Social Cognitive Theory Associated with Physical Activity in Undergraduate Students: A Cross-sectional Study
Keywords:
Outcome expectation, Physical activity, Self-efficacy, Self-regulation, Social cognitive theoryAbstract
In this study we tested Social Cognitive Theory constructs to predict physical activity levels in undergraduate students. A cross-sectional design was conducted with a sample of 787 health science and non-health science undergraduate students (241 males and 546 females) studying at Srinakharinwirot University, Ongkharak Campus, Thailand. Participants completed four questionnaires measuring three Social Cognitive Theory variables (exercise-related self-efficacy, outcome expectations and self-regulation) and one physical activity variable (leisure-time physical activity). All of the Social Cognitive Theory variables were significantly correlated with physical activity. Self-efficacy had the highest correlation coefficient followed by self-regulation and outcome expectations, respectively. Inter-correlations among Social Cognitive Theory variables were moderate. All of the variables contributed a significant portion of the variance, were retained in the model, and accounted for 29% of the variance in physical activity. The influence of self-efficacy on physical activity was partially mediated by both self-regulation and outcome expectations. The results indicate that Social Cognitive Theory constructs can be used to predict physical activity in undergraduate students. Health practitioners such as nurses can use these constructs to try to effect changes in physical activity behaviour among undergraduate students and design physical activity intervention program that focus on increases self-efficacy, self-regulation and outcome expectations to promote physical activity in undergraduate students.
References
1. World Health Organization. Physical inactivity: A global public health problem. Sedentary lifestyle. World Health Organization. [cited 2015 Nov 25]. Available from http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/factsheet_ inactivity/en/index.html
2. Colley RC, Garriguet D, Janssen I, Craig CL, Clarke J, Tremblay MS. Physical activity of Canadian adults: Accelerometer results from the 2007 to 2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey. Health Reports (Statistics Canada, Catalogue no) 2011; 82-003-XPE), 22, 1-8.
3. Katewongsa P, Sawangdee Y, Yousomboon C, Choolert P. Physical activity in Thailand: The general situation at national level. J Sci Med Sport 2014; 18: e100-e101
4. Sisson SB, Katzmarzyk PT. International prevalence of physical activity in youth and adults. Obes Rev 2008; 9(6): 606-14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467- 789X.2008.00506.x
5. Hajhosseini L, Holmes T, Mohamadi P, Goudarzi V, McProud L, Hollenbeck CB. Changes in body weight, body composition and resting metabolic rate (RMR) in first-year university freshmen students. J Am Coll Nutri 2006; 25, 123-127.
6. Leslie E, Fotheringham MJ, Owen N, Bauman A. Agerelated differences in physical activity levels of young adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2001; 33, 255-258
7. Baranowski T, Anderson C, Carmack C. Mediating variable framework in physical activity interventions: How are we doing? How might we do better? Am J Prev Med 1998; 15(4): 266-97.
8. Bandura A. Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Englewoods Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. 1986.
9. Norman GJ, Zabinski MF, Adams MA et al. A review of eHealth interventions for physical activity and dietary behaviour change. Am J Prev Med 2007; 33(4): 336-45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2007.05.007
10. Bandura A. Health promotion by social cognitive means. Health Educ Behav 2004; 31(2): 143-64. http://dx. doi.org/10.1177/1090198104263660
11. Spence JC, Lee RE. Toward a comprehensive model of physical activity. Psychol Sport Exerc 2003; 4(1): 7–24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1469-0292(02)00014-6
12. Glanz K, Lewis FM, Rimer BK. Health Behavior and Health Education: Theory, Research, and Practice. San Francisco, Jossey-Bass, 2002. http://dx.doi.org/10. 1249/00005768-199112000-00016
13. Hallam JS, Petosa R. The long-term impact of a four-session work-site intervention on selected social cognitive theory variables linked to adult exercise adherence. Health Educ Behav 2004; 31(1): 88-100. http://dx.doi.org/10. 1177/1090198103259164
14. Winett RA, Anderson ES, Wojcik JR et al. Guide to health: Nutrition and physical activity outcomes of a grouprandomized trial of an internet-based intervention in churches. Ann Behav Med 2007; 33(3): 251-61.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02879907
15. Williams DM, Anderson ES, Winett RA. A review of the outcome expectations construct in physical activity research. Ann Behav Med 2005; 29(1): 70-9. http://dx.doi. org/10.1207/s15324796abm2901_10
16. Schnoll R, Zimmerman BJ. Self-regulation training enhances dietary self-efficacy and dietary fiber consumption. J Am Diet Assoc 2001; 101(9):1006-11. http://dx.doi. org/10.1016/S0002-8223(01)00249-8
17. Anderson ES, Winett RA, Wojcik JR et al. 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-tohealth trial. J Health Psychol 2010; 15(1): 21-32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1359105309342297
18. Wadsworth DD, Hallam JS. Effect of a web site intervention on physical activity of college females. Am J Health Behav 2010; 34(1): 60-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.5993/ AJHB.34.1.8
19. Umstattd MR, Wilcox S, Saunders R et al. Self-regulation and physical activity: The relationship in older adults. Am J Health Behav 2008; 32(2): 115-24. http://dx.doi. org/10.5993/AJHB.32.2.1
20. Sriramatr S, Berry TR, Spence JC. An Internet-based intervention for promoting and maintaining physical activity: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Health Behav. 2014; 38(3): 430-9. http://dx.doi: org/10.5993/AJHB. 38.3.12.
