title: Social cognitive mediators of change in a group randomized nutrition and physical activity intervention: social support, self-efficacy, outcome expectations and self-regulation in the guide-to-health trial.
abstract: In an evaluation of the theoretical foundations of behavior change, the current study examined whether social cognitive (SCT) variables mediated treatment effects on physical activity and nutrition in the recently reported Guide-to-Health trial (GTH). Adults (N = 661) were assessed at baseline, seven months and 16 months to examine whether treatment-related changes in SCT variables at seven months mediated change in nutrition and physical activity at 16 months. GTH treatment effects were mediated by self-efficacy, self-regulation and social support; self-regulation mediated self-efficacy. Social-cognitive variables explained only part of the treatment effects suggesting future investigations evaluate the environmental-selection and affective processes of behavior change.
authors.affiliation: Center for Research in Health Behavior, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA. eileen@vt.edu
authors.forename: Eileen S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Winett
authors.forename: Janet R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wojcik
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002149:Energy Intake; D006126:Group Processes; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012067:Religion; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D012938:Social Perception; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult