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Abstract
This study was designed to examine the relationships among self-efficacy, self-motivation, and physical activity. Selected college students were recruited as they entered a southern Illinois fitness facility. Mean age of participants was 24.13+.036. Participation consisted of completing a series of surveys that measure exercise self-efficacy, self-motivation to exercise, and physical activity behavior over the two-week span prior to participation. Exercise self-efficacy was recorded on a 0-20 scale. Mean scores were 14.18+3.50. Self-motivation to exercise was recorded on a scale ranging from 7-35. Mean self-motivation scores were 24.38±3.93. Physical activity was measured in number of days participants reported being moderately to vigorously physically active in the two weeks prior to their participation. The theoretical range of scores was 0-14. Mean physical activity scores were 7.81±3.15. Correlation analysis revealed positive moderate correlations among all three variables (self-efficacy to physical activity, r = .462; self-motivation to physical activity, r = .421; self-efficacy to self-motivation, r = .411). Additionally, multiple regression analysis revealed self-efficacy to be the strongest single predictor of physical activity. Self-motivation and age also were found to be statistically significant in terms of physical activity prediction (p < .05).
