Self-efficacy moderates the relation between declines in physical activity and perceived social support in high school girls.
OBJECTIVE
To test whether self-efficacy for overcoming barriers to physical activity has direct, indirect (i.e., mediated), or moderating relations with naturally occurring change in perceived social support and declines in physical activity during high school.


METHODS
Latent growth modeling was used with measures completed in the 8th, 9th, and 12th grades by a cohort of 195 Black and White girls.


RESULTS
Self-efficacy was stable and moderated the relation between changes in physical activity and perceived social support. Girls who maintained a perception of strong social support had less of a decline in physical activity if they also had high self-efficacy. However, girls having high self-efficacy had a greater decline in physical activity if they perceived declines in social support.


CONCLUSIONS
Randomized controlled trials of physical activity interventions based on social cognitive theory should consider that the influence of girls' perceptions of social support on their physical activity may differ according to their efficacy beliefs about barriers to physical activity.
Dishman
Rod K
RK
Department of Kinesiology, The University of Georgia, Ramsey Student Center, 330 River Road, Athens, GA 30602-6554, USA. rdishman@uga.edu
Saunders
Ruth P
RP
Motl
Robert W
RW
Dowda
Marsha
M
Pate
Russell R
RR
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009043:Motor Activity; D012574:Schools; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012938:Social Perception; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires