Background/Purpose
The purpose of this study was to develop a better understanding of the physical activity behavior of Black female adolescents by examining the relationship between physical activity and self-efficacy, social support, outcome expectations, and physical environment. The sample consisted of 96 girls ages 14-19 from a public high school in Charlotte, NC. Participants volunteered to complete a survey with demographic, physical activity (PA), and psychosocial questions.
Method
The main predictor variables were self-efficacy, social support, outcome expectations, and physical environment, assessed with measures developed by Saunders et al. The dependent variable was physical activity, assessed with the Godin measure.
Analysis/Results
Correlational analysis indicated that both self-efficacy and social support were correlated with PA, and the strongest correlation was between physical activity self-efficacy and PA. Neither outcome expectations nor physical environment was significantly related with PA. Multiple regression was used to determine the relative strength of the four main predictor variables on the dependent variable of physical activity level. For the total sample, the four predictor variables explained 24% of the variance in physical activity participation. With physical activity self-efficacy making the largest unique contribution (beta=.36, p = .002). Responses to added open-ended questions on PA habits and perceptions indicated that participants understood the health benefits of physical activity, but cited tiring and sweating as reasons why they do not participate.
Conclusions
Findings suggest increasing physical activity self-efficacy and providing social support, allowing girls to have a choice, and offering activities they consider fun, may lead to increased physical activity among Black adolescent girls.