21. Stadler G, Oettingen G, Gollwitzer PM. Physical activity in women: Effects of a self-regulation intervention. Am J Prev Med 2009; 36(1): 29-34.
22. Tavares LS, Plotnikoff RC, Loucaides C. Social-cognitive theories for predicting physical activity behaviours of employed women with and without young children. Psychol Health Med 2009; 14(2): 129-42. http://dx.doi. org/10.1080/13548500802270356
23. Anderson ES, Wojcik JR, Winett RA et al. Social-cognitive determinants of physical activity: The influence of social support, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and self-regulation among participants in a church-based health promotion study. Health Psychol 2006; 25(4): 510-20. http://dx. doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.25.4.510
24. Dlugonski D, Motl, RW. Social cognitive correlates of physical activity among single mothers with young children. Psychology of Sport & Exercise 2014; 15(6): 637-641. http://dx.doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2014.07.007
25. Dewar DL, Plotnikoff RC, Morgan PJ, et al. Testing Social-Cognitive Theory to explain physical activity change in adolescent girls from low-Income communities. Res Q Exerc Sport 2013; 84(4): 483-91. http://dx.doi:10.1 080/02701367.2013.842454
26. Rovniak LS, Anderson ES, Winett RA et al. Social cognitive determinants of physical activity in young adults: A prospective structural equation analysis. Ann Behav Med 2002; 24(2): 49-56. http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/S15324796ABM 2402_12
27. Petosa RL, Hortz BV, Cardina CE, et al. Social cognitive theory variables associated with physical activity among high school students. Inter J Sports Med 2005; 26(2): 158-63. http://dx.doi.org/10.5993/AJHB.27.4.2
28. Sriramatr S, Berry TR, Rodgers WM. Validity and reliability of Thai versions of questionnaires measuring leisure-time physical activity, exercise-related selfefficacy, outcome expectations and self-regulation. Pac Rim Int J Nurs Res 2013; 17(3): 203-16.
29. Godin G. The Godin-Shephard leisure-time physical activity questionnaire. Health Fit J Canada 2011; 4(1): 18-22.
30. Rodgers WM, Wilson PM, Hall CR et al. Evidence for a multidimensional self-efficacy for exercise scale. Res Q Exerc Sport 2008; 79(2): 222-34. http://dx.doi.or g/10.1080/02701367.2008.10599485
31. Dishman RK, Motl RW, Sallis JF et al. Self-management strategies mediate self-efficacy and physical activity. Am J Prev Med 2005; 29(1): 10-8. http://dx.doi. org/10.1016/j.amepre.2005.03.012
32. Baron RM, Kenney DA. The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. J Pers Soc Psychol 1986; 51(6):1173-82. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ 0022-3514.51.6.1173
33. Plotnikoff RC, Costigan SA, Karunamuni N, Lubans DR. Social cognitive theories used to explain physical activity behavior in adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Prev Med 2013; 56(5): 245-53. http://dx.doi:10. 1016/j.ypmed.2013.01.013.
34. Marcus BH, Williams DM, Dubbert PM, et al. Physical activity interventions: What we know and what we need to know. A scientific statement from the American Heart Association Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism. Circulation 2006; 114: 739–52.
