
authors.forename: Rod K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Dishman
authors.forename: Dianne S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Ruth P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: Marsha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dowda
authors.forename: Gwen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Felton
authors.forename: Russell R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Pate
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008960:Models, Psychological; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors; D013022:South Carolina; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology; D001741:Black or African American