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Updated: May 24, 2026

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Published on: July 27, 2022
Social cognitive factors associated with physical activity in elementary school girls
Melanie K Bean1, Sara Miller, Suzanne E Mazzeo
1Departments of Pediatrics and Psychology, Children's Hospital of Richmond & Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA. mkbean@vcu.edu
Objective:
To examine social cognitive factors associated with physical activity (PA) among preadolescent girls.
Method:
Social cognitive theory was used to examine PA in girls (N=90; 71% African American) participating in Girls on the Run. Multiple regressions explored factors associated with PA at posttesting and 3-month follow-up.
Results:
Significant increases in PA, social influences, and self-efficacy were found, which were sustained at 3-month follow-up. Self-efficacy and social influences had the strongest relations to PA at posttest; self-efficacy remained the strongest predictor of PA at 3-month follow-up.
Conclusions:
Social support and self-efficacy are important targets of PA interventions in preadolescent girls.
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