35. Koh D, Miller YD, Marshall AL et al. Health-enhancing physical activity behavior and related factors in postpartum women with recent gestational diabetes mellitus. J Sci Med Sport 2010; 13(1): 42-5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j. jsams.2008.10.003
36. Mailey EL, Mcauley E. Impact of a brief intervention on physical activity and social cognitive determinants among working mothers: a randomized trial. J Behav Med. 2014; 37(2): 343-55. http://dx.doi:10.1007/s10865013-9492-y.
2. Colley RC, Garriguet D, Janssen I, Craig CL, Clarke J, Tremblay MS. Physical activity of Canadian adults: Accelerometer results from the 2007 to 2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey. Health Reports (Statistics Canada, Catalogue no) 2011; 82-003-XPE), 22, 1-8.
3. Katewongsa P, Sawangdee Y, Yousomboon C, Choolert P. Physical activity in Thailand: The general situation at national level. J Sci Med Sport 2014; 18: e100-e101
4. Sisson SB, Katzmarzyk PT. International prevalence of physical activity in youth and adults. Obes Rev 2008; 9(6): 606-14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467- 789X.2008.00506.x
5. Hajhosseini L, Holmes T, Mohamadi P, Goudarzi V, McProud L, Hollenbeck CB. Changes in body weight, body composition and resting metabolic rate (RMR) in first-year university freshmen students. J Am Coll Nutri 2006; 25, 123-127.
6. Leslie E, Fotheringham MJ, Owen N, Bauman A. Agerelated differences in physical activity levels of young adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2001; 33, 255-258
7. Baranowski T, Anderson C, Carmack C. Mediating variable framework in physical activity interventions: How are we doing? How might we do better? Am J Prev Med 1998; 15(4): 266-97.
8. Bandura A. Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Englewoods Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. 1986.
9. Norman GJ, Zabinski MF, Adams MA et al. A review of eHealth interventions for physical activity and dietary behaviour change. Am J Prev Med 2007; 33(4): 336-45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2007.05.007
10. Bandura A. Health promotion by social cognitive means. Health Educ Behav 2004; 31(2): 143-64. http://dx. doi.org/10.1177/1090198104263660
11. Spence JC, Lee RE. Toward a comprehensive model of physical activity. Psychol Sport Exerc 2003; 4(1): 7–24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1469-0292(02)00014-6
12. Glanz K, Lewis FM, Rimer BK. Health Behavior and Health Education: Theory, Research, and Practice. San Francisco, Jossey-Bass, 2002. http://dx.doi.org/10. 1249/00005768-199112000-00016
13. Hallam JS, Petosa R. The long-term impact of a four-session work-site intervention on selected social cognitive theory variables linked to adult exercise adherence. Health Educ Behav 2004; 31(1): 88-100. http://dx.doi.org/10. 1177/1090198103259164
14. Winett RA, Anderson ES, Wojcik JR et al. Guide to health: Nutrition and physical activity outcomes of a grouprandomized trial of an internet-based intervention in churches. Ann Behav Med 2007; 33(3): 251-61.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02879907
15. Williams DM, Anderson ES, Winett RA. A review of the outcome expectations construct in physical activity research. Ann Behav Med 2005; 29(1): 70-9. http://dx.doi. org/10.1207/s15324796abm2901_10
16. Schnoll R, Zimmerman BJ. Self-regulation training enhances dietary self-efficacy and dietary fiber consumption. J Am Diet Assoc 2001; 101(9):1006-11. http://dx.doi. org/10.1016/S0002-8223(01)00249-8
17. Anderson ES, Winett RA, Wojcik JR et al. 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-tohealth trial. J Health Psychol 2010; 15(1): 21-32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1359105309342297
18. Wadsworth DD, Hallam JS. Effect of a web site intervention on physical activity of college females. Am J Health Behav 2010; 34(1): 60-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.5993/ AJHB.34.1.8
19. Umstattd MR, Wilcox S, Saunders R et al. Self-regulation and physical activity: The relationship in older adults. Am J Health Behav 2008; 32(2): 115-24. http://dx.doi. org/10.5993/AJHB.32.2.1
20. Sriramatr S, Berry TR, Spence JC. An Internet-based intervention for promoting and maintaining physical activity: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Health Behav. 2014; 38(3): 430-9. http://dx.doi: org/10.5993/AJHB. 38.3.12.
