The role of self-efficacy in explaining gender differences in physical activity among adolescents: a multilevel analysis.
BACKGROUND
The purposes of this study were to determine if a) gender moderated the relationship between self-efficacy and physical activity (PA) among youth in Alberta, Canada, and, alternatively b) if self-efficacy mediated the relationship between gender and PA.


METHODS
A novel web-based tool was used to survey a regionally diverse sample of 4779 students (boys = 2222, girls = 2557) from 117 schools in grades 7 to 10 (mean age = 13.64 yrs.). Among other variables, students were asked about their PA and self-efficacy for participating in PA.


RESULTS
Based upon a series of multilevel analyses, self-efficacy was found to be a significantly stronger correlate of PA for girls. But, boys had significantly higher self-efficacy compared with girls, which resulted in significantly more PA.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest self-efficacy is an important correlate of PA among adolescent girls but that boys are more physically active because they have more self-efficacy for PA.
Spence
John C
JC
Department of Physical Education & Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Blanchard
Chris M
CM
Clark
Marianne
M
Plotnikoff
Ronald C
RC
Storey
Kate E
KE
McCargar
Linda
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000416:Alberta; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009043:Motor Activity; D012044:Regression Analysis; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires