Online Intervention Improves Self-Efficacy and Physical Activity: a Pilot Study

Purpose: This pilot study examined the effect of self-regulation skill-based online intervention on self-efficacy beliefs and physical activity behavior among young adults. Methods: One hundred twenty eight young adults were randomly assigned into two groups: intervention (n = 70) and control (n = 58) groups. While the intervention group received online information on self-regulatory skills, control group received information in unrelated areas. Each participant attended the intervention for 12 weeks and completed questionnaires measuring task self-efficacy, self-regulatory self-efficacy and physical activity at baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months. Results: The intervention group demonstrated higher levels of self-regulatory self-efficacy and physical activity behavior than control group at 12 weeks. While the level of self-regulatory self-efficacy remained significantly higher in the intervention group at 6 months, the level of physical activity was not significantly different between two groups. The level of task self-efficacy was not significantly different between two groups at all times. In addition, no statistically significant increase was observed in the level of task self-efficacy at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months in the intervention group. Conclusion: The results of this pilot study demonstrated that the self-regulation skill-based online intervention had a positive impact on self-regulatory self-efficacy and physical activity behavior.