Physical activity and quality of life--the complementary influence of self-efficacy for physical activity and mental health difficulties.
BACKGROUND
Studies proposed that the physical activity and quality of life (QoL) relationship may not be entirely direct but mediated through other variables; however, few studies have examined these relationships in diverse population's older adults.


OBJECTIVE
This study aims to examine the roles of self-efficacy and mental health difficulties in the physical activity and QoL relationship and to determine if demographic characteristics alter these relationships.


METHODS
One hundred ninety-six older adults completed measures of physical activity, self-efficacy, mental health difficulties, and QoL. Two-multilevel structural models were tested to determine the relationship between physical activity and QoL.


RESULTS
Both structural models suggested that the relationship between physical activity and QoL is indirect, but the models were not significantly different. In model 1, we observed a positive linear relationship between physical activity and self-efficacy. In turn, self-efficacy was negatively associated with poor mental health difficulties and positively associated with QoL. Mental health difficulties were also negatively associated with QoL. In model 2, physical activity was positively associated with self-efficacy and negatively associated with mental health difficulties; in turn, self-efficacy was positively associated with QoL, whereas mental health difficulties were negatively associated with QoL.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, our findings suggest that self-efficacy and mental health have intermediary roles in the relationship between physical activity and QoL in a diverse sample of older adults. Prospective studies are needed to determine whether self-efficacy and mental health difficulties are complementary or one or the other accounts for more variance in the relationship between physical activity and QoL.
Paxton
Raheem J
RJ
The Center for Research on Minority Health, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA. rjpaxton@mdanderson.org
Motl
Robert W
RW
Aylward
Alison
A
Nigg
Claudio R
CR
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008961:Models, Structural; D055361:Multilevel Analysis; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011788:Quality of Life; D012494:Sampling Studies; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
BMC Public Health. 2007 Oct 22;7:299
17953749
Aust N Z J Public Health. 2001 Dec;25(6):494-7
11824981
Ann Behav Med. 2008 Aug;36(1):13-20
18677453
J Adv Nurs. 2006 May;54(3):313-29
16629916
Psychol Methods. 2001 Dec;6(4):352-70
11778677
Psychol Aging. 2004 Jun;19(2):346-51
15222828
Ann Behav Med. 2008 Feb;35(1):111-5
18347911
Gerontologist. 2001 Dec;41(6):787-98
11723347
Gerontologist. 1991 Aug;31(4):534-42
1894158
Ann Behav Med. 2006 Feb;31(1):99-103
16472044
J Behav Med. 1993 Feb;16(1):103-13
8433355
Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2005 Nov-Dec;41(3):271-80
15979739
J Am Geriatr Soc. 2007 Dec;55(12):1967-73
18081672
Can J Public Health. 1986 Sep-Oct;77(5):359-62
3791117
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2001 Oct;56 Spec No 2:23-35
11730235
Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2009 Feb 06;7:10
19200385
Can J Appl Sport Sci. 1985 Sep;10(3):141-6
4053261
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2005 Sep;60(5):P268-75
16131621
Qual Life Res. 2006 Apr;15(3):537-46
16547792
Psychol Bull. 1990 Mar;107(2):238-46
2320703
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2006 Sep;61(5):P270-7
16960230
Qual Life Res. 2004 Mar;13(2):519-29
15085924
Psychol Aging. 2005 Jun;20(2):272-84
16029091
J Pers Assess. 1997 Jun;68(3):508-31
9170298
Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1993 Jan;25(1):81-91
8423759
Med Sci Monit. 2006 May;12(5):CR196-9
16641875
J Pers Assess. 1985 Feb;49(1):71-5
16367493
Ann Behav Med. 2005 Oct;30(2):138-45
16173910
Psychol Health Med. 2009 Jan;14(1):111-24
19085318
J Pers Assess. 1991 Aug;57(1):149-61
1920028
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2005 Jul;60(7):901-9
16079215