The Relationship between Exercise Intention and Exercise Behavior among Chinese Junior High School Students: A Moderated Mediation Model

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the relationship between exercise intention and exercise behavior, as well as the mechanism of exercise social support and action self-efficacy in the relationship between exercise intention and exercise behavior, so as to provide theoretical and empirical support for the promotion of physical exercise for junior high school students. Methods: Totally 1312 junior middle school students were recruited to complete Behavioral Intention Scale, Exercise Social Support Scale, Action Self-efficacy Scale and Physical Activity Rating Scale-3. The correlation analysis and the mediation and moderation analysis were conducted. Results: (1) There was a significant positive correlation between exercise intention and exercise behavior (r=0.265, p＜0.01); (2) Exercise intention significantly positively predicted exercise social support（β=0.231, t=8.457, p＜0.01）, and exercise social support significantly positively predicted exercise behavior（β=0.207, t=8.424, p＜0.01）; (3) Exercise social support × action self-efficacy positively predicted exercise behavior of junior middle school students (β= -0.058, t= -2.422, p＜0.05); (4) In the high action self-efficacy group, exercise social support had a significant positive prediction effect on exercise behavior (β=0.19, t=5.93, p < 0.01); However, in the low action self-efficacy group, exercise social support had a stronger positive prediction effect on exercise behavior (β=0.34, t=8.90, p < 0.01). Conclusion: (1) Exercise intention can significantly positively predict junior middle school students' exercise behavior; (2) Exercise social support partially mediated the relationship between exercise intention and exercise behavior of junior high school students; (3) Action self-efficacy plays a moderating role in the latter half of the mediating process of exercise intention -- exercise social support -- exercise behavior. Action self-efficacy can enhance the prediction effect of social support on exercise behavior, especially for junior middle school students with low action self-efficacy, with the improvement of social support level of exercise, their physical exercise level shows a rapid upward trend.