Social Support, Self-Efficacy, Perceived Neighborhood Environment Characteristics, and Physical Activity Time Among...

The objectives of the study were to analyze the relationship between social support, self-efficacy, and perceived neighborhood environment characteristics and simultaneous exposure to these factors (interactions) with physical activity practice time; and whether these relationships were moderated by the sociodemographic characteristics of the adolescents.

Longitudinal study (3 y follow-up, with one data collection per year), with 28 schools (selection was by clusters), and 319 adolescents (52% female, ages 10-13 y, in 2014, the base year of the study) from the city of João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. Social support from fathers, mothers, and friends; self-efficacy; and perceived environment characteristics were measured using scales, and physical activity practice time was measured using the physical activity questionnaire. Generalized Estimating Equations were used to analyze the longitudinal relationship between the variables studied.

The multivariate analysis results indicated that social support from the father (β = 5.1; 95% CI, 0.1 to 10.1), mother (β = 9.0; 95% CI, 2.5 to 15.4), and friends (β = 19.4; 95% CI, 13.5 to 25.3), as well as self-efficacy (β = 27.1; 95% CI, 5.5 to 48.8) were associated with longer physical activity practice. The perceived environment characteristics were not associated with the time spent practicing physical activity. These associations were not moderated by the sociodemographic characteristics of the adolescents.

The social support provided by parents and friends, and the perception of self-efficacy were shown to be determining factors in the physical activity practice time among adolescents and should be the target of actions aimed at promoting physical activity in adolescents.