The impact of a physical activity intervention on the physical activity self-efficacy of preadolescent females.

摘要

Pre-adolescent females often do not participate in the recommended level of physical activity on a regular basis and are also likely to cease participation as they move through adolescence. This lack of physical activity can lead to a wide range of both physical and psychological problems. Reasons for lack of participation include lack of self-confidence, lack of opportunity, lack of knowledge about available opportunities for a variety of activities, and a lack of self-efficacy. Self-efficacy theory proposes that an individual's self-efficacy is a key determinant in maintenance, adoption, and perseverance in difficult tasks (e.g., participating in physical activity). Recent literature has supported this relationship between an individual's self-efficacy for physical activity and his/her actual behaviors relating to physical activity.; Clemson University's Finding Your Voice program is aimed at, among other outcomes, increasing pre-adolescent female's self-efficacy for physical activity through education and the introduction of practical experience in a variety of physically active recreation activities. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the Finding Your Voice program on the perceived physical activity self-efficacy of its participants as well as the impact race can have on an individual's self-efficacy. Forty participants attended the program and each completed a self-efficacy measure prior to and following completion of the program. Data analysis found that a significant difference existed between pre-program and post-program self-efficacy scores for the participants, and that race did not significantly impact the participants' self-efficacy scores.