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Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
Change in goal ratings as a mediating variable between self-efficacy and physical activity in older men
Katherine S Hall1, Gail M Crowley, Eleanor S McConnell
1Veterans Affairs Medical Center, GRECC 182, Durham, NC 27705, USA. katherine.hall3@va.gov
Background:
Few studies have examined the associations between exercise self-efficacy, goals, and physical activity over time.
Purpose:
This study examines whether self-selected goals mediate the changes in exercise self-efficacy on physical activity over 12 months.
Methods:
Data are derived from 313 older men participating in the Veterans LIFE Study.
Results:
Changes in exercise self-efficacy were significantly associated with changes in physical activity both directly (betas = 0.25 and 0.24, p < 0.05) and indirectly (betas = 0.24 and 0.30, p < 0.05) through changes in health-related and walking goal ratings (betas = 0.19 and 0.20, p < 0.05). Both types of goal setting continued to partially mediate the relationship between exercise self-efficacy and physical activity when covariates were added to the models.
Conclusion:
This study extends the application of social cognitive and goal-setting theories to physical activity by showing that goals partially mediate the relationship between exercise self-efficacy and physical activity over time.
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