Psychosocial mediators of two community-based physical activity programs
Katie Becofsky1, Meghan Baruth, Sara Wilcox
1Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 921 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA, becofsky@email.sc.edu.
Summary
Self-efficacy and social support significantly increase physical activity in older adults. These factors are key mediators in interventions like Active Choices and Active Living Every Day, promoting healthier lifestyles.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Science
- Gerontology
- Public Health
Background:
- Mediators of physical activity behavior change remain unclear.
- Previous research offers inconclusive findings on factors influencing sustained physical activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate self-efficacy and social support as mediators for two distinct physical activity interventions: Active Choices (telephone-delivered) and Active Living Every Day (group-based).
- To analyze the mediating roles of self-efficacy and social support in midlife and older adults participating in community-based programs.
Main Methods:
- Utilized MacKinnon's product of coefficients to assess mediation.
- Calculated the proportion of total effect mediated by self-efficacy and social support.
- Controlled for demographic and health variables including age, gender, race, BMI, and education.
Main Results:
- Self-efficacy increases mediated physical activity gains in both Active Choices (n=709) and Active Living Every Day (n=849) groups.
- Social support increases also mediated physical activity gains within the Active Living Every Day intervention in single mediator models.
Conclusions:
- Enhancing self-efficacy and social support are promising strategies for increasing physical activity levels in older adult populations.
- Findings suggest targeted interventions focusing on these psychosocial factors can improve health outcomes in aging adults.
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