Predicting the intentions and behavior of exercise initiates using two forms of self-efficacy

The general objective of the study was to examine the influence of various aspects of self-efficacy on the exercise attendance of novice exercisers. This objective had three distinct features. First, self-efficacy was operationalized as both perceptions to overcome barriers and appraisals of ability to schedule regular exercise sessions. Second, a more unstructured, less regimented, form of exercise that required greater personal control was examined-the forms of activity chosen and self-regulated by novice participants. Third, individuals in the initiation stage of their exercise history were studied. Results indicated that both forms of efficacy (barrier and scheduling) significantly predicted behavioral intention (BI) throughout the exercise program (R2 changes = .13-.26, p's < .02). BI was found to be the best predictor of the first 2 months of attendance (R2 change = .12, p < .05), while scheduling efficacy and past behavior best predicted attendance during the last 2 months (R2 change = .16 and .24, p < .02 and p < .001, respectively). A model combining both social cognitive variables (efficacy beliefs) and behavioral variables (past attendance) captured more variation in predicting the last 2 months of attendance than a model involving only social-cognitive variables.