Testing social cognitive mechanisms of exercise in college students.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if different dimensions of outcome expectations are mediators between self-efficacy and exercise among college students.


METHODS
Students (n = 290) reported exercise levels, self-efficacy, and expectations using a Web-based questionnaire. Factor analysis was performed to identify dimensions of expectations; regression analyses tested whether each factor mediated the relationship between self-efficacy and exercise.


RESULTS
Physical, mental, social, and self-evaluative expectations emerged from the factor analysis, but none was associated with exercise independent of self-efficacy. Self-efficacy, however, was significantly associated with exercise independent of expectations (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
College students' activity expectations are multidimensional, but do not mediate the relationship between self-efficacy and exercise.
Taber
Daniel R
DR
Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7435, USA. dtaber@email.unc.edu
Meischke
Hendrika
H
Maciejewski
Matthew L
ML
D000293:Adolescent; D001290:Attitude; D003071:Cognition; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012931:Social Environment; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult