Factors Predicting the Physical Activity Behavior of Female Adolescents: A Test of the Health Promotion Model

Abstract

ObjectivesPhysical activity behavior begins to decline during adolescence and continues to decrease throughout young adulthood. This study aims to explain factors that influence physical activity behavior in a sample of female adolescents using a health promotion model framework.MethodsThis cross-sectional survey was used to explore physical activity behavior among a sample of female adolescents. Participants completed measures of physical activity, perceived self-efficacy, self-esteem, social support, perceived barriers, and perceived affect. Interactions among the variables were examined using path analysis within a covariance modeling framework.ResultsThe final model accounted for an R2 value of 0.52 for physical activity and offered a good model-data fit. The results indicated that physical activity was predicted by self-esteem (β=0.46, p<0.001), perceived self-efficacy (β=0.40, p<0.001), social support (β=0.24, p<0.001), perceived barriers (β=-0.19, p<0.001), and perceived affect (β=0.17, p<0.001).ConclusionsThe findings of this study showed that the health promotion model was useful to predict physical activity behavior among the Iranian female adolescents. Information related to the predictors of physical activity behavior will help researchers plan more tailored culturally relevant health promotion interventions for this population.

Predicting physical activity among urban adolescent girls: A test of the health promotion model

“…The positive, direct effect of PA self‐efficacy on MVPA is consistent with other studies that tested the HPM among adolescents (Bajamal et al, ; Mohamadian & Arani, ; Taymoori, Lubans et al, ; Taymoori, Rhodes, & Berry, ; Wu & Pender, ; Wu & Pender, ; Wu et al, ). While these studies have reported effects (β = .21–.61) that support self‐efficacy as a predictor of self‐reported PA, none reported CIs and only one reported a standard error (Bajamal et al, ) making it difficult to determine the magnitude of the effects across studies.…”

“…The HPM has been tested specifically with PA as a health‐promoting behavior among adolescents in several studies (Ammouri, Kaur, Neuberger, Gajewski, & Choi, ; Bajamal et al, ; Garcia et al, ; Mohamadian & Arani, ; Taymoori, Lubans, & Berry, ; Wu & Pender, ; Wu & Pender, ; Wu, Pender, & Noureddine, ). In these studies, all of which included self‐reported PA, self‐efficacy has emerged as the most consistent predictor of PA.…”

The relationship between self-esteem and overall health behaviors in Korean adolescents

“…achievement, success, and satisfaction) (Mann, Hosman, Schaalma, & de Vries, 2004). According to previous empirical researches, it has been established that self-esteem influences human health behaviors (Hoare & Cosgrove, 1998;Mohamadian & Arani, 2014;Park, Schepp, Jang, & Koo, 2006;Tomori & Rus-Makovec, 2000).…”

A Comparative Study on Physical Activity, Dietary Habits, and Physical Strength According to Body Fat Groups in College Students

“…Physical activities prevent or control obesity and improve health conditions [3]. Diet is also considered essential for preventing and controlling obesity [4].…”