AUTHOR=Han Shan-shan , Li Bo , Wang Guang-xu , Ke You-zhi , Meng Shu-qiao , Li Ya-xing , Cui Zhong-lei , Tong Wen-xia 

TITLE=Physical Fitness, Exercise Behaviors, and Sense of Self-Efficacy Among College Students: A Descriptive Correlational Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.932014

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2022.932014

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p>Self-efficacy is an important component of the mental well-being of college students. This study aimed to evaluate the development and the correlation between physical fitness (PF), exercise behavior, and self-efficacy in college students. To examine whether PF in individual college students can predict self-efficacy, and whether exercise behavior mediates this relationship.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>This was an observational study of 1923 randomly selected college students (50.5% girl). Measures included the Physical Activity Rating Scale, the Self-Efficacy Scale, and PF testing.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Self-efficacy was weakly correlated to both PF (<italic>r</italic> = 0.240) and exercise behavior (<italic>r</italic> = 0.248). In regression analysis, PF explained 24.7% of the variance in self-efficacy, increasing to 29.4% when exercise behavior was considered. Therefore, the predictive effect of PF on self-efficacy is partially realized through healthy exercise behavior.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>Physical fitness can predict self-efficacy among college students, with exercise behavior being an important mediation of this relationship. Strategies to improve positive exercise behaviors and PF could improve students’ self-efficacy and overall mental health.</p></sec>