Social Support and Self-Efficacy as Mediators between Internal Locus of Control and Adolescents’ Physical Activity

Yikeranmu Yiming, Bing Shi (), Abdulelah A. Alghamdi, Sumaira Kayani and Michele Biasutti ()
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Yikeranmu Yiming: Sports Learning Science Laboratory, Physical Education School, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710121, China
Bing Shi: Sports Learning Science Laboratory, Physical Education School, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710121, China
Abdulelah A. Alghamdi: Faculty of Education, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Awali 8323, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Sumaira Kayani: Department of Psychology, College of Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
Michele Biasutti: Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35139 Padova, Italy

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 7, 1-11

Abstract: In China, the physical activity of adolescents is declining nowadays, which may be linked to their health locus of control, social support, and self-efficacy. The current study has investigated the role of health locus of control, social support, and self-efficacy in adolescents’ physical activity. Using convenient sampling, 569 (18–21 years old) adolescents were surveyed. There were 313 (55.01%) females and 256 (44.99%) males. Data were collected through questionnaires on the study variables. The results display that physical activity is directly positively affected by locus of control, self-efficacy, and social support. Both self-efficacy and social support are positively associated with locus of control and physical activity. Further, locus of control also indirectly affects physical activity through self-efficacy and social support. To conclude, we can say that locus of control, self-efficacy, and social support play a significant role in promoting physical activity. The study suggests developing effective future interventions by considering the study variables to increase physical activity.

Keywords: health locus of control; physical activity; social support; self-efficacy; adolescents; multiple mediation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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