21. Stadler G, Oettingen G, Gollwitzer PM. Physical activity in women: Effects of a self-regulation intervention. Am J Prev Med 2009; 36(1): 29-34.
22. Tavares LS, Plotnikoff RC, Loucaides C. Social-cognitive theories for predicting physical activity behaviours of employed women with and without young children. Psychol Health Med 2009; 14(2): 129-42. http://dx.doi. org/10.1080/13548500802270356
23. Anderson ES, Wojcik JR, Winett RA et al. Social-cognitive determinants of physical activity: The influence of social support, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and self-regulation among participants in a church-based health promotion study. Health Psychol 2006; 25(4): 510-20. http://dx. doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.25.4.510
24. Dlugonski D, Motl, RW. Social cognitive correlates of physical activity among single mothers with young children. Psychology of Sport & Exercise 2014; 15(6): 637-641. http://dx.doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2014.07.007
25. Dewar DL, Plotnikoff RC, Morgan PJ, et al. Testing Social-Cognitive Theory to explain physical activity change in adolescent girls from low-Income communities. Res Q Exerc Sport 2013; 84(4): 483-91. http://dx.doi:10.1 080/02701367.2013.842454
26. Rovniak LS, Anderson ES, Winett RA et al. Social cognitive determinants of physical activity in young adults: A prospective structural equation analysis. Ann Behav Med 2002; 24(2): 49-56. http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/S15324796ABM 2402_12
27. Petosa RL, Hortz BV, Cardina CE, et al. Social cognitive theory variables associated with physical activity among high school students. Inter J Sports Med 2005; 26(2): 158-63. http://dx.doi.org/10.5993/AJHB.27.4.2
28. Sriramatr S, Berry TR, Rodgers WM. Validity and reliability of Thai versions of questionnaires measuring leisure-time physical activity, exercise-related selfefficacy, outcome expectations and self-regulation. Pac Rim Int J Nurs Res 2013; 17(3): 203-16.
29. Godin G. The Godin-Shephard leisure-time physical activity questionnaire. Health Fit J Canada 2011; 4(1): 18-22.
30. Rodgers WM, Wilson PM, Hall CR et al. Evidence for a multidimensional self-efficacy for exercise scale. Res Q Exerc Sport 2008; 79(2): 222-34. http://dx.doi.or g/10.1080/02701367.2008.10599485
31. Dishman RK, Motl RW, Sallis JF et al. Self-management strategies mediate self-efficacy and physical activity. Am J Prev Med 2005; 29(1): 10-8. http://dx.doi. org/10.1016/j.amepre.2005.03.012
32. Baron RM, Kenney DA. The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. J Pers Soc Psychol 1986; 51(6):1173-82. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ 0022-3514.51.6.1173
33. Plotnikoff RC, Costigan SA, Karunamuni N, Lubans DR. Social cognitive theories used to explain physical activity behavior in adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Prev Med 2013; 56(5): 245-53. http://dx.doi:10. 1016/j.ypmed.2013.01.013.
34. Marcus BH, Williams DM, Dubbert PM, et al. Physical activity interventions: What we know and what we need to know. A scientific statement from the American Heart Association Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism. Circulation 2006; 114: 739–52.
35. Koh D, Miller YD, Marshall AL et al. Health-enhancing physical activity behavior and related factors in postpartum women with recent gestational diabetes mellitus. J Sci Med Sport 2010; 13(1): 42-5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j. jsams.2008.10.003
36. Mailey EL, Mcauley E. Impact of a brief intervention on physical activity and social cognitive determinants among working mothers: a randomized trial. J Behav Med. 2014; 37(2): 343-55. http://dx.doi:10.1007/s10865013-9492-y.
Downloads
Published
2016-04-27
How to Cite
1.
Sriramatr S, Silalertdeskul S, Wachirathanin P. Social Cognitive Theory Associated with Physical Activity in Undergraduate Students: A Cross-sectional Study. PRIJNR [Internet]. 2016 Apr. 27 [cited 2024 Apr. 20];20(2):95-105. Available from: https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/PRIJNR/article/view/41039
Issue
Section
Original paper
License
Copyright: The Pacific Rim International Journal of Nursing Research, Thailand Nursing & Midwifery Council has exclusive rights to publish, reproduce and distribute the manuscript and all contents therein.
.png)
