title: Perceptions of physical and social environment variables and self-efficacy as correlates of self-reported physical activity among adolescent girls.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This cross-sectional study examined the direct and indirect effects of perceived equipment accessibility, neighborhood safety, and social support on self-reported physical activity among older adolescent girls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adolescent girls (n = 1,655) who were in the 12th grade completed a battery of questionnaires that included self-report measures of the perceived physical environment, social support, barriers self-efficacy, and physical activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Perceived neighborhood safety did not exhibit direct or indirect effects on self-reported physical activity. Perceived equipment accessibility exhibited an indirect effect on self-reported physical activity that was accounted for by barriers self-efficacy. Perceived social support exhibited direct and indirect effects on self-reported physical activity; the indirect effect was accounted for by barriers self-efficacy. The relationships were independent of parental education and body mass index (BMI).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perceived physical environmental factors indirectly influenced self-reported physical activity, and perceived social environmental factors both directly and indirectly influenced self-reported physical activity in this sample of older adolescent girls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 332 Freer Hall, 906 S Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801-3895, USA. robmotl@uiuc.edu
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Motl
authors.forename: Rod K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Dishman
authors.forename: Ruth P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: Marsha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dowda
authors.forename: Russell R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Pate
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity; D010465:Perception; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires