Frontiers in psychology
How does self-efficacy promote physical activity among adolescents? The mediating roles of task and ego orientations
By Xu P, Ma L and Jia K.
Abstract
Introduction
Regular participation in physical activity is essential for adolescents' overall development, yet physical inactivity remains a prevalent public health concern. To elucidate the motivational mechanisms underlying physical activity among Chinese adolescents, this study investigated the parallel mediating roles of task and ego orientations in the relationship between self-efficacy and physical activity, alongside potential gender differences.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1,194 junior high school students (576 boys, 618 girls; M age = 13.27 years) in China. Data on physical activity self-efficacy, achievement goal orientations, and physical activity were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) and multi-group analyses.