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Exploring the relationship between socioeconomic status, control beliefs and exercise behavior: a multiple mediator
Terra C Murray1, Wendy M Rodgers, Shawn N Fraser
1University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. tmurray@athabascau.ca
Journal of Behavioral Medicine
|March 29, 2011
Summary
Higher socioeconomic status is linked to increased exercise and intentions, partly due to fewer perceived barriers and greater confidence in managing exercise schedules. This highlights the role of control beliefs in physical activity.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Science
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Socioeconomic status (SES) significantly influences health behaviors, including physical activity.
- Understanding the psychological mechanisms linking SES to exercise is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mediating roles of control beliefs in the relationship between SES and exercise intentions and behavior.
- To differentiate the influence of distal (personal constraints) and proximal (scheduling self-efficacy) control beliefs.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional mail-out survey was administered to 350 adults in a Canadian urban center.
- Statistical analyses examined mediation pathways between SES, control beliefs, and exercise outcomes.
Main Results:
- Distal and proximal control beliefs collectively mediated the association between SES and exercise behavior, explaining 30% of the variance.
- Proximal control beliefs (scheduling self-efficacy) partially mediated the SES-intention link, explaining 50% of the variance.
- Higher SES individuals reported more exercise, stronger intentions, fewer barriers, and higher self-efficacy for managing exercise schedules.
Conclusions:
- Control beliefs, particularly scheduling self-efficacy, are significant mediators linking SES to exercise intentions and behavior.
- Interventions aiming to increase exercise in lower SES populations should address perceived barriers and enhance self-efficacy.
- Findings underscore the importance of psychological factors in understanding SES disparities in physical activity